She was not perfect, far from it, and she did and said things that pretty much anyone can grumble about. Still, the White Hot Mama was fundamentally optimistic about the country and its egalitarian ideals. She was never dreary. And she was actually good at the unsexy part of governance, imposing hiring freezes, auditing state agencies, and saving $6 billion for taxpayers. That work has been forgotten amidst her sharp wisecracks and the blinding glow of her coif. She actually worked in unflamboyant ways to make the world a better place. Which is all you can ever ask from anybody.

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