I feel sorry for whoever is going to speak after Obama

[nolabear]

44. I couldn't disagree more, on both counts.

First, President Obama has done an astounding amount to dig us out of an economic, political and social grave. Everything? No. But his humanity and desire to bring about change has been unwavering. His pragmatism rankles many, but not me. Not to work within the system that, like it or not, is in place, would be to fail at being a democratically elected leader in a two-party system.

As to words, they are what we leave, what we quote, what we attach to, what we reach out to one another with. They are the tools with which we try to understand one another, and to use them with wisdom, care, love, and some masterful (and I mean this in a positive sense) manipulation to convey exactly what we want to convey is a kind of intelligence that only some have.

I get that you probably mean that words that are dissociated from action have no value, but I no more believe this about President Obama than I do about any good and intelligent writer/orator. Most people who pay close attention to such things aren't dumb. Opinionated, feisty and prone to argue, but not dumb.