The American Spectator

p>Franklin Roosevelt was a governor, and Al Capone was a community organizer. br> — Steve Spaay /p>

Years ago in college, I had a course (can’t remember the name) where the professor was particularly particular about presentations. While it was an engineering course, the professor insisted we present our results in a briefing format before the entire class.

After the first round of presentations, the professor gave us all a failing grade. Confused, we asked why and he let us know that he graded each of us on the number of “uhs” and “ahs” produced during the presentations. Basically, he started each of us off with 100% and then started subtracting. I won’t reveal my depressing score on this first presentation; too damn close to negative territory.

His advice to “fix” the problem was interesting and very difficult to implement: just shut up. He told us that using these filler noises made it sound stupid, so rather than “ah” our way past a sticky point, just be silent. It was, by far, the most difficult thing I have ever learned.

Today, I find myself cringing every time I have to listen to a briefing or presentation with “ah” and “uh” cluster-bombing throughout. It can take a generally good briefing and send it completely down the hole. I’ve seen it so bad that it affects decision makers. Why support a project or recommendation that “sounds stupid” because it appears the presenter isn’t even comfortable with what’s presented?

p>There’s nothing much left to say about a presidential candidate who also cluster-bombs “ahs” and “uhs.” He hasn’t learned to be silent so he’s stuck on sounding stupid. br> — Karl F. Auerbach br> Eden, Utah /p> p> Excellent article…apropos the Kennedys, I remember my grandfather saying years ago that he would feel a lot better about the Kennedy’s naked political ambition if just ONE of them had run for county sheriff somewhere along the line instead of going straight for the top jobs in the country…seems like he was prescient in that respect. br> —