Barack Obama is a great speaker...

[kentuck]

And I do not believe anyone can speak so sincerely that which is not in his heart. Words are a mirror to our soul. Let us not belittle the power and magic in the words of our President. It is true that words without deeds mean very little, but words are the beginning of deeds. Let us hook our wagons to the stars.

[H2O Man]

1. I agree.

He was saying what he thought and felt. It was perfect.

[orpupilofnature57]

2. Yes,hopefully a fighter like the man being honored.

[jasi2006]

3. Obama is a great speaker ..but this was not his finest hour.

Something is wrong. His first comment after Kennedy's death was almost mumbled. Today he had to read almost every word. Biden spoke from the heart. I don't know what Obama was speaking from except the paper in front of him. Something is wrong. I fear that the threats toward him and his family are taking their toll. He has not been himself lately. I am worried. I just wanted to hear so much more from him on today. I guess I am just too emotional.

[medeak]

5. I was disappointed

and felt he missed a great opportunity to energize and motivate us all

[babylonsister]

6. At a funeral for someone else? Gimme a break. Perhaps he's

also mourning everyone's loss today?

Cut him some slack.

[Barack_America]

8. Would you have preferred it if he led the congregation in a rousing "Yes we can!"?

:eyes:

[Spazito]

20. It was fitting, imo, that the role of energizing, motivating was fulfilled by his...

grandchildren, they have picked up the baton left by their grandfather and will continue to work on 'the dream'.

The President's eulogy was perfect, imo. It was about the man, his friend and his friend's family.

[medeak]

26. expectations were too high I suppose n/t

[Barack_America]

7. Obama was trusted with a more serious task...

...that required a more serious message.

There's a big difference between a eulogy and a wake.

Obama's eulogy was about Ted, not about himself, nor us, but about Ted. That's the way a eulogy should be.

[jaxx]

16. Jeez it wasn't his hour. It belonged to Ted Kennedy.

[Barack_America]

22. +1

It seems a simple concept.

[Laelth]

21. Perhaps he is learning.

Perhaps he is seeing, for the first time, how people truly loved Ted Kennedy.

Perhaps he is learning that he won't be loved by the American people if he is a corporate tool.

One can hope.

:dem:

-Laelth

[Spazito]

24. Geez, you never fail to find a way to slam the President....

in an ever increasingly tawdry way.

[Jennicut]

30. Silly comment on a day like this

[Control-Z]

27. Funny, but I found this speech

to be one of his best.

I wondered how a man, who didn't know the senator all that well, or for all that long, would be able to fit in with the family and many close friends who shared lifetimes of stories. There is no doubt that he is able to give a great political speech. But what was he going to say without years of friendship and experience to draw upon? What could he say that wouldn't sound hollow, or political, or out of place, especially following the poignant speeches made by Teddy's sons? I was impressed.

He wasn't the odd man out, like McCain was yesterday. He kept it real, and ever so fitting.

[Bigmack]

4. And many thanks to Kpete

for posting Obama's speech over on LBN. Ms Bigmack

[ErinBerin84]

9. well, Gergen thinks liberals will be "disappointed"

I can only imagine what the ninny would have said if Obama HAD gotten partisan. I thought the speech was fine, maybe not Obama's best, but it's a lot of pressure to expect that.

[Barack_America]

10. It wasn't a speech. It was a eulogy. nt

[ErinBerin84]

12. right, sorry.

It's frustrating to hear the media whores criticize it for its lack of politics.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

18. And had he made it at all political he'd have been criticized for that.

They'd have brought up the Wellstone memorial (which was also grossly misrepresented).

[MarjorieG]

23. Gergen also thinks this moment means going back to bi-partisan discussion. I like Gergen and his

motives, but he remembers a different GOP. Maybe some Dems wanted a fiery tribute, but I think they'd have been wrong about the time and place for it.

[Arkana]

11. He was fantastic--eloquent, subdued, and passionate all at the same time.

And I do believe it's one of the finest speeches he's ever given.

[Control-Z]

28. One of the finest speeches...

I agree.

[MarjorieG]

13. This was a personal tribute, to be of comfort, and not his moment or a stage.

Not his political moment for a call to action. Other than an opening for GOP criticism, I think the solemnity required something else. In the beginning almost looked too emotional to really deliver. I think he lost someone very special to him.

A president is not going to speak to millions round the world as POTUS off the cuff. Biden was perfect last night, but it was a smaller wake.

[politicasista]

25. Right. He made this about the Kennedy family/legacy, not about Barack Obama n/t

[NNadir]

14. It is indeed, after a long national nightmare, good to have a President who can speak.

It was awful to see Bush among those men, and to remember how awfully he mangled language.

[sunwestdog]

15. In my opinion, Kerry stole the show

Though he spoke last night, I felt he presented the most powerful portrayal of Teddy's life. He presented it in a way only a friend of over 30 years could. Obama was good, but Kerry ripped my heart out when he spoke.

[Gregorian]

17. God, what a man. It's very satisfying to have him represent us.

So very satisfying.


Gosh darn it. It hurts.

[LWolf]

19. I don't belittle the power and magic of words.

Words, skillfully used, are powerful whether or not they are truthful or sincere.

I've always known that.

I've also always acknowledged that Barack Obama is a powerful speaker.

He's also a master at eloquent ambiguity, emotional appeal without substance. How else did he convince so many, during election season, that he was some kind of liberal?

I don't like his actions; my wagon isn't going his direction.

If you are referring to a speech he made about or for Kennedy, I would expect it to be moving.

I didn't watch it, so my comments aren't directed at that speech.

[Jennicut]

29. It was a eulogy, not a political call to arms

It was about Teddy's life and the special person he was and what he did for the nation and for us as well as what he did for his friends and family. It was fitting tribute to Teddy and I liked it very much.

[madmax]

31. I'm sure he's grieving as much as everyone else.

He has acknowledged that it was Kerry in '04 and Ted in '08 which helped him win the Presidency.

I believe they bonded in a special way and although he's POTUS he's hurting, too. Lighten up.