Obama's speech

[cellio]

Barack Obama's speech today really spoke to me. He has articulated many of the problems we face as a country, without sinking into us-versus-them mode. Lots of politicians have claimed to be uniters, but this one seems to actually have that clue. Go, read.

Aside from major deal-killers, more than specific issues, I judge candidates for executive offices on their visions, their passions, and their characters. I had already registered as a Democrat to vote against one candidate in next month's primary; it's refreshing to find myself wanting to vote for somebody. (I don't know how I'll vote in November, but I don't have to decide that any time soon.)

Comments

[cellio]

I stopped listening to NPR years ago, at a time when they made Fox look "fair and balanced" by comparison. (Don't know if that's still a problem. Don't much care.) So your report does not surprise me, unfortunately. :-(

I think the president's job is to be a visionary, a diplomat (inter- and intra-nationally), and a statesman. (I have different expectations for legislators (and yet different ones for judges); that's why we have three branches.) So yeah, speech-craft matters as part of that.