Obama at Fort Hood
A fine eulogy, with a deftly written condemnation of the alleged shooter's presumed radical Islamic motives. It almost makes up for the president's weird "shout-out" preface to his first statement on the shooting.
George W. Bush was never able to fake anything. When he was sad, it showed, and when he was mad it showed, when he was bored, it showed.
Bill Clinton by contrast was like one of those Las Vegas magicians, who show you how the trick is done - then fool you with the trick -then again show you how it was done - then fool you once more. He would wink and weep, and weep and wink, and somehow please both those who liked weeping and those who appreciated ironic winking.
President Obama is a man of artifice, self-created, self-disciplined, self-sustained. One never knows what he really thinks and feels. Which was truly him - that ghastly shout-out, or this solemn remembrance? How does one begin even to guess? But although we always say we want it, the presidency is not the place for authenticity. It is a place for dignity, and this president's dignity rarely if ever fails.