Saturday, February 20, 2016

Jeb! vs QE I

The early run through the web sites I like showed anticipation about Jeb dropping out by the end of tonight. Speculators believe South Carolina results will be the end of Jeb's campaign. That is the sense that I got from reading this morning.

And how can that not put you in mind of other similar historical drama? Glenda Jackson is terrific as Queen Elizabeth I, her dying scene left a lasting impression on my politically unformed self. Either they changed the ending or I am misremembering from seeing it as a teeny tiny tot not knowing what I was watching. I recall seeing the Lords in the chamber waiting for her to die, checking her breath, her saying "I'm not dead yet" to their tremendous embarrassment, then kneeling at her bed when she dies, the camera pulls back from the room, the guards outside the room drop to their knee without looking behind, the camera retreats steadily and the entire court drops to their knee, men and women in gowns all kneel silently and respectfully and hold themselves there interminably, the camera pulls back from chambers and everyone inside the castle walls are waiting for this moment and they all drop to their knee, the camera pulls back from the castle and all London, all England drops to their knee in a broad sweep across the entire kingdom in profound respect and deep loss.

But that is not how the clip shows it. The link should skip to the end of a wonderful series. If a bit stilted dialogue and with deplorable makeup.

I guess it is a historical fact that at the end QEI stood for fourteen hours straight, her dress holding her up. Were she to go to bed she'd never get out. This later depiction has her standing until falling backward and it puts emphasis on a ring of importance to a courtier discovered to be fitted with a latch revealing a tiny painting of her mother.

Elizabeth R and Elizabeth the Virgin Queen, they're both excellent productions.

They both remind me of Jeb, his campaign and his family. Same thing with great differences.

There is another real Elizabeth to follow much later and with similar compelling life story and enduring affection, will there be another Bush too? I don't care for the thought, I cannot say that it's un-American in spirit, we've done this all along, but political dynasties are un-MY-American spirit. I don't like it but they and the Udalls and their like are built for it, made from it. Unfortunately I cannot see it otherwise. I cannot see Bush offspring avoiding politics. And that's a bit of a bummer they won't be able to avoid it.

4 comments:

ricpic said...

There isn't a hint of grandeur in Jeb, or, for that matter, in his entire fakakta fambly.

William said...

They're a brand name. So were the Roosevelts, the Lodges, and the Adams. People like predictable behavior. There's no sense of glamour or adventure in voting for Bush, but he's safe. There might come a tine when that's a plus, but not this year.........The Kennedys were a brand name, but only for a brief period. They were like Swatch watches. Their time came and passed. Ditto with the Clintons. Can anyone imagine a nation turning it's lonely eyes to Chelsea or any of the Kennedy kids not currently in rehab to help the nation out of peril. Jeb--I think it's Jeb--has a son with movies star good looks and Fluent Spanish. There will be other times and other Bushes. They've got a long running franchise, not a hit restaurant.

chickelit said...

Jeb! just quit!

rcocean said...

Jeb has abdicated. Too low energy.