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!

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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.

Abelard, The "elitism" rhetoric is a fear based emotion propagated by control driven task masters who relish a dark ages mentality. Media driven by the few to sedate the many with talking points and war drums cause a reverse "brain washing" if you will, cleansed of original thought "We shall fill you with our needs" Drugs, Consumer fluff, a false hope for unnatural beauty and all the other needs of Corporate America. The "dumbing down" of America is a concerted effort. Obama's promise of a "New and Improved" system of education is a good and proper 1st step. There IS hope!!

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I thought this speech sounded like a state of the union address, not fitting for this occasion, . . . oh, well.

When it comes to presidential writers, James Madison deserves a mention. But, I'm not sure I'd want to go out for a drink with him.

No, the speech did not live up to Lincoln's inaugural addresses (either of them), but I do not expect to see their like again. It was a good, solid speech and set an optimistic tone for at least the next 4 years.

Arriving in The Promised Land is such a picker-upper that one hardly notices that most of its ATMs are out of cash.

Terrorists do have to be dealt with, but I could have wished for Favreau/Obama to put an equal emphasis on the need to stand up to economic terrorists, those American bankers that won't start lending to businesses and individuals at fixed, reasonable rates, despite having received oodles of "bailout" money that, originally, was supposed to free up credit.

Would it have hurt anything for the new President to say "We will defeat you!" to those bankers? The way the bankers are going, they're going to defeat themselves anyway, we might as well voice a determination that they not defeat us also.

As a minority member of the society . . . and most conspicuously a member of that minority that reads quality books regularly . . . I feel liberated by Obama's assumption of power.

However, I thought it perfectly ghastly that he started by thanking George W. Bush for service to our country. We still haven't gotten to the bottom of the true history of Bush's National Guard service, for example. How can we thank him, if we aren't even sure of what he did or did not do, back when, or more recently in green-lighting secret CIA prisons abroad?

I did not vote in favor of thanking Bush for his service, and if he were in front of me right now, I would remain thankless towards him, and, perhaps, spit.

Eye shall have my vengeance one way or the other, come hell or high water. Why not support it?... Remember it's the Age of Horus... the Crowned and Conquering Son. The longer this world waits, the more blood EYE shall take.

Time for a real Holy War. Apocalypse Now. All missions are being executed according to plan, without warning or provacation. Every person of every nation and faith, shall be brought to justice... it has everything to do with hate and evil. Skull an Bones Freemason kill committee mothafucka! Kali Ma!

God damn the America that tells me I cann't smoke my marijuana! God damn Islam for the execution of Mansoor al-Hillaj, God damn the pope that does not apologize for 10.13.1307 God damn this broken world of empty shells. God damn the idolitor of ikons. God damn your lie of Law Enforcement. Might shall make right out of spite. Ignorance is not bliss, nor is knowing. I see beyond your common sense and good advice. God damn America, it's not free. God damn the fundie concept of heaven. By the Left Hand of Lucifer and the right of Christ, I rule you thule. Heaven's Gate, Hell's Decree. Thank God for 9.11, Katrina, and Ike. The whirlwind is in the thorn tree. This land ain't free! Gabriel screams, Satan sits... for this spell or knows they'll be hell... wirlwind's in the thorn tree.

Novus Ordo Seclorum

An'al Haq

I am interested in the discussion over the inaugural speech. I read your comments about the content and delivery. I am tickled by the fact that when your up to your neck in the swamp you are able to debate your leaders shout of "follow me, I think its this way".

I wasn't that impressed with his Speech. It didn't seem like an A Speech to me, but maybe it wasn't supposed to be, not yet anyway. I would grade it more as a B. Very good, very complete, but not a zinger. There wasn't 'great wisdom' in the Speech either, but it's a little early in his Presidency to truly exhibit 'great wisdom'.

ML King's Speech was prophetic. He was predicting the future. That's what makes that particular Speech, THE SPEECH of all time. It adds an additional 'unforseen' element, which clearly King did foresee. Predicting one's own death in Public isn't the sort of thing that happens in a Speech very often, but there you have it. It does draw a line in the sand though, doesn't it. Truly remarkable how many people miss the most important detail, or charge it off to coincidence. Imagine, you predict your own death in a Speech, you go to Heaven, from Heaven you hear the cynics voices proclaiming 'coincidence'. What a world.

YOU ARE----

Creative expression,
deeply hidden emotion,
Reflection, manifestation,
Self-realization,
Words of confession.
Words.......
Words of attribution!

You ARE...
A leader, a legend, an idol,
A hero, in words of the battle.
A man who had his ways with letters,
an intellect, wise and fearless,
A mind, an icon,
a voice to the voiceless.
A ray of light through the darkness,
An anthem of hope, to the hopeless,
A man with dignity, and principles.

You ARE...Unshakable man,
through trials and aggression
Perseverance,
in the face of persecution.
A man who unraveled the mystery
A beacon of hope,
a shining light to humanity.

You ARE...
A man with a soul, ...and ambition,
An icon,.. an inspiration,
The pride of a nation.

You Are...
Our shepherd, to many and I,
A crack of down......a delight for the eye.

So, as it has been said,
...no fuss, no drama...
....Whishing you Godspeed,
...Sir. Brack Obama ::


Rahel Woldemariam