Prior to the storm she was scheduled to appear before Congress but given the weather and the two-day shut down of the government, I am not sure if this is still the plan. If it changes or if the fed is closed again today I’ll update the schedule:
9:30 a.m. Secretary Clinton appears before the House Appropriations Committee for State, Foreign Operations and Related Agencies, on Capitol Hill.
2:30 p.m. Secretary Clinton appears before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, on Capitol Hill.
We’re expecting a snow storm here in Boston. Unfortunately, where I work, we have a very high threshold for closing work completely which means I could be spending hours trying to get home tonight. So if you don’t see any posts this afternoon or early evening, I am in the car trying to not lose my mind on Route 93.
Just got this:
Secretary Clinton Travel to Qatar and Saudi Arabia
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will travel to Qatar and Saudi Arabia from February 13-16.
In Qatar on February 14, she will meet with Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, as well as Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim Al-Thani. Secretary Clinton will also speak at the U.S.-Islamic World Forum, being hosted by the Qatari Government and the Saban Center on the evening of February 14.
During her February 15-16 visit to Saudi Arabia, Secretary Clinton will meet with King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud as well as Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal.
Yes, another poll. Aren’t you glad I’ve figured out (with Melusine08’s help) how to use the poll function of this blog? Sure ‘ya are! It only took me about 5 attempts to get this right.
Oh, ignore the words “new answer” over the pictures. I don’t have the patience to go back and fix it to get rid of that. I should have put the pantsuit color there but didn’t. Also, be patient if the poll loads slowly, there are quite a few pictures and until the page fully loads some of the photos don’t show up. But they will.
This poll is dedicated to Carolyn R., who requested it:
Given the weekend and snow days, news of Secretary Clinton isn’t spilling forth in the media. Listening to the news as I was getting ready for work this morning, they seem rather obsessed with Sarah Palin’s speech at the Tea Party convention over the weekend. No comment.
Here are three videos from YouTube that I found. They are from different periods of Secretary Clinton’s tenure as SOS. The interview in China I hadn’t seen before and while the news lead-in (which is quite long) in in Chinese, it’s actually kinda fun because it provides some behind the scenes video of her trip. At around 5:05 the interview actually starts (in English). There is a video of an early interview with Jill Dougherty of CNN and also a video statement she issued on human trafficking and my favorite video – the one from March 2009 when she was in Europe and took part in a Q&A with young people and took a question about gay rights from a man named Max who was wearing an “I love Hillary” T-shirt. The video made the rounds on YouTube and he became known as Max from Moldavia.
Enjoy.
My thoughts are with Murtha’s family. Needless to say I was surprised to hear he had died so unexpectedly yesterday.
Secretary Clinton’s statement:
I was deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Congressman Jack Murtha. From the battlefields of Vietnam to the hills of Western Pennsylvania to the halls of Congress, Jack Murtha lived by the Marine Corps credo “Semper Fidelis,” never wavering in his faithful commitment to the country he loved and the men and women who bravely defend her. In war and in peace, he fought for what he knew was right, even when it was unpopular. He was a fierce advocate for working families struggling with a changing economy and for better health care and equipment for service members. And over the course of more than three decades in Congress, he became one of our nation’s most respected voices on national security and foreign policy. Presidents of both parties sought his advice and generations of colleagues looked to him for leadership and wisdom. As Senator from New York serving on the Armed Services Committee, I was fortunate to call Jack a friend and mentor. And as Secretary of State, I continued to rely on his expertise and judgment. I knew that Jack would always shoot straight, like the Marine he was, and never shy away from a difficult question or a tough fight. Today our country has lost a decorated war hero and a distinguished public servant. The men and women of our armed forces have lost a tireless champion. And the people of Pennsylvania’s 12th district have lost a neighbor, an advocate, and a true friend. My thoughts and prayers are with them and with Jack’s beloved wife Joyce and their family. He will be sorely missed.
Secretary Clinton has no public appointments because the Fed is closed today. Again.
Congrats to Laura Chinchilla, Costa Rica’s first female President:
Costa Ricans have elected their first female president, with Laura Chinchilla, the ruling party candidate, taking 47 per cent of the vote.Chinchilla declared victory early on Monday, with votes way ahead of her rivals and above the 40 per cent needed to avoid a run-off.
Earlier Otton Solis, from the Citizen Action Party (PAC), and Otto Guevara, of the Libertarian Movement Party (ML), both conceded defeat, gaining 24 and 21 per cent of the vote respectively.
The two men congratulated Chinchilla on her apparent victory.
“She is going to be the next president of Costa Rica,” Solid told his supporters, while Guevarra offered congratulations to “our president, Laura Chinchilla”.
Addressing her supporters at a hotel in the capital, San Jose, Chinchilla said: “Thank you, Costa Rica. It’s certainly a moment of happiness, but above all of humility … I won’t betray that confidence.”
Chinchilla, who served as vice-president under Oscar Arias, the current president and Nobel-prize winner, has pledges to continue Arias’s moderate free-market policies.
Under Arias’s National Liberation Party (PLN) Costa Rica has been brought into the Central American Free Trade Agreement with the United States and initiated trade relations with China after a 63-year association with Taiwan.
But Critics of the government argue that Arias’ administration catered to big developers to boost the economy at the cost of the nation’s fragile ecosystems.
Costa Rica enjoys the highest standard of living in Central America and is renowned for not having an army and its role in ending the Cold War-era civil wars that wracked its neighbours.
The country is also Central America’s oldest democracy with a record of 60 years of democratic elections…
Wow. What happened to the weekend?
Here’s Secretary Clinton’s daily appointment schedule for February 8th. It’s subject to change and I am thinking it might so if it does I’ll try to update it as soon as possible:
12:00 p.m. Secretary Clinton hosts a Swearing In Ceremony for Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Arturo Valenzuela, at the Department of State.
(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)
Wow, I just got this:
No Public Schedule Due to the Closing of the Federal Government.
I don’t mean to be a snow-snob because I live in Boston where it snows ALL THE TIME and I realize that DC got slammed but having the seat of our national government become this flustered, panicked and paralyzed over snow does not instill confidence.
I’m just sayin’
I think they just wanted a snow day 
What can I get into now?
