I was an Edwards supporter, and after Iowa I switched to Obama. My opposition to Clinton is nothing personal; I am rabidly against royal political dynasties.
Can you name the countries that have elected the wife of a former president to be a president herself? And no, Argentina is not one of them. (Corrections from astute commenters: Phillipines and of course, Argentina, twice, but not with Evita)
They are Bangladesh, Guyana, and Panama. All fine countries, in their own ways, but of a certain status, shall we say. It may yet be a while before the dollar sinks to parity with the Bengali taka or the Pakistani rupee, but I must say I don't like the direction.
But this diary is about something else.
I am not amazed by the nearly delusional tenacity of the Clinton campaign; neither am I infuriated, but this requires great effort.
Let me explain - I do not expect politics to be rational. I see it, as do most voters, through the lens of my own experience; candidates represent archetypes in my own life.
In that respect I am like many older women I know who do not trust the tall, handsome Obama. In their personal archetype, they see, in the somewhat frumpy and aging Clinton, a reflection of themselves staring back from the polished surface of some long ago encountered glass ceiling.
It is in this swamp of intensely personal, unacknowledged dreamscape of emotion and irrationality where most of us make the decisions we bring to that secret booth on election day.
This is the private space, the vanity mirror where resentment, hostility, and anger put on their make-up and go forth to face the world as seemingly objective political convictions. Of course it's a lie, there is nothing non-personal about it.
I start from this premise, everything is intentional, and worse, most of it is unacknowledged. It may not be true, but it's an extremely useful approach to interpersonal relationships. And of course, it is also true.
I warn you Obama supporters, the frustration and anger you feel is the point of it all. That maddening passive-aggressive refusal to apply your fancy masculine logic or arithmetic to the problem at hand is purely intentional. Making you angry? Good! Now you know how she feels.
Ah, the sweet joy of anger and frustration shared. This is personal melodrama, politics at its most intimate, and admit it, won't you; it's getting under your skin.
When you hear her say 'I'm looking forward to the next three months of this campaign..." does it make you blood boil? Yeah, it does. And you know, that's got to feel almost as good as winning itself. Because in fact, that's the point.
Never underestimate the fury...
And the corollary, to be fair:
Never underestimate the anger of a patient man.
There is a way out of this: maintain your composure; put aside your anger; bite your tongue. Hold your temper.
Be of good cheer. Have a good time.
Hang on to your sense of humor, most of all. Let it roll off you like water off a duck's back. You are allowed to take secret glee in just how maddening that is, you superior acting jerk!
Win, and even worse, be gracious in victory.
Thus we will maintain our dignity in all this, and emerge able to love and work again.
