Hillary Salute

The British band Herman's Hermits released "I'm Henry the Eighth, I Am" in 1965, a song that stands out in my mind for its 3-syllable pronunciation of the word "Henry"--Hen/e/ry rather than Hen/ry.  I thought of this syllabication when I reflected on Hillary Clinton's resignation yesterday as Secretary of State.  Here's the new rendition:

I'm Hillary of State, I am,
Hillary of State, I am, I am,
I retired just the other day
Someone started a new PAC they say
To help me run for the President
To follow in the footsteps of old Bill
I would be the first girl in the job
Yes, sirree, that's me, that's Hill.

Second verse
Changed from the first.

I'm Hillary of State, I am,
Hillary of State, I am, I am,
I've been on the scene for years and years
Toughing out the scorn and all the jeers
But now I sit in the catbird seat
Confident, secure in who I am
All those old, white guys in Washington
Soon will have to call me Ma'am.

A Little Help from Ol' Bill

In his speech at the convention this week Bill Clinton made a better case to re-elect the President than anyone else did--including the President himself.  In the weeks ahead Barack Obama would do well to remind himself daily of the power of this key ally.  Here's a song he could sing, to the tune of "With A Little Help From My Friends," by the Beatles:

What would you think if I stood up with pride
And recited everything that I've done
Lend me your ears and I'll give you that list
And I'll try not to hide and run.

I get by with a little help from ol' Bill
I get high with a little help from ol' Bill
Gonna try with a little help from ol' Bill.

What do I do when Bill Clinton's not here
(Does it worry you to be alone?)
How do I feel by the end of the day
(Are you sad because you're on your own?)

No I get by with a little help from ol' Bill
I get high with a little help from ol' Bill
Gonna try with a little help from ol' Bill.

Do you need anybody?
I need Bill Clinton to win.
Could it be anybody?
It's got to be Mr. Bill.

Would you believe there's a living ex-prez
Who communicates with talent and skill?
(What should you do to make sure that you win?)
Guess I better make the best use of Bill.

I get by with a little help from ol' Bill
I get high with a little help from ol' Bill
Gonna try with a little help from ol' Bill

Do you need anybody?
I need Bill Clinton to win.
Could it be anybody?
It's got to be Mr. Bill.

I get by with a little help from ol' Bill,
I get high with a little help from ol' Bill
Oh I'm gonna try with a little help from ol' Bill,
With a little help from ol' Bill.

Crank Up the War Room

In watching the Republican presidential debate last night, I was impressed by the confidence that all of the candidates conveyed in their opinions--whether or not they were citing facts or reinventing history or dodging questions. Their belief in themselves and in their ability to lead was unmistakable.

If President Obama is to wage a successful campaign against any of these individuals, he must slough off the passivity that often plagues him and get ready to fight. President Clinton's War Room comes to mind, where his advisers aggressively fought off attacks and proactively directed the debate.

The audience last night showed that many Americans embrace ignorance. Lofty speeches and deferential remarks will not readily defeat this passionate movement. Barack Obama needs to come out swinging.

Clintonian Wisdom

My notes--scribbled in the dark while listening to Bill Clinton speak this week in Greensboro--don't come close to recording the breadth of his remarks. But one page stands out where I wrote, "Inequality is breathtaking."

The former president was talking about the first major challenge he sees in the world today: economic inequality. He began by reminding us that we took much for granted simply in attending his lecture: assuming that we would have comfortable seats, that the power wouldn't go out, that the room wouldn't get too hot or too cold, and that we could get a drink of water or go to the bathroom. In the countries he assists through the Clinton Foundation, none of these are givens. Such inequality around the world and within countries is not sustainable.

The other challenges are that our world is too unstable (WikiLeaks as an example) and that our energy consumption can't persist at its current rate. In order to address these problems, President Clinton said that we need to move beyond the old arguments of whether to cut taxes or spend money. The question now on the table for anyone seeking change is "How do you propose to get it done?"

Insisting that we all adopt a model or framework for our vision, he put forth his own: if a proposal will improve the lives of many people and move the world forward into the future, then give it a try. Tax cuts, for example, are fine if they create new jobs. Unfortunately, the ideological rigidity on both the left and the right don't lend themselves to imaginative solutions, given Clinton's sensible paradigm.

I wish more people could hear President Clinton. He's the voice of reason these days in a shrill, unstable environment. His work around the world on behalf of the sick and the poor seems to me the highest calling and gives him a rare perspective on what's important in life.

If he comes your way, go and listen. You might come away changed. I did.