A Story: As a staffer for his 1988 Presidential Campaign, I met Al Gore about eight times. After Gore went down in flames, I got a job with Dukakis during the general election and met Gore out on the trail another half dozen times. After the 10th time where Gore showed no recognition that we had met, I started a running joke with my dad that “I met Al Gore again!”
I knew I was a nobody, but back then I thought they all had transcendent human qualities. In contrast, I first met Bill Clinton at a Governors’ Conference I attended with my boss, Governor David Walters, a few months before Clinton announced for President. Months later and by myself, I saw Clinton again at one of his early campaign events. He obviously didn’t know my name, but as we shook hands, he said, “How’s David doing?” letting me know he knew how I fit. Hmmm!
A Person: Not a friend but you should follow David Brooks. Watch as he succinctly summed up where we are and why on Sunday. The Republican leadership is lost but my New Year’s wish for our President is a little less Gore cool and a little more Clinton charm.
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