Tomas Bouska, student head of prominent Czech NGO Ano Pro Evropu, recently spoke on Ceska Televize's Pred Pulnoci, "Before Midnight."

With due respect for Ondrej Liska, I can't tell you how much I think this kid totally has the world in the palm of his hand. Watch the associated clip above for a few minutes before carrying on, just so that we're on the same page.

::: you're watching the clip, aren't you? :::

This isn't any regular sort of paean to the Man Known As Tomas. No siree. Allow me to break down the reasons why I think this dude is going places in Cesko's Crater:

Professionally media trained, par excellence:

Did you notice how well Bouska responds to the interviewer's questions? Just stellar! His voice modulation is perfect, his poise and demeanour are like a tranquil sea, and his responses are comprehensive, minus an ounce of hesitation. You can almost see the wheels spinning in his noodle as he seeks the optimal means of replying to the madame's questions -- sorting and stacking his copious thoughts for maximum oomph.


Professional "no-nonsense" appearance:

I don't think it's a stretch to say outright that Bouska is tremendously sartorial and extremely well-groomed for televised appearances. Not to mention the fact he totally fits the "Slavic profile," a must-have for the local electorate who don't seem to take to electing outsiders (yet). If I had the right to cast a ballot for him, I sure would.

You know, I've put the question to many Czech voters and bureaucrats over the past year, which some of you readers might consider to be a snipe-y dig. Well, here it is, for the record:

"Would you vote for a non-Czech Czech candidate for the Czech Republic's Chamber of Deputies? A Barack Obama-type of Czech person, not necessarily Caucasian -- of which there is an increasing amount in the Czech Republic (did you know?) -- yet speaks the vernacular impeccably well and carries all necessary qualifications?"

While it may be unfair to ask Czech voters such a question in a nascent democracy, the responses to are indeed revealing of their deeply-held personal beliefs, and oftentimes are rather frightening.

In my opinion, a Barack Obama-type, or even an Ayan Hirsi Ali-type (sans the lying on her immigration application for EU admittance, nor the resultant fallout from being affiliated with the late Theo Van Gogh), in the Czech Republic is just what this nation needs!

Someone to sweep away all the fiercely-held negative stereotypes and the dirty language which permeates these cobbled Czech streets.

Utterances like the politically-incorrect "Cernoch," or "Negr," or "African," epithets which I'm hearing increasingly frequently these days in public conversation and in the more touristy coffee houses. Note to all the Czech player-haters: Your so called fellow citizen "Africans" hail from specific nation-states! How would you like it if people abroad kept referring to you as a citizen of Czechoslovakia? Chances are you'd lynch them, so please be careful how you refer to people.


Young, vibrant, full of fresh energy:

Bouska's too young, you say? He needs his doktorat before qualifying for the post, the Czech version of "being educated."

Stoprocentne ne! I beg to differ!

If the Green Fox is old enough to be sitting in a Commie-era board room. negotiating 2008's (and beyond's) revised labour contracts or curriculum standards with 50- and 60-something Hammer & Sickle types, who boast about their Gorbachev posters hanging in their living rooms, then Bouska is more than up to task for Liska's job (or even for MInister Without Portfolio).

Just listen to Bouska...

His spoken Czech is professorial, even erudite. He doesn't speak "Prague." He doesn't slur syllables. And, moreover, he doesn't "ej" when he should be "y"-ing, doesn't "iho" when he should be "eho"-ing, and doesn't "ama" when he is supposed to be "ami"-ing. He also doesn't speak with a Western Bohemian accent, and that's usually the curtest, no umbrage intended (people from my home province of Ontario have the dreaded "Tim Horton's" accent, even viler-sounding!). Bouska enunciates each and every syllable, enough to make Palacky and Jungmann proud (and me). His diction is crystal-clear. Even North American Czechophiles like myself can grasp nearly everything he's saying, for which I am eminently grateful.

What's more, the fact that Bouska doesn't carry the taint of our almost 42-year past, or that he isn't affiliated (yet) with any political party which could negatively drag him into the ceaseless "machinations game" is a fortunate occurrence indeed.

In fact, if I am ever to run his election campaign, I'd strongly advise him to remain staunchly independent, just as he is now.

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In summary, Tomas Bouska is in a class all his own.

He reminds me of several young up-and-coming colleagues I'd had the due privilege of collaborating with during what turned out to be a very prosperous 2007 career year.

Young Turks like Hana Valentova, PR Director at the Forum2000, or the incomparable Vojtech Muller, or even Miss Jana Neupauerova, HR Manager Extraordinaire over that same Forum2000 -- the brilliant organization headed by the delightful Dr. Oldrich Cerny.

So, readers, time for me to share my "Czech and Slovak" dream: to spend every day from 9am-5pm with Mssrs. Bouska and Muller, together with Ms. Valentova and Ms. Neupauerova, about the proverbial Round Table. We'd outline an honourable direction for our new nation, we'd take the bull by the horns, and we'd continue to marshall in even more radical -- yet exciting -- changes our amazing nation so dearly requires.

Out with the old, and in with the new, as they say.

And, oh yeah: Ondrej Liska for Prime Minister.