Like many on the centre-left I've always been interested in America and its story. In some ways it represents the ideal. A constitutional democracy founded on key liberal principles like free speech, with a spirit of independence and resilience. But whenever abstract theory is drawn down into the man made flesh of the state, it inevitably gets grubbier, loses some of that shrine, shadows some of its principles or even takes routes through the dark side in its efforts to maintain its balance.
George W. Bush for this reason has always interested and intrigued me as a uniquely American figure. He seems to represent it all, old school elite family, ivy league education, (limited) military service, a love of texas and ranchers, careers in oil and baseball, alcoholism and born again teetotalism.
Most critically of all however, I believe he is a good man who is attempting to achieve these principles through the flesh of the state, and failing badly.
I've tried to read everything I can on the man(And i'm certainly hanging out for Oliver Stones movie W), my honours thesis in part was based around attempting to understand how he envisaged the idea of freedom a word you find in just about every speech he's given as president since 9/11. I've read all the biographies, supportive and critical, and all the major books on his administration, from supportive former staffers to outraged journalists. His story is America writ large. Good values, betrayed through its hubris and the reality of this messy thing called life.
All that serves as a somewhat long-winded observation that I really dont care about Sarah Palin. If you are interested Jonathan Raban has the single best detailed story of her rise and character. But I cant identify her as a story I want to understand. Bush is a puzzle, one critical to figure out due to his proximity to the critical forces in the world today. Palins story however seems an a ugly shallow picture of a mindless nobody who merely does what she does because its all that she knows. Bush believes in America because it stands for freedom and opportunity for the globe, Palin believes in America because she is an American. Its all she knows, and had she grown up German, she'd be a proud German as imbued in its traditions as the peasants Heidegger idolised (Does that count as a goodwin award?). Such ugliness is unbecoming of the nation she so desperately pretends to represent. She does not. Her's is not an American story. Maybe thats why she's not interesting, she could be anyone from anywhere and the core facts of her life, her complete embrace of local views and desire to grubbily get onto of those around her could occur in any small town in any city in the world.
Bush's is the story of someone who legitimately made something of themselves. He had a lot of help, but his path was never certain or due to the choices of others or even necessarily his environment. His fall from grace with alcoholism, and recognition he might be doomed to live in his -war her, CIA director, US President- fathers shadow drove him to change and challenge his circumstances. That shows real character, to make something of oneself.
Palin to me, however much we should respect her obvious talents and skills, however seems to be entirely a product of her surroundings. She is what her environment made her, with no sign that there was any conscious choice in her path. A product of the ideological programming of her time and place. Some call this authenticity, her handlers certainly would, but that's part of the problem. She is only on the ticket as a result of the scheming ideas of rich old white men, being no more worthy to them than the cocktail waitress who just brought over the latest round of drinks. She's a political pet to men and nature, unconsciously spitting out her lines about being a proud American and how evil her opponent is because that's what she's to do. When you see her speak you realise she could do no other.
Bush always represented to me a uniquely American Story. A puzzle to try and figure out. A tragic tale unfolding before our eyes. Palin's story is simple farce. Hers is not an American Story. America's real story is one of self-creation. Of making and remaking onself, that is why the opportunity, freedom, and independence matter. Because they allow for people to make and remake something of themselves in spite the circumstances. Bush did, Palin never has and probably never will. Hers is not an American story
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4 comments:
Little bit Big closing statement there, but I agree with your basic assessment, that Palin just hasn't done anything to warrant much hype, besides repeatedly making herself look very out of place. I'd even argue that Paris Hilton has more complexity, and even more of what you call "American"-ness to her than Palin has, despite constantly being held up as the spokesperson for those who are famous for no apparent reason.
My initial reaction to hearing McCain had declared Palin as his VP was that of failing to see the relevance to anything, and I have yet to see anything to change that opinion besides a whole lot of floundering.
As far as I'm concerned the point is moot because I've seen at least one Japanese commercial that has already given the White House to Obama, and we all know Japanese commercials are a crazy kind of divination.
Bush has certainly become a larger than large life figure, and if nothing else he can go to bed at the end of this year comfortable in the fact that he made a bigger, and I suspect what will be a longer lasting, impression on the American psyche than his father did.
Just read this interesting post that relates in a broader sense to your ideas on what it is to be “American” these days, figured I’d pass it along, in case it hadn’t come your way already:
http://bldgblog.blogspot.com/2008/10/minor-landscapes-and-geography-of.html
I’ve got two gmail accounts, btw.
Makes it look like you’ve got more readers, at least!
haha, cheers Joe.
Interesting link, I've been meaning to do a post on the city/rural divide(and proclaimed moral superiority of those in the bush). One which Palin's choice makes explicit (indeed she said as much in her convention speech), but which the evidence rejects and will likely dwindle as a political position. (ie As of mid 2008 more people in the world live in cities than rurally. Thats a world first)
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