By Jerry Burris
Advertiser Editorial Editor

When House Speaker Calvin Say called on his fellow politicians to do away with "cleverness for the sake of cleverness" during Legislature opening-day remarks , he put his finger on an interesting dynamic that is developing at the State Capitol.

In subtle ways, the Democrats in the Legislature are beginning to say that their differences with Republican Gov. Linda Lingle are about more than politics and policies.

They are also resisting — or at least attempting to defuse — one of Lingle's best weapons: Her rhetorical abilities.

Lingle is a superb public speaker: smooth, articulate, focused and entertaining. Whether she is speaking off the cuff or in formal remarks, her thoughts seem organized and her language precise.

And it must be said that these are qualities that have often been lacking in the governor's office.

Lingle's Democratic predecessors, going back from Ben Cayetano, to John Waihee, George Ariyoshi and even John Burns, were not particularly famous for their public-speaking skills. Burns set the tone early on with his philosophy that one does not govern by running around town promising things and bragging about yourself.

That philosophy carried forward through three more governorships. And, indeed, all four could be persuasive, and even inspiring, in their public remarks. But they would be the first to admit that public rhetoric was not their strong point.

In fact, the State Capitol has a culture of inarticulateness that over the years became almost a matter of perverse pride.

The high priests of this culture, arguably, were two powerful money committee chairmen: House Finance Chairman Jack Suwa and Senate Ways and Means Chairman Mamoru Yamasaki. These two elevated mumbling to an art form.

But those who took the mumbling as a sign that the chairmen didn't know what they were doing were sadly mistaken.

Both Suwa and Yamasaki were masters of the legislative game and serious students of the budget.

They knew where they were going, and usually had both their say and their way.

Things have changed at the Capitol. The newer, younger crop of legislators are far more comfortable with public speaking and oral argument. But most legislators, including the leadership, still lag Lingle in this department.

So, what to do? If they can't out-talk the governor, they can suggest that her abilities represent mere glibness, not substance.

They can complain that you don't solve political differences with sound bites. They can intimate that being a fast talker does not necessarily mean you are a deep thinker.

And it is true.

Lingle is quick with a quip or a sharp jab that sounds good on the evening news but does little to advance her relationship with others. Former state Librarian Virginia Lowell, the state Supreme Court and state Auditor Marion Higa are among those who have felt the bite.

If it comes down to a war of words, the Democrats in the Legislature are almost certain to lose to Lingle.

But it shouldn't come to that. The real battleground should be over substance. On that front, both sides are equally well-armed.

Reach Jerry Burris through letters@honoluluadvertiser.com.