What’s in a name?

Way back in the day when I first arrived in Ireland to go to college I remember thinking how odd – and how quaint – it was that so many seats in the Dail seemed to be inheritable assets to be passed on through the generations. It was as though the 19th century had been extended by another 90 years. But of course Ireland is scarcely alone in that respect. Look at the United States. As Henrik Hertzberg points out:

Of the two hundred and forty-four women who have served in the House and the Senate, forty-six succeeded their husbands and twelve their fathers.

That’s a striking proportion ain’t it? So how would you classify Hillary Clinton? Whatever her own (formidable?) gifts may be, there’s no serious suggestion that she’d be as viable a Presidential candidate had she not been married to Bill.