Ah, the primary season. To political junkies, policy wonks and news bloggers there's nothing else quite like it. It's kind of like Christmas, the Super Bowl and Mardi Gras all rolled into one!
One thing you can count on however during this time of polling, pontificating and instant "analysis" is that everyone will have an opinion and almost no one will get it right. Including yours truly. But this much is clear to me post-New Hampshire--anyone who is not crazy about the prospect of Hillary Clinton as the eventual Democratic nominee had better watch their words and not look like they're kicking her when she's down. Because, as we've already seen, women, veteran politicos and much of the blogosphere will rally around ol' Hillary and invite the following paradox: the weaker she seems, the more likely it is that she wins.
There's an ugly arithmetic at work here. No one in the white dominated media will want to pick on Barack Obama for fear that someone, somewhere, will play the race card (don't leave home without it!) But misogyny is even more ingrained and insidious in a way than even racism. Even though Hillary Clinton has more advantages than any candidate in either party, her one historic "disadvantage" almost trumps them all.
Hillary Clinton is a woman.
She is more prone to get emotional.
Under stress or duress, if she appears to "crack", the media piles on wondering if she's "tough enough" or "faking it." Those who are protective of Hillary (predominately, but not exclusively, women) even if they haven't been overly supportive of her to this point, will feel a need to rally around their old standard bearer.
Combine this reflex with the Clinton machine's peerless ability to manipulate the press and their almost unassailable war chest of funds and the whole thing becomes akin to cornering a kitty cat and then poking at it with a stick. Don't be surprised if kitty shows her claws and fights back.
Look, Clinton should not be viewed as the presumptive nominee (as she was early in the race) nor should she be viewed as a scrappy underdog fighting for her life (she has too much money, too much name recognition and too much of a centrist position for that). It's a long road to the White House and every bend in the road takes us in new and unpredictable directions. The important thing to remember is that regardless of how things play out, it appears likely that we are in the midst of the most important and groundbreaking presidential race in U.S. history, one that will most likely wind up with either an African-American or a woman as the nominee of one of this country's two major parties.
If like myself and many other voters, you're hoping for true change and a repudiation of this country's Bush-Clinton rut, you'll leave Hillary alone, asking her the questions that need to be asked while being patient enough to let the race play out and both Clinton and Obama to hone their messages to a fine sheen for American consumption. That way sympathy and feminist reflexology won't wind up being the dominant factor in sending either of these candidates to the White House. What the candidates are saying will.
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Finally, My Top Five Movies of 2007
I know in an earlier blog, I said I wouldn't rank my favorite movies of the past year in a conventional year-end list. But I thought about and realized, how much fun is that? Some of my friends have been asking how I'd rank them, so I thought I'd put together a semi-final list, with brief comments on my five faves and then (a la Roger Ebert) a listing of "silver medalists". I might post one final final list (think Movie List 2.0) if I get a chance to see ATONEMENT, CHARLIE WILSON'S WAR, THE GREAT DEBATERS or THERE WILL BE BLOOD some time before the Super Bowl (my arbitrary deadline). But for now, here it goes and I hope you enjoy:
1. JUNO (written by Diablo Cody and directed by Jason Reitman. Stars Ellen Page, Jason Bateman, Jennifer Garner and Michael Cera) - by a hair I like this comedy a little better than I liked the number two movie on the list. Brilliant characterizations, lacerating one liners, intelligent plotting, great acting and scenes that touch the heart without jerking the tears make this Sundance triumph one of the most original and affecting movies to come along in years. If there's any justice, Ellen Page will beat out the field to win the Oscar as Best Actress.
2. NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN (directed by the Coen Brothers, based on the novel by Cormac McCarthy. Stars Tommy Lee Jones, Javier Bardem & Josh Brolin) - A real headscratcher of an ending shouldn't distract from the appreciation of this bleak, minimalist thriller that examines themes of morality, redemption and justice--just to name a few.
3. RATATOUILLE (written and directed by Brad Bird) - to me, this is a viable Best Picture nominee, but it will have to settle for being merely the best animated film of the year. Not just for kids, RATATOUILLE is a classic "rat of water" tale about following your dream against all odds and daring to be different in a world that values conformity almost above all else.
4. THE NAMESAKE (directed by Mira Nair. Stars Tabu, Kal Penn) - I've written plenty about this movie already. If you haven't seen it yet, rent it, it is now available on DVD.
5. SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET (directed by Tim Burton, based on the musical by Steven Sondheim. Stars Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Timothy Spall and Alan Rickman). A bloody good time at the movies, featuring a terrific performance as both a singer and actor by Depp and just the right choices in reworking the old musical by director Burton. Dark and twisted, but it doesn't take itself too seriously and it's steeped in atmosphere. Watch for Sasha Baron Cohen ("Borat") in a brief but memorable turn as the rival barber Pirelli.
Silver Medalists (as of 1/10/08): Knocked Up, American Gangster, In The Valley of Elah, The Bourne Supremacy, A Mighty Heart, The Kingdom.
Coming soon - my favorite music downloads from 2007 and more political shit.
Peace...
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