hilary rodham clinton is gonna make it after all

(photo courtesy of Senior Editorial Image Correspondent Adam M.)

At the gym this morning I saw that the eye of many a stationary biker was glued to CNN for the Secretary of State Nomination hearings. Why is this relevant? It isn't. But it shows that I exercise early in the morning, which is impressive.

If you missed the hearing, though, you shouldn't feel bad. Here's the run-down:
Senator Kerry expresses how honored he is to be chair of the Foreign Relations Committee and somehow manages to slip in that he was once a Fulbright Scholar.
Senator Kerry congratulates Senator Lugan for being a ranking member of the Foreign Relations Committee.
Senator Lugan congratulates Senator Kerry for being chair of the Foreign Relations Committee.
Senator Kerry introduces Senator Christopher Dodd.
Senator Dodd congratulates Senator Kerry for being chair of the Foreign Relations Committee.

(A half-hour passes. Clinton smiles, blinks, nods politely, types particularly good points on her invisible typewriter).

-Senator Kerry expresses his happiness at seeing Chelsea Clinton and suggests that she becomes 'intern for a day.' That didn't come out right. Chelsea looks exceedingly uncomfortable. She really is the best daughter ever.

-Barbara Boxer passes around giant blown-up photos of horribly maimed children.

-Hilary and Lisa Murkowski (Republican from Alaska) have a contest to see who can say 'Arctic' more. Here's a segment:

Murkowski:

"Our role as an Arctic nation, and I know oftentimes my colleagues don't view the United States as an Arctic nation, but we are by virtue of Alaska [...]"
"We've been working with them for -- for about the past 18 months to advance a new Arctic policy. Our Arctic policy is about 15 years stale [...]"
"But I'd like your comments here this morning on the evolving role of the Arctic, on the role that we can play as an Arctic nation in dealing with our neighbors."

Snap! But wait -- out comes Clinton with the big guns:

"When we were in Alaska and saw for ourselves some of the changes that are going on in the Arctic" [...]
"People haven't kept up with what is going on in the Arctic" [...]
"We know that there will be disputes over energy resources and minerals and other natural resources in the Arctic."
"To go along with that, I -- I know that hand in hand with concerns about the Arctic [..]"
"That you're going to face in Alaska if we don't have a national Arctic policy that also includes what our international position is on the oceans, and I think..."
"So, for all of those reasons -- and I mention it in conjunction with the Arctic because I think they go hand in hand."

The 'Arctics' have it. I think Clinton is ready for the job!

Also: Does anyone else think that Obama winced when Clinton referred to 'our African friends?'