It is, in fact, still 2011.
Any confusion is understandable, given that every breathing body that has anything to do with national politics is behaving as if it were already 2012.
The old expression "all politics is retail" is particularly appropriate when you realize that, just like retail stores, the political process has to be out in front of the consumer in order for politicians to get the most bang for your bucks.
Christmas decorations in the Wal Mart in September.
2012 Presidential debates in September 2011.
Potato, patahto.
All of that said, here's what already missing from the upcoming process of choosing the family that will get all the mail for "Occupant" at 1600 Pennsylvania.
Charisma.
Which can often begat enthusiasm.
Which can often begat a sense of purpose, even inspiration about both the political process and what it can, when its better angels are turned loose, accomplish.
All ideological postures put aside for the moment, let's do a quick search of the leading candidates for President of the United States from both the Republican, Democratic and/or Tea Parties.
Set the search on "charisma"....or "inspirational", if you prefer.
Begin scan.
Scan complete.
No results found.
Sounds about right.
Personally, I already knew the results you would find.
I've been scanning them all since all of this began and, even including the incumbent, haven't found a glimmer in the gang of em'.
I was, though, reminded of the disappointing lack of the aforementioned sparkle when I watched the dedication ceremony at Shanksville yesterday.
Charisma, like romance, is an elusive quality. It is not something that can be described, bullet pointed or check listed.
With romance, your partner either gets it or they don't.
Charisma.
You got it.
Or you ain't.
Mr. Clinton from Arkansas has got it.
Always had.
Always will.
And as the knee jerk nay saying party poopers begin sputtering in anticipation of rebutting me with stories of cigars and memories of Monica, I respectfully
suggest you take a breath...
...and then shut up.
Bill Clinton is, far and away, no role model for good behavior.
He is an obviously flawed human being.
From a long line of obviously flawed human beings.
Abraham Lincoln, manic depressive.
Ulysses S. Grant, alcoholic.
Franklin Roosevelt, incorrigible skirt chaser.
John F. Kennedy, incorrigible skirt chaser.
The reason this year's crop of candidates seems lame is because it is.
However well intended they might sincerely be, the plain truth is that they are all, without exception, doing a world class job of, essentially, trying to seduce us by reading from the manual.
We don't want to be read to.
We want to be romanced.
They don't get it.
Bill always got it.
Because Bill's got it.
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