Kindred Spirits – The Imelda and Hillary Connection

 

Lyrics Of ‘Kindred Spirit’ by Cindi Lauper

Kindred spirit,
If you think you’re hearing something
And you can’t think what it is…
If you feel a quiet longing,

Lift your heart into the wind
There you’ll find my kindred spirit
There you’ll meet me as a friend…

..It is just a kindred feeling
And a song to let you in….

Hear me out.  I am not saying there is a perfect parallel, but I will say there are some notable similarities between our gal Hill and Imelda Marcos, whose heart by the way is still pumping cold, crazy, blood through her veins.  So that is similarity number one, the numero uno, or in Imelda’s world the bilang isa.

Both Imelda and Hillary were first ladies. They loved the power, the limelight, and took pride in the work they did in those positions. They met many political leaders, individuals of influence and celebrity, and traveled to many countries during their times as first ladies.

There are photos of Imelda with Ronald Reagan, with Lyndon Johnson, and with Marla and Donald Trump.  We have photos of Hillary with Ronald Reagan, the Bush boys and many with The Donald.

The best photo, however, is of the two kindred spirits when Hillary visited the Philippines.  She was young and had not yet started her pant suit phase.  She looks quite lovely in a soft pink, feminine business suit with plain low taupe pumps.  (The photo is difficult to find on-line, but email me if you want to know where to find it. I cannot identify who owns the rights so I am not posting it here.  It is a completely awesome photo.)

Both Imelda and Hillary had significant influence on the presidency and both spent a significant amount of money.  Imelda worked on numerous pricey projects throughout her 20 years as first lady and used every opportunity to advance herself.

Clinton’s notable non-accomplishment was that she blew through a few million dollars trying to establish Hillarycare, which was to be the country’s first national health care plan.  This lengthy and expensive effort came to an abysmally unsuccessful conclusion, however, and not without some litigation.  There was much controversy on, of all things, the lack of transparency of the Hillarycare task force.

Both Imelda and Hillary know what it is like to have philandering husbands.  In fact, their husbands were both quintessential philanderers. And both women intervened, sometimes aggressively so,  in one way or another to confront or stop those relationships.

Imelda was considered to be politically useful for Ferdinand.  His many other women came and went. Ferdinand complained about Imelda’s ‘virginitis’ and he had children that were not Imelda’s.  Unlike Bill’s women, Ferdinand’s women knew his sperm was functioning properly.

Recent disclosures by sources close to the Clintons indicate that Bill and Hillary have a similar politically convenient relationship.  It is illustrated by the insincere, or fake, interactions between them when the cameras are rolling that screech to a halt when the photo session is completed.

Ferdinand was not unknown for making threats and at least one mistress, Lovey Dovie, was said to be tortured and had to flee for her life from both Ferdinand and Imelda.   Lovey knew she was lucky.  Not all who may have been victimized by the Clintons are alive to express that same sentiment.

Books were written about the philandering spouses, but many more books have referenced Bill’s affairs than Ferdinand’s.   There is not space enough on the internet for me to list all of Bill’s here.

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17376019-marcos-lovey-dovie

lovey doviemonica lew

 

Both Imelda and Hillary had shoe issues.   Imelda’s extravagance was illustrated through many tangible assets, i.e. fashion, jewels, real estate, art, and oh yeah, shoes.  When she and Ferdinand were exiled, the palace was quickly and frenetically stormed and the people discovered a treasure trove of shoes, a closet’s shrine to her excessive extravagance.   Some estimates number her shoes at slightly over 1000 pairs. Some estimate 3000. Some said the number approximated even more.   In the words of Imelda, however, “I did not have three thousand pairs of shoes, I had one thousand and sixty.”

http://imeldamarcos.weebly.com/her-closet.html

imelda shoes

Hillary also had an issue around shoes, but it was a completely different type of issue.  Unlike Imelda, she didn’t want all the shoes she could get.

 

 

Both Imelda and Hillary held political office.   In addition to being first lady for two decades, Imelda has held numerous political offices including governor of metro Manila and was elected multiple times to the House of Representatives.  Hillary held the position of Secretary of State following her role as U.S. Senator for the State of New York.

Both Imelda and Hillary had aspirations for the presidency.  Imelda attempted to gain the presidency twice but her efforts were thwarted each time.  Hillary also attempted to gain the presidency and once was ‘bested’ by Obama.  Like Imelda’s, Hillary’s second attempt could result in defeat as well.   (Hail Mary, full of grace……)

Both Imelda and Hillary amassed fortunes.  Both Imelda and Hillary love money, lots of it preferably, and the things money can buy. Imelda loved shoes, but her art and jewelry collections were worth a fortune.  Hillary likes things too.  So much in fact, that an estimated $200,000 work of kleptomania hauled itself into the moving truck the day the Clinton’s left the White House.  There was a public uproar, and an investigation.  The Clintons returned some items and paid for others.   It is noteworthy that there were no independent valuations of some of the items for which they paid.  Of course, no charges were placed against them.

The left likes to argue that $200,000 is an overstatement and that the right is terribly wrong for overstating the value of the items.   This position is akin to saying that you could steal a $200,000 car, but if you only take a $120,000 car it is not really a theft.

Imelda and Ferdinand amassed wealth in the billions, possibly $10 billion.   Bill and Hillary went from being ‘in debt’ and having difficulty paying their ‘mortgages’ to a net worth of $111 million.  (The American people are very good to them for giving them this fabulous opportunity.)

Both Imelda and Hillary declared poverty.   According to GMA News Online, in June of 2009, Imelda claimed to be broke despite the gazillion dollars she and Ferdinand had amassed  from the people of the Philippines.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/165493/lifestyle/imelda-marcos-broke-with-a-diamond-ring

As for Hillary, when she and Bill left the White House they were ‘dead broke.’  (Perhaps this is why she and Bill had the need to ‘not steal’ some items from the White House.)

 

Both Imelda and Hillary are scandal ridden and regularly accused of corruption.  Neither have ever been found guilty.   Ferdinand and Imelda were known for brutality and corruption, but it took the people of the Philippines over 20 years to force them out of power.  In fact, it took the murder of a political opponent, Benigno Aquino, and allegations of rigging votes for the people to rise.  Imelda and Ferdinand fled the country and lived off the money they had ostensibly pilfered from the Filipino people.

Imelda has been in litigation since but has never been found guilty of any of a lengthy list of charges that include fraud, racketeering, conspiracy, obstruction of justice, and illegally removing funds from the Philippines.  Despite her advanced age, her litigation continues on, all the while she struggles in poverty.

Hillary’s scandals also run deep.  ‘Teflon Bill’ is no longer the moniker.  Rather Facebook posts repeatedly refer to them as the “Teflon Clintons.’     Hillary’s scandal list is extensive, from all the scandals from the 1990s that include Travelgate and Whitewater to the more recent ones of Benghazi, the ‘pay to play’ Foundation, and private server problems, not to mention her accepting ‘donations’ from countries whose human rights and human decency is indefensible.  And the beat goes on…..

While corruption accusations have surrounded both Imelda and Hillary, neither have been found guilty.  In fact, many of the Filipinos seem to have forgiven Imelda.  (Please see Notaloon’s post entitled, “Should Hillary be Forgiven?”)

This juxtaposition of Imelda and Hillary is not yet concluded.  It took the people of the Philippines over 20 years to stand up to the corruption and demand change.  We cannot change a person’s character, an utterly depraved character tainted by the love of money and power.  We can, however, stand up and refuse to accept this immorality for ourselves, our country, and our children’s future.   It is up to us, the people, to decide how much unethical behavior we are willing to accept.  Our decision says a great deal about who we are as a people.  I do not want to be on the wrong side of history.  Do you?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1wj3tqRI6Y

 

 

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