Is the Honeymoon Between Clinton and Obama Over?

Examiner.com
By Marc Rubin
There is increasing evidence that Hillary Clinton is not very content as Obama's Secretary of State and might be running into the same problems and frustrations as some in the Obama White House and many congressional Democrats.
There is word that Clinton is frustrated with the vetting process going on at State and it's snails pace which has left many jobs in the State Department still vacant. This probably has as more to do with the series of embarrassments Obama endured over the vetting process of his cabinet choices which forced the withdrawal of Richardson and Daschle and caused political embarrassment over Geithner.
 
Clinton has called the process " a nightmare" and "frustrating beyond words". Clinton was also heard to use the word "ridiculous" over the process. The fact that 5 months into his administration Obama still doesn't have key jobs at State filled makes the word seem appropriate. And the fact that she was willing to make her feelings known publicly is no small thing.
 
But there are also whispers that Clinton and Obama are not seeing eye to eye on other matters such as Iran and Cuba with Clinton favoring a more aggressive and confrontational stance.
 
As I had  written prviously,, I also  found Obama's position on Iran and his responses to the upheaval not only tepid and even useless, but felt he was missing a golden opportunity to help affect change in Iran from within, the best chance to achieve a nuclear free Iran.
 
I had also pointed out that unlike others who see Obama's approach to problems as some unseen ability to unite opposing forces, something he has never actually done, I see Obama's approach to difficult issues as coming from someone who doesn't deal well with confrontation and tries to avoid it at all costs.
 
Some have suggested that Clinton's willingness to voice her frustration with Obama's vetting process publicly is an indication  that she is not afraid of having a confrontation with the White House if neccessary. And that  would also be in keeping with what has been reported as Clinton's hawkish voice within the administration, wanting Obama to take a more confrontational approach to both Iran and Cuba,both of which makes sense diplomatically but might be beyond Obama's capability or personality.
 
So far Obama's foreign policy has been more public relations than anything else. There has been little of substance. H wasnt able to get any agreement internationally on the recession, nor any agreement with respect to greenhouse gases,and his handling of events in Iran have been weak and ineffectual,staying on the sidelines by saying he didnt want to be accused of "meddling" and then being accused of meddling anyway.
 
Most have regarded Clinton as the one with the foreign policy expertise while Obama has shown little to none, either in his two years in the Senate or in his first 5 months in the White House. A battle of wills could well be emerging on foreign policy and it remains to be seen who will win.