For now the country seems to be in a state of suspended animation, or at
least what passes for one in this always dynamic, not to say hyperactive,
society. As all await Tuesday's results, speculation takes the place of any
actual news. The State of he Union never seemed so purely ceremonial an
address.
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But what appears drift may be only flux as Americans sort things out before
moving ahead, as usual, in all directions - economically, socially,
militarily, politically and of course technologically, this being the land
of the free, home of the brave, and natural habitat of tinkerers. The only
thing about the future one can be sure of is that it'll be interesting.
Who would have thought a year ago, or even six months ago, that Barack Obama
would be coming on like this year's John F. Kennedy, complete with Caroline
and Teddy's endorsement? Or that John McCain would start looking like a
prophet instead of the last man standing in support of this war in Iraq. The
candidate who was in favor of the Surge before it had a name now has made
the war the centerpiece of his advancing campaign - instead of the issue no
Republican once dared mention.
And who would have thought that Bill Clinton's unmatchable political
instincts would have so deserted him in South Carolina? It was embarrassing.
Here was Bill Clinton making precisely the wrong analogy when he tried to
pigeonhole his spouse's opponent as another Jesse Jackson, meaning just
another black candidate.
Anyone with the slightest political intuition would know that Barack Obama's
campaign this year bears no real or even much of an imaginary resemblance to
Jesse Jackson's in the 1980s. Senator Obama's whole appeal is different,
just as his background, approach, and simple but eloquent style are
different. A politician as astute as Bill Clinton must have known that, but
what th' heck, he saw his opening, even if it was below the belt, and he
took it.
Naturally the tactic blew up in his (and Miss Hillary's) face. If this
doesn't teach William J. Clinton to stay out of politics this tricky year,
nothing will. And of course nothing will. Unless he's talking politics
(endlessly) the man would just dry up. Like a little puddle in a dry
Arkansas August.
All of which brings to mind the saddest book title I've spotted all this
still young year: "Life's a Campaign" by, of course, rootin' tootin' Chris
Matthews, the very personification of the political shout shows. Speaking of
life, political junkies ought to get one.
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How can you tell the difference between the usual empty assertions in a
presidential campaign and those of any substance? Simple. Just imagine what
the presidential candidate attacking some rival would have to say if said
rival prevailed - and asked the candidate to run for vice president on the
same ticket. Suppose, say, that Mitt Romney turns out to be John McCain's
running mate in the end. What would happen to all of Mitt's attempts to
paint his opponent as nothing but a Democrat in Republican clothing? He'd
doubtless ask the rest of us to overlook his earlier, incautious statements
as nothing but "campaign rhetoric." That's the term Wendell Willkie used
when, after being defeated by FDR in 1940, he teamed up with FDR to prepare
the country for war. Unity has a way of returning even after the most
hard-fought campaigns.
If she wins the Democratic presidential nomination, of course Hillary
Clinton will be able to unite the party - as no one else could. Naturally,
I'm talking about the Republican Party.
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Every four years, the country throws a continental conniption fit before the
gracious concession speeches are made and the next president is given a
fresh start and maybe even a brief honeymoon with public opinion. The
experience can prove therapeutic in the end, like making up after a lover's
quarrel.
There are exceptions to this wholesome rule, when the whole future of the
country does indeed turn out to be at stake, as in 1860, and disaster
follows. But in general, partisan and even intraparty passions dissipate and
the country moves on, does what it has to do, and, despite sporadic
tragedies, defeats, betrayals and disappointments, continues its climb.
There are good reasons why sometimes it seems the whole world wants to move
here, and among them are the remarkable continuity of our history and
stability of our system, even if those blessings may be obscured for a
season by all the rhetorical fireworks of a presidential campaign year.
So enjoy this brief lull while it lasts, which won't be long. As always,
surprises await.