Ready for Hillary?
The "Ready for Hillary" bus rolled into town today with the launch of Hillary Clinton's latest book "Hard Choices" at the Union Square branch of Barnes & Noble. But surely this is more than a simple book launch, isn't it? As much as New Yorker's love to line up for things such as Cronuts I suspect many in the waiting crowd - they began lining up as early as 2pm the day before, are waiting with longing for Hillary to crush some nuts, circa 2016. A New York day with all the local and many international networks out on the lam, gathering opinions and photo ops to fashion in their form and, tonight in particular, the gap between left and right just got that little bit wider with the this evening's Virginia Primary defeat of House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (Republican) to the Tea Party candidate, David Brat. But back to Barnes & Noble and the long line where bags and big cameras were surrendered to the Men in Black but phones permitted. Hence the
crappyarty pixellated fragments of the last shot of the woman in question who somehow has all the energy and will in the world to make some hard choices indeed! (All photos SOOC because I don't have Hillary's energy!)
So did you get an autographed copy?
You were really in the thick of things.
Yes Angeline I did get/buy an autographed copy – otherwise I would never have made it past a certain early point in the process for which the receipt was the admission tag!
Great post….great photos…….Go Hilary!!!! Go Patti!!!!
Thank you Burgess! Two and a half years to go, go, go!
That widening divide is happening here too, Patti, though sadly we’ve no Hilary waiting in the wings … Glad you were in the thick of things to give us a taste of this very politically charged book launch. 🙂
An opening for you Meredith! 🙂
Me on the soapbox? Ha ha! 🙂
Why not? Sometimes we just have to take that bull by the horns and . . . . go for it!
Are you serious? Call me cynical, Patti, but to me politicians outdo used car salesmen … Once was I had a different opinion of them, but in the time I’ve been back in the West, re-educating myself about our vaunted democracies, I’ve come to the conclusion there’s not much different between our lot and the mob in Paradise. Conniving, pettifogging, populist, divisive … a disgrace except for a few brave souls …
I would have put you down as a brave soul! On the other hand, as someone who has frequently been accused of being a “cynic” – Who me? When I thought I was a well rounded realist? But then we have to vote in hope for someone . . . .
It’s a bit sad, I have to admit, to feel these changes in me and I’ve been wondering why. Ma always accused me of being a Pollyanna but that chirpy optimist rarely shows her head these days and these hard turns to the right, all over the world don’t help. Who’s to champion the environment and all our other pressing issues when it’s more and more dog eat dog and economic rationalism and nobody, it seems, is willing to make a few changes for the common good! Hope, it’s hard to muster but I keep clinging to it 🙂
And we thought the Cold War was bad enough! What is it about nature abhorring a vacuum . . . . ? I can sort of forgive certain older people their stupidity because nothing’s going to change them now but these “Young Guns” coming along with their righteous indignation are super-scary and really should be put in the naughty corners where they belong – hang on, Eric Cantor has been put in the naughty corner! But that’s because he’s considered not quite right-wing enough, he’s out for himself, and he forgot about his electorate.
Speaking of the intransigence of certain older people who can’t change, reminds me of Ma’s remedy against their ‘stupidity’ – that the voting age be capped and that people over 80 should no longer vote. It was back in the 80s and we were talking about climate change and she was despairing of the lack of will and leadership to change. She saw the cause as science vs the politicians and felt her generation should step away and allow younger people to get on with the job of changing the world for the better. She must be rolling at what the new ‘conservative’ Australian government is up to 😦 or the way the ‘right’ is effectively blocking that brave new world through their economic rationalism.
Winter’s arrived here, Patti – need some more of your Summer in NY shots … 🙂
Meredith, your Ma was one strong woman and the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree!
Does she smile like that for everybody? Energy indeed! Go Hillary.
She had a good variety of expressions and I even heard that big laugh which is maybe more reflective of the different people in the line and why I thought she looked a tad on the weary side when we met . . . .
Yes, that’s agreat smile – nicely captured with the idealised Hillary looking on. Great shots, Patti! I really dig the atmospheres you capture.
Americans do great teeth! Thank you so much Richard!
Excellent.
My thanks to you Rabirius!
I could make a comment on almost every photo here, but I will just say they’re great as usual. They really capture the mood of this kick-off to the election campaign (well, what else is it?). As one of your commentators said (assuming they’re from the UK like me), we really need a Hillary. Or someone with balls to make these pirates, currently masquerading as our government, walk the plank.
I know how you feel Pie . . . . and what with Ed Milliband and UKIP, oh and Lib Dems (!) what’s not to love. Or does Boris Johnson see himself as the inevitable liberator of British politics??
You are just in the middle of events. Nice.
Exciting times Bente!
If Tea Party and Christian Right captures the party from us “normal” republicans, Hillary wins.
Hard work ahead for the GOP Carl. Which side will come out on top . . . ?
Very interesting series and interesting times to come. Wonderful documentary photos Patti.
Thank you Lignum! It did feel very much more like the beginning of a political campaign rather than a mere book launch and yes, interesting times certainly!
Great reporting Patti. I cab feel the energy in every frame!
You would have loved it Madhu!
Thanks for this post. Great and atmospheric pictures. Even here in Germany they reported about the launch of her book.
I’m very astonished about her energy. Great woman !!
The 700 page book was written in the relaxation of time-out, from what I hear! Thank you MC and always appreciate hearing from you!
You WERE ready for Hillary :D. Patti, these SOOC shots are amazing. I even like the iPhone one A LOT 🙂
I should have put the iPhone on burst and let the frames roll but . . . . I didn’t 😦 Your kind words make me feel so much better, thank you Paula!
Wonderful Patti. also the reason I avoid NYC. Way too many people but I guess we need them. As for Hillary, we’ll see. Something might pop up. The last photo was great given the circumstances.
You say something might pop up. Elizabeth Warren perhaps?
Great series, Patti!
You are very kind and big thanks to you Harrie!
Hang onto that signed book – it is going to skyrocket in value when she wins !!! Now onto more important things – World Cup :>) !!!
I guess that means I shouldn’t turn down the corners to bookmark it either . . . Thank you Pat and yes, it’s on to the World Cup. Get your V.V’s out!
Cool, today fly a german anchorman Claus Kleber for 7 hours to N.Y. to speak with Hillary Clinton. Thx for your stunning photos.
Thank you so much Wolkenfahnderin! Curious to see / hear what Claus Kleber makes of his interview with HRC!
I think it’s a great shot, with a red compositional triangle!
People wouldn’t stand still long enough but now I can take comfort in the red triangle, and your very kind words. Thank you Elena!
Another excellent NYC photoessay, Patti. Definitely captured the level of interest.
I saw Diane Sawyer’s interview of Hillary the other night. Diane did push for real feedback but I don’t think she really got what she’s after. Hillary is so Washington, and will never ever give more in answer than any question is worth. Every response is carefully calculated and delivered with precision, right down to facial expresion and body jestures. Smart!
It would be so incredible if she does run on 2016 and wins as America’s first female prez immediately after two consecutive Democratic White House both held by the US’ firs African Anerican prez. What a message that would send to the Republicans; that even the most extreme of them — Tea Partiers, couldn’t hinder this new century of change. It could very well also mean that the right wing’s efforts to prevent such a Democratic domination is actually seen by the majority of the public as the elephant trying far too hard and causing a preference for the mule.
It could be interesting.
As I heard someone on the street growl the other day about Diane Sawyer “well what do you expect, she’s a Republican!” Eric Cantor’s defeat was a huge shock because the GOP felt secure enough at this stage to think they had the Tea Party under control, or at least the Tea Party let them think so. I understand your theory re-distaste at the elephant trying too hard which could turn the tide for the donkey but with the fickleness of voter turn-out, who knows what will happen. Plus, I can’t imagine at this stage who the possible Republican contenders might be. As you say, interesting!
Great photo work, Patti, and I enjoy the comments almost as much! 🙂 You’re able to draw out the best in people.
Thank you Lyn, I know it’s getting into dodgy territory talking anything political but it’s hard to miss in this city of 8million opinions!
I’m pretty sure that I’ll never ever be ready for Hillary…
Lucky for you Cardinal, you don’t need to be! Here is a name you might be hearing more of Elizabeth Warren . . .
Great documentation, Patti and congrats to your autographed copy. Regarding the german news anchorman Claus Kleber. Here is the link (still available in english language) for the interview he led with Hillary Clinton: http://www.heute.de/fruehere-aussenministerin-hillary-clinton-im-zdf-interview-im-claus-kleber-33617602.html
I am curious if she will candidate for 2016.
Stefan
So, who is this Hillary person anyway?
🙂