President Listener

Colin Robertson, who used to be an advocate for the Canadian embassy  on Capitol Hill, has written a report about Canada’s prospects for dealing with the new administration. He includes this personal impression of dealing with Obama when he was still senator:.

"After making several hundred calls on Capitol Hill, I divided politicians into two camps: talkers and listeners. I reckon that 80% are talkers. Obama was a listener. I would pitch him on an issue - beef, lumber, or Devil’s Lake. He would listen politely, thank me and I would depart. I thought him ‘fit, elegant, comfortable in his skin.’ I also wrote that he appeared ‘deliberative, disciplined, and determined.’ In the months and years ahead, he will need all of those qualities."