Former speechwriter Peggy Noonan says she's been watching "all" of the Democratic National Convention. (She must have a strong capacity for enduring inanity.) She enjoyed Barack Obama:
When you first see him he is a plain man of irregular features and jug ears. But when he begins to speak his features blend into harmony and handsomeness. This kind of thing only happens if you have magic. At one point the C-Span cameras went to an unhappy looking Jesse Jackson in the stands. He looked like he was thinking, "I don't remember passing a torch." But it was passed.
HRC, not so much.
Hillary Clinton was in comparison cold, robotic and too heavily botoxed. At a certain point Botox can become a problem for those in public life. Mrs. Clinton now has to pop her eyes out to show excitement. Worry lines are honorable, and in Mr. Clinton's wife they are understandable. She should keep them. She has obviously been practicing public speaking--her voice was lower, more modulated and less screechy than usual. Her speech was full of assertion--"I know a thing or two about health care"--but lacking in wit or grace. As always she seemed full of certitude and lacking in sincerity.
Ouch.
Posted by Alan at July 29, 2004 12:32 AM