Who do you feel is the best orator of the Democratic candidates?

[Poiuyt]

Aside from their views on the issues, I'm wondering who do you feel is the best speaker of the potential candidates? Who has the most charisma?

[radio4progressives]

1. Gore and Feingold...

:loveya: :applause:

[rooboy]

2. "potential candidates" for what? n/t

[Poiuyt]

3. Ooops, sorry! For president in 08

Yes I know it's early

[Auntie Bush]

4. Wes Clark is at the top of my list!

[sendero]

9. I second that....

.... Clark.

[Sinistrous]

24. No Contest: Wes Clark is an amazing orator.

Sinistrous

[Sparkly]

37. I agree too

Among possible candidates... Although I think Bill Clinton is absolutely phenomenal as a speaker.

[election_2004]

5. Feingold and Clark

Based on what I've seen from everyone's debate performances and public appearances.

[IA_Seth]

39. Agreed. Clark and Feingold.

I haven't heard Feingold in person as of yet, but his televised appearances have been pretty captivating.

Clark though, wow. He is the biggest reason I came to be active in the Democratic Party. I was always semi-interested in politics, but Clark gave a speech at the U of Iowa just before announcing his candidacy for 2004 and woke me up to the realities of what was needed and why. I didn't know a Central Committee from the PTA. I didn't understand nearly as much as I thought I did, and I had no motivation to do it.

Clark's speech really changed me, and as cheesy as the sounds its true!

[Digit]

6. Oh, Edwards is fantastic!

[Minnesota Libra]

7. Kerry - he's articulate, quick on his feet, funny, yet serious nt

[mbee]

8. Al Gore really knows how to articulate what is needed in this country.

As a side note, I noticed the nutcases are calling in C-Span already to criticize him - some woman this morning said he was a boob in the debates. I think she has him mixed up with the CHIMP - A REAL BOOB!

[blm]

33. I also enjoyed both Gore and Kerry's speeches - I liked that by using

nuance and appropriate language they were NOT insulting their audiences' ability to comprehend difficult issues by talking dumbed down the way Republican candidates do.

[Kahuna]

10. Clark, Gore and Kerry...

While I've never been an enthusiastic Kerry supporter I do enjoy his speeches very much.

[Jai4WKC08]

13. This may sound funny, given Kerry's reputation

But I actually liked to listen to Kerry when he was being chatty and folksy with the crowd. It was only in his prepared speeches that he got a little ponderous and his sentences long and almost torturous. You'd think a good speech writer could fix that. Eh, maybe it was just me.

[karynnj]

26. The long sentences are very likely Kerry's

His 1971 speeches had similar long sentences, as did the journal entries quoted in Tour of Duty.

I think the problem in 2004 was also that the media exerpts were not chosen fairly. The crack that he couldn't do sound bites was ironic as they sometimes picked up his words and used them themselves.
(Examples: "Outsourced the effort to Afghan warlords...", his comments on the ammo dump munitions being turned into bombs that kill our troops" etc)

[blm]

32. It was media telling people that they don't LIKE elegant language or

nuanced positions.

Except that's what every other civilized country takes PRIDE in and EXPECTS from their leaders.

US media tells people they WANT leaders who sound as dumb as a regular guy off the street, even though that candidate hasn't ever been a guy treated like any other guy or even earned one paycheck on his own in his life.

[Jai4WKC08]

40. You haven't noticed anti-intellectual sentiments in America?

I'm usually the very first to agree when someone blames the media for any of a whole host of problems. They're politically biased, greedy, completely dishonest, and always willing to exercise with their power to shape public perceptions, especially when it benefits their bottom line. They're often lazy and stupid too.

But I don't think you can hang this one on the media. Not completely anyway. It's been my experience over a rather long life that most Americans have some sort of inate distrust of people who are too intelligent or too well educated. And they are unwilling or unable to parse thru a complex, "nuanced" thought process. They want simple answers, simply expressed.

I've spent a number of years overseas, and I've found that most people there are no better on an individual basis. But for some reason, they seem to expect more from their leaders. I don't know why that is, but it seems to be true. It may be the media's fault to at least some extent, but not the news media per se. It may be Americans just watch too much TV and they've come to expect all problems solved in 30-60 minutes, minus commercials, and all their information in commercial-length segments. It may be a failure of American schools, where the students don't get enough exposure to truly great literature or in-depth analysis of history, social studies and the physical sciences. Or it may be that other countries have a long history of more autocratic government, whereas Americans have this idea that "all men are equal," so each one of us thinks our opinions are just as good as anyone else's, even when we're completely ignorant of a subject.

Believe me. I have every sympathy with what you're saying about how it hurts us as a nation. We face complex problems and we desperately need leaders who can think them thru and provide complex solutions. And I sincerely believe that much of Clark's early problems in his '04 campaign was because his responses to questions were often too complex and nuanced, too revealing of his underlying thought process, much as Kerry's sometimes are -- much worse than Kerry actually.

But for whatever reason, the voters are what they are, and if deep thinkers like Kerry and Clark are going to win office, they need to communicate in a way that those voters respond to.

[Adelante]

11. I don't view charisma as the main point

I think a great orator is one who brings large ideas into language that translates to the widest audience range. It's much more than charisma. Bill Clinton, Mario Cuomo, and Jessie Jackson have this gift. Of the 2008 crop, I'd say Clark and Kerry. I haven't heard Feingold speak, although I would like to hear him. I know Edwards is considered great by many as an orator, but he has never moved me with his speeches, as they are always so similar-sounding to me.

[Jai4WKC08]

12. Clark is the most inspirational

Makes me feel there's hope for the future. That someday I could be proud to be an American again.
He's also best at explaining things so people understand without sounding like he's talking down to them.
And I'm always especially impressed with his Q&A or town hall sessions. I know that's not "oratory," but he's very effective at reaching the whole audience in that sort of setting, so I guess it counts.

Gore says great things, but there's something stilted in his delivery style. It always distracts me from what he's saying. Maybe it just takes getting used to. I was a big Gore fan in 2000, and I got over it then, but not hearing him much in between, I noticed it again in that last big speech he gave.

Dean is also very good. Occassionally he goes over the top, especially when he gets into it with a large crowd. But when he's at the top of his game, there are few better.

Obama is outstanding. As he matures and gains a little more gravitas, he'll be a killer.

[SaveElmer]

14. I'd have to say John Edwards actually...

When he is on his game I can't think of anyone better right now!

[sandrakae]

15. John Kerry. He is very articulate.

No matter what people say, he has charisma and he can reach people. I went to one of his events in 2004 and watched a lot of them. He definitely reached the crowds.

[SeaBob]

16. Joe B

what about joe Biden

[Stinky The Clown]

17. (Not a candidate, but) Mario Cuomo, hands down.

If I had to limit my selection to a 'potential '08 candidate' then probably Joe Biden.

Don't even **start** to take that as an endorsement of Joe II. I see him as a finger in the wind, bag of wind, rhetorical speaker who hardly ever means what he says. But in terms of pure style, he's pretty good.

Charisma is a whole other thing ...... I think I have to go back to Mario.

[Appalachian_American]

22. Biden and Cuomo definitely have the charisma thing.

Edwards does too.

[Auntie Bush]

18. Wow! We Democrats sure have a lot of great orators!!!!!!!

Everyone mentioned is good. Some are just better than others.

[ladjf]

19. Gore by a mile.

[wisteria]

20. Kerry n/t

[paineinthearse]

21. "Candidates"? I didn't know any had announced.

By the way, focus on 2006, please.

[wiley]

23. *****Another avoid 06 thread******

[karynnj]

25. Kerry

In his best speeches Kerry can compete with anybody in the history of this country. The Kerry shown on TV in 2004 did not reflect the Kerry who could readily be seen on CSPAN.

Kerry's 1971 speech, written almost over night, is incredible and has been included in books of top speeches.

Although I know people here disagree, Kerry is the most fascinating and charismatic.

[mtnsnake]

27. Edwards. Where would he be if he wasn't such a good orator? n/t

[foreverdem]

28. Kerry

He's a very polished and articulate speaker, and can give the impression that he is speaking to you directly, as opposed to addressing a large crowd.

[bobthedrummer]

29. Feingold, wonderful use of understatement and neuro linguistics imo.

[0007]

30. Obama Barack isn't too shabby!

[boobooday]

31. Al Gore has developed into a powerhouse speaker

His newfound passion becomes him. He really seems to have found his conviction. His last few speeches have been very inspiring. :-)

Feingold has also impressed me the last few times I have seen him.

[FrenchieCat]

34. Whomever speaks the loudest and the clearest in supporting 2006

candidates is the person whom I consider to be the best orator, CAUSE Orating ain't just about having things to say about one's self and what one does...but it's having what you are talking about actually make a difference in the arena of ACTION, which is what counts ultimately.

Currently our actions (including those of our politicians) should be about doing all that we can to help Democratic candidates all over the United States get elected....Cause whatever else is said doesn't matter if we are not able to have a majority ASAP!

The media is on to 2008.....

Question is, What about 2006? Does it matter, and if so, what our best Democratic "Orators" doing about it? Lemme know what Your Best "Orator" is saying in reference to 2006....and what your best "Orator" is doing to help those run in 2006....cause far as I am concerned, at this point, everything else is Bullshit!

[Jai4WKC08]

41. Well said, Frenchie

Actions speak louder than words.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

35. I don't know if he's running, but ...

Dennis Kucinich is an amazing speaker and really knows how to win over a crowd.

I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen him in person. I was blown away. You'd never guess it from the way he looks.

[blm]

38. Kucinich is very powerful in person -

I felt a sizzle from the first time I heard him speak in 72 and I'd guess most schoolgirls develop crushes on popstars or movie stars back then. Not me. My crush was on DK.

[QC]

36. John Edwards by a long way. n/t