Lisa Hrabluk

Shawn Graham deserves a new title: fanboy-in-chief.

The provincial Throne Speech was delayed Tuesday afternoon because the Premier and an assortment of his self-titled brain trust were down in Moncton with 4,000 other people for a noon hour presentation by former US president Bill Clinton, hosted by former NB premier and Canadian Ambassador to the US Frank McKenna.

Moncton is about a 90-minute drive from Fredericton, the supposed seat of power, but as the premier and his cadre illustrated in their morning pilgrimege down the TransCanada, the real power in the province on Tuesday was sitting in a pair of overstuffed green club chairs, relaxin’ and regalin’ a crowd of 4,000 people in an old hockey arena on the outskirts of town.

Two political stars soaking up the adoration of their fans.

And why shouldn’t they? McKenna and Clinton are two highly charismatic and fascinating public figures.

People, including Graham, wanted to be there to listen to the insight and wit Clinton and his host brought to their interpretation of the major political and economic issues of day.

It was a level of rhetoric not normally heard in this province and it was a stark contrast to the speech delivered a few hours later in the Legislative Assembly.

Allow me to illustrate the contrasting, ah, speaking styles.

Here is Bill Clinton talking about fixing the economy on The View with Whoopi Goldberg. (I can’t believe I just wrote that sentence)

Clinton on The View

Reasonable and engaged with the live studio audience whilst chatting with the ladies.

Here is the once-effusive Shawn Graham talking to reporters at the Throne Speech media conference:

Media conference

Getting……………..Very…………..Sleepy…………………

Sheesh.