Hillary's Complaint

As her poll numbers tanked, Hillary "choked up responding to one woman's question about how she stays 'upbeat and so wonderful.'" "You know, 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," she said. Authentic emotion, or has Mrs. Clinton been "taking weeping lessons" from her husband?" as our sis suggests.  A body-language expert on The O'Reilly Factor is saying that while anyone can fake tears, "she does have some of the telltale signs of emotion. She probably really is rather angry about what she thinks are the wrongs of the country." Not to mention the wrongs of a fickle electorate infatuated with the dashing new kid on the block.

"There is something missing: she is competent and tough but she does not inspire," blogs the BBCs new News North America Editor, Justin Webb, delivering a devastating diagnosis of Hillary's Complaint, even as Drudge headlines "TALK OF HILLARY EXIT ENGULFS CAMPAIGN" and the candidate herself gets weepy. The Anchoress dares speak of "the seeming end of the Clinton stranglehold on American politics," while Blue Crab Boulevard smells "a Carvillian rat." But enough about Hillary. Let's talk about Justin Webb, "one of the freest thinkers within BBC News," according to a The Guardian interview [via EURSOC]:

He arrived in Washington as radio correspondent in 2002 and has an eyebrow-raising ardour for America, rarely found at the BBC . . .

While many Britons shudder at American displays of national pride and the fact that the stars and stripes hangs in every municipal building and on millions of porches too, Webb is entirely at ease with the notion. "I go out on a limb here," he says. "I'm a real admirer of American patriotism. It occasionally plainly leads them down terrible dark alleys and sometimes leads us to laugh at them, but I love the way their patriotism genuinely binds together small communities into the wider nation . . .

During his stint as Washington correspondent, Webb began to have serious misgivings about the way in which British reporters - himself included - were covering America.

Gradually, he began to air the issue. "I became very interested in this idea that we were selling ourselves and America short," he says. "And in the great clash of ideas around the world, I don't think the US always gets credit for providing the cultural and physical underpinning that allows all the rest of us to have all the arguments that we have."

Don't tell the Democrats. They're sticking with their tired mantra that "the world" hates us, and it's you-know-who's fault.

Update (next morning): "Fake or heartfelt?" asks Steve Doucy of Fox & Friends, inviting viewers to email their opinion. It looks like we are in the majority -- 60 to 30 -- who believe her tears were real. Alisyn Camerota seems surprised that Hillary would tear up in response to a softball question, but that's just the point. As we emailed:

I think It was the softball question itself that set off the tearing up. No one ever says anything nice about her, so when the questioner called her wonderful, she was caught emotionally off guard.

"You see, no one ever called me darling before."

Comments

[Teresa]

There are many things that may bring tears to a politician's eyes. But begging for votes by crying... that finishes her.

For that matter, during the entire debacle that was the Clinton marriage during the years old Bill was President, all of the women paraded around, all of the headlines and chat about their lives, not once did Hillary shed a tear (that I remember). Bill, yes, Hill, no.

Rather creepy when you think about it. Her own personal life isn't something she cares enough about to have an emotional melt down about - but being elected President, now that's a different matter!

[goomp]

Three cheers for the Red, White and Blue and for Justin Webb too. Thankfully some people can think for themselves and overcome indoctrination. I think the tears came naturally.

[Gayle Miller]

When she OFFICIALLY and irrevocably withdraws from the race, then I will cry too! Tears of joy and relief!

I don't like her, I don't trust her and I fear for our country if the indefensibly corrupt Clintons were to achieve the White House again.

[miss kelly]

Hillary has always made my skin crawl. I'm with WTKK's Jay Severin, who says the Ice Queen is the control freak of the universe, she is ALWAYS in control, the boo-hoo-ing was planned. In the Oprah-fied world of politics today, Hillary cries and gets more votes. She says "I found my voice in NH" and people don't laugh in her face at that nonsense. Nauseating stuff.