This is long overdue – something I noticed back at the inaugural balls. More than once, I saw the newly-inaugurated one lean in for a smooch, and each time Michelle managed to duck him, offering a chaste cheek instead. Try googling "Barack and Michelle kissing" and variations thereof. You’ll find the cheek moveI mentioned, and also some nose and forehead (that lady can sure dodge a buss) and one very demure peck, but that’s it. I imagine them happily bickering about it at the convention, he, taking it as a challenge, honey, I AM going to plant one on you sometime today. She, remembering Al and Tipper’s extended and so awkward on-stage make-out session (when? When Gore got the nomination?) telling him baby, that is just not going to happen in public. And so, as I imagine it, it was game on.
Her demurrals charm me, and his lean-ins and hint of awkwardness when he fails to hit the mark show a vulnerability in him that’s a big part of his charm: Barack has a boyishness, an innocence, and a wonderful lack of machismo that’s almost forbidden for male American politicians.
While I did listen to the speech last night, and it was a good’n, I’m in a morelighthearted mood about the prez today. I’m particularly fond of this clip below from the other day ofBarack talking about his official copter. Remember, this is a guy who less than ten years ago still had unpaid student loans! Stuff like that, the loans, the helicopter humor, just add to how much I relate to the guy. When (B.) Clinton spoke, I felt that he was speaking to me, sure, but when Barack steps up the the mic, I really think that this is someone I almost know, someone I'm nervous for when I see him on stage because I want him to to great, someone I might have a beer or play some ball with. (In actuality, we were at the same school at the same time for a year and conceivably could've played in a pick-up game together in the gym – oh, shaddup, readers,let me have my fantasy) The cult of personality, the pull of charisma– hate them if you must, but resistance is largely futile.
