I wish I knew what your point was. International diplomacy is not a beauty contest, and, contrary to what Obama may think, it is not another episode of American Idol either. Hillary Clinton is focused on doing her job -- not on "upstaging" Obama or taking over the spotlight. And believe me, if she DID focus on that, she could do it easily ... with one hand tied up in a sling.

Interesting how the Madam Secy writers make sure to add that Obama is met with Obamamania whereever he goes. What date is your calendar stuck on? This is so no longer the case, hasn't been since he put up Rick Warren. European countries are definitely over Obama, and Russia wasn't big on him at all. Then the writers manage to add in "no one can upstage obama", Not only is that not the case *cough*palin*cough*, what is with what is with the Obie love fest in the Madame Secy site, while not even being subtle about interweaving with the negative talking points about Hillary Clinton. Slate gets more pathetic by the day.

Second wind, huh? I hope you never have broken any bones or required any surgery, and I hope you never will, but if you have you probably know that people who have had serious surgery under general anesthesia generally are out on disability for two weeks MINIMUM! Secretary Clinton was not out of work two DAYS following such surgery. She worked from home THE WEEKEND OF THE SURGERY and was at the White House the following Monday.

As it happens, her particular injury and surgery require intense physical therapy which prevented her from traveling with Obama to Russia, Italy, Greece, and Ghana on this latest trip. We are glad to see that she is well enough to travel at the end of this week, but the fact that she missed one trip is hardly a reason for this "toiling in the shadows" meme that keeps bobbing up. She has been working steadily since the injury and surgery. That the media does not cover her work does cause one to ponder. Here are a few things we need to remember:
1. Hillary does not need a "limelight" on her (or cameras rolling) in order to do her job.
2. To say

Obama has been able to travel abroad, and when he does, people go wild with Obamamania. Obama and his identity have been riveting symbols overseas

is patently false. Students on the streets of Moscow could not have cared less, and some resented having their classes cancelled due to his visit. There were no wild cheering crowds in Mother Russia. (Hillary will go there later this year - the contrast is sure to be interesting).
3. Prior to this one missed trip, Hillary has traveled tirelessly and indeed in partial shadow. Big trips have received perfunctory mention by the media, and others received no media attention (OAS Conference in Central America prior to meeting up with Obama in Egypt, visit to Canada to conclude a year of Canadian celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the Boundary Waters Treaty - btw - Americans didn't even KNOW there was an anniversary - why?).
4. This

" Clinton "hasn't been the face of America abroad," said Ben Smith

is pure tripe! Yes, she is very much the face of America abroad. The WORLD knows it even if America does not.

If people like Ben Smith and Wendy Chamberlin are going to be quoted here, how about a little editorial balance from Madam Secretary/FP?