Yes we can
Wow. I haven’t seen Obama deliver a full speech since the 2004 Convention and am glad that I took the time in the middle of the working day to watch MSNBC’s coverage of this one. How anyone could have watched this speech and not want this man to be our president is beyond me.
Here are some of my highlights:
“It’s a promise that says each of us has the freedom to make of our own lives what we will, but that we also have the obligation to treat each other with dignity and respect.”
“Now is the time to finally meet our moral obligation to provide every child a world-class education, because it will take nothing less to compete in the global economy. Michelle and I are only here tonight because we were given a chance at an education. And I will not settle for an America where some kids don’t have that chance.”
“Individual responsibility and mutual responsibility – that’s the essence of America’s promise.”
“We are the party of Roosevelt. We are the party of Kennedy. So don’t tell me that Democrats won’t defend this country. Don’t tell me that Democrats won’t keep us safe. The Bush-McCain foreign policy has squandered the legacy that generations of Americans — Democrats and Republicans – have built, and we are here to restore that legacy.”
“But I stand before you tonight because all across America something is stirring. What the nay-sayers don’t understand is that this election has never been about me. It’s been about you.”
“That promise is our greatest inheritance. It’s a promise I make to my daughters when I tuck them in at night, and a promise that you make to yours – a promise that has led immigrants to cross oceans and pioneers to travel west; a promise that led workers to picket lines, and women to reach for the ballot.”
Popularity: 68% [?]
I know. I was just saying that when I see Obama speak, I feel like I’m watching something historic. And not historic in the “hey, that’s the black guy who almost got to be president” way, but in a “this guy is going to be the first great president we’ve had in a long time” kind of way.
courtneys last blog post..In Which I Pretend To Be An Expert On Childhood Education, Despite All Evidence To The Contrary
29 Aug 2008 at 12:43 pm
Exactly, like I’m proud to vote for this guy. I’m excited about a politician in a way that I’ve never been in my lifetime.
Which means that he’s probably going to lose.
29 Aug 2008 at 12:49 pm
That’s it exactly, Courtney. I feel the same way.
Nicholes last blog post..Such stuff as dreams are made on
29 Aug 2008 at 12:51 pm
I hate to use the obvious comparison, but it must be what people felt like when they heard Kennedy speak. A sense of optimism and pride about their country.
That line about freedom and obligation - that’s what I’ve been trying to say for ages. I mean we all thing we’ve got rights to do this and rights to do that but we forget that with those rights comes responsibility. Like the responsibility not to be an asshole, the responsibility to take care of your fellow man and your planet, the responsibility not to go around starting wars.
Sorry, I’m all high on soaring oratory.
29 Aug 2008 at 1:00 pm
I agree totally. I don’t know how anybody who listened to this speech would not vote for this guy. He has said a lot of what I thought for a long time, instead he said it more intelligently and eloquently than I could have ever dreamed of. It gave me optimism for America (something that has been lacking in me lately).
29 Aug 2008 at 2:47 pm
oh shit, if Obama gets elected are you going to want to move to the US??
29 Aug 2008 at 4:04 pm
Don’t worry, love, it’ll take more a bit more work than just electing Obama.
29 Aug 2008 at 4:17 pm
if he loses, will his ’struggle’ get made into a film?
29 Aug 2008 at 5:19 pm
There’s already talk about an Obama movie. Evidently it would be Will Smith that plays the role of Barack Obama because they have the same kind of ears:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,332768,00.html
29 Aug 2008 at 10:07 pm
Please, pretty please, tell me that you’re kidding, Jason.
29 Aug 2008 at 10:11 pm
Why am I not surprised that’s a Fox News story…
29 Aug 2008 at 11:17 pm
Fair and balanced.
29 Aug 2008 at 11:29 pm
Blink, man, blink! The stars in your eyes are blinding me!
I won’t deny that he tawks real purty. Listening to him could almost… aaalmoost make me want to vote for him.
Jessica Ks last blog post..Brained!!!
30 Aug 2008 at 12:12 am
I heard about the Will Smith thing a while ago, but I did a Google News search to find a link to cite. I could have picked something more reputable, but I couldn’t pass up the chance to reference Fox News on this blog.
30 Aug 2008 at 12:37 am
I made LittleBird sit and watch the speech with us last night. Too historic to miss. Just incredible. My question is, if and when he is elected, will they LET him make these changes? That is my biggest fear. That even if he WANTS to make changes and is CAPABLE of making change, will they let him?
Not Afraid To Use Its last blog post..American As Apple Pie?
30 Aug 2008 at 4:34 am
I missed it.. I was watching too many West Wing reruns. Better get on Youtube.
30 Aug 2008 at 4:56 am
Whoa, what the hell did McCain just do? How does this change things? Where did this Palin come from?
Heza - Obama is what we all found so compelling about West Wing!
NATUI - it could be something she remembers!
JK -
We’ll woo you yet.
Jason - I love featuring Fix Nuz, particularly when they’re full of shit - e.g. usually.
A Free Mans last blog post..Game Day: Cake Walk
30 Aug 2008 at 8:15 am
I was wondering what your initial reaction would be to the Sarah Palin pick. Did you get online early enough to see the headlines read “McCain taps Palin” before they were changed to “McCain picks Palin”. Evidently some people read a different meaning into the first headline.
I know next to nothing about Palin, but I’ve learned a handful since the announcement. It actually sounds like she’s a good politician on many domestic fronts, especially her ethics background. However, the thought of her as the VP (and potentially the president) really scares the bejesus out of me. She calls herself a hockey mom and admits that she doesn’t follow what’s going on in Iraq. And this is who we want in the VP spot?
30 Aug 2008 at 8:27 am
I mean it’s a fairly obvious political ploy, but admittedly pretty damn good. The Dems can’t go after her much for inexperience, because they still have that problem. They’ve also slightly diluted the “Change” message.
I’m curious to see what it does to the remnant Clintonistas. Are they going to be that easily suckered?
Gotta give the McCain camp points for timing and, well, balls. They are definitely beating the Obama people on the ground. Maybe that’s why the polls are so close, the McCain people are just better at what they’re doing.
A Free Mans last blog post..Game Day: Cake Walk
30 Aug 2008 at 8:41 am
Yup, Obama sure has a kick ass speech writer.
arizaphales last blog post..Daughter At Large
30 Aug 2008 at 10:05 am
Oh and the BA just commented “I wonder if that lady (Palin) knows she’s being ‘used’.” Perceptive.
arizaphales last blog post..Daughter At Large
30 Aug 2008 at 10:07 am
More about Palin….
Well, lets just say she’s not that squeaky clean. She right now is in a battle because the chief of police(?) refused to fire one of his men whom she told him to fire………and who just divorced her sister. Palin looks good. It’s a clear attempt by McCain to steal Obama’s thunder. Will there be articles analyzing, “What McCain’s pick says about McCain?”
Will voters really go for the runner up beauty queen mother of 5 right wing christian moose hunter? If you want to find a party with a strong woman, take a look at Michelle Obama. She is one class act.
30 Aug 2008 at 11:34 am
Bill Maher just had Tim Kaine, governor of VA on his show, who just said what McCain’s pick says about McCain… not a lot of good.
Obama’s speech was incredible. I had chills. I’m just worried he won’t get elected… too many idiots out there.
Toastys last blog post..Unscented?
30 Aug 2008 at 12:55 pm
My first thought after Obama’s speech was “McCain’s soooo dead”. He uttered the critical words “I will cut taxes on 95% of working families”. And everything else was there too. In comparison to 2004 elections, when democrats were pretty pathetic all around (verbose and unclear candidate, unfocused commentators), this campaign is just run so much better at every turn. Ok the times are different (Bush’s stupidity is not just totally apparent but also had really bad consequences), but the candidate and those around him are a lot better too. A comment to Dr. O’C (’would you move back’), yes, I want my daughter to grow up in the country with those ideals. (Caveat: I don’t know Canada or Australia, but I do know Europe, and I find big difference in values between the two.)
30 Aug 2008 at 9:27 pm
The man is magic. I’ve never crossed my fingers so hard in all my life.
maggie, dammits last blog post..Gustav
31 Aug 2008 at 1:12 am
O is THE man. While my birth missed the JFK era by just a few years, my dad (who has probably voted GOP most of his life and is a card-carrying NRA member) was in his 20’s for Kennedy and has been making the Kennedy-Obama comparison for months now. He is voting for O this year because he’s again excited about the possibilities when someone with charisma is at the helm, someone who asks us ALL to step up and share the burdens and the wealth. When I saw O speak at the convention I too was blown away - I had long since made my decision to support the Dem ticket (OK it actually wasn’t much of a thought process for me) and liked O but his speech to 80K in Mile High was electrifying…so much so that I went right to the Dem office the next day to sign up as a volunteer. Hell I don’t have the time but this is way to important and exciting to miss out on! YES Obama is a celebrity and outright Rock Star - so?
06 Sep 2008 at 11:56 am
Mannie, it should be “O is DA man” (do you remember the SNL skit on “DA Bears”?)
07 Sep 2008 at 6:10 pm