In his acceptance speech last night, Barack Obama needed to do three things.
He needed to re-introduce himself to Americans; he needed to put flesh on his promises; and he needed to show he could take on John McCain.
Obama did all three. Magnificently.
Hillary Clinton used to say that Obama couldn’t close the sale. That he was too ethereal, too loftly. He changed all that last night. In emotive language he showed that he could relate to the blue-collar, lunch-bucket crowd; he showed that Americans should not settle for four more years of the last eight years; and he showed that a resurrection of the American dream requires change that people can believe in.
If Obama did not seal the deal last night, he took a giant step toward that goal.
Do you agree?
On a scale of one to 10, how would you evaluate Obama’s speech last night.
No, I don’t agree that he sealed the deal last night nor that he took a giant step toward that goal.
Two reasons:
1) Really huge brewing scandals surrounding Obama’s very, very short period of non-achievements and community organizing; and
2) McCain’s appointment of Palin as VP candidate (assuming it’s true…I write this several hours before the official announcement). This not only wipes out any “buzz” from Obama’s speech but accelerates the McCain ticket into unbeatable territory. Palin is a man’s woman but, more importantly, is a woman’s woman from a maverick state.
And we haven’t even discussed how many votes from disaffected Hillary Democrats she’ll get…
Oh, and one more thing:
There is a very REAL possibility that Palin will be the US’s first female president. Why?
McCain is 72 years old, he’s post cancerous.
I’d be surprised if he lasts until inauguration.
[from Seinfeld episode #126 "The Shower Head"]
Leo: Last week you told me I was in my prime, I should be swinging.
Jerry: Swinging? What are you, out of your mind? Look at you, you’re
disgusting. You’re bald, you’re paunchy, all kinds of sounds are emanating from your body twenty-four hours a day. If there’s a woman that can take your presence for more than ten consecutive seconds, you should hang on to her like grim death. Which is not far off, by the way.
Obama seemed out of sync last night, but the speech he delivered was masterful and accomplished everything he needed to. I really think he was nervous – so many more people were listening to him that just don’t know who he is. And he seemed well aware of that. I can’t wait for Biden to debate Palin. It hopefully won’t be as ugly though as when he ripped Oliver North to shreds in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. I don’t think the Republicans should be humiliated like that. Just let’s quietly get them out of the White House please…
Great stuff Neil – thanks.