Obama’s Speech

Haven’t seen it.  Haven’t read the news about it.  I had better things to to yesterday.  I’ll get caught up sometime today, or maybe tomorrow.  Whatever. 

1. I believe in change.  That is why I changed the channel.

   Posted by on August 29, 2008 at 0925 hrs




2. He gave a speech last night?

   Huh, I thought the only newsowrthy thing this morning in Sarah Palin as VP.

   Posted by on August 29, 2008 at 0938 hrs




3. The democrats are SO over the top with their promises of “everything to everyone” and a government solution to every problem that media has made an issue of this past year. I can’t believe (literally can’t believe) that they have any credibility with the public.

   It just goes to show you how intellectually destitute some people are when it comes to government, civics, and economics.

   Obama would have to have a magic wand to fix all the problems he’s promising to fix.

   I believe he’ll do many things.  Those things won’t fix the problem.

   Posted by on August 29, 2008 at 1006 hrs




4. I actually watched some of it (during Packer game commercials and after the game).  He is an excellent speaker, but I don’t think there was much in the line of substance - seemed like the same old standard liberal Democrat talking points.  Red meat for the true believers, I suppose.  I’m sure the MSM will continue gushing over it, though.

   He did go on the attack, which may or may not be an effective tactic for him.  I think it’s hard for him to talk about “bringing us all together” in one paragraph and calling McCain clueless in the next.

   Of course, he won’t get my vote regardless of how many good speeches he gives.  I do wonder how his message resonated with undecided voters, since they’ll decide the election.

   Posted by on August 29, 2008 at 1012 hrs




5. Whatever?  Really?  The first black candidate to be nominated by one of the two parties for the POTUS is whatever?  I mean I know it is scripted, I know there was no surprises out there, I know he’s espousing views that run counter to your own, and I know it didn’t come close to living up to the hype, but it is still a really cool bit of history to see live.

   I know I will be watching McCain’s acceptance speech in real time.  I find it hard to believe that you can truly dismiss a historical moment like this so casually.

   Posted by on August 29, 2008 at 1034 hrs




6. Yes, it’s a cool bit of history and historic.  But I was out with my wife for our anniversary.  Sorry, but in my book, that ranks higher.

   Posted by Owen on August 29, 2008 at 1045 hrs




7. The first black candidate to be nominated by one of the two parties for the POTUS is whatever?  I mean I know it is scripted, I know there was no surprises out there, I know he’s espousing views that run counter to your own, and I know it didn’t come close to living up to the hype, but it is still a really cool bit of history to see live.

   I’m not racist… So it doesn’t really matter to me whether a black, white, mexican, irish, polish, german, african, indian, man, woman, male, female, hermaphrodite or whatever is being nominated

   Posted by on August 29, 2008 at 1241 hrs




8. Yes, it’s a cool bit of history and historic.  But I was out with my wife for our anniversary.  Sorry, but in my book, that ranks higher.

   I guess I was more taken aback by the dismissive tone towards the event, and less surprised that you might have had something else going on.

   I’m not racist… So it doesn’t really matter to me whether a black, white, mexican, irish, polish, german, african, indian, man, woman, male, female, hermaphrodite or whatever is being nominated

   We’re a half century removed from Brown vs Board of Education.  I find it a cause to celebrate Obama’s nomination, considering the short time period between then and now.  It isn’t a reason to vote for Obama, but if my son was a few years older I would have had him sitting on my knee to explain to him how last night was evidence that despite our many flaws this is still the greatest country in the world.  Nothing more.

   BTW - As for the content of the speech, anyone have any remarks?  I thought Obama spent way to much time talking about McCain and policy.  I saw a clip this morning of Olberman lauding 29 specific policy positions Obama made last night, and read a reference by Sullivan counting 20 McCain references in the speech.  If ever there was a time to make a speech that rose above politics, that painted broad idealistic brush strokes, that focused primarily on values and common bonds and ignored partisan politics, last night was that time.

   I think Obama has overreacted to the criticism of Hillary and now McCain that he’s too light on specifics and gone the other way.  He was far better in the moments where he relied on his rhetorical gifts as opposed to when he got bogged down in fending off McCain’s attacks or when he stated a policy position.

   Posted by on August 29, 2008 at 1301 hrs




9. Obama has laid out more spcifics than McCain has and that empty rhetoric argument is old. John McCain and his campaign have focused on Obama more than they have their own policy. The Democratic convention was very well recieved and organized, the Republicans will have their hands full to try and eclipse that. I know that you watched it with rose colored glasses and don’t listen for the specifics that Obama has tried to bring out in the limited time of his speeches. Polls have shown over and over that Obama has been far mor specific than McCain as far as details go. Trying to paint McCain as a reformer of government is going to be a very hard sell.
   At least all of us can agree that we will be glad to be rid of Bush/Cheney.

   Posted by on August 29, 2008 at 1305 hrs




10. I’ve had a chance to watch the speech now.  I was underwhelmed, but I have to weigh that against my expectations.  I expected a spectacular and inspiring speech.  What he gave was a good speech - even very good - but certainly not in the top 10 of American rhetoric in the past century.  It was more of a lengthy stump speech. 

    So I guess I agree with Lefty.

    Posted by Owen on August 29, 2008 at 1306 hrs




11. Not enough specifics. Too much specifics. Sounds like Obama just can’t get it right!

    Posted by on August 29, 2008 at 1313 hrs




12. Sounds like Obama just can’t get it right!

    At last - something we can agree on! 

    Seriously, I think Obama is at his best when he speaks rhetorically.  Once he either gets into specifics (of his far left agenda) or starts to lash out at McCain, he ends up sounding like just another politician.

    Posted by on August 29, 2008 at 1327 hrs




13. I was underwhelmed in the beginning and thought he turned up the intensity later on.

    “I will lower taxes...” OK, tell us how in the debates.

    “McCain won’t follow Ossama Bin Laden into the cave he lives in.” A thrown stone that will eventually do extensive damage to Obama’s glass house.

    Chris Mathews is in puppy love with Obama. I have an 8 year old daughter that is more restrained (I mean mature)watching the Jonas Brothers.

    Posted by on August 29, 2008 at 1644 hrs




14. "Chris Mathews is in puppy love with Obama. I have an 8 year old daughter that is more restrained (I mean mature)watching the Jonas Brothers. “

    That’s nothing compared to Olbermann. Obama’s going to need a restraining order soon.

    Posted by on August 29, 2008 at 1738 hrs




15. The highlight of this entire week has been watching Keith Olbermann out himself as the world’s most aggressive, arrogant douchebag.  He tried to cut Mike Murphy’s mike in the middle of a segment, he’s mocking Joe Scarborough after Joe’s asked to answer a question, he’s reportedly trying to get Tom Brokaw blackballed for suggesting that maybe Olbermann’s constant trashing of Hillary Clinton is unfair and that Keith goes a little too far in his partisanship.  Hell, even Chris Matthews is pissed off at him.

    I’d always heard from people in DC that Russert was disappointed with what Olbermann was doing to MSNBC.  Now that Russert’s gone, it appears that Olbermann thinks he’s got free reign to crap on any semblance of journalistic standards.  And now they’re bringing in Rachel Maddow, from that wildly successful Air America outfit?  Nice.  What’s Ed Garvey doing?  Maybe they could give him a call-in show after Rachel is done.

    Dear God, please shackle Olbermann and Maddow to O’Reilly and Lou Dobbs and cast them all to the bottom of the sea.

    Posted by Recess Supervisor on August 29, 2008 at 1842 hrs




16. I agree about Chris Matthews and Keith Olbermann, those two have gotten out of hand, but give Rachel Maddow a chance. Even if you don’t agree with what she’s saying, she’s smart, and she get can back up everything she says. She doesn’t just yammer on to hear herself speak. She could be one of the good ones.

    But yes, overall, coverage of the convention stank. Olbermann’s lost his mind. Matthews never had one. Hell, even Tom Brokaw and Jim Lehrer have lost their minds.

    As to the content of the speech, he had to get a little of everything in there; that’s what an acceptance speech is for. He had to get some policy stuff and some “this is who I am” stuff and some some fire up the troops stuff, and tie it all up with the rhetoric at the end. Remember, this is the first time 95% of the country is even looking at this except out of the corner of their eye. We’re all a buncha freaks around here obssessing about this all the time. Let’s not forget that.

    Posted by on August 29, 2008 at 2017 hrs




17. Remember, this is the first time 95% of the country is even looking at this except out of the corner of their eye. We’re all a buncha freaks around here obssessing about this all the time. Let’s not forget that.

    And that is why he didn’t need to mention McCain once.  You don’t use a speech that is really serving as an introduction to the vast majority of undecideds and swings as a venue to introduce them to the crtiques offered about you by your opponent.  The people who are most familiar with those attacks know you already, and have made up their minds.  Why cut yourself off at the knees to open?

    None of my liberal friends agree with me, which is why I think I’m right.

    Posted by on August 30, 2008 at 0007 hrs