In writing about a collection of essays, the challenge seems to be to find a common thread--is there a way to take the various threads and see an entire tapestry?
The title of the book comes out of a Thomas Paine pamphlet in which he talks about "sunshine patriots". If there is an overall theme it has to do with finding our patriotism within the context of a modern American life.
The book as an overall meal might not be as satisfying as the morsels found in the smaller servings.
I loved the essay on Presidential Libraries. Johnson's approach (don't hide the warts), was admirable but it's hard to know how Clinton applies that lesson to his administration. A blue stained dress may have been significant at some level, but do you really want that kind of thing in a Presidential Library?
Vowell obviously loved Al Gore. She loved his nerdiness and she hated the "drive-by journalism" (that's a Rush Limbaugh term) that perpetuated his Pinocchio problem.
I think, whatever good qualities Gore had as a person and as a candidate, he did have a Pinocchio problem. The episode that she wrote about from Concord High School was meant to show that his problem was overrated. I don't agree.
Here is the actual quote in context:
"It (hazardous chemical waste) had seeped down into the water table and contaminated her family's well and the wells of other families in that rural area. I called for a congressional investigation and a hearing. I looked around the country for other sites like that. I found a little place in upstate New York called Love Canal. I had the first hearing on that issue and Toone, Tennessee--that was the one you didn't hear of. But that was the one that started it all."
The problem was that the last sentance was reported as "But I was the one that started it all." (instead of THAT--being the problems in Toone, Tennessee).
Vowell makes a fair comment about the importance of accurate reporting and the unfairness of political pundents jumping on misquotes to prove an overarching theme.
However, look at the quote carefully. Gore's message was not as much how a high school student got involved and made a real difference. It was "I called"; "I looked"; "I had".
The Pinocchio problem revealed an underlying insecurity that he had (has?) with his ability. He did seem to want to make it seem like more than it was when he didn't need to. He had ability oozing out of his ears. His opponent had delusions of ability. Gore had insecurity about his ability.
It was an odd choice we had in 2000. Let us stipulate that America made the wrong choice. But I think that Americans made the choice with their eyes open. They choose swagger over intelligence. They choose the jock over the nerd.
Perhaps we would be better off to look at our candidates the same way that we look at Presidential Libraries. Presuming that we will not find a Messianic Nerd, perhaps we can find a human with faults who is honest and curious and intelligent and caring and secure in his own skin.
The two other parts of the book that I really enjoyed (and have shared with others) is the episode in the Gore/Bush debates where Bush needs to answer a complex question about Bosnia. He completely blows it. Gore steps in and gives an intelligent, informed, gracious answer. He does it in a way that is not condecending or insulting to Bush.
The small quote from Larry Gatlin about Rosa Parks is just too wonderful. It is on page 119. I may print it out and frame it for when I need to smile.