Peggy Noonan on presidential candidates

In this week's column, Peggy Noonan says she likes the look on Barack Obama's face when he's thinking, which is unlike the look on Hillary Clinton and President Bush when they're speaking lines written for them by staff. She likes Joe Biden because he's been ahead of his peers recently on Iraq, she says, specifically mentioning his tripartite thinking (which set off demonstrations against the concept in Iraq by Iraqis, who believe Iraq is theirs to screw up if anybody does.) She likes Chris Dodd because he's sophisticated. Her main point though, is she's tired of Bushes and Clintons and wants a change.

Of her points, the last is the only one that makes much sense. Offering ideas extemporaneously is good in classroom debates and Toastmasters meetings. In presidential campaigns, offering ideas that have been debated and considered and tested is better. Joe Biden has offered the same tripartite idea nobody has been buying for five years or more. But his principal failing is that he can't just stop talking. Silence is golden sometimes in debates and negotiations. Chris Dodd is an empty suit but he looks good.