George Will at Politics & Prose

From the back row he looked 10 years younger than 67. Wearing a suit and that stern look on an expressionless face. But like all celebrities you see, they always look better in person.

George Will came to promote his newest book, his 13th he said, One Man's America: The Pleasures and Provocations of Our Singular Nation, but I don't think the title was ever mentioned, if you discount the cover the Politics and Prose manager held up to show the crowd before Mr. Will spoke.

He said he quickly wanted to get to the topic of the day, and his anxious audience of about 150 persons (SRO; average age: 45) sighed: "Right on, brother!"

George Will doesn't think too much of John McCain: "I am comforted by the knowledge that he doesn't know what he's talking about....I love harping on (him)," which he did often.

About The Candidates: We'll soon know why it's only the third time that a sitting U.S. Senator will become president for U.S. Senators are seldom elected. (Quick: Name the others! Answer at bottom.)

Justice Antonin Scalia "has a sound bite in all his opinions."

Mr. Will agrees with the decision of the U.S. Supreme Court to grant habeas corpus to the detainees at Guantanamo which he believes should be closed.

"Creationism" is false and should not be taught in school.

The Bear Stearns bailout by the U.S. Federal Reserve was a mistake.

Tony Blair is "a good American."

"It's true that some nations are not ready for a democracy."

Congress will never vote term limits on itself. "Whenever the American people have voted on term limits, they've voted for it."

Barack Obama's biggest advantage is the dysfunctioning Republican Party which "has damaged its brand. When you're in a hole, quit digging....If the Democrats can't win (this year), they have to get out of politics."

He said he said long ago: "Whoever beats Hillary Clinton will be a giant killer, and I do believe that," however, "Obama should be well ahead of McCain by now...but there are 'miles to go before we sleep.'"

He thinks it possible for McCain to win Pennsylvania.

"The most stunning number was the 41 percent in West Virginia (difference that Hillary beat Obama). It is close to Pennsylvania. Obama basically carried state capitols and academic towns (in the primaries). He has some work to do."

He said 40% of voters in 2004 were 60 and older, and 46% of the Republican vote came from "White Christians."

He writes 123 columns annually, and his newest book is a compilation of columns.

You may not agree with him politically, but one must admire his writing style and his command of the dictionary which exceed that of any other public figure around. That he speaks knowingly and was unwilling understandably to bend to any of the arguments presented by 10 or so questioners is reason to applaud his debate.

(John Kennedy and Warren G. Harding were the other presidents to come directly from the Senate.)