On Charlie Rose the other day, Jeffrey Toobin said that if Hillary becomes president, she will nominate Barack Obama for the Supreme Court. I was making my lunch, but I think Toobin said he had it from a reliable source. It’s actually a put-down. Obama is justice material– i.e., he’s too smart to be president.
It’s an interesting question. Last night Charles Gibson interviewed Obama on ABC News. Obama’s highly intelligent and sensitive. He has a lot of self-awareness. His discussion of his mixed racial background and his father’s failures was precise and surprising. I could listen to him for a while.
Obama’s intelligence recalls the famous Oliver Wendell Holmes line on FDR: "second-rate intellect, first-class temperament." The line is famous because it says that intellect is not that important, temperament is. Being balanced, not getting rattled. Obama has a first-rate intellect. Is that disqualifying? Too thoughtful?
Here’s my take on other pols. Hillary: 2nd rate mind, 1st class temperament. Bill, the reverse. Rudy: 2nd rate mind, 3rd class temperament (just watch; he’s going to blow before long). McCain: 2nd rate mind, 1st class temperament. Edwards: 2nd rate mind, 2nd rate temperament (passive). George Bush, 3rd rate mind, 2nd rate temperament (insecure). Romney: 4th rate mind, 1st class temperament. Huckabee: 3, 1.
I still like Obama and Edwards. Obama might be too smart, but I think he also has a first-class temperament. Mellow, a little cold. And with Edwards, you get Elizabeth. First-class all the way round.
