It goes with unity:
Back before this whole primary thing started, I felt that one of Clinton's major weaknesses as a candidate would be her lack of great oratorical skills. I'd always heard she was great one-on-one or in a room talking to a smaller group, and when the campaign began in Iowa and with her more in the spotlight in New Hampshire I felt that my instincts were borne out. She just didn't have what it took to galvanize those who weren't already true believers in her.
Comparing her speech today to those back then are like oaks to acorns. She's so sharp today, so much more down to earth and "herself" that when she delivers her great line about George Bush and John McCain being two sides of the same coin and "it doesn't amount to a whole lot of change," she doesn't oversell it, she lets it play and wins.
Even better is the very real and human moment when she describes the "spirited dialogue" of the campaign and, reacting to the rising moans from the audience adds, "that was the nicest way I could think of phrasing it." She's upped her speaking game thanks to the battle just as Obama was forced to up his own candidate skills.
There will be some Clinton deadenders and that's that, but whether they receive disproportionate media attention or not, it doesn't matter. This unity event in Unity was a stake through the heart of John McCain's Presidential dreams. They just seem so comfortable together, whether or not Obama picks her for the ticket, they're the peers now.
In a weird way Obama gives her more public respect than her own husband. There's no one else out there for Hillary to talk to in the same way she can relate to Obama. I hope he picks a brilliant VP choice other than her, then I hope she gets her name on the health care bill, then I hope he gives her the best job he can.
Time for Bill to come aboard. The train is leaving the station. Republicans can't even run as Republicans this year, and Obama's detractors are only left with racist smears -- idiotic GOP anti-government zealot Grover Norquist calling Obama "John Kerry with a tan" (seriously!) and Karl Rove calling Obama arrogant -- as in "uppity."
Here's to a strong Democratic Party and a strong Democratic Presidential candidate. May they win big in November, and then may they deliver on their promises -- which, having to clean up the wreckage left by George Bush as he did way back with Harken Energy with on a national, federal scale, may be the hardest part of this whole damn process.
2 comments:
Yeah, Big Bill needs to get his big butt in gear. And I am left less affected by Hilary's rhetoric than you. She lacks integrity, and her change of tune doesn't move me. Though I hope it moves everyone else.
I'd love to see you address Obama's move to the center over the last week. His 2nd Ammendment stance, his backing of gov't wiretapping, etc. Is he at risk of turning into just another politician? I understand he needs to do what he needs to do to get elected, but it's starting to smell like politics as usual to me.
I do have feelings about this and think there's both a good and a bad side to the left getting bunched panties over these issues. On one hand, it's the job of progressives to hold Obama's feet to the fire when he starts pandering. On the other hand, Obama isn't that far off, certainly not from some of the positions he's had for years, and I don't believe that it means he'll govern badly or go the wrong way once in office.
My bottom line: McCain must be defeated. If progressive criticism of Obama helps him stick to better positions or avoid tarnishing his brand, terrific. If it becomes a rearguard action costing him the election, not so much.
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