Must Read from Time's Joe Klein: Obama's Speech 'Very Tough'

[flpoljunkie]

Friday, Aug. 29, 2008

Klein: Obama's Speech 'Very Tough'
By Joe Klein/DENVER

Barack Obama's acceptance speech tonight wasn't what people have come to expect from a Barack Obama speech. It wasn't filled with lofty rhetoric or grand cadences. It did not induce tears or euphoria. It didn't have the forced, kitschy call and response tropes — "and that's the change we need!" — that defaced nearly every other major speech at this convention. At 43 minutes, nailing his dismount at 10:53 pm, it wasn't even very long. It was lean, efficient, practical and very very tough.

It was the perfect speech for a skeptical nation. In some ways, the heart of it was near the end, when Obama directly confronted a country that has lost faith in government — and an opposing party that preys on that cynicism:

"I know there are those who dismiss such beliefs as happy talk. They claim that our insistence on something larger, something firmer and more honest in our public life is just a Trojan Horse for higher taxes and the abandonment of traditional values. And that's to be expected. Because if you don't have any fresh ideas, then you use stale tactics to scare the voters. If you don't have a record to run on, then you paint your opponent as someone people should run from.

You make a big election about small things.

And you know what — it's worked before. Because it feeds into the cynicism we all have about government. When Washington doesn't work, all its promises seem empty. If your hopes have been dashed again and again, then it's best to stop hoping, and settle for what you already know.

I get it."

more...

http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1837433,00.html

[IndyOp]

1. "By this time next week, Obama's speech will be a distant memory to those of us in the media.

By this time two weeks from now, I wouldn't be surprised if John McCain were ahead in the polls."

Does Joe Klein every pause to reflect and wonder whether it is acceptable that Obama's speech will be a distant memory to him 2 weeks from now? Does he have any responsibility to try to have a broad, deep understanding of our world today and how the context of current events relates to the election? Answer: No. Joe just follows politics as if it is sports. One game after another. One celebrity rises and another falls.

Grow up Joe.

[high density]

2. Yeah that comment was something else

At least Joe was being truthful, because our media obviously has no memory. Only comedy shows have that these days.

[IndyOp]

3. That god for Stewart and Colbert! (n/t)

[blm]

4. And THAT has always been the real problem while newsmedia lets ITSELF OFF THE HOOK EVERY TIME.

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