Who Are These Guys?
Europe, the old country: sophisticated and educated in the way of politics.
Finally the U.S. election process, that distant, incessant drumbeat from afar, has begun to get noticed by Europeans.
And the question being asked is: What's a Top 10 List?
Hillary Clinton's appearance on David Letterman got wide play in Europe.
| Hillary Clinton's Top Ten List Reasons I Finally Decided to Appear On The Late Show: 10. I lost a bet with Tipper. 9. I thought this was a show where you answer a couple of easy questions and win a million dollars. 8. If Dan Quayle did it, how hard can it be? 7. I was already in town to interview for the Jets' head coach position. 6. Four words: severe lapse of judgement. 5. I needed an excuse to get out of dinner with Donald Trump. 4. When they threw in a Late Show tote bag, I said, "Gas up the Taurus, Bill, we're goin' to Dave's." 3. I haven't been in the Ed Sullivan Theater since I was dating Ringo. 2. Um, to tell you the truth, I thought Johnny hosted this show. 1. If I can make it here, I can make it anywhere! |
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The appearance served to reinforce a broad impression of American showbiz politics that has been growing steadily since at least the onset of the Lewinsky matter: obscure issues, short attention spans, incomprehensible electoral process.
They may not readily admit it, but Europeans, like Americans, overdosed on the bedroom politics of the later stages of the Clinton presidency. And now they're trying to get a bead on the 2000 campaign trail, sure only in the knowledge that the next president will not be Bill Clinton.
For the time being, impressions of the candidates, especially those in the presidential race, seem to be reduced to broad strokes:
Campaign finance reform. Lock-boxing Social Security. These are not concepts that resonate.
Part of the problem is the process. Primaries in some states, caucuses elsewhere, and byzantine local electoral politics. Why, Europeans ask, are candidates tramping through the snow in New Hampshire now for an election that takes place in ten months' time?
And where, exactly, does the first family live now?
Ironically, when one is stateside, one hears mostly about how short the process will be this year, with Iowa and New Hampshirtaking place earlier then ever.
It may be that as the state selection process starts to unfold over the next couple of months, the level of interest and understanding will increase accordingly. And the stakes for America's allies (and others) will become more evident.