Lyric discussion by little_stranger 

Cover art for Jackie lyrics by New Pornographers, The

I think the choice of the name "Jackie" is excellent. It brings to mind the Kennedys and the idea of the utopian an vibrant United States that might of been, but probably wouldn't have.

Contrast this with the "ocean antics" and dispicable "wisdom and pain" in modern polictics, and I believe this is what makes the song so effective.