Politics trans-Atlantic style
Usually, down here in the remote wastelands of rural France, the world of politics passes us by. No bad thing I have to say. Occasional murmurings about Jacques Chirac and his lack of activity reach us, as France prepare for next years presidential elections, and the Economist likes to remind us every week that Tony Blair can’t quite bring himself to name his leaving date, despite Gordon Brown and his friends saying ‘But you promised, Tony!’ at the start of every ministerial meeting.
America also have their challenges ahead, of course. Who could possibly replace the charming Mr Bush when the time arrives? Well, Mrs B tells me there is a candidate that deserves to win, and will win. Strong of character and a natural leader of people, decisive, full of energy and a figurehead of the community, yet a caring mother at the same time.
Well, at first I thought Mrs B was talking about herself, but turns out she was talking about Hillary Rodham Clinton. She has been researching the previous First Lady and current New York senator – for reasons I have yet to fathom – and has decided that they are really very alike. Now I am sure that Mrs Clinton would be flattered by this comparison, but I thought I had best check a few facts, just to be sure.
Mrs Clinton has two younger brothers, as does Mrs B. Mrs Clinton started as a Republican then changed to be a Democrat, so pretty similar there as well, showing ‘flexibility’ in decisions. She got married a couple of years after University, as did Mrs B. So perhaps they really are similar?
After those early years, Hillary Clinton spent a life in high circles, shaping public opinion, working as a top lawyer, being First Lady of the USA and fighting for the rights of women and children. Meanwhile Mrs B was Human Resources manager for BT. Mrs Clinton chaired the Task Force on National Health Reform, while Mrs B looked for a bandage. Not really quite the same, I think.
Even more glaringly different, for the last few years Hillary Clinton has been a popular New York senator, while we have been living in a field in France. With the best will in the world they have very little in common. And to be brutally honest, I have to say that Mrs B would make a terrible future President of the USA whereas Mrs Clinton, with her strong record of successes behind her, would probably be rather good.
A woman as President of the US, instead of the gun-toting oil barons that have come before, would surely be an excellent choice. Now I just have to convince Mrs B that the right woman is not, on this occasion, her.
That does still leave openings as President of France and Prime Minister of the UK up for grabs, of course. If I do France and she does the UK that should do a world of good for trans-European relationships. Perhaps I’ll suggest it.
(Information about Mrs Clinton was obtained from www.hillary-rodham-clinton.org . Information about Mrs B was spontaneously invented.)