Fixated

A couple of eons ago, before the eon of the just-concluded primary season, Fleetwood Mac’s “Don’t Stop (Thinking About Tomorrow)” was the leitmotif of the first Clinton Presidential campaign. At a level of irony worthy of Shakespeare, the same unrelenting fixation on the future that served her husband’s candidacy so well has helped doom hers.

Hillary’s chosen path, from the moment she and Bill struck their Faustian deal back in Arkansas, led straight to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Well, perhaps not straight. Along the way were some minor detours – Whitewater, bimbo eruptions, impeachment proceedings and the like. Through it all however, Hillary’s gaze remained tightly, unwaveringly fixed on the prize.

But focusing only on the future makes it difficult to either remember yesterday or take note of today. Having the nomination, in fact having been anointed the inevitable candidate, why pay attention to anything this side of the Democratic convention?

This might have worked if everyone else in the room had been reading from the same script. Oops. From out of the weeds comes this one-term Senator with a funny name, no record to speak of, and some crazy sky pie message of change. And starts winning, plowing through the rest of the contenders like the New York Giants playing the “B” team of Smithtown Elementary.

To which Hillary’s response is. . .pretty much nothing. Or close enough to it until it’s clear the S.S. Clinton is headed for the rocks at great speed, at which point ensues much confusion, and lots of the kind of dumb mistakes people make while running around like their hair’s on fire. Which, of course, only worsens Hillary’s standing in the eyes of many of those people not already enlisted in her army of the disillusioned, disadvantaged, and otherwise dissed.

Looking over the myriad lessons of history, Hillary could have picked up on the suspicion, if not outright antipathy commonly felt towards those who would don the crown before the coronation. The mighty brought low is not only a theme mossy with age, but exceeded in popularity perhaps only by the love triangle. Admittedly, there’s something of a schizophrenic view of ambition and humility as desirable traits. But all “I’m entitled” and no “Aw, shucks” is a foolproof recipe for failed dreams.

And as Hillary considers her options, she might modify the lyrics of “Don’t Stop” a bit:

Why not think about times to come,
And not about the things that you’ve done,
If your life was bad to you,
There’s always two-oh-one-two.

Don Imus

What to add to the Don Imus media feeding frenzy? In the sea of ink and gigantobytes of internet traffic, little seems to have been made of the stupendous hypocrisy of the most vocally outraged citizens. Unlike the original targets of Mr. Imus’s scorn who, to their great credit, have comported themselves with uncommon dignity and restraint, these panderers to popular outrage have climbed yet again on their horses of high dudgeon, seemingly disdainful of any thought incapable of reduction to five words on a picket sign.

Where, one idly wonders, were these worthies at any random time in the past oh, say twenty years, while the media and arts have been as much as anything else about re-defining the lowest common cultural denominator in a downward direction? Certainly Mr. Imus’s characterization was misogynistic and racially sulfurous. And likely beyond apology, as the ultimate failure of his serial mea culpa’s would suggest. Compared to the average gangsta rap offering however, his words seem almost quaintly innocent. Those voicing outrage seem to be turning a blind eye to the larger context in their gleeful rush to flog one newsworthy individual.

Quoth the good Reverend Sharpton (ever eager to leap on any bandwagon headed for a crowd): “This has never been about Don Imus. This is about the use of public airwaves for bigoted, racist speech.” Oh, really? One must assume this good man of the cloth is too engaged in the Lord’s work to listen to the radio, download a popular song, or for that matter spend much time in the marketplace where bigoted, racist speech is too often the lingua franca. Breathtaking indeed is the disingenuousness of laying into Mr. Imus after years of ignoring hundreds of less prominent, though equally reprehensible contributors to the mediasphere.

Similarly, and closer to the fray, Les Moonves, CBS’s Chief Executive proclaimed himself shocked, SHOCKED by “the effect language like this has on our young people, particularly young people of color trying to make their way in society” and then cited that consideration as having “weighed most heavily on our minds as we made our decision.” Thank heavens. One might otherwise have fingered the financial impact of the departure of Procter & Gamble, General Motors, and others from the show’s list of sponsors.

Beyond the numbingly predictable protest marches and self-promoting hype, what might yet usefully come of this sorry episode is a recognition that draining the swamp of sexism and bigotry calls far more for pro-action on all fronts than the sacrifice of one intemperate individual. At a fundamental level, the race, sex, and notoriety of one fomenter neither differentiates nor excuses the insult. To hold otherwise belies as much prejudice as the most hateful epithet. As we are all diminished by crudity and meanness of spirit, we each have a responsibility to reject it, however and whenever it raises its loathsome head.

The Candidates. Debate?

Good evening, and welcome to the 1,537th debate between the two contenders for the Democratic Presidential nomination. The first question will go to the candidate selected by a mysterious process involving massively random number generators, the karbala, and the flip of a 2007 penny. Senator Clinton:

You’ve noted on several occasions the value of the experience you gained as the result of your husband’s occupancy of the White House. I’d like to get a little more specific about that. Is it accurate to say that you, among other duties, were ceremonially in charge of the Easter egg roll each year?

Well, yes, but I don’t quite see. . .

Thank you. Next question for Senator Obama. Senator, is it true that on a particular day in 1973, you were walking down the exact same street at the same time as an individual since convicted of violating Chicago leash laws?

I don’t remember exactly, but I suppose. . .

I think we’ll have to leave it there, Senator. Senator Clinton, I’d like to ask you to outline your position on apple pie.

I’d be glad to. To me, apple pie, along with God and Motherhood, are what make this country great. You’ll note I said “Motherhood,” an area where I think I have expertise far beyond that of my opponent. Now, I have a detailed plan to increase the distribution of apple pie to as many citizens as possible, beginning within 60 days of my taking office. In fact. . .

A quick follow-up to that, Senator. What about people who prefer peach pie?

That’s a really excellent question, and I’m happy to answer it. Diversity of choice is extremely important to me, as I’m sure it is to every citizen. My plan would have numerous, built-in protections to guarantee that people could have . . .

Thank you, Senator. Senator Obama, could you share with us your position on whether Pluto is actually a planet or an asteroid?

Well, I’ve given this matter a great deal of thought. And it seems to me that “planet” and “asteroid” are inherently limiting concepts, and that what we need is a fundamental change in the way we look at this problem. And so within the first 30 days of my administration. . .

Thank you, Senator. Next question is for you, Senator Clinton, and please pardon my getting just a little bit personal here. I couldn’t help but notice that you’re wearing a medium grey suit tonight. Is that a sign of your reluctance to take a black or white position?

You know, I think the issue of race is one of the most difficult we have to deal with. But more importantly. . .

Same question for you, Senator Obama, although to be fair your suit seems to be dark blue.

Yes it is, and it’s actually close to the same color as one worn by an individual who I’ve respected all my life. He. . .

I’m sorry, Senator, we’re about out of time. To close, we’ll let each of you address one of the topics from the following list: the war in Iraq, the cost of healthcare, rising unemployment, the housing market, global warming, or . . . I’m sorry, just a minute. . .Well, it seems that’s all we have time for. Thank you for watching and we hope this evening’s debate has been useful.