(cross-posted on The Dead Guy)
Main Entry: chi•me•ri•cal Pronunciation: k?-?mer-i-k?l, k?-, -?mir- Variant(s): also chi•me•ric -ik Function: adjective Etymology: chimera Date: 1638 1 : existing only as the product of unchecked imagination : fantastically visionary or improbable 2 : given to fantastic schemes
Thanks to a friend, I was able to attend tonight's musical at the Des Moines Civic Center - "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" (Spelling Bee). It was a fun night, but as I drove home, a bell went off in my head (and no, Spellers, it wasn't Vice-Principal Panch), I recognized that Senator Clinton and her campaign for the Democratic Presidential Nomination can be encapsulated using many of the lyrics from the musical.
Above, you'll notice the word "chimerical". Well ... in "The I Love You Song" from Spelling Bee - Olive Ovstrovsky must spell this word and the song plummets her into a dream. We have come to the point in Senator Clinton's campaign that only in a fantasy world can she expect to be given the Democratic nomination:
Now, as a reminder - by DNC rules, delegates (elected and super) are the only measure that decides the Democratic Nomination. However, many of Clinton's supporters have tried to suggest alternate ways in the attempt to convince the delegates to move back her way - the electability argument. She says she is more electable in the General Election - another chimerical moment. In 2007, she was all but handed the nomination, then people started voting and Clinton was knocked from her pedestal. It appears that the people didn't want "the inevitable," America is full of surprises. Which brings me to:
"Pandemonium (Reprise)/My Favorite Moment of the Bee (Reprise)" where Ms. Peretti (the Spelling Bee winner 19 years previous) sings
I am floored By how last year's big cheese Becomes this year's disaster And exit with new humilities It's a wide open jamboree When winners lose surprisingly Now I love what I see I see hope and possibility When the favorite loses 1, 2, 3
I am floored By how last year's big cheese Becomes this year's disaster And exit with new humilities
It's a wide open jamboree When winners lose surprisingly Now I love what I see I see hope and possibility When the favorite loses 1, 2, 3
Of course, in Senator Clinton's case, she has lost 1, 2, 3 ... 29, 30 contests of the 44 legitimate contests in this primary season. Yet, she remains in the race. She was expected to sweep the nomination with maybe a loss in Iowa, Illinois and a couple of other states ... but that Super Tuesday would be the day where she came out on top and secure the nomination or be so far in the lead, that others would see staying in as a quixotic campaign - problem is, Clinton became the one charging at windmills (Sorry, I should stay with only one musical at a time - I'll leave "The Man from La Mancha" for another time).
Her electability has taken a nose dive since January 3, 2008. Her campaign has been a comedy of errors. There has been gaffe after gaffe, backpedalling, obfuscating, and plain old lying in order to make it to the next news cycle. If one takes a critical look at Senator Clinton and her campaign - it embodies the song "Pandemonium" from Spelling Bee.
Now Senator Clinton is starting to show her soft side, again. We saw a glimpse of it in New Hampshire, but rarely since. Whether it was a strategy or she just doesn't know how to drop the façade that many candidates have had a hard time shaking until after they leave office (Bob Dole, Al Gore and John Kerry - to name just three), she can't seem to break that hard shell without appearing insincere. "Woe is Me" sung by Logainne Schwartzandgrubenierre (while in "Evita" pose - again, another musical, sorry) sums up what we appear to see in Clinton:
I hope you can love me, America I'm gunning for first prize! Here's why you should love me, America My needs I cannot overemphasize I make myself crazy ... ... Woe is me
I hope you can love me, America I'm gunning for first prize! Here's why you should love me, America My needs I cannot overemphasize I make myself crazy ...
... Woe is me
With each passing day of this campaign, Senator Clinton appears to become more desperate, more defensive and more accusatory. On NPR the other day, Clinton snapped at Michelle Norris on "All Things Considered" saying that there is a double standard in coverage on the nomination process dealing with the delegate count. Her contention is that Obama won't have the elected delegates to surpass the 2024 delegate threshold, just like she but that the media is asking why she won't back out when they should also ask him that. Here's a tip for you, Senator Clinton: Normally, people don't ask the person in the lead about how they are going to win because they are in the lead - this question is always asked of the person trailing in a contest.
Now, this brings me to one of the last songs in Spelling Bee: "My Favorite Moment of the Bee (Reprise)/Second" sung by the final two contestants in the race, Olive Ovstrovsky and William Barfée (who have found they have a crush on each other). Though, in the musical it is a duet, Senator Clinton could easily be found in both roles:
OLIVE To think that I might win it Is astounding news And I'm about to burst ... ... How wonderful it feels To stand so close to first ... ... I'll make it happen And not as previously reckoned Cause I will not come in second! I hate to come in second Yes I do (x4) I will not come in second. MR. PANCH Miss Ostrovsky, spell "Elanguescence"(rough definition - to fade into obscurity) WILLIAM Am I a Red Socks or a Yankee? Who will come in second? People are scared of me And no one really likes me I won't come in second Hey Olive, don't think I'm distracted By your eyes and your smile ... ...You will not outrank me I won't wave my hankie BOTH Second I won't come in second (x3) Second ...
OLIVE To think that I might win it Is astounding news And I'm about to burst ... ... How wonderful it feels To stand so close to first ... ... I'll make it happen And not as previously reckoned Cause I will not come in second! I hate to come in second Yes I do (x4) I will not come in second.
MR. PANCH Miss Ostrovsky, spell "Elanguescence"(rough definition - to fade into obscurity)
WILLIAM Am I a Red Socks or a Yankee? Who will come in second? People are scared of me And no one really likes me I won't come in second Hey Olive, don't think I'm distracted By your eyes and your smile ... ...You will not outrank me I won't wave my hankie
BOTH Second I won't come in second (x3) Second ...
Now, Senator Clinton has two choices for the end of her Presidential Nomination ... the first is calm, cool, content and confident - the other is self-loathing, self-absorbed and self-destructive. Both are shown in Spelling Bee by two who do not win this year.
Choice 1
After Olive misspells Elanguescence, William "Barf" Barfée feels compassion and doesn't know if he should throw the race so that Olive can win or if he should spell his word correctly, he is torn between winning the Spelling Bee and his feelings for Olive:
(from "Second")
OLIVE I feel I'm in my glory Mama I made a friend I'll lose and that's the story But we are equals Ma Where neither condescends I am I am fine with second I can live with second Yes, second I will come in second WILLIAM (overlapping Olive) And should I throw the bee? Could be checkmate any second Yeah Would I be happy second? If forever-ever-ever To always be stuck in second Will I come in second Will I come in ... (spoken) S-C-H-A-U OLIVE (spoken) It's alright, Barf. WILLIAM (spoken) U-N-G. Weltanschauung (rough definition - a comprehensive conception of the world) MR. PANCH (spoken) We have a winner!
OLIVE I feel I'm in my glory Mama I made a friend I'll lose and that's the story But we are equals Ma Where neither condescends I am I am fine with second I can live with second Yes, second I will come in second
WILLIAM (overlapping Olive) And should I throw the bee? Could be checkmate any second Yeah Would I be happy second? If forever-ever-ever To always be stuck in second Will I come in second Will I come in ... (spoken) S-C-H-A-U
OLIVE (spoken) It's alright, Barf.
WILLIAM (spoken) U-N-G. Weltanschauung (rough definition - a comprehensive conception of the world)
MR. PANCH (spoken) We have a winner!
And I would personally say, with Olive's decision, there are two winners. They become friends and Olive helps William in his studies for the National Spelling Bee. And Olive is still endeared.
Choice 2
As one of the final three (Olive and William being the other two) Logainne Schwartzandgrubenierre is given the word "vug" (definition - a small unfilled cavity in a lode or in rock) to spell. She spells it V-U-G-G-H-E and is eliminated:
(from "Woe is Me (Reprise)")
LOGAINNE I overcomplicated ... I'm sorry. I hope you still love me, America America, I Gave it my best try If you still don't love me, America I understand why You hate losers So do I I'm a loser So goodbye
Logainne reenters into the Spelling Bee for the next 6 years until the final year of her eligibility and finally wins. She goes on to be the Secretary of Education for a future President.
So, the question is, Senator Clinton - it is obvious to everyone that you are not going to be this year's Democratic Nominee unless you employ subterfuge and coercion - how will you exit stage-left?
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