Hillary and Me
65
Here's How We Are Alike
She was born in the late 40s. Me too.
She had a mother who encouraged her. Me too.
She took ballet lessons. Me too.
She went to a prestigious American women's college. Me too.
She graduated college at the end of the 60s. Me too.
In her college years, she had long hair pulled against the back of her neck and a studious demeanor. Me too. I would have worn the John Lennon glasses, but I didn't need them.
She had a family who encouraged her to engage in politics. Me too.
She had one daughter. Me too.
And that's where the similarities end.
Here's How We Are Different
She had an authoritarian father who was a presence in her life until he died. I had no father who was a presence in my life.
She had a mother who encouraged her to beat up those who would beat her up. My mother never gave me that advice.
She delivered her college commencement address to resounding cheers. I delivered no address, in fact, I had no idea who I was or where I was going. I was immersed in the "flower-power", "good feel" sentiments of my time. My classmates counted on me to design kaftans, Peter Max mini skirts, and Op Art pant suits. I had a different agenda. The only reason I didn't join a commune up in the Catskills was because my mother would have killed me.
She went to law school. Not me. I took my LSATs and failed miserably. Two years after I graduated college, a paralegal training program turned me down.
She married a ladies' man with a track record of indiscretions in marriage and she remains with him to this day. Not me. I married a faithful man, and I left him.
She has a rock solid faith in God. Not me. I will have troubles with the church until I die.
She became First Lady and is now running for the presidency of this country. Not me, needless to say.
Hillary reminds me of my best friend in college, who was a super-achiever. Karen would have challenged Hillary in any debate, with passion, intellect, and determination. Karen also wore those glasses, and she also became a lawyer.
So here I am, looking at the primary vote, which for me is in April. For whom am I to vote?
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For Love of Politics: Bill and Hillary Clinton: The White House Years
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Living History
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Her Way: The Hopes and Ambitions of Hillary Rodham Clinton
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Hillary: The Politics of Personal Destruction
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Voting Day Coming Up
I would be happy with either Hillary or Barack at the helm of this country, because neither of them is Republican. I don't want to see another Republican displaying the arrogant, bullying, self-righteous demeanor that Bush has portrayed to the world about our country for the last eight years. Even more than that, I believe both Hillary and Barack can lead this country into a future that we know will be defined by continuing international unrest, over-population, and degradation of the world's environment. I believe that both Hillary and Barack can do this through their energy, personal commitment, and intelligence. I do believe they are listening to the American people.
With that said, I can't identify with Barack. He didn't come up in the era I did, or with the experiences I had. Although he has a great speaking posture and voice, his rhetoric is empty. He says a lot of words, but they have little substance. Karen would make mince-meat out of him. Yet, he has charisma, a great track record in his state, and a compelling message that can rally us to change the way politics have ruled this country for decades. And that's hard to beat. Who doesn't want that change?
Hillary, on the other hand, speaks to me about what I could have done, didn't do, but could do going forward. She's not a quitter. She's been through the hard times that anyone, woman or man, can understand. I identify with her, partly because we both came of age at the same time, and partly because I am a woman, too. But more, Hillary and Karen would have a debate to rock my soul.
My Daughter and I Vote
On primary day, my daughter and I will go to the polls, cast our votes, and then have breakfast.
In the days before casting our votes, we will already have discussed who we are going to vote for.
My daughter says that Hillary's her choice, because Hillary already knows where the bathrooms are, and because she's got Bill behind her. Now that's pretty powerful.
All I will say to my daughter before we go to the polls and cast our votes is, "I'm not sure. I'll let you know at breakfast."
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Comments
I just read your hub about Hillary or Barack. We are so in this together. My mother loves Oprah, but she can't reconcile herself to the fact that the big O is in Barack's court. O is such a wonderful person and personality, to my mother, but the reasons O chose Barack do not flit past my mother's mind. Well done, dafla...I love your hub!
Wow. What state are you from? Based on this hub, I suppose that you'll be voting for Clinton on election day????? Keep in mind that she is not the true face of change as she will keep the Bush-Clinton cycle going. OK, I'm saying "Bush-Clinton" instead of "Clinton Bush" because consider the presidents from 1988 until the present:
1988 - 1992: "Old" Bush George H W BUSH
1992 - 2000: Bill CLINTON
2000 - 2008: George W BUSH
It looks like the White House keeps going from Clinton to Bush and if it goes to Hillary CLINTON in 2008, that doesn't like sound change to me. Now, the makeup of Congress CHANGED in 2006 with the Democrats taking back control of both chambers of Congress for the first time since '94. Do you still want Clinton in the White House in January '09?????
fishskin, thank you so much for your comment.
I don't think that there is or was a Bush-Clinton cycle. There is history in this country of families in the presidency, as in the Bushs, Roosevelts, and the Kennedys (if the Kennedys had not been assasinated). There is also a cycle in Washington which is propelled by insiders. Maybe this is what you are thinking of. Hillary is a Washington insider, whereas Barack is not. As I said in my hub, I'll let you all know who I vote for when our primary is over in April.
But I really like the cycle you described. Would one of the Bush's children be the president after Hillary?
Best regards, Sally.
Good one.
Thanks for sharing
I really enjoyed this hub because Hillary is definitely who I would to be president.
Your daughter is a lucky lady to have you as a mom. And you are a success. I consider myself to be emensely successful. Why? Because I am still a part of my two grown childrens life and It just doesn't get any better than that.
THANKS NEIL
Any Democrat is better than any Republican, Sally's Trove. I enjoyed your story, and I agree either Hillary or Barack would be far superior to the warmongers of the GOP. I am concerned, however, that Hillary won't pledge to take our troops out of Iraq by 2013 and refuses to back a single payer health care program.
I believe there is a lot of substance behind Barack's rhetoric. And, he can hold his stand in a debate. I prefer either of the over McCain, or any other Republican, but Barack is by far my choice over Hilary.
It definitely seems to be a generational issue, from what I've observed in Seattle. But I also tend to agree with Barack's stand on the issues more than Hilary's (Iraq war from day one, just to name one).
I think Hilary says what you want to hear...do you really think she is so faithful to her God?
I won't vote for her just because she is a woman, although it would be fabulous to have a woman president. At the same time, I don't see her as a great female role model--not only because she stayed with a cheater, but for other reasons as well.
It was interesting reading this. Thanks for letting me have my say.
William, I agree. It is time for the GOP to step down. Maybe 4 consecutive years away from the administrative branch of government will give the GOP a chance to broaden its viewpoint, specifically achieving a field of vision that contains the peaceful and productive international involvement the US must realize if our heirs are going to survive into the next century.
Stacie, I'm new here to HP, and one of the things I love about participating in this community is that I can have MY say. ALL says are welcome!
Since I wrote this hub, much has happened in the Democratic campaign, some of it leaving a sour taste--backbiting, sniping, flat-out erroneous accusations, and more. I know that's all part of politics, but both candidates are looking less and less desireable as a result of some of their undignified, immature postures and malicious strategies. As I said earlier, I am not sure which Democratic candidate will get my vote. I still have 31 days to weigh the issues and learn more about the candidates.
To your question, Stacie, do I think Hillary is faithful to her god? That's what she says, that's what the news says. I couldn't possibly have an opinion about this, since she and I never had a conversation about the subject. A question that does make sense to me is, "Can fulfilling the responsibilities of President of the United States be compatible with a committed belief in Jesus as the Son of God?" And here I have to say, no.
It was interesting reading your comments, Stacie. It will take some time to refine my thoughts about them. Thanks so much for having your say in my direction!
Politics aside, this was a cute hub. A different take on Hillary I'll say.
I lived better when Bill was in the White House. He was never my moral and values guide....I have that already. He was a good president...I like Hillary. She's not a mystery. You know what you get with her and I think she will clean up after the 2nd Bush pretty well. We can not survive another Republican. I know they think they're God, but to coin Cheney's latest comment, "So?"
ha, You Go Hillary! Hang in there. Marisue
Whitney, it is a different take on Hillary. I can identify with her only so far. For Pete's sake, we grew up in the same time. But you know what? She had this tremendous drive that I didn't have. I was more like, "OK, so now what?" She was more like, "OK. So here's what I'm going to do about it." I admit to being very influenced by my personal history, as opposed to my rational head, during this election. Let's just see where it goes. I have until April 22.
Marisue, the Clinton years were good ones, especially in terms of international relations. At the time of his presidency, the self-centric press and certain segments of our American citizens chose to focus on Clinton's sexual indescretions.
For cryin' out loud, he was a guy and he did his thing. And his wife knew it. Not that I condone it. But look at Thomas Jefferson and the legacy he spawned with his relationship with his slave, Sally Hemings. Jefferson was and is a most revered founding father of this country. Yet, he had his indescretions, too.
I'm feeling my dander is up at the moment.
I am thinking about your comment, "...she will clean up after the 2nd Bush pretty well." And that makes me think about that commercial for a product I won't name, but it got put on trial because it doesn't clean up as well as the current "swifter picker upper". LOL.
Yes, Hillary has to hang in there. The numbers are not looking good right now.
Thank you so much for your comments. Who thought this would be the roller coaster it is?
I know. I've seen my share of elections...this one has me so aggravated. We're all getting off track. Our poor world needs this country and we've got to have someone in charge with a brain and heart. I'm not trusting of Obama, so many questions come to mind. That in itself sends me warnings.
Off the subject, ( I do enjoy talking with you ) -- I'm so new on here....how does one make money our their hubs? I'm connected to Ad Sense and will begin to ad pictures and things to my hubs as I get that figured out...ha but I'm wondering if it takes awhile to get the google ads to pay off? Have you been on the hub long? Thanks Marisue
marisue, I am so complimented by your asking me how to make money on hubs. I'm new here, only 5 weeks, and I have no idea yet! But there's a rich body of hubs on the subject, and there are many forum topics that deal with it, too. So scout around the hubs and the forum topics.
About pictures on your hubs, that took me a while to figure out. I do think HP could be more specific in their help documentation about how to insert pictures, text, videos, and affiliate blocks, and how to order the capsules and manipulate their positions in relation to each other. That would make it a lot easier for newbies like me.
Meanwhile, have fun here, as I am having, and I know that many things will fall into place.
Best regards, S.
Well, Rome wasn't built in a day, eh? I'll just have to burn the midnight oil, but I'm hardly thinking I'll get rich as being poor seems to take all my time. See you on the next hub!!
I'll prowl around on the help section and the hubs with info on making the big bucks and see what I can sniff out,
being the great detective that I am....as a retired cops wife...there's got to be some sneakiness left in me ....buried deep....? lol Marisue
I love your spirit! We are in this together. Any investigative techniques you have access to that you want to share, please do!
I don't think HP is the place to get rich, but I can tell you I sure am getting an education from some wonderful hubbers.
All the best to you, marisue.
So much has happened since I wrote this hub. I did cast my vote for Senator Clinton in our April primaries, and told my daughter my intentions a few days earlier. (We both did enjoy our breakfast together on voting day.) We both agreed that bathroom knowledge was important.
But seriously, watching Senator Clinton through the months brought on even deeper admiration. She's a fighter. Yes, she has some of the old school Dem clubbers to back her, such as our Governor Rendell, so some may say she's on the inside and would not make the changes we need. However, that word "change" got beaten up pretty badly in these last months. In fact, it is now full of empty rhetoric, a ghost of an admirable idea.
I've seen Senator Obama defend himself about his stands on issues, his associations (as in the Rev. Wright), and his ill-chosen words.
We don't need a President who defends himself. We need someone who stands up to the pressure, nails down the issues and addresses them squarely, and knowing where the bathrooms are doesn't hurt.
working
dafla says:
5 months ago
ROTFLMAO!! "She knows where the bathrooms are, and she has Bill behind her." I love that statement. That's what I like about them. They accept each other, warts and all, and don't let anyone even try to tell you Hillary doesn't have some warts, and I'm sure we'll see a lot more of them once she's President.
I was a "flower child" too, although I'm a few years (5) behind you and Hillary. I loved that time, and I too, wish I had been more "hit the books" and less "peace and love". But that's who I am, and I'm comfortable with it. Not everyone can be a leader, or who would be following them?
Great hub.