Category Archives: Elections 2008

Updated: Hillary's Achilles Ankles

Elections 2008, Hillary Clinton

Joe Sobran on Hillary:

” -she has ankles like a rogue elephant. Can she keep them concealed until the primaries? Those ankles may be the touchiest political secret since FDR’s frail health in 1944. Her voice reminds you of an elephant too. A really angry one. If Obama is smart, he will challenge her to debate before a live audience in Bermuda shorts—”

Update: The discussion began with a witty quip about Hillary qua ugly woman (Alex’s explanation, hereunder, best encapsulates why the comment is fun and apt), and has descended into dreary, leftist, politically correct anti-lookism. There are plenty ugly women who speak in sonorous tones, comport themselves with femininity and grace, and have a grasp of their intellectual limitations. Sobran’s quip is great (not so much his assorted historical denials). The entire package that is Hillary should be stamped “return-to-sender.”

As to cultural differences in the obsession with ditzy youths and their looks: I did not find it in other places I lived —not in Europe, not in South Africa (where Africans look up to elders), and not in Israel. Fancy worshipping a demographic at the height of its stupidity! The American workplace —high-tech especially —is also obsessed with the idea that young people are so creative. Bull; older techies have a better intellectual grounding than the current crop.

Updated: Hillary’s Achilles Ankles

Elections 2008, Hillary Clinton

Joe Sobran on Hillary:

” -she has ankles like a rogue elephant. Can she keep them concealed until the primaries? Those ankles may be the touchiest political secret since FDR’s frail health in 1944. Her voice reminds you of an elephant too. A really angry one. If Obama is smart, he will challenge her to debate before a live audience in Bermuda shorts—”

Update: The discussion began with a witty quip about Hillary qua ugly woman (Alex’s explanation, hereunder, best encapsulates why the comment is fun and apt), and has descended into dreary, leftist, politically correct anti-lookism. There are plenty ugly women who speak in sonorous tones, comport themselves with femininity and grace, and have a grasp of their intellectual limitations. Sobran’s quip is great (not so much his assorted historical denials). The entire package that is Hillary should be stamped “return-to-sender.”

As to cultural differences in the obsession with ditzy youths and their looks: I did not find it in other places I lived —not in Europe, not in South Africa (where Africans look up to elders), and not in Israel. Fancy worshipping a demographic at the height of its stupidity! The American workplace —high-tech especially —is also obsessed with the idea that young people are so creative. Bull; older techies have a better intellectual grounding than the current crop.

Oprah’s Obama

Democrats, Elections 2008, Politics, Pop-Culture, The Zeitgeist

Before being swept up in it, let’s trace the genesis of Barack Obama mania for a moment. It was started by Oprah Winfrey. I’m not saying he ought to be discounted because his popularity is of the Queen of Kitsch’s making. For one, it’s too late for that. Oprah is a powerful person. However, since the media have taken on her mantle and kept the momentum going, we seemed to have forgotten that Oprah introduced Obama to the public.

Obama is a nice enough man. Whereas most candidates are quite ignoble, he’s merely mediocre. I think he was against the war, which ought to elevate him above The Hildebeest among Democrats. Republicans won’t have worthy candidates, unless Tom Tancredo or Ron Paul decides to run.

In any event, it doesn’t hurt to remember that Obama was launched by the confessional queen and in many ways represents the Oprah-ization of American life, down to his names.

Had he been christened “Barak,” he’d be the namesake of an impressive “military general in the Book of Judges” in the Hebrew Bible. Alas, if his mother intended to so name him, she misspelled “Barak.” If this indeed is the genesis of his name, it would also be emblematic of contemporary America.

Obama’s middle name — “Hussein” — he shares with Saddam and many millions of Muslims. That too provides a snapshot of modern America.

Oprah's Obama

Democrats, Elections 2008, Politics, Pop-Culture, The Zeitgeist

Before being swept up in it, let’s trace the genesis of Barack Obama mania for a moment. It was started by Oprah Winfrey. I’m not saying he ought to be discounted because his popularity is of the Queen of Kitsch’s making. For one, it’s too late for that. Oprah is a powerful person. However, since the media have taken on her mantle and kept the momentum going, we seemed to have forgotten that Oprah introduced Obama to the public.

Obama is a nice enough man. Whereas most candidates are quite ignoble, he’s merely mediocre. I think he was against the war, which ought to elevate him above The Hildebeest among Democrats. Republicans won’t have worthy candidates, unless Tom Tancredo or Ron Paul decides to run.

In any event, it doesn’t hurt to remember that Obama was launched by the confessional queen and in many ways represents the Oprah-ization of American life, down to his names.

Had he been christened “Barak,” he’d be the namesake of an impressive “military general in the Book of Judges” in the Hebrew Bible. Alas, if his mother intended to so name him, she misspelled “Barak.” If this indeed is the genesis of his name, it would also be emblematic of contemporary America.

Obama’s middle name — “Hussein” — he shares with Saddam and many millions of Muslims. That too provides a snapshot of modern America.