I agree with Mona, for the most part. Though I think optimism is always helpful in a politician. My problem with the optimism fest last night was that there was so much tell and not very much show. Saying over and over again “I am an optimist” is slightly different than actually being optimistic. Or let me put it this way. Very few sexy people shout: “I am very, very sexy!”

I cannot stand it when politicians read their stage direction. Remember when poppa Bush announced at a press conference something to the effect of “I want to appear as though I am distancing myself as much as possible from David Duke”? It was as if he was reading from his cue card but forgot to read the dialog and instead read his motivation.

If you’re going to be an optimist, be an optimist. Don’t tell me you’re going to be an optimist by saying you like optimism. Feh.