And the Oscar (and Presidency) goes to Hillary?
By J. James Estrada (01/17/06)
Politicians are made of sugar and spice and everything nice until the moment they gain office. The transformation to “incumbent with a turf to protect” is instantaneous. Grandmothers become two-fisted cage fighters and good sons become the incarnation of their evil twins. Even former war heroes lose focus of the goal and fall to the latest interest group with a check in their sweaty palms. A greased cop cleaning up on protection money is purer than Ivory soap compared to the politician with a string attached to his or her back. They are able, from their positions of power, to inflict so much more damage than the average flat foot with late alimony payments and bookie problems. Washington has become Babylon in that regard.
The nation finds itself at war, but with the right man at the right time in office. The second term of George W. Bush concludes, however, in a mere three years. When that occurs, which direction will the new leader take us? A leader, by definition, has a vision, clarity of thought and a moral compass that inspires and builds legions of followers. But, a leader, ultimately, is a follower himself. What will the leader of this nation in 2008 be following?
Hillary Clinton desires to be that leader. Do you, or, better put; does anyone know what Mrs. Clinton is following after? President Bush is maligned by some and championed by others for following his heart, following his faith, following his father, and following the Bible. Mrs. Clinton is largely a mystery because she refuses to tell us what she is following. Who really knows her? Who has cared to explore her thoughts, or, discover her passions? Who has touched upon her philosophy not so much of public discourse, but of life itself? This is and will continue to be a mystery. She simply will not tell us.
The junior-in-name-only Senator from New York prepares for her upcoming presidential run in much the same way an actor prepares for the next role. Picture if you will television and big screen star William Shatner. Mr. Shatner is so overblown in his portrayals it has become his unique calling card. For a part in a movie that includes colors seemingly moving millions of miles an hour representing vast space travel and throwing himself at some green thing as a love interest, he does so with such gusto, we, the audience, are meant to believe he does so for the advancement of some great literary character. Meanwhile, in actuality, he is living the life of a cartoon, a dime store novel gumshoe on board a starship whistling past other worlds. With the tip of a hat and the sound of a trumpet he is a larger than life Saturday afternoon matinee idol. But after this glorious performance, the make-up comes off and the wardrobe goes into mothballs. The guy who just saved the galaxy is, that evening, driving off the lot in his real clothes.
Mrs. Clinton is playing a role these days as a hardliner on Defense. She supports the War in Iraq. She is playing the role of commander-in-chief. She calls for more armor protection for the troops. She is playing the role as moral arbitrator. She is against violent video games. When this masterful peacock dance is over and she has maneuvered herself past the iron gates at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, will the nation then wonder how we did this to ourselves? A bad actress has won Oscar before proving that all the glitters is not gold. Let’s not let life imitate art in that regard.
Copyright 2006 J. James Estrada
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