. >> let's talk about some of these issues with our great guests coming up including michael gersen. let's get into the arena. >> joining us tonight is michael gersen, former speechwriter for president bush, and columbia university professor. welcome to both of you. good to see you. no hug for me? >> hi, how are you? so nice to see you. >> good, good. you too. >> before we move straight to some of our favorite topics, michael would you like to respond to elliottiot spitzer pe economy in the emergency room? >> after six years of unprecedented growth and a fairly healthy any? >> you're talking about the clinton administration? >> exactly. but there were a lot of problems and a lot of shared responsibility for those problems with democrats on the hill and i think some shortsighteded government policies as well. >> tell us what your thoughts are on obama's communications skills, we thought he was the best ever when he was leading a stadium of people. >> i think it will be interesting for historians to look at this because many of the virtues that he had in the election, particularly duri