I am today announcing my candidacy for the presidency of the United States.
I do not run for the presidency merely to oppose any man but to propose new policies. I run because I am convinced that this country is on a perilous course and because I have such strong feelings about what must be done, and I feel that I’m obliged to do all that I can.
Putin is ascending, insofar as he is expanding his and Russia’s power and sphere of influence. It continues to be unlikely that sanctions will drive him to the bargaining table. His popularity will grow, and the stakes will seem too high to directly oppose him. Thus, he will be successful with his strategy of territorial expansion in the name of refighting WWII. The West’s only response will be to whine and impose limited monetary and trade sanctions. What Putin offers back is a clear goal of Greater Russia that makes historical sense to his constituency. His behavior reveals a nuanced and polemical understanding of the trajectory of these historical forces and a willingness to play his hand out on the world stage.
Hilary’s “retirement” has lasted just a few short months, and already she’s returning to the national stage with higher numbers and higher profile speeches. And why not? 3 years and a month from now we’ll be voting on a new president. She’s the presumed front runner, there’s really nobody who comes close to her gravitas, worldwide recognition, and machinery already in place.
All this can fade as quickly as you can say Benghazi, so if Hilary doesn’t lean in now, she may not be able to make hay while the sun shines. So what should she be telling us? And, mainly, how far should she distinguish herself from Barack Obama?
If I were Hilary, I would lean in now…hard. I’d take a page from the husband’s playbook and saturate. Time to start some heavy hanging with the American people, and developing the slightly new persona that’s going to be necessary to close the door on this election. Just as Reagan grew one final avatar for his last act, the kindly old gentleman dreaming of America, Hilary needs to whip up her pistol packing mama act and fully step into this role. The Annie Oakley Auntie Mame persona is already layed out for her.
Maybe when she’s ready to talk to the American people, she bills it as just a talk between grownups. She tells us: Tune in after nine and I’ll talk straight to the American people. Put your kids to bed.
She runs down the threats, the terrors, the dangers, the reality, she gives us a true rundown. She tells us the father figure that’s occupied this office hasn’t always told it to us straight. Daddy’s run off chile, now mama’s gone tell you how it is. You feel me? Hilary leans in.
“Look, I don’t want this going out as some big story, but I honestly believe that there are too many marginalized people, too many institutionalized people, and it’s a ticking time bomb. Yes, I see how warehousing so many human beings is profitable and why corporations would want to make this a business, but in terms of the social commons it’s not good. So please, meet me. What I am saying is: We can no longer afford to be in denial about who we are as a country. Nor can we afford to be puritanical or punishing or overly normative. This is what it is. As your President I am not going to hide reality from you. So here it is now: It’s scary. I’ve seen so much, and you’ve never seen anything like it.”