DENVER -- "Give former President Bill Clinton this: he has a sense of the moment.

To our eye, Clinton spun out a masterwork in the 20 or so minutes he spoke last night at the Democratic National Convention -- vouching for Barack Obama's readiness to be president, honoring the campaign of his wife, and broadly dismissing the idea of a John McCain presidency.

Among the highlights of Clinton's virtuoso performance:

• "Hillary told us in no uncertain terms that she'll do everything she can to elect Barack Obama. That makes two of us. Actually that makes 18 million of us -- because, like Hillary, I want all of you who supported her to vote for Barack Obama in November."

• "Barack Obama is ready to lead America and restore American leadership in the world. Ready to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States. Barack Obama is ready to be President of the United States."

• "People the world over have always been more impressed by the power of our example than by the example of our power."

To our mind, Clinton's speech was equal parts passion and policy and sent a strong and unmistakable signal to those who supported his wife's candidacy that now was the time to fall in line...."

(WaPo)