Obama’s Speech
Obama built up a whole lot of expectation for tonight’s speech, particularly with the huge venue and what some considered an over the top ‘rock concert’ atmosphere. He met, perhaps even surpassed, those expectations.
It was a truly great speech, and reminded me and I expect a whole lot of others what so impressed us with Obama at the 2004 convention. Baring a huge error or something truly amazing from John McCain, I expect that Senator Obama just won the Presidency.
His overall theme was of the greatness of the American people contrasted with the failure of our government, something that I think strongly echoes true across party lines. While I didn’t agree with everything he said, it is a powerful message. It was a Barack Obama that we haven’t seen for a while, and one that I am quite happy to see again. Even if I don’t agree with all the programs, and disagree with some of the criticisms of our current administration, I certainly agree with the message of the power of the American dream, and the need for Government to be a help, not a hindrance.
I don’t know that the speech is enough to change my plans to vote, albeit with some reluctance, for John McCain, but it is enough for me to give Obama another look. Sometimes the rhetoric can manage to be more important then the reality or the particulars of programs.
The one discordant note, for me at least, was this bit:
enough to the politics of the past. You understand that in this election, the greatest risk we can take is to try the same old politics with the same old players and expect a different result. You have shown what history teaches us — that at defining moments like this one, the change we need doesn’t come from Washington. Change comes to Washington.
A fine statement, but if that is what Barack Obama believes, then why Joe Biden?
