Posted by
BrabbieMan on Wednesday, April 30, 2008 5:53:29 AM
Look, let's be clear about this: we all know that we need a president who is diplomatic and cordial all the time, assertive most of the time, aggressive some of the time and a downright a-hole when it's "crunch-time" (against threats to our security).
We all know the mix instinctively. We know that our president's external pleasant demeanor is a fluffy, practiced facade, masking the cold hard steel underneath. That's what we want, what the country requires in order to go forward. Otherwise we would live in constant fear of being attacked and subverted by any and every mildly antagonistic anarchist group around the world.
Hilary fits the bill, therefore she is eligible. Barrack does not, therefore he is not.
Barrack cries foul in the face of any test of his character, because he has none and he cannot play the game, he criticizes those who can and do play it, especially those who play it well. Political in-fighting is a test of one's mettle. Much as we hate it, we love the competition aspect. We want to see who comes out on top in ANY competitive arena. And woe to the one who goes down without swinging a single blow.
Politics is ugly and dirty and that's how you find out who has the resolve and the strength of character to go into the ring and take the pummeling and dish out as good as he gets. This willingness to engage tells us what kind of responsibility the candidate is ready for. Do it with class, do it with style, with panache even. Everybody has their own style, but however you do it, beat the crap out of the other guy!
The administration sets the tone. Cordial and apparently concerned, but not in any way weak or overly deferential (i.e. deferential beyond the mandates of sincere hospitality).
Women are normally unsuited for this blood sport and truth be told MOST MEN ARE TOO, but those women who do well at it are no less steely than their male counterparts. It isn't physical body strength at play here - it is simply the WILL TO POWER. For us normal people, the WILL TO POWER is repulsive. For the political class, it is lifeblood. Either you have it or you don't. Like Hilary says, if you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen. Show your mettle, show your worth. INSPIRE CONFIDENCE. Confidence is job #1 for any president.
Everybody sees it now - Hilary has it, Barrack does not. Hilary is qualified, Barrack is not. No steel, no confidence. No Confidence, no job. Sorry, Barrack - you're better suited to play with your Play-Doh in the senate where the refusal to fight for what you believe in can perhaps be mistaken for statesmanship and being above the fray. At the top, you have to be willing to "mix it up" with the toughest, meanest, ugliest SOBs on the planet.
Hilary could do that. Barrack could not. Barrack knows this as well as his former pastor.
Better go back to the Senate and hit the gym, Barrack. Find the punching bag and learn what it takes for you to FEEL LIKE beating the crap out of it. What motivates you enough to rip it apart? What do you care about? What will you fight for if not yourself? We need answers, Barrack - don't come back to this arena until you have some.