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BooMan
Martin Longman a contributing editor at the Washington Monthly. He is also the founder of Booman Tribune and Progress Pond. He has a degree in philosophy from Western Michigan University.
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this is one hell of a well produced video.
Have you a link to the video?
Scroll down a bit, the 50-minute speech is split in 6 parts.
Barack Obama (Part 1) – Acceptance Speech – Democratic National Convention 2008
thanks – I’ve been watching segments on youtube, but they all seem they all seem to leave out bits
They are on CNN’s site as well (in two parts + commercial intro).
I can’t believe that Obama was introduced with a Coldplay song. As a recent New Yorker review noted, “Coldplay apparently relieves what Travelodge called the ‘pressures of modern living’.” The key here is that it relieves the pressures — it doesn’t fix the problems that produce the pressures.
This is not a good portent.
It was a U2 song, “City of Blinding Lights”. He’s come out to that song at a bunch of major speeches on the campaign trail.
Oops! Thanks for correcting me.
That will teach me not to post thinking I’ve recognized a song without playing it first to make sure.
I don’t think U2 played the version they just played, though. It sounded more like Coldplay. 😉 If you know who played that version, I’d like to know.
I mean…really? LOL
I was amazed…everyone was over 50. And they were so passionate I couldn’t believe it. Obama is splendid tonight.
I was brave today. Put out two signs in a redder-than-red neighborhood. And had wonderful reactions.
Be strong. Go to COSTCO and get new shoes. And start working tomorrow. Because all the big money is agains tus.
Looks like Obama’s read some blogs. “It’s time for them to own their failure.”
I got home just in time to catch the opening video. So I didn’t make the party. But it’s just as well, as I’m alternatively cheering and tearing up here at home.
One of my best friends just lost his fourth family member to cancer from smoking (my friend never smoked). So Obama’s talking about his mother’s cancer is really hitting me hard right now.
I’m loving how the podium looks like an old red barn.
Love how everyone (except Joe Biden) is wearing some shade of purple.
The streamers? Bad idea. Looks like shit on TV.
OK whoever’s idea it was to play that country song at the end needs to be fired.
Although I am not a fan of country music, I thought it was a brilliant move. It appeals to a big segment of the population that does listen to country music (and always mindlessly votes republican because country=republican) and this may have been their first impression of this new straight-talking, serious Democratic party. I hope it makes them feel welcome to come on over and join us.
Agreed. It’s the red-neck working man’s music, and pitch perfect for the Colorado swing state audience to which it was targeted.
I think David Gregory said Bush used to play that song after campaign appearances. I wouldn’t know its the first time I heard it. Possibly Obama is trying to get the racist redneck vote. Usually their beliefs don’t run too deep. Maybe some of their favorite music might sway them. 😉
Disclaimer: My apologies if you are a liberal but like country music. This is the drunken Salunga speaking and does not reflect the opinions of sober Salunga.
I like the Dixie Chicks
hey, I travel through rural parts of the US at times and that is all you can get on the radio. Its not redneck, its music.
disagree with you about the country music. i don’t listen to it, but then again, I’m not who Barack Obama is trying to convince. I’m already on board.
What an impressive sight! A large stadium full for Obama. His speech was on the money. If they continue the campaign in the mode of his speech, even this old cynic has some hope. Besides being an historic night, tonight was a great night for Obama, the Democrats and the country.
I’m glad I was able to see it.
Obama is incredible. He was inoculating himself against all the Repug attacks, with the I understand cynicism line. We have a 90% chance he is a populist and we will get true change. Government for the people!
Masterful speech and delivery. Ted Sorensen would be proud.
Ha, I love Keith’s comments. And Tweety agrees.
Tweety lost it. He was overcome with emotion. But next week he will be fawning over the quiet elegance of the war veteran. How Benedict Arnold Lieberman looks so nice in his redcoat. I am not sure Tweety is too stable. Anyone else get that feeling?
Every time I see him.
Obama laid out specifics and made the case for who he was and why he should be President.
And God help me when I say I believe what he had to say.
Next to his speech on race, this is the best I’ve seen Obama.
shock An actual populist message from the Democratic Nominee! Actually talking about the failures of the “Free Market”.
And owning that old bastard and his lies – “McCain says he’ll follow Osama bin Laden to the gates of hell, but he won’t even follow him to the cave where he lives.”
If this speech is setting the tone and direction for the rest of the campaign, then the future looks a little brighter.
I liked most of it. I’m hoping the tone will continue until the election.
He’s truly a masterful writer and speaker. And I caught the two steals from “The American President” before any commentator mentioned it. I watch that every few months, and have for years. I LOVE that Obama took a few queues from Sorkin there!
Truly, I was cheering out loud. It was so fantastic.
AND – look at the professionals he has on his team, whom he has surrounded himself with. His campaign has not made one major misstep at any point, and the convention was just perfect.
David Sirota just highlighted a few key populist points:
All excellent points.. I also loved that Al Gore pointed out that the Supreme Court is at stake.
And props to Keith for going after the Associated Press!!!!
Charles Babington’s analysis will no doubt be read by millions of people tomorrow, as Keith pointed out. It is just part and parcel of how so many of McCain’s “base” will be working to tilt the playing field in his direction. Most certainly, this will be the first of many such incidents. With so many in the AP unashamedly carrying water for McCain, it is going require a significant and consistent effort to even marginally offset the effects of such shoddy and fact-free analysis and reporting by many in our major corporate media.
The only possible explanation is that somebody had just explained to Babington exactly what those Rocky Mountain oysters were he ate earlier in the evening.
-AF
Andrew Sullivan Is A Fraud
Ok, I’m going to say something really uncharacteristic for me. Obama’s speech made me remember why I like America and why I have stayed here. I had his vision of America before Reagan ripped it out of my hands.
It was an excellent speech. I’m still cynical enough to know that much of it was words, but they were words that spoke to me.
Kinda brings out the patriot in you. I wish I would have said “Obama” in SOJ’s diary whats good about the US right now.
Knowing that time fades the power of emotional moments, I still have to say that this strikes me as among the very top rank of political speeches in my lifetime. Win or lose, this time we will not have to mourn for what might have, should have been said. This time, we will not imagine how it could have been better. I almost feel sorry for the GOP.
Helluva speech. Best speech I’ve ever seen him give.
And fuck the AP.
But not our AP, just to be clear. 🙂
I’m the BT AP, and I approve this message.
🙂
i can’t tolerate msnbc, so i didn’t the chance to see olbermann yammer on about something that’s not paying my bills. but i keep seeing this reference pop up, so share. please?
Some AP writer slammed the speech for having no specifics. Right wing talking points straight from Rove.
Steven,
one of the primary complaints about Obama has been his near total lack of specifics. At what point will it be okay to demand specifics?
The speech had specifics in it. For a 50 minute speech it contained as many specific proposals as I have seen from any politician running for President this year. Certainly far more than any speech I’ve seen McCain give.
Then again, when your whole campaign is all about continuing the same policies that Republicans have been pushing on America since the Reagan years, you probably don’t need to give a lot of specifics.
Well,
I would hope that he isn’t measuring himself against what McCain has done because that would be setting the bar pretty low. My question was about specifics from Obama. I listened to the entire speech last night and there’s nothing that jumps out at me in the way of specifics. There was plenty about himself and there’s nothing wrong with that. There was also plenty about what needs to be done and how the republicans have done nothing. But my definition of specifics is how he intends to go about changing the culture in Washington. There was nothing in his speech that was much different than what any democrat has been saying in stump speeches for the last 8 years.
I think it was a good speech. He delivered it well enough. But honestly, to me it seemed like more of the same. Hopefully as the campaign progressess he’ll refine his message and begin pinpointing exactly how he intends to be different and how he intends to make real change because although I intend to vote for a third party candidate the reality is that it will be either him or McCain who will be the next president and how he performs is as important to me as how my own candidate performs.
Peace
You can’t get that level of detail in a acceptance speech at a political convention. I hope to see more detail given at the debates, though that depends to a large extent upon the questions asked.
But the real thing to remember is that Obama doesn’t and shouldn’t be the only one setting the agenda. We should be expecting a lot from the democrats in Congress as to fleshing out the details of their platform. Indeed, it’s long past time for Congress to resume its proper place in our government as the branch that proposes and passes laws rather than merely rubber stamping any President’s agenda.
Personally, I think anyone who has heard a speech from Obama over the last year and says that none of them offer specifics is simply an idiot. You have to been intellectually stunted and unwilling to listen (or read a transcript) to say that, which is why the GOP always does it.
What makes it even funnier, is that even when he done policy speeches, you still hear this same
whinerefrain. Which leads to me to believe the half-a-brainers among us are asking for a step-by-step list of exactly what Obama will do. It’s not hard to come up with one or two reasons why someone would ask this of him, but before have previous candidates been asked that. Makes one think, though not that hard.If it makes you feel smarter or right about me, I haven’t gotten much if anything in the way of specifics yet from my own candidate of choice either. Not specifics as how I see them anyway. But since she is not a democrat it isn’t something that I would be likely to ask about here or at any other democratic blog. So, I’m actually not singling Obama out for this treatment.
Btw, if I were satisfied with him I would be voting for him despite the fact he’s a democrat. I have no problem voting for competant and honest democrats. I just haven’t seen any lately.
Too bad.
It was certainly one of the most well crafted and well delivered speeches I have heard in my lifetime. I did not have the same visceral reaction, though, that I did to his keynote address in 2004. That one was, to me personally, so unexpected that I could only react with amazement and wonder at what I was hearing at that time. I had never before heard a Democrat articulate so clearly and so personally all of the reasons why I was, and would always be, a Democrat. It was one of the most inspirational moments that I can ever remember. Since then, of course, Obama speeches are expected to be exceptional. But nothing will match what I felt listening to him in 2004. It just brought me to tears. The feelings were so strong and so overwhelming. He really appealed to my hopes and dreams that night for what our country could be. Well, there were no tears tonight. But a hell of a lot of pride and admiration for what transpired in Denver. Just a great, great night!
Expressed like a true INFJ. Nice job, Mike.
With this tone he can win. Logically, most of the aims he set forth can only be accomplished and sustained if campaign finance is reformed. Perhaps he actually means to make that part of “fixing what is wrong with Washington” and “bringing change to Washington.” If so, he could be a great president.
Given the givens, this is not something you would campaign on, or even mention until you and everyone you are running with has all the money they need for this campaign. If Obama can raise enough money via smaller, direct contributions to replace a significant portion of the contributions to senators and congressmen who support reform, that could make it possible.
I favor very generous federal support for all candidates to federal elections from primaries through to the general election. It would be the best money ever spent by the taxpayers. Letting the self interested wealthy finance campaigns is the worst bargan we have ever made as a people. Small wonder that we keep getting screwed. As a people we have ducked our responsibility and, in effect, turned our politicians into pimps for the wealthy, with ourselves as the prostitutes they turn out for their clients. Small wonder so little changes.
CAMPAIGN REFORM IS THE KEY TO ANY MEANINGFUL REFORM!
Holy shit!
Pat Buchanan praises Obama’s speech.
Buchanan’s probably right.