Visting speech-maker

You just never know who might pop up in your town from time to time, if you are paying attention.

Chris Matthews, the host of "Hardball" on MSNBC recently spoke at Daemen College, a small school in suburban Buffalo. You could tell someone important was there because of the limo out front.

A few quick observations about his visit:

* He's taller than you might think.

* He has a list of credentials longer than a city block.

* Matthews is a lot like he is on television, of course. When he took questions and someone rambled -- someone always rambled -- Matthews was quick to say "What's the point?" or "What's your question?"

* He's a lot funnier than he is on television, perhaps because he doesn't have those annoying guests on his show trying to get in a word or two here and there.

* I think I laughed the hardest at a quick aside about Sarah Palin. "Sarah Palin -- there's a role model for you college kids in the front. Don't bother studying! It only gets in the way." He then moved into something along the lines of "Palin thought Katie Couric asked her trick questions about what she read. Katie Couric has never asked a trick question in her life!" Matthews also made fun of Michelle Bachmann's remarks about Lexington and Concord being in New Hampshire, which is so easy and tempting that I did it here.

* As he looks over the Presidential field for 2012, he's not overly impressed with the Republican contenders. I think he used to word "Looney Tunes" to describe the field. Then again, the concept of "Donald Trump -- Presidential candidate" does lend itself to laugher. Meglomania doesn't come any bigger than Trump, even when talking about a profession that lends itself to such personalities.

It was a fun hour and 15 minutes. We need more speakers like that in town, particularly on nights when I can attend such events.