Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Riddle me this....

Regarding Hillary Clinton's candidacy, there's been a lot of speculation - justified or not - on whether this for all practical purposes means that good ol' Bill gets a third term, or at least more political influence than what's usually bestowed upon what in this hypothetical scenario would be First Spouse (or "First Hick" in the case of ol' Bill).

Cue a bunch of self-appointed keepers of morality and justice who cry "sexism" - surely these statements are only made because Hillary Clinton is a woman. The Humanity, etc.

Now riddle me this......does anyone seriously think that if for some bizarre reason Sir Denis Thatcher had been elected Prime Minister of Great Britain after John Major's first term, nobody would suspect Margaret Thatcher - the Iron Lady herself - to show more than a casual interest in the state of affairs and perhaps influence the goings-on a wee bit more than the norm?

..or from domestic politics - if Arne Olav Brundtland had been elected Prime Minister after, say Syse, does anyone really think that Gro Harlem Brundtland, the most revered and dominant statesperson in Norway since Gerhardsen - wouldn't have been more involved in the political processes than, say the spouse of our present Prime Minister?

If so, and you still think that the Clinton example is pure sexism, enjoy your oceanfront property on Denial Island. Should you consider returning to the real world, I've got a bridge to sell ya...

8 comments:

Anders said...

if Arne Olav Brundtland had been elected Prime Minister after, say Syse, does anyone really think that Gro Harlem Brundtland, the most revered and dominant statesperson in Norway since Gerhardsen - wouldn't have been more involved in the political processes than, say the spouse of our present Prime Minister?

Do you mean Jens Stoltenberg's wife Ingrid Schulerud, Deputy Director General for Central Europe and EEA-financing in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs? I suspect that Mrs. Schulerud is quite involved in the political processes. Actually, I do hope so...

Wilhelm said...

Not at all saying she ain't, but look at the comparison.

You might make an excellent case for any first-time Prime Minister or President NOT interested in the experiences of a former PM/President with plenty of experience to be a complete ignoramus.

In my examples, Arne Olav would have to be quite the arrogant tool not to listen to advice from Gro, and ditto for Sir Denis. Why would this be any different for the Clinton's?

Anders said...

Not saying that Brundtland would kept her hands away if Arne Olav was elected primeminister eight years after Gro resigned. But after she resign, Brundtland actually turned her attention away from national politics and did start a fairly successful international carrere. Consider that, and the fact that mrs. Schulerud is a pretty big politcial player herself, I'm just saying that the example above isn't the best one out there. But I'm sure Stoltenberg discuss politics with his wife, as I'm sure Arne Olav would have done with his wife if he got elected.

Remind me again: Who did get elected prime minister in Norway after Syse?

Unknown said...

In my examples, Arne Olav would have to be quite the arrogant tool not to listen to advice from Gro, and ditto for Sir Denis. Why would this be any different for the Clinton's?

This is true !!!
It's so much better when you don't follow any advice !!!

I really don't understand why is it such a big deal for you.

Anders said...

As for the Simps...eh the Clinton's, yes, I do agree with you: I'm sure Hillary would listen to her husband. And (even more to support your original post) when Bill was in office, the critics claimed that Hillary did have too much influence on the states politics. Where were those "self-appointed keepers of morality and justice" then?

If Hillary is elected, I'm sure she will take advantage of the goodwill her husband has, and use it to jumpstart her time in office. Not doing so would just be plain stupid. It got nothing with sexism to do.

Wilhelm said...

Remind me again: Who did get elected prime minister in Norway after Syse?

...I could be full of it here, but didn't Gro Harlem Brundtland succeed Syse in her last term? Or was it Jagland?

@ Pigeon:
This is true !!!
It's so much better when you don't follow any advice !!!


..uhh...there's a contradiction in there, wherein you either disagree with me or with your own statement. Make up your mind and get back to me, Chief ;-)

I really don't understand why is it such a big deal for you.

.....it's because I CARE, man.....it's for all those little Hulksters out there who train, eat their vitamins and say their prayers who support the cause, man...it's for all those long nights where I sat wide awake, marvelling at the injustice of it all and pondered the design of the new logo for the spacesship I'm planning on building behind the comet, man...

...it's no big deal for me, and I don't care beyond the fact that I enjoy poking big, fat holes in the "reasoning" of the lowest form of thugs - the PC thugs.

What gave you the impression that this was a banner issue for me? That I spent three minutes or less typing a sarcastic post without even bothering to reference any of the many statements I've come across?

If Hillary is elected, I'm sure she will take advantage of the goodwill her husband has, and use it to jumpstart her time in office. Not doing so would just be plain stupid. It got nothing with sexism to do.

That's all I'm sayin'

Unknown said...

..uhh...there's a contradiction in there, wherein you either disagree with me or with your own statement. Make up your mind and get back to me, Chief ;-)

I know !!!
irony ......


What gave you the impression that this was a banner issue for me? That I spent three minutes or less typing a sarcastic post without even bothering to reference any of the many statements I've come across?

you misunderstood, i wanted to ask you, why is it a problem for you that she follows bill' advices ?

Wilhelm said...

you misunderstood, i wanted to ask you, why is it a problem for you that she follows bill' advices ?

....there are two answers to that question, depending on whether you want to know if I - on principle - would have a problem with her listening to the advice of a two-term President, or if I've got a problem with her following the advice from Bill Clinton ;-)

The answer to the first possibility is a resounding no, which was sort of my point all along.

As for the second possibility....I hope not. Besides, they probably don't have the same taste in cigar brands, interns and stain remioval from said interns' dresses anyway, so I'm not sure what former president Clinton would have to offer. 8-D