Hillary: I Am Woman, When It Suits Me

Hillary is confused. One day, she's a soft-spoken, teary-eyed kitten and the next a sturdy, unbreakable lioness. Which is it, Hill?

It was reported that the Hill recently pulled out of a photo shoot and a sitdown with Vogue because she feared appearing too feminine.

It's Vogue, Hilary! Not Men's Health! What did you expect? Flannel overalls and a hammer?

I guess she was too busy to watch "The Devil Wears Prada?," the movie rumored to portray the fire-breathing Anna Wintour, who is someone with which not to cross. And she was none too happy when Mrs. Clinton refused to indulge Vogue with her manly-womanly presence.

The reason I say Hillary is confused is this: She can't run a presidential campaign without her man. She desperately tries to come across as secure in her manliness by wearing unflattering, tapered pants and getting into a tete-a-tete with Obama every chance she gets. And then when she losing footing in the race, she cries! And it's evident that she lets Bill do all the heavy lifting while she lays by the pool soaking up some sun.

And while Billy boy trumps around the nation inserting his foot into his mouth, he's simply stating all the inaccurate declarations his wife is simply not man enough to say. Don't get me wrong. I am not saying that women should be classified as emotional creatures who can't stand on their own feet, but Clinton is playing both ends. I'm just getting tired figuring out which Hillary she is that day.

I do have to admit, that due to her gender, she can pull off the dual roles. But tread carefully, Hill, so you don't appear to be just a flaky blonde.

Heath Ledger, The Only Dead?

When I heard about Heath Ledger's passing in a tony New York City apartment today, I was crushed. Immediately my memory went back to the time I first laid eyes on him in his adorable performance in "10 Things I Hate About You," then followed by his disturbing role in "Monster's Ball" and to his critically-acclaimed role in "Brokeback Mountain," which earned him an Oscar nod.

With that incredible smile (and body), he was climbing up the Hollywood food chain - fast. So of course, every talking head of both news and infotainment telecasts lead their broadcasts with the strange circumstances surrounding his death. It was reported that he was found by his masseuse in a NYC apartment bedroom naked with a series of sleeping pills scattered on the bed yesterday.

And no doubt having women - and even some men - gawking at the television screen, soaking up every detail, me including.

Then I snapped back to reality.

Here I am in Philadelphia, a city that has tallied nearly 400 deaths in 2007 and a death toll of over that number in 2006 and I'm grieving over Heath Ledger. Now, I am not saying that we shouldn't care that he died. He was a human being and one that had a life. But because Heath has graced our silver and big screens several times we care more about what happened to him than the "average" Joe down the street. What gives?

I find it terribly wrong that the public - and media - are so fixated with celebrity deaths (i.e. Anna Nicole Smith) than neighbors. We would much rather buy the next copy of a cheesy tabloid detailing Smith or Ledger's suspicious, drug-related deaths than read the local news section detailing little Tyreek Walker's death (that person does not, or did not, exist to my knowledge).

We pride ourselves in being pop culture connoisseurs and not tuned-in to the pulse of our streets. Let's care more about cleaning the blood off of North and West Philadelphia 'hoods than catching the 1:00a.m. repeat of Access Hollywood.

Who's Counting?

Remember when President Bush vetoed a child health care bill? One of his complaints with it was that it was too expensive. Let us not mention that this bill, that Bush griped about breaking his pockets, actually costs just a fraction of what our 5-year war does. Billions of dollars have been spent fighting people who neither attacked us, or want our democratic aid.

Yet millions of Americans remain homeless, millions of Americans live uninsured, millions of Americans will probably never see above the poverty line. This war - which we have long since grown weary of because we're too bogged down with crap in our own backyards - has sucked us dry a longtime ago.

Don’t believe me? Ask China.

A Crying Shame

Hilary Clinton is getting desperate. The political pressure - which has been mounting for months - seems to have taken its toll on the hard-to-crack former first lady. Clinton's emotional display in New Hampshire yesterday came in the wake of a miserable third-place finish in last week's Iowa caucuses.


Clinton broke down in a room of mostly undecided women voters while responding to an innocent question: "How do you do it?"


"I have so many opportunities in this country. I just don't want to see us fall backwards. This is very personal for me. It's not just political. It's not just public. I see what's happening and we have to reverse it."


Now, I believe the teary eyes and wavering voice were both sincere and strategic. Think about it. Hillary is an intelligent woman who knows - and plays - the political game well (although she lambasted those who view elections as a game).


No doubt what Hillary felt was genuine, but I'm convinced she's a woman who is very capable of harnessing her true emotions and doles it out when she deems necessary. Indeed the campaign trail is difficult for any woman - or man. It's not for the faint at heart or regular Joe or Jane. As readers and viewers, we take for granted that these candidates are too human and have flaws and feelings like the rest of us.


And as the sole female candidate, Hillary has consistently shown the public how strong she is (depending on your definition of the word strong). But it was political genius to whip out the "I-really-am-sensitive" card when she has had little else to use in her favor.

Some say that she shouldn't have played the "weaker sex role" and her tears embarrassed the entire female gender. Others are relieved by her softer side. I don't know if will help her. Who knows if a strong woman's tears can stand against a charismatic man's optimism.

The Difference is in the Diversity

Now that we know how a majority-white evangelical Christian state voted for a presidential candidate let's flip the script and see how a majority-white Liberal state will fare in the voting booths. A big contrast!

Obama and Huckabee on Top

I was made into a liar...well, almost.

Congratulations Barack Obama for winning the Democratic Iowa caucuses! (FYI: Obama won 38 percent of the support, John Edwards: 30 percent, Clinton: 29 percent, ).

Sorry, Mitt Romney, former governor of my former home state - Mike Huckabee beat you out with his downhome, guitar-playing genial politics. Who would have thought? But I must admit, Huckabee deserves it (FYI: Huckabee won 34 percent of the support compared to Romney's 25 percent). Similar to Philadelphia Mayor-elect Michael Nutter, Huckabee, the sheepish former Baptist pastor from the boondocks - barely on anyone's radar - rose up from the tightly woven ranks to eyebrow-raising dominance. What an incredible feat.

Huckabee is a likeable guy and all, but he's no match for Obama. Mmm, on second thought, I'll hold on to my prophetic innuendoes for now.

Election Prophecies

My predictions for the 2008 Iowa caucuses:

On the Republican side, Mitt Romney (R) will come out on top, even with Mike Huckabee (R) knipping at his ankles. And on the Democratic side, Barack Obama (D-Ill.) will be the frontrunner. Hilary (D-NY), sorry, it was close, but no cigar.

Let's see if I'm made into a liar. Stay tuned.