June 6, 2014

"Is Hillary Clinton Too Dependent on Stuffed Animals to Be President?"

New York Magazine asks, noting this passage in her new memoir:
[I]t was [former Secretary of State] George Shultz who gave me the best gift of all: A teddy bear that sang 'Don't Worry, Be Happy' when its paw was squeezed. I kept it in my office, first as a joke, but every so often it really did help to squeeze the bear and hear that song."
And let me phrase a second question: Does amenability to an infuriatingly cute song suggest that Hillary Clinton doesn't have what it take to be President?

And what of the underlying philosophy — is that President-appropriate?
The Indian mystic and sage Meher Baba (1894–1969) often used the expression "Don't worry, be happy" when cabling his followers in the West. However, Meher Baba communicated variations of the sentiment; fuller versions of the quote – such as, "Do your best. Then, don’t worry; be happy in My love. I will help you" — which incorporate responsibility with detachment, as well as the master/disciple spiritual relationship. In the 1960s, the truncated version of this expression by Baba was printed up on inspiration cards and posters of the era. In 1988, McFerrin noticed a similar poster in the apartment of the jazz band Tuck & Patti in San Francisco. Inspired by the expression's charm and simplicity, McFerrin wrote the now famous song, which was included in the soundtrack of the movie Cocktail, and became a hit single the next year. In an interview by Bruce Fessier for USA Weekend magazine in 1988 McFerrin said, "Whenever you see a poster of Meher Baba, it usually says 'Don't worry, be happy,' which is a pretty neat philosophy in four words, I think."

25 comments:

Hagar said...

Don't believe anything you read about Hillary without independent verification from other sources.

exhelodrvr1 said...

Does she still talk to Eleanor Roosevelt?

Bob Boyd said...

Hillary doesn't have the "Don't worry, Be happy" Teddy bear anymore.
She sent it to Ambassador Stevens in Libya because he wouldn't quit bugging her about the security situation.
It got burned up.

Wince said...

In the 1980s we had "Don't Worry, Be Happy" and Men Without Hats.

Today, a quarter century later, we are downsized to one guy with a hat telling us to "clap along" to be "Happy".

Clap along... Or else?

Some progress.

madAsHell said...

She is just cheap political tricks, lying, crying, fresnel lenses.
She has no substance, but she does have the empty resume.

sakredkow said...

Responsibility and detachment. "Do your best. Then, don't worry."

That's what I ask of myself. What an enormous challenge it is.

john said...

Be glad she didn't go on the "It's a Small World After All" ride at Disneyland.

Just writing this now I fear that tune will be running through my head for 2-3 days easy.

RecChief said...

I am no fan of Hillary!. I think she would be worse president than the current one: same bad policies, cronyism, and vindictiveness, but with competence.

Is it too much to ask that we focus on her policy positions? If the president is a good executive, and can lead the country, I don't give a shit if the president squeezes the paw of a hokey teddy bear or keeps jelly beans on his/her desk

The Cracker Emcee Refulgent said...

My iHome alarm is set to Townshend's Content. A little bit of Meher Baba to make every day start smoother.

The Crack Emcee said...

Now - FINALLY - all those people accusing me of being a Democrat because I disagree with the Right, too, get to see how well they know me:

I was into Hillary and the NewAge as news, back in 2007, wasn't it?

I don't know, is the NewAge still news, now that she gets her shot?

Maybe she can run against Romney - just to make it fair,...

gerry said...

Is it too much to ask that we focus on her policy positions? If the president is a good executive, and can lead the country, I don't give a shit if the president squeezes the paw of a hokey teddy bear or keeps jelly beans on his/her desk

Many Progressives believe that one can change reality with thoughts. It's Gnosticism. And, of course, that is idiotic. But it's perfect for our postmodern betters.

Obama, remember, Obama was going to stop the rise of the oceans..."

Paul said...

Stuffed Animals for Hillary is what she used to replace Bill once Monica showed up.

Consider it safe sex.

William said...

The delusional behavior grows stronger day by day. First she turns to a teddy bear for advice, then, in a later, more bizarre manifestation of dementia, she turns to Susan Rice for counsel.

cubanbob said...

With Hillary the more appropriate theme would be "What? me worry?

Unknown said...

What about the talking bass hanging on her wall that John Kerry gave her? Some say it inspired the "reset" button

Drago said...

The "humanize" Hillary! campaign continues apace.

Stuffed Animals! Cute!

Hillary Clinton! Cu...er...adoreab...er.... is a Woman!!eleventy!

That's the ticket.

Heyooyeh said...

She was telling a nice story about a gift from colleague secy of state. Jesus.

Wince said...

Teddy Bear: Hillary, you cannot take responsibility for anything that goes on in your public life.

Hillary: And you can?

Teddy Bear: I don't have to. I'm a fuckin' Teddy Bear!

Mark said...

Some enterprising group of Democrats should start a "Draft Corey Booker" movement.

Seriously, the Democrats just don't have anyone competent to be President in the lists, do they?

I think that's why they hate Walker so much. (And Palin, come to think about it....) Not the right kind of people at all, and yet manifestly better equipped to run the show than anyone they've got to offer.

Big Mike said...

We don't need US presidents who talk to portaits hanging on the walls and we don't need presidents who rely on teddy bears for comfort.

George M. Spencer said...

Meanwhile, George Shultz has a tattoo of the Princeton tiger flying out of his ass.

True. See the link. (No photo, sorry, just a Bob Greene story from 1987.)

Tom Perkins said...

"Don't believe anything you read about Hillary without independent verification from other sources."

A better bet is to never believe anything she says without independent verification.

Bob Engler said...

"Your best? Losers are always whine about their best while the winners ..."

See http://youtu.be/w3UQwyKrTtI for the rest of Sean Connery's great (and vulgar) line about "doing your best" in The Rock.

jeff said...

There are about a bazillion reasons for her not to be president. This isnt one of them.

veni vidi vici said...

The story calls to mind two things that are quickly conflated and reflect badly on Hillary as a result:

1. That Jimmy Stewart "Harvey" movie about a guy and his imaginary pet rabbit; and

2. Jimmy Carter and his killer rabbit brawl misadventure.

These two things crossed my mind as soon as I read the headline and immediately I thought, "Boy, someone's going to crack wise about this on the trail or in the primaries and the networks are going to flog it for at least a day or two."

How is that good for Hillary?