Mr. Buckley made a recent comment, regarding speechwriting, and spoke of the speech writer's task in making his speeches seem "natural" for his client. If a speech doesn't fit the man, it doesn't work. I agree. However, an example Mr. Buckley uses attempts to make his point by showing a "disconnect" between John F. Kennedy's famous "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country", and Ron Paul's soul. Ironic, to say the least. One of the only men in politics today with longstanding consistency in his message of "service" to one's country, Ron Paul is more akin to JFK than anyone I can think of. In fact, during this presidential campaign, I've heard and read more than a few times that if JFK were alive today, he would be a textbook Republican. Ron Paul has encouraged individuals to "mature" in their view of society and their role IN it. So, unless one does not attempt to understand Ron Paul or denies their own personal responsibilities within society, then why would someone make this ridiculous assertion? It is baffling to observe the "selective hearing" used when Ron Paul speaks or writes. Is the concept of carrying one's own weight and being self-regulating such a big step for us? Is it not what we endeavor to teach our kids? Why then do we revert to looking for a "leader" in the White House, rather than becoming a "leader" in our own lives? JFK and Ron Paul were/are on the same page, yet intelligent people will deny Ron Paul his accurate assessment of our society because???? He doesn't have slick speeches?? He doesn't play the Beltway game? Why? Anyone have a good answer? Are we still not ready for true maturity in society, enough so we would not rely on government to take of "it" for us, whatever "it" happens to be? Ron Paul's message is about the decreased role of government in conjunction with the INCREASED role of responsibility in our own affairs, which would include "handling" some of the problems around us without deferring the work to BIG DADDY. Coming from most in DC , this would be rhetoric; coming from Ron Paul, it would be leadership by example. Please do not delete this posting as inapplicable to this blog. It is very applicable to today's chaos in society.

"...I can't think when I've been more eager to hear a speech."

You and I both Buckley, and perhaps just a mere close to a billion people worldwide.

What happens after will decide whether the speech is merely quoted once in a while, or remembered because 'we were there.'

Well put, Mr. Buckley. I, too, am eagerly awaiting noon (well 11am here in middle Tennessee).

His speech on race that "cemented his reputation as a thinker" was the moment when I knew that this man needs to be the leader of our country.

I'm with you Mr. Buckley. Everyone I've talked to today can hardly wait for 11 a.m. (Iowa time) to hear him speak. How refreshing to hear someone who can really speak and actually say something.

Good morning, Mr. Buckley. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. As one among the 300 million determined to join Mr. Obama on that mountaintop, and if my narrative were a novel, its current title might be "1624 Meditation 17 Devotions Upon Emergent Occasions." Best regards for a peaceful day.

Nothing Changes If Nothing Changes. Congress is still a pack of Greedy Cowards. Our Economy is still Based on the False Gods of Consumerism and War Mongering. On July 4th 2009 my Meager Wages won't even cover the Interest on the National Debt. The American Roller Coaster has begun Her Descent into the "Tunnel of Gloom", I hope I don't Puke before we see the light at the End !

A speech writer can only be as good as the man for whom he is writing. Obama knows what he wanted to say and got help saying it. But it begins and ends with Obama. That is why we got "a thousand points of light" crap because his speech writer said it sounded good but devoid of meaning or context. That is why Bush 2 sounded grand (at times) but again spoke empty words like "compassionate conservative". In my work life I had to prepare presentations for bosses (sales meeting and such) of a variety of stripes. The more intelligent and focused the boss the better were those presentations and words. Hard to make a silk purse from a sow's ear!

I voted for Obama. I'm very happy that a mild inteligent man is our president. I am also glad that the country's "leadership" is out of the hands of the outrageous moral bankruptcy of the GOP. But I've yet to see the astonishing oratory skills Obama supposedly possesses. This speech was boilerlate, and Obama delivers his speeches in the eye-rolling, outdated cadences of an amateur who believes his own press-clippings. I'm willing to reconsider but I'm not a partisan kool-aid drinker.

I have yet to read or hear the speech, but I hope that it revives the lost art of oratory in American politics. I suppose that Spasticula would accusing me of drinking Kool-Aid, but I think that Obama is a great public speaker, at least when compared with the other politicians of my lifetime. I don't think he can hold a candle to Lincoln, but he might be able to give FDR a run for his money.

All of this discussion leads to a question that I hope you will all weigh in on. It seems that presidential oratory has weakened considerably over the last century or so, and especially over the last thirty years. Do you all agree? If you do agree, then what is the root cause of this weakening?

Abelard, In watching the civil war documentaries on PBS, I was amazed at the poetic grace of the back and forth correspondence of the spouses and relatives of our war weary past. Where has this magic of the written word gone? Gobbled up by the "get them to the shop floor quickly" mentality of the Industrial Revolution ? Maybe.... Or could it be a concerted effort to stall free thinking for without grand words grand thoughts can only be found in dreams soon forgotten in the light of day. Creative writing should be a K-12 requirement.

coloradokarl,

Your comment on the Industrial Revolution's effect on education is something that I had not considered. Personally, I tend to fix blame on the "soundbite" mentality created by radio, television, and the Internet combined with an increasing cultural bias that equates beautiful speech with elitism, that worst of political sins. But perhaps the problem goes back much further than the modern media culture...

I like your idea of creative writing being a K-12 requirement. I teach at a K-12 charter school where essay writing is a major focus of the curriculum. I also teach at an online university where the students have obviously not been instructed on some of the basics of English grammar, let alone how to construct a persuasive and pleasant essay. But in a world where the written word is so cheaply available (see my comments on e-books elsewhere on the DB), is it any wonder that good writing is so scarce?

I AM a kool-aid drinker, and I found the speech rather long and uninspiring. That's just me.

Too much detail and policy. It felt more appropriate for a stump speech than a soaring inaugural address.

Ostrom808 --

I'm listening to the speech right now on NPR and I agree that it is a bit heavy on policy. But so was FDR's first inaugural address, which I believe was a fine piece of oratory. Tough times require more specific speeches, I think...

Mr. Buckley, I don't quite agree with your perception of the "money quote" as it's very close to the lyrics of a Jerome Kern/Dorothy Fields song with the words "pick yourself up, dust yourself off and start all over again." It's a great song but Obama using those words threw me a bit cuz the song is very upbeat which his speech was not.