My Bestest Pal is suddenly blogging like a mofo, after 2 years of squat. Which I guess sort of spurs me to, not so much compete, but at least join her in the pool, you know, like "Come on in, the water's fine." But don't call her a mommy blogger... but do check out her haikus...

After Barack Obama's historic speech last week-- which will be remembered as on a par with King's "I Have a Dream"-- even Hillary had to admit that, hey, dude makes a heck of a speech. But, as she's been saying all along, giving a great speech is not the same thing as being qualified to be president.

This is where I think she's wrong. In this day and age-- which I'll define as "post-Reagan"-- I'd argue that public speaking is, easily, 80% of the job of being president. Meaning that Obama's facility with the spoken word does, indeed, all by itself pretty much qualify him to be president.

When Reagan was president I used to mock him as the Ronald McDonald of the administration; the guy who made the speeches and appeared on TV but certainly not the guy who made tthe burgers. Now I realize that Reagan, "the Great Communicator" (How Orwellian was that?), was ahead of his time. We're electing a president based on how good a job he or she will do as champion, as spokesperson for an administration and set of policies. Indeed whomever we elect, one would hope they'd get an expert on economics to make economic policy; an expert on the Middle East to make Middle Eastern policy, and so on. Probably also an expert on prostitution and extramarital affairs; indeed I think we should probably make that a cabinet-level position. (Insert your own position joke here: _______________________)

Hillary supporters are wont to say something that usually begins, "Yeah, but if she was a man..."

Let me complete that thought for you.

If she was a man, she'd be Al Gore without the inconvenient truth; she'd be John Kerry; she'd be Dick Gephardt in a pastel pants suit. Sorry, but I'm totally over that guy.

Labels: bestest, hillary, obama, The politics