The Gipper could speak well from notes but not extemporaneously. This is not a slap at Reagan, that methodology is generally how we train our politician. We give them a list of subjects and respectable comments and answers for likely questions. It makes it look on TV like whomever is talking is just a brilliant SOB. Reagan was very good at that. But if he was caught flat-footed, he stumbled and mumbled until he could redefine the question so that his answers fit. Dubyah, of course, is not good at that at all. He just stares dumfounded until something drifts by his field of vision.

However, I understand that in small meetings that Dubyah is very impressive. You can see it in the demeanor of his friends and especially his political opponents when they leave a closed-door session with the prez. They are never unclear of what he wants them to learn in his meetings.

Clinton was/is like Tony Blair, a glib, articulate, sharp of mind and wit. You'll almost never see either man with that "Deer-in-headlights" gaze. This is one reason that Hollywood loves Clinton--he is a fellow master of their craft, an instinctual actor, but also with a quick mind (unlike most of those superficial, self-inflating asses in Hollywood).

The downside (to me) of that thespian gift is that you can never tell where sincerity ends and pandering begins.

But with Dubyah, its an obvious line for all too see. His impromptu rubble speech following 9/11 and his speech to Congress immediately following and his first State of the Union Address were pure and from the heart. This last State of the Union, in contrast, was just a bunch of political pandering. If he doesn't believe his words, its written on his face and body.

In contrast, Blair's speech to Congress was far, far better delivered and of finer words and sentiment than anything Dubyah has said. But how sincere was Blair? JJL would probably said, "Not at all, he's just pandering." That is maybe true. How can you tell from a craftsman of that caliber? But it was still a great speech.

Botnst

Ooops! Sorry about the hijacking. I don't need to tell you I love politics and can't avoid commenting on it.

I saw a band in the early eighties that did the Clash like Elvis impersonators do Elvis music. It was in a large bar in a suburb of Baton Rouge. The music was driven and the crowd was out of control. I loved it all. Never owned their music--for no particular reason. And that's a good reason to get a CD.

B