It’s all about timing.

I tried smiling again this morning. This time at 5 am at the gym. (I always smile at the gym but this morning I smiled more than usual) Do you know that everyone, without exception, smiled back and most said; good morning. Even though it was 5 am, everyone was happy and in a great mood. Maybe it was just a better group of people. I doubt if it was timing. I think if you ask the right group of people a question, you can get the answer you want. It really is all about timing and strategy.

Now allow me to get on my soapbox for just a brief moment. I promise not to dwell on this but sometimes something gets said and it just hits me the wrong way. And instead of letting it fester like a bad sore, I am going to just clear the air and get it off my chest so that it doesn’t affect my blogging. I know you were all concerned.

Ok last evening on the news, a reporter was raving about what a great speaker President Obama is. She cited three reasons for this. First he uses two Teleprompters when he gives a speech. Second, he gives “from the heart” speeches. And lastly, he really gets the crowd behind him when he speaks. Please hear me out, I will be brief.

How does using two Teleprompters make you a great “Speaker”? It doesn’t. It means you are a great reader so I will give him that. President Obama is a great reader. See I am kind even to people I don’t particularly like.

If these speeches were from the heart, then he wouldn’t have to read them. He would be able to stand there and tell it like it is. By having to write the speech in advance, it is saying just the opposite. A good speaker only needs an outline or notes. Also, I bet he gets help with writing the speeches. Not that there is anything wrong with that it’s just that if the speeches are from the heart I would have to ask: Who’s heart?

Ok about the crowd being behind him. If he gave the same speech over and over, I would be impressed but he didn’t. He went to a location where the home foreclosure rate was the highest in the nation and spoke about home owner bailouts. He went to a place where there was the highest population of gays in the nation and spoke about gay rights. He went to Detroit and spoke about the need for stronger Unions. Of course the crowd was behind him. He picked the crowd.

Now just for a moment, let’s imagine that he switched the locations by mistake. Suppose he talked with Union leaders about gay rights and how they would have to make sure the unions protected gays. Suppose he talked with gays rights activists about how he would bail out the home owners when they came to hear about gay rights. And suppose he went to the third location, which is predominantly non union and spoke about how we need to strengthen the unions. Do you think the crowd would have cheered or booed? You know the answer. He didn't pick the crowd last night. Did he get 100% support?

I think he is smarter than I originally gave him credit for. What about that ploy to get the Senators, Congressmen and Governors involved in the save the USA project. Focus groups? "You have until the end of the day to come up with solutions?" And to ask Senator McCain to go first was priceless. Put your ex-opponent on the spot to make him look bad. Outstanding Mr. President. Way to show your true side. Of course he was taking a slight chance when asking Senator McCain what he came up with to help the economy. Wouldn’t it have been a hoot if he said; "Step down and let me take over."

Ok I am done. We now return to our regularly scheduled blogging. I am in a good mood today by the way. But then that is usually the case. I hope this post didn't offend anyone. But then the truth should never offend anyone.

Have a great day,
Greg