February 26, 2005
"Zee Empire has ways of making you...democratize!"
Things are moving so fast that Bush's State of the Union seems like months ago. But it was just the beginning of this month. And one of the things I blogged about with glee was this line:
...And the great and proud nation of Egypt, which showed the way toward peace in the Middle East, can now show the way toward democracy in the Middle East.
It seemed like less of a suggestion than a politely-phrased order. I thought it was a splendid example of the confidence we have earned by persisting and winning in Iraq. We are at the point where we can just act as if our goals are inevitabilities, and that we expect that anyone sensible is going to agree. And that kind of confidence tends to be a self-fulfilling prophecy. The crowds gather in the public square, with colorful banners and flowers and calls for elections....the tyrant, with cops and guns and goons at his command.....hesitates. Negotiates. Blusters. Crumbles.
But Egypt! Crazy. I assumed we were talking about YEARS! First the little guys fall. The little dominos. Lybia. Abu Dhabi. Lebanon. Whatever. The pressure slowly ramps up. Mubarak starts to sweat.
Boy was I wrong. Egypt. What did it take, three weeks? Awesome.
Yeah, yeah, I know. Mubarak and the ruling party will probably try to rig things so they stay in power. Makes no diff in the long run. And when Egyptian democracy comes it will be flawed in many ways. You Democrats out there will have lots to sneer at. There will be plenty of failures and back-slidings to smack your lips over. As you sit in the station and watch the History Train recede into the distance.
And what will be the picture, the image that will sum up this moment in history? Maybe, just maybe, a certain Secretary of State with a cool black outfit that makes Darth Vader look frumpy and dated?
Alan suggested she looks creepy, because of the Matrix effect. I think he's missing the point. The only question about any flamboyant fashion is, "can you pull it off? Do you have the style and looks and confidence to wear something splashy?" If you don't you look like a fool.
Condi's got it. The reality-based crowd are being pushed into the background. Buncha dweebs.
Posted by John Weidner at February 26, 2005 11:41 PMMy initial reaction to Madame Secretary's swashbuckling outfit was, basically, WOW. But beyond eliciting male appreciation for female elegance, it does seem calculated for political effect.
The dash and confidence of her new look expresses the boldness of the Bush foreign policy. It makes detractors and critics seem stodgy and graceless. It also announces Condi's intent to be seen as the embodiment of a daring and visionary initiative.
I suspect that the impact has exceeded the wildest imaginings of a Birmingham schoolgirl, Stanford academic, and policy wonk.
God bless you, Dr Rice.
Several reactions/thoughts:
1. Democracy may well mean the rise of religious parties (esp. since the Islamists tend to be less corrupt). But is the prospect of a bad alternative sufficient to justify denying democracy? In which case, has the Left made its peace w/ the toppling of Allende?
2. The Left for the longest time argued that Egypt/Saudi Arabia was unsustainable, precisely b/c there was no democracy. Are they now arguing that their calculations were wrong? Or are they merely carping?
3. There was much commentary about Ron Suskind's quote, regarding "reality-based community." Perhaps Dr. Rice's outfit was to suggest that it's better to take the red pill, w/ all the concomitant change, than the blue pill and stick w/ the Matrix's "reality"?
Posted by: Dean at February 28, 2005 01:54 PM"Creepy"? Man. Dig the dimestore psychology going on in the comments to that post. I love people who think they can figure a person out by the clothes they wear -- and aren't afraid to admit it in public. That takes cast-iron... something.
Posted by: Andrea Harris at February 28, 2005 08:23 PMAndrea,
Are you saying that all our heavy breathing is overdone? That we're getting worked up over nothing?
Well, maybe. In an era of global transformation it is a relief to focus on a detail of minor significance.
But in in my experience, when a woman changes her look, it means something. Dr Rice has always dressed to emphasize seriousness, dependability, and class. When she suddenly shows up as Condi the Vampire Slayer, it's worth noting.
Watch for the next G-7 Conference. If she draws a Samurai sword, you'll know I'm right.
Posted by: lyle at March 1, 2005 02:45 AM
Or throwing-knives from a thigh holster. That would also be noteworthy.
Posted by: lyle at March 1, 2005 02:54 AMI'm looking forward to her next Senate hearing, when she narrows her eyes at Babs Boxer and says: 'We deal in lead, friend.'
Posted by: lyle at March 1, 2005 03:08 AMI was referring to this post that John linked to, where the writer says she's "creepy." Maybe Sullivan thinks she's a Marilyn Manson fan because she wears black.
Posted by: Andrea Harris at March 1, 2005 04:31 AMWell, he does call it Fresh Bilge.
(I'm only tugging at your cape, Andrea.)
Posted by: lyle at March 1, 2005 05:09 AM
