Vice Presidential Politics at 9 Park Lane

Near constant political talk continues at 9 Park Lane, and I take a strange pride in the fact that Claire and Margot can easily identify photos of Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, John McCain, and Sarah Palin. We're still working on Joe Biden, whom Margot insists on referring to only as "Obama's buddy." So, we've been talking a fair amount in recent weeks about the vice presidency, what that job entails, and how Joe Biden and Sarah Palin are the two vice presidential candidates. For Margot, however, the hope of a Hillary comeback remains alive:

Me (holding up Newsweek photo of Joe Biden): "Okay, who's this one?"
Margot: "Um . . ."
Me: "Here's a clue . . . it's Barack Obama's vice presidential candidate."
Margot: "Wait - is it Hillary?!?"
Claire: "Margot, that's not Hillary, it's a man!!"
Margot: "Oh. But, is Hillary going to be the vice president?!"
Me: "No. This is Joe Biden, he's the person who will be the vice president if Obama's wins."
Claire: "Yeah, Margot, that's Joe Biden."
Margot: "He's Barack Obama's vice president?"
Me: "Yes."
Margot: "It's not Hillary?"
Me: "No, it's Joe Biden."
Margot: "Okay."
(pause)
Margot: "Mom, are you sure it's not Hillary?"

Presidential Politics at 9 Park Lane

With the vice presidential candidates selected and the election around the corner, the always-high volume of political discussion at 9 Park Lane has ramped up a notch in recent weeks. Margot remains a fervent Hillary supporter, and is cheerfully undeterred by the fact that Hillary is not actually running. Although I explained that Hillary is now supports Obama, Margot is not totally convinced. So, many mornings start out with Margot checking in on the political landscape, just in case Hillary may be back in the race.

Claire fancies herself something of an expert on the topic of Hillary's (non)candidacy, and takes each discussion as an opportunity to demonstrate her own political prowess. (This despite the fact that she only recently stopped referring to the general election as the "secondary"- i.e., the one that follows the "primary.")

Margot: "Mom -- is Hillary really for Barack Obama?"
Me: "Yes, she is."
Margot: "Even though he's a boy?"
Me: "Yep."
Margot: "Is Hillary going to vote for him?"
Claire: "Of course she is. All Democrats are going to vote for him. Also, I heard her say 'Barack Obama is my candidate!'"
Margot: "Well, I think I might still vote for Hillary."
Claire: "Margot! You're only five - you can't vote. Only grown-ups vote."
Margot: "Well, is Bush still the president?"
Me: "Yes, he is. He will be until a new president is elected."
Margot: "Will Hillary be the new president?"
Claire: "MARGOT! Hillary isn't running for president any more."
Me: "No, it won't be Hillary. It will be either Barack Obama or John McCain."
Margot: "Oh. Not Hillary?"
Claire: "NOT HILLARY."
Margot: "Well, it might still be Hillary, I think."
Claire: "Hillary is NOT running for president. It's definitely not her."
Margot: "Ok." (Pause)
Margot: "Mom, are you sure that it's not going to be Hillary?"
(Repeat entire conversation 17 times)