Ken Salazar: scintillating

Ken Salazar.

Colorado Senator Ken Salazar has been chosen to help formally nominate Barack Obama for president on Wednesday night, and all I can say is, brace yourself for the thrill of a lifetime. Salazar is among the most laconic, monotonal speakers ever elected to national office, and his verbal style extends to less formal moments. Early on Tuesday morning, when the Pepsi Center was just coming to life, Salazar moved onto the floor in the company of a couple of staffers, and seconds after he lowered a bottle of juice from his mouth, I rudely grabbed a moment or two of his time — because, as you know, press people are rude. When I asked him about the convention thus far, he said, “It’s even more exciting being here than I thought it would be” with all the verve and enthusiasm of Ben Stein explaining the Hawley-Smoot Tariff Act in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Buckle up, DNC viewers. Next stop, exhilaration. — Michael Roberts