Friday, August 29, 2008

Did I watch the acceptance speech?

Speech?
What speech?
Only kidding.
I've been watching the DNC every morning being as I am 12 hours ahead. I thought Obama spoke well but I think the tears in the crowd were a bit much.
It was good political theater.
McCain and the Republicans must be scratching their heads and wondering how they're going to top 85,000 screaming fans in Denver ( a swing state right?). Joe Biden spoke well but am I alone in finding him a little creepy?
Obama I think, is slick but sincere.
Biden appears " contrived slick" and every inch the politician.
Sincerity isn't his strong point. At least to me anyway.
But he's "our" creepy sooooo....
I think Obama got all his hits on target and the McCain camp must be a little worried about the "He just doesn't get it" tag line.
Nice one.
I've had a couple of comments asking if I thought the speech was inspiring? I've been getting emails all morning from folks (sensible people) telling me they were inspired so I guess it touched some and did what it was supposed to do.
Was I inspired?
Well I'm not a yank so the whole "American Dream" thing isn't hard wired into my DNA though I do buy into it.
Whoever you are or what background you're from you've got to admit Obama has accomplished the dream.
It's quite inspiring that he's standing on that stage in Denver let alone about to become the next president.
When you see how clever he is , how well he speaks and the journey he's made....well a bit of introspection brings the inevitable "I suck!". The key is to say "I suck and should do better".
It's probably inspiring to African Americans that one of their own has been nominated to lead a major party. I think its a hopeful sign that the US is becoming more inclusive.
Well its more than a sign, its a fact now.
I'm a liberal and so the messages in the speech resonated with me.
The problem is, Obama like all charismatic leaders with a sincere desire to change the machinery of government is bound to disappoint.
The rhetoric was good.
Obama hasn't thought these ideas up for the first time.
Ideas like affordable health care are easy to believe in.
The devil is in the doing.
Remember there are powerful lobbies out there who have killed every attempt to effect real change.
Real change has died a legislative death in Congress again and again. The bipartisan skills needed to get seismic movement through government are pretty tough to execute.
The Clinton split was a first test though it had all the earmarks of a playground spat rather than tough political negotiation.
Hillary and Bill spoke well over the past couple of days and it seems the hatchet is buried (or at least put back in the closet).
I guess what was inspiring was the idea that maybe after 8 years a measure of thoughtfulness was about to take back the White House.
After the re-election of Bush 4 years ago I figured that right minded people in the US just didn't vote.
Obama will get the vote out.
As an aside, I tuned into FOX NEWS to see what they said.......
WTF???
How can that network broadcast with a straight face??
Insane right wing pap.
If you want to gauge how well Obama is doing just look at how worried and hysterical FOX has become.
The pearl wearing, long legged blondes look stunned and crushed.
The talk show hosts, impersonating journalists are spouting gibberish about Reagan.
Be afraid Republicans, be very afraid. (Or turn the " I suck" into a positive and get on board the train!)
So my American chums it appears the tide has turned.
I guess you don't need to book your tickets to Canada just yet.
Love to all (even you Republicans out there)
T

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thought Obama's speech was well delivered; coherent and an interesting contrast to Bush's belligerent burblings. Not really pant-wetting stuff though? McCain doesn't seem to have received much UK media coverage.

Want to go to this if you are in town?
An Evening with Tony Benn
Millfield Theatre, London, GB
Wed 17 Sep 2008, 20:00

TR-HW

Anonymous said...

Sarah Palin is the talk of the town though; a moose-shooting momma (if the press is to be believed).

TR-HW

Terry said...

Well she's also just announced her unwed 17 year old daughter is 5 months pregnant....I wonder how that sqaures with Republican values?

Anonymous said...

That snippet of happy family life has been reported here with relish. Poor girl, imagine having to cope with teenage pregnancy and the warm embrace of the world's press.

I guess it squares with the "pro-life" stance, although not the keeping-your-hand-on-your-ha'penny until you trot up the aisle for a life of wedded bliss aspect.

TR-HW

Anonymous said...

Personally, I thought Obama's speech was brilliant. But you know my political bias.

On Biden - I know what you mean. Kind of a car salesman type of persona. However, I have to respect someone who actually speaks his mind. At one of the Democratic debates he was asked by a voter via video what he was going to do to "protect America's babies". No, not unborn children as you may have thought. Rather the voter was refering to assult rifles. Biden basically said that the man needed some psychological help. As a non-American, I too do not fully understand American's strict adherence to the Constitution on this front. But I do respect someone who saw the insanity of referencing the issue the way the this voter did. Most of the other candidates simply referenced their support for NRA stances.

On Sarah Palin. Only in America would something like her poor daughter's sad situation actually help the Republican ticket. Poor girl and so much For the theory behind ABSTINENCE EDUCATION! Do I need to say anything more.

It will be an interesting 7 weeks.

David