An homage to intelligence & class

I've just watched Secretary of State Clinton and President Obama's announcement of special envoys to the Middle East and Afghanistan/Pakistan.

I am pinching myself with the delight of listening to people I respect, admire and hope to emulate in my own personal choices...and they are leading our country. After eight years of cringing at Bush's stupidity, ineptitude and intellectual clumsiness [he could have at least hired a sharp speech writer!], it almost feels indulgent that we could have so much intelligence at once.

Bush hobbled on the crutches of his religion. Obama put his stake into the core of our humanity. "We will not tolerate torture." That's it. So fundamental. No wishy-washy semantics about whether water boarding is torture. Or if Darfur does or does not constitute genocide. Or calling our invasion of Iraq [however legitimate] a war.

We're getting right down to the brass tacks of global survival. And this team is already demonstrating it has the alchemy to mix discipline with patience; straight talk with respect; and accountability with inclusion.

Not a second too late.