It seems impossible, but Barack Obama has gotten boring.
Really, it's our fault, as a populace, for not valuing substance over lipstick-wearing-pit bulls on the cover of Us Weekly. Still, butthe fact remains: The Republican Party has a fancy-pants new storyline, and in his effort to play down McCain's celebrity label with his unassuming, thoughtful intellectual public servant vibe, Obama is starting to channel Al Gore. Pre-beard. Pre-Oscar. Pre-Nobel Prize.
Even Al Gore would probably acknowledge that this is a problem. He's had so much more success (with liberals and conservatives!) being himself, showing his passion and personality.
Watching Obama on The O'Reilly Factor and Olbermann this week, I felt like a hung-over University of Chicago sophomore in his Constitutional law class. Although he electrified me just a week ago in Denver at his historic convention speech, seeing him talk more wonky policy issues on television was a bit of a fumble. At times he's charming and jocular, but his answers are too long, complicated and sometimes stammering for the sound bite setup. I'm concerned that this won't go over well with the elusive "average American voter."
On O'Reilly:
On Olbermann:
As we know from primary season, HRC was always the better debater. Not that he won't look like Adonis rising standing next to McCain's decrepit frame, talking sense as opposed to tired and failed Republican ideology. It's just important now, in the wake of the Palin Express, to re-establish who the real energizing, fresh face of politics is in this country.
Bring back my Barackstar!
