I don't share a lot of people's animosity towards Hillary Clinton, but she really needs to work on her people skills. Image is important to a politician (duh!), and more often than not Hillary comes across as a condescending phony. During Bush's speech, she looked bored, distracted, chatting with the people around her at all the wrong times, etc. Let's remember, this was not a speech to defend a tax rebate or a Social Security lock-box; this was the equivalent of FDR's Day of Infamy speech, and any politician, from whatever party, should know enough about the business of politicking to look like she's taking it seriously. People love to hate Hillary, and she keeps handing them more reasons to do so. It surprises me that she can be so smart, yet so oblivious.

The concert was an interesting clash of personal styles, with celebrities and drunken police/firefighters jockeying for position in front of the mikes. I don't blame the cops and firefighters for indulging -- God knows they needed to blow off a little steam after all they've been through -- but if they were professional musicians, actors or politicians they would have known that getting plastered and stepping in front of a microphone is not a great idea. It doesn't surprise me that they directed some hostility towards Hillary; I'm sure most of them can't relate to her at all.