Gabfest, Part III

On the third night in Denver, Bill Clinton endorsed Barack Obama - perhaps to spite Maureen Dowd's image of him as vengeful and bitter over Hillary's defeat. He said all the right things and said them forcefully without ambiguity.

The old rascal showed once more why he was such a successful politician. The crowd loved him and he played them like a sweet violin in a bluegrass concert.

Of course, sincere insincerity is the coin of the realm in politics and with the Clintons in particular it is hard to know what they are up to. So why this great show of support for Obama when they spent months dragging him down? Well, they are nothing if not smart and they can figure out that if Obama goes down without their support, they just might get the blame, which would kill Hillary's chances four years hence.

So it was all smiles - the smiles of still hungry tigers.

Pity John Kerry, who spoke after Bill. Talk about a hard act to follow. He was greeted by the audience with all the enthusiasm of someone announcing that the bar was closing. To his credit, Kerry got them going in the end with some uncharacteristic liveliness.

Joe Biden was a lively one too. Although he sometimes stumbled, his fighting words were necessary and fitting. But there is something about Joe Biden - perhaps the monumental ego barely constrained by his clothes - that I can't warm too. He made a good rabble-rousing speech last night, but I am not a rabble and I was not roused.