HuffPo: The Diva's Camp: The Appeal of Hillary Clinton

[bunnies]

A good read regardless of what side you're on. If this is a dupe, please forgive me. I haven't seen it here today.

The Diva's Camp: The Appeal of Hillary Clinton
Posted April 8, 2008
Shaun Jacob Halper

Hillary Clinton is possessed by the spirit of Joan Crawford. Like that notorious über-bitch immortalized by Faye Dunaway in the camp classic Mommie Dearest, Hillary bulldozed into a Democratic primary dominated by men and brazenly declared, as any self-respecting diva would: Don't fuck with me fellas! This ain't my first time at the rodeo!

Hillary Dearest doesn't take no for an answer. Melodramatic and megalomaniacal, Hillary, like Joan, is an aging super star whose career is on the wane, but she refuses to exit the stage. I'm not going anywhere, she dishes out defiantly! Like Joan, Hillary will embrace any identity and any performance even if it requires sacrificing her own children (her party) at the altar of winning. And God help anyone who gets in her way: Christina, bring me the ax!

Barack-olytes cannot wrap their minds around HillDiva, who seems more like HillDemon to them. Why, they grumble, hasn't she--that train wreck with eyebrows-- self-destructed yet? How does an unlikable, shrill, mendacious, and bloodthirsty monster manage to challenge the dignified, mild-mannered, and pure-intentioned Holiest of Demorcratic Holies? How can that woman, who represents nothing and who will say and do anything to win, hold a candle to Him who represents everything? Yes, we can, they marvel, but how can she? When, Andrew Sullivan pleads, will this horror film end?

In fact, however, Hillary is no monster. Sullivan and the Barack-olytes don't get Hillary because they don't get the aesthetic genre she is working in. Hillary Dearest is no horror show--she is a camp phenomenon and fast on her way to becoming one of this century's greatest camp heroines. Hillary's camp should be taken seriously; it offers a critical alternative to Obama's Romanticism. And many Americans just cannot get enough of her.

(snip)

read the rest: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/shaun-jacob-halper/the-divas-camp-the-appeal_b_95561.html

on edit: I forgot to snip

[Life Long Dem]

1. Crying the night before New Hampshire's primary is not

saying "don't fuck with me fellas! This ain't my first time at the rodeo!"

Just my thoughts on the article.

[bunnies]

4. I think that all depends on whether or not one things the "emotion" was genuine.

If it wasnt (genuine) than it totally was a *dont fuck with me fellas" moment. i.e. dont fuck with me fellas, I can kick your asses just by doing this.

[Life Long Dem]

8. Ha haa!! Yeah... I like that come back. I didn't think of that.

[C_U_L8R]

2. Add a splash of Norma Desmond,

a few bodies in the pool
and we might have a screenplay

[Captain Hilts]

3. Sexist tripe. When's someone going to call McCain 'Capt. Queeg'? nt

[bunnies]

5. Did you bother to read the whole article? nt

[mrreowwr_kittty]

6. Captain Queeg is a perfect description for McInsane!

I agree about the Kos article too. It's sexist and stupid.

[bunnies]

7. Whats sexist about this article CB?

Serious question. I respect your opinion.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

9. Characterizing Clinton as a campy performance artist like that

"aging superstar" "Joan Crawford" "uber-bitch"

It's unnecessary. I realize the article was meant to be humorous but I just didn't care for it. It's mocking a woman for aging, which is particularly galling considering it's a man who wrote it.

[XemaSab]

16. I think the author is gay....

I understood it to be more of a social critique of her strengths than a bash on Hillary.

[Mme. Defarge]

10. A fascinating take on the Hillary campaign,

but way too post-modern for my take on reality. And I don't think it truly captures her appeal to the majority of her fans.

[cooolandrew]

11. Positivity and love opens our hearts cynicism closes them.

[bunnies]

12. I agree with you but...

I couldnt help but think of a fortune cookie. :hide:

[hfojvt]

13. all political rhetoric is just rhetoric?

So we are back to the "just words" argument. I am reminded of V-TV

"Words will always retain their power. Words offer the means to meaning, and for those who will listen, the enunciation of truth."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chqi8m4CEEY

[loveangelc]

14. lol I read this as "Diva's Cup"

[XemaSab]

15. Can I get the extra-large popcorn, please?

I've been wondering for weeks if some of her support is due to pure camp.