I was complaining last night to YTP Spouse about how boring the election has become. It’s all about taking umbrage at things, regreting interviews with children, and poring over tax returns. Granted it is summer, the season when candidates are supposed to lay low and not do anything stupid to cost them the nomination or the election on the eve of the conventions. But still. I miss the drumbeat of tension leading up to the next primary. I miss the salvos shot across the headlines from the two Democratic candidates. I even miss hearing “my friends, my friends” as an introduction to any and all topics.
It is not just that the Hillary/Obama race was entertaining and exciting. It was that politics and debate had somehow become entertaining and exciting again. Add to that the fact that this is my first real election outside the executive branch of the federal government, where I felt an obligation to be more reserved with my personal opinion on politics, and the primary season was endlessly intoxicating for me. I loved it.
But I have a sneaking suspicion that Hillary also had a lot to do with why it was so interesting. She is divisive, irritating, and loud, but she gave an edge to the race that is now gone. Part of it is her gender: the prospect of a female president brought something new to the game. Part of it is everything about her that is not new: her husband, her tactics, her attitude. But part of it is just the sight of all that raw ambition, mixed with a lot of intelligence and many a foible, at work. It was a race, and she wanted to win it. That is such a quintessentially American characteristic, and I had a darn good time watching a flawed but fascinating human being bring it on. I hope the two that are left shake off this summer languidness and go for it this fall. It’s a race, guys. That means we want to see you really run.
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