Comeback Chick

I was just visiting with a friend who is dealing with a pretty advanced cancer. He’s one of the people I really admire. For all sorts of reasons, how he has lived his life, and now how he’s dealing with very, very rough times.

Anyway, in a conversation that touched on this and that, eventually we turned to politics. Let me tell you, if you want to get a handle on things, find a little perspective, have a conversation about an upcoming election with someone who stands a good chance on not living to see how it turns out…

We spoke briefly of yesterday’s contest in New Hampshire. We only briefly talked about the Republican contest (How can anyone support a candidate who really, really doesn’t believe in evolution; is Romney really just a suit with absolutely no core convictions; and McCain, how weird to watch a politician who actually seems to have integrity – I can only hope the Republicans don’t nominate him, he would be formidable in a general election. Certainly a good thing they tend to dislike him. Electing Romney would be opening a box that you have no idea of what is inside. At least it would be interesting…)

Then we spoke of the Democrats. I continue to think Obama is something wonderful. My friend was a little less enthusiastic. It does begin to seem Edwards is no longer a serious contender. Rather Edwards’ beginning to look like his main significance will be in dividing the anti-Clinton vote…

(As an aside I’ve hardly ever called a national election. So, read what I write, look to the opposite conclusion and you may well call it…)

The conversation turned to Clinton.

While I hear Obama’s siren song, and thrill to it, I do think Clinton is the right person for this time.

We spoke of what we’d heard of the feeding frenzy of the Radio Right in the weekend running up to the election. I gather more than one speaker openly referred to her at “the bitch.” They were intoxicated with the joy of seeing their enemy dragged down. My friend had some opinions about this, but here I want to turn to my own thoughts…

I’m pleased that among other things New Hampshire women and many men noticed the current of sexism amongst the other hateful emotions being spewed by her enemies. And recoiled…

I feel I have few illusions about the Senator. She is a pol. She loves the cloakroom deal. She’s more conservative than I.

And she’s tough. And she knows how to work in Washington. (While some have suggested Obama is a showhorse, all have to agree Clinton proved herself to be a workhorse…)

And I think she’s ready emotionally, intellectually, viscerally to lead this nation in these next very, very dangerous years.

So, congrats to the Comeback Chick!

May you make it all the way to the White House.