I'm reminded this week of a more innocent time. A time when I hoped and dreamed for a new day.
When I longed for a new voice that would speak for the people against the abuses of Wall Street, the Iraq War fiasco, and the escalating cost of our broken healthcare system. A lot of folks all across America were hoping for the same thing and we hadn't even hit the worst of the financial crisis and home mortgage meltdown. It was a time when most Americans believed we needed a completely new direction from the Bush/Cheney regime.
Seems long ago, but it was only eight years. We thought we'd seen it all, we thought we knew it all. I knew Hillary Clinton was going to join the run for the Oval. But I wished she wouldn't.
It wasn't because I didn't think she could handle the job. I'm sure she could. But could the far, far right wing of the Republican party handle it? She was so divisive. Our country needed to be united. I believed nothing could make the crazies of Amurka any crazier than electing Hillary Clinton as president of the United States.
In hindsight, perhaps I was a bit naive. Today, eight years later and nine months away from the first primary, if Hillary wants to get in the race then I say..."Sure, why not?"
I'm pretty excited about her announcement because it gives me the opportunity I've been waiting for. I've been sitting on this product for a while and I'm happy that I can finally release it to you, the gullible public. Without further ado, let me be the first to announce that, henceforth and forthwith, the 2016 presidential field will be known as "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (TM)".
If you are a media outlet, you can purchase a license to use "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" from our online Paddling Upstream store. We have a sliding scale for newspapers (2 cents/mention) to local tv/radio (2 dollars/mention) to cable outlets (200 dollars/mention) to Fox/CNN/MSNBC (200,000 dollars/mention). We suggest catchy taglines like "Decision 2016: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" or "Race to the Presidency: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs".
Some of you might be quick to point out that Mrs. Clinton ain't exactly Snow White and there aren't seven other candidates. Don't be so quick.
First, another anti-immigration son of immigrants has jumped into the Republicant clown car. Marco Rubio announced his candidacy to his most important constituency, the funders. Some Swedish house music duo revealed his run to the actual voters when they demanded he quit using their song in public.
That makes three official with at least a half dozen trying to decide which clownsuit best attracts a Koch brother for the elephant patrol. Only time will tell if any of the donkeys throw in any token resistance to the Snow White blizzard.
And your point that Hillary Clinton isn't exactly Snow White is, of course, well taken. Too much baggage for much purity you'd say. And I'd say you're right. But remember this, if Snow White wins the run for the Oval, your old buddy Prince Charming will be right by her side.