I watched Bill Clinton's convention speech yesterday from a quiet perch at the Drones Club, which if not as paleo-Republican as the Mausoleum Club nevertheless leans firmly to the right. My first reaction was that no one's told President Clinton that he's term-limited out from running again. My second reaction was complete fascination: not in today's usual sense of the word but in its original meaning, that in which the snake fascinates (casts a spell on) its prey. Perhaps the mouse admires the snake's artistry even as it knows subliminally that it's about to be devoured.
Almost as interesting to me was the reaction of the other customer of the Drones Club bar, clearly a Republican who despised Clinton. At least that's how he acted at the start, rocking back and forth and throwing in snarky comments about the ex-President. But as Clinton continued to talk, he (the customer) slowed down, and then came to a complete standstill. And by the time Clinton got to the "Send John Kerry" refrain, he was frozen, transfixed by the swaying cobra on the screen and the hypnotic rhythm of Clinton's voice. And by the end of Clinton's speech, only social pressure kept my drinking partner from applauding in spite of himself. I'm grateful that Clinton doesn't give speeches advocating abstinence.