The Book of Ryan

R. Emmett Tyrrell and Mark W. Davis love the Clintons. They love their egos, they love their escapades, and they love their sordid secrets. In Madame Hillary: the Dark Road to the White House, Tyrrell and Davis dispense their intimate knowledge about whom they consider the most dangerous liberal in the Senate. Or perhaps Republicans throw this moniker at any liberal running—or with potential to run—for high office.

Tyrrell and Davis discuss Senator Clinton’s political beginnings at Wellesly college and her liberal mentors, analyze in-depth HRC’s own book, and her political strategies. Luckily for Tyrrell and Davis, they are unfettered by responsible writing. They need not rely on competant and responsible quotations, and often favor anonymous sources. Tyrrell and Davis were lucky to score exclusive interviews with a whitehouse insider, a senate aid, and even a senate colleague. Not to imply that the writers are dishonest, but by quoting people without providing their name, they are not restricted by it.

Tyrrell and Davis do perform an amazing job with language. Madame Hillary is soaked with pre-packaged language, analyzed and polished in order to inflame Conservatives and Conservative-leaning moderates. Tyrrell and Davis recycle phrases coat-and-tie radicals, pennyloafer conservatives and the infamous culture smog to the point of obnoxiousness. These phrase fit well within frames that help establish distrust between progressives and the rest of the world. The word radical implies violence and change, while adding coat-and-tie adds a dishonest tinge, not unlike a wolf-in-sheep’s-clothing. In contrast, Conservative implies cicumspection and wisdom, and pennyloafer qualifies this person as down-to-earth and casual. Which seems more appealing?

A quick reading of Madame Hillary would seem to be a frightened analysis of HRC’s character and politics, but its language attempts to hide her incredible accomplishments. Tyrrell and Davis describe her warlike manner, and simplifying spin and mistakes into lies. What they are describing, however, is Senator Clinton’s strong education, empathy for the less fortunate and common person, and her maturation from Arkansan first lady to New York Senator. While listening to Madame Hillary, I couldn’t help but be impressed by the Senator’s intelligence, political savvy, and drive. It takes an intelligent reader to see through the propaganda.

Hindsight is what they say it is, because many of the problems Tyrrell and Davis foresaw Clinton causing in 2003 where actually prepetrated by the Bush White House. Her politiking and aggressive political strategies would only be acceptable if she were a member of another political party. No one can aspire to the highest office in our country without getting their hands dirty, but if you can wade your way through the intentional and poorly supported character assassination attempt, Madame Hillary offers excellent reason to vote for Rodham-Clinton in 2008.