Every now and then, I like to share the thoughts of readers. Today, I’m posting an e-mail from somebody (I left out the name) who disagreed with today’s column about Barack Obama and his exceptional oratorical ability.

You can read it yourself. I won’t go through a long point-counterpoint response except for a couple of things. The reader disagreed when I said Obama’s words are what ultimately matters. Only deeds matter, he said.

He’s right. Deeds do matter. But my point was that the content of Obama’s speech mattered above the entertaintment-driven pomp of the Inaugural. It’s one big, seemingly endless party filled with a lot of celebrity garbage, not unlike the annual Super Bowl.

The new president’s words also matter because it’s the content of his message against which we will measure the success or failure of his future deeds. Can he lead? Can he inspire? Can he unify the nation and serve effectively to pull us out of this terrifying economic mess?

Words do matter. It’s important to have an articulate president who can clearly state his vision for the country. Frankly, I don’t know how a president can lead without possessing at least a modicum of rhetorical gifts. And I don’t know how anyone can follow a president who can’t say where he’s going.

ANYWAY, HERE’S THE READER E-MAIL.

Let’s not get carried away with this whole Obama thing. Let’s not put him on Mt. Rushmore just yet. Yes, his election is a historic one. Cynics might say that, considering what the other candidates represented, Obama’s election was a foregone conclusion. Any comparisons to JFK, FDR, Lincoln and/or Dr. King are way premature. Barack Obama has not done one single thing for the American people yet. Let us not forget that he is after all, a professional politician who has incurred many debts, both financial and political, on his way to the White House. The investors will want a return on their investments. As Don Corleone rasped to the bakery owner “Some day I may require a favor of you”.

You say that what ultimately matters, is Obama’s words. I strongly disagree. What ultimately matters are Obama’s deeds. I, for one, am sick and tired of flowery phrases, pie-in-the-sky plans and resounding promises from politicians. Talk is cheap. Do you recall “Read MY lips, NO new taxes”? Those words sure have lasted!

Let us just hope that the Congress forgoes its usual partisanship and works with President Obama to help our country recover. Let us hope that the same people who are praising Obama now are not trying to bury him few months down the road. President Bush Jr. started out with an approval rating of over 60%. As of today he would be lucky if it was in the low teens.