Note to Blinken: You Have to Improve Your Style

The Hon. Anthony Blinken

Secretary of State

Washington, DC 20001 

Dear Secretary Blinken:

This must be a really challenging time for you. The withdrawal of our troops from Afghanistan and the handling of those who for some reason of another weren't able to leave just this very minute, has created logistical issues that are probably unprecedented in our or any other history. So you're under a great deal of stress, and that's understandable.

And of course, you're good at what you do. Joe Biden's no dummy, and he's observed you doing good things for a long time. But that underscores what I'm about to say.

We need to talk. I watched your speech last night concerning the withdrawal of our troops and next steps for our diplomacy, and I came away with two thoughts:

• Good policy
• Bad delivery

Yes, that matters. The land of politics has all kinds of landmines associated with it, the worst of which are self-inflicted. From what I came to experience on my own national level, it's balanced between the 'show' and the 'substance.' Sometimes it isn't easy to tell one from the other, but that's because some people are very, very good at both. Sadly, it doesn't appear that you are, sir. Your style needs some work.

Why? Because when it gets to the point where the delivery distracts from the message, people begin to switch the station. Then nobody's listening. Then you lose because the whole point is obscured.

Obviously, you never taught school, in which people quite clearly hang on your every word. You get that effect when it's close up, of course, and tend to lose it when talking to a nationwide audience. But I got better in my own speech delivery when I adjusted and told myself, It's all about teaching because the techniques and delivery are just about the same. Then I relaxed, and people liked me better.

Let me tell you what I saw. Remember, I've been guilty of these at various times, too:

• You spoke too quickly. For heaven's sake, man, slow down. You had a lot to say, yes, and it was all important. All the more reason why you must be more measured. I couldn't absorb one sentence until it was on to the next.
• Most of the time, a relative monotone. That translates to being a policy wonk. I suppose that that's what you are, but the public doesn't want to see that. It wants to see someone representing our foreign policy to the rest of the world. And I'm quite sure some of them asked themselves, Does this guy talk like this to everyone? The Chinese? The Germans? Everyone?
• If you're going to take a prop with you, then use it. You took the proverbial folder to the podium, opened it, then completely read from the teleprompter. Not that that's a bad idea, but you never looked down, not once. If you look down, you create the impression that you have useful notes. That makes you look thoughtful. If you don't, you look hypnotized by the teleprompter.
• A terrible exit. "Thanks for listening" isn't a bad idea as such, but you are the Secretary of State, not a guy spilling his guts to his counselor. You have to remember that you're addressing the whole nation, many of which want our governmental reps to mention something like "God bless our troops," which would have been a nice touch because (a) your boss, President Biden, says exactly that whenever he ends his speeches; and (b) we just lost 13 of them at once, most of them no more than kids, when some extremist idiot decided to set off his suicide vest. You also walked way too quickly, as if this was the very last thing you wanted to do. While you can't be blamed for thinking that, it's a very bad look.

President Biden is apparently going to address the nation about this debacle today. I wouldn't be surprised if he tries, however briefly, to say what a great job you're doing. I'm not sure that will put you in a better place in his mind, but he has to remind the country that you're in an incredibly difficult position right now, and that he appointed you to fill it and handle this extremely difficult situation. That's called "covering tracks," and if it happens, expect a meeting to be taken to the woodshed, so to speak.

I'm sorry to have to say this. But the very people who want to take you down are taking notes about this, and if they can't make particular fun of you and your faulty speechifying, they can be sure to get someone short on substance and long on delivery. 

Remember, they pretty much just got away with four years of that, and they think they can do it again. Think Mike Pompeo, the pompous windbag who said nearly nothing while representing, or trying to represent, a dangerous, destructive windbag who knew nothing about diplomacy and didn't think that mattered, either. You want him back?

I wish you well, sir. The following days will be filled with attempts at faulty retribution, including major hypocrisy by those who perpetuated this enormous mistake. You'll have to endure that, too, as well as challenges anew. You'll do it better, though, with a review of, and improvement in, your presentation style. Best of luck.

Be well, Be careful. Wear a mask indoors. With some luck, I'll see you down the road.

Mister Mark