3/26/2008

Capital punishment

PROMISE:

Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama are ready from “day one” with platforms which hold the promise of benefiting all Americans, of changing the direction of our country, of restoring competence to the presidency.

Both are uniquely qualified to do so. Once sworn in, our new president will hit a wall. Only one candidate has experienced its effects.

On 23 January 1993, a couple with an established life goal of helping others took up residence at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. They, and the Americans who sent them there, had high hopes.

Bill Clinton would soon find out that his predecessor had “cooked the books,” that the deficit was far higher than was previously known – the biggest dollar deficit in American history. The reality: many of his campaign promises would be put on hold because of inherited economic woes.

The $290 billion deficit Clinton inherited is chump change compared with what our new president will face, so don’t expect campaign promises to materialize miraculously.

POISONED DARTS

Carl Bernstein, of Watergate’s Woodward and Bernstein, brings his best investigative reporting skills to his book, “A Woman in Charge: The Life of Hillary Rodham Clinton.”

The Clintons learned early on how tough it is to go up against the Washington establishment.

Bernstein quotes the following “welcome to Washington” article:

"Making Capital Gains: Welcome to Washington, But Play By Our Rules," Sally Quinn, The Washington Post, Outlook section, p. 01, Nov. 15, 1992, 1,965 words. (Buy archived article)

Ms. Quinn is the wife of former Washington Post Executive Editor Benjamin Bradlee and a noted Washington hostess. She offered 1,965 words of advice from the “in-crowd” to the incoming president and first lady, but none were so incisive as these:

“Think of it this way: your plane has crashlanded in the middle of Brazil, and you find yourself surrounded by a curious and possibly hostile tribe. Instead of giving them beads and eating the monkey tongues they’ve offered you, you decide that you don’t need their help. Fine. But, don’t be surprised if you end up with poisoned darts in your backside. Like any other culture, Washington has its own totems and taboos. It would serve the newcomers well to learn to abide by them.”

The Clintons and their transplanted Arkansans learned the hard way – and fast – what happens when you don’t play by the rules of the Washington elite. Bernstein brilliantly documents their saga.

Once more, Hillary holds the experience card.

Obama is running on a promise of changing Washington, of somehow transporting his cheering rally-goers into a position of power in D.C. Let’s hope, if elected, he – and all his true believers – don’t end up with poisoned darts in their backsides.

Just as she was told to do when flying into Bosnia, Hillary has learned to sit on her flak jacket. Perhaps experience has taught her that diplomacy and compromise work best - from one end of Pennsylvania Avenue to the other.

It’s becoming clearer every day that the alternative to a Democratic win in November is unthinkable.

So, let’s hope beyond hope that once the votes are counted and the inherent and inherited obstacles are overcome, the core values of the Democratic Party will once more emerge to lift an America left foundering.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hill and Hussein are going at it tooth and nail, and in doing so,dividing the democratic party. Leaving the core all alone.

Delta Judge

B.J. said...

Hey, Judge! I am so glad you’re commenting. Would the use of Obama’s middle name “Hussein” be a reference to one of the last great statesmen and America’s longtime ally, the late King Hussein of Jordan? BJ

Anonymous said...

Frodo spent much of the last two nights watching, then thinking about, the presentation on FRONTLINE (a PBS preesntation), entitled "Bush's War." It was an even better presentation than he anticipated. Frodo's eyes have returned to the true importance of our times, and what the events before us hold for the future of our small, blue planet. Frodo does not give a rat's ass whether or not Hillary Clinton misspoke, or whether she is a conniving, cruel bitch. Frodo does not have any interest in whether or not Barack Obama listened, endlessly, to some toothless, old religious freak go on ad nauseam about "the good old days." Dick Cheney is an ideologue who borders on pure evil. George W. Bush is an incompetent, almost bizarre, boob. The damage that they have done, and that we have allowed to transpire, threatens all life on Earth.
It is absolutely imperative that we do everything in our legitimate power to ensure that every fingerprint, every footfall of these terrible people be erased from our national consciousness.
If you truly love your country, you will vote for whoever takes us the furtherest from anything associated with these "monsters."

airth10 said...

Good article BJ!

Anonymous said...

BJ,

I like this post and the analogy you highlight by Ms. Quinn. I agree that the Washington establishment who do not come and go must be heeded. Bush in his arrogance didn't take them seriously and now he is a nobody.

In my opinion, Obama has demonstrated the wisdom to know that he must include DC in his goal for "inclusiveness". He seems adaptable, and I believe the Washington "elite" (aren't they there to serve our country?) are savvy enough to see what qualities Obama offers to this moment in history, and he will work with them. They and Obama are smart.

Thank you!

Athena

Anonymous said...

Bill and Hillary were not the president, Bill was. Bill and Hillary aren't running now, Hillary is.

Bill's experience was his experience. Hillary's experience, in that era, was a LOT easier to get via being the first lady. It's not hard to comment, attend a function, participate in whatever you want--it's just not refused by most interested parties.

In the senate she has experience. Of her own. Not in someone else's presidency. We haven't a clue what she got on her own in that frame. She has experience now, running and surviving.

Obama doesn't have a lot of experience, but he is maybe free of so many critics and enemies, so much baggage to be sorted out: Like the public still seeing them Two For One. Or, like seeing them, her, whoever, as free from the opposite of experience: The Pale From The Past.

I feel most strongly on this subject because I think we have to keep McCain out of office, not put him in by what "Should Be."

I loved you post, and your writing. This is not a cricism, it's just a heartfelt comment, a feeling of definition and caution.

I made the raised apple coffecake, be over tomorrow, a.m.

B.J. said...

Eowyn:

(The hobbit is really, really angry. Did you notice?)

Particular to this post, Hillary “experienced” (very much so) the two areas I explored: the wrath of the Washington elite (politicians, Capote’s “social butterflies” and the media), AND the crash of HER health plan due to it bumping up against the existing deficit. That “experience” is undeniable.

I “have a clue” because I’ve read and listened to so many books about the Clintons. Right now, I’m listening to “Blinded by the Right” by David Brock – now there’s an interesting history!

I like Hillary. You like Obama, or, maybe better put, you don’t like Hillary. Disagreement doesn’t bother me at all. In better times, I would have attributed our differing opinions to “That’s why God made chocolate and vanilla.” Only now, I suppose that would be considered a racial comment in the light of current attitudes, LOL.

I’ll have the china out. It’s the “Apple” pattern by Franciscan Perfect for the coffee cake. See ya in the morning!

Anonymous said...

My guess is that the hobbit looked at a newspaper where you see all the different newstories all together--the continuous deaths juxstaposed against the campaign promises, GW's consternation that we are not happy and proud, financial hope for people who've ridiculously overextended themselves, and the standard article about Palestinians we've seen all of our lives, as if anyone will notice.

After you've waltzed in space, as the Hobbit has, it's pretty hard to bear earthtime.

I grew up with that china!

The strength of my opinions has started to come from the fact that I'm growing tired of hearing politicians. Oh, thank God for no TV.

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