LAT has a story on commuter hell, part of a series. I was curious of residents would read it while commuting, though the stereotype is that everyone drives out there. Maybe, on their blackberries while driving?
Congrats as well on those who chose the long shot ... a 38-1 shot. Great for betting and underdog supporters everywhere. My paper also has odds for presidential candidates. Of late, HC was a much bigger underdog than that. She too started out as a favorite. She too wonders, with apologies to Scott McClellan, "what happened?!"
I'm not a big believer in the wondrous nature of a single speech. From time to time, people raved about Bush's speeches, as if he wrote them or something. I look at the wider story. JFK was a mixed bag as president, but if he just from time to time had a good speech, the speeches themselves wouldn't be as special as they are considered now. Ditto his brothers.
Today's Papers [see Slate, a slightly different form of this originally a fray post] references the feminist/woman angle of the story as well. I think that comes off as a bit sad in this case. HC is promoted and seen by many as a great triumph for women, but her life story is a bit more tragic in various respects. The campaign is also tragic in this sense.
What message is sent in respect to women and feminism by such a screw-up of a campaign in too many ways? What message is sent by someone who wanted a job so much, but crossed the line a bit too much to try to get it, while in general (with hubby's help at time) making too many mistakes in part reflected by some sense of entitlement and too much assumptions/optimism of what surely will happen? And, the resulting anger and disappointments, and clearly some rancor.
Honestly, it sends a something of a bad message overall. We can, and yeah should, focus on the good things. How far a woman (but, little voice says, first lady) went etc. OTOH, we can focus on many women who actually succeeded, including the Speaker of the House. Stories that personally leave less of a bad taste. As her campaign did for me and many others, including some who were inclined at first to be on her side.
[One person noted she failed just like many men before her. Sure. Equal failure is a rough sort of accomplishment (still not very cheery), but sometimes it is an extravangence. Anyway, wouldn't admire this sort of failure if a man did it either.]
This is a necessary dance and we need to move on. Fine enough. Let's just not give it more credit than it deserves. Or, is praising her part of the mix? Whatever. Still don't want to vote for her. Again, TPM gives a taste, as does Lawyers Drugs and Money (with links to a more negative Matt Y.) and others.