Author, author.

 

Obama heavily edits his speeches. But full credit to chief speechwriter Jon Favreau for a Tucson address that wove the life stories of the slain into the lives of everyday Americans when summoned by Lincoln's better angels of our nature.

 
Pete Sousa, White House photograph

The caption for this official White House photo, taken Thursday, identifies Obama, in the Outer Oval Office, conferring with Ben Rhodes, deputy national security officer for strategic communication; and Jon Favreau, director of speechwriting.

I'm sure Rhodes is doing a smash-up job. But doing what I can't imagine. Isn't every word, pause and index finger to the temple by the president a "strategic" communication? And apparently there's a national security style of communicating with Americans? Man, I'd hate the cumbersome handle. You want to impress someone, "I write the president's speeches" isn't good enough?