Fred HAS to work on his speech patterns. NOW! No more verbal pauses and slow wind-ups!
If he's getting in the race for the sake of his children, then he has to present himself better for the sake of his children.
Good ideas only go so far as you can communicate them - this is the primary lesson of the GWB administration. We can't afford a poor communicator ever again. Fred has some obstacles to overcome, if he makes a point of working on them.
What are you drinking? He was the best communicater there. Perhaps you should work on your listening.