Politics
More PoliticsOne Hell of a Speech
Christopher Buckley's books include Supreme Courtship, The White House Mess, Thank You for Smoking, Little Green Men, and Florence of Arabia. He was chief speechwriter for Vice President George H.W. Bush, and is editor-at-large of ForbesLife magazine. His new book is Losing Mum and Pup, a memoir. Buckley's Daily Beast column is the winner of an Online Journalism Award in the category of Online Commentary.
Tim Sloan / AP Photo
Obama didn’t deliver a speech so much as a symphony, calling for nukes and zapping the Supremes; thanks for the performance, Mr. President.
It is hard, indeed almost impossible, not to like Mr. Obama. In recent weeks, I’ve tried—tried my best. But Wednesday night he made it virtually impossible. Even discounting the perhaps 40 percent of the speech that consisted of the usual bromides and platitudes, even the most hardened skeptic must admit—the son of gun gives one hell of a speech.
My personal takeaway was his endorsement of nuclear power. So many of our problems—specifically, our 70 percent importation of oil from horrid desert regimes—could be eliminated if we embraced the atom. I can hardly wait to hear Senator Harry Reid’s reaction, coming as he does from a state that adamantly refuses to store nuclear waste, lest it cause gamblers in Las Vegas to glow in the dark.
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Tonight Mr. Obama proved—once again—that he hears the American music and can play it like a maestro. As well as Ronald Reagan. Both presidents had—have—have music in their souls. The other people in the room where I watched the speech were in tears by the end—the kind that stream down the face. I managed to hold those back. But I could not hold back my admiration at the performance, in particular of Mr. Obama’s deep humanity, as evinced by his profound, almost Lincolnesque humor. Oh dear, are tears streaming down my face, one way or the other?
He proved himself capable, too, of drama, as when he (figuratively) pointed a finger at the Supremes, sitting in their courtly robes directly in front of him, hands demurely folded, and accused them (in my opinion, unjustly, to say nothing of injudiciously) of allowing “foreign enemies” to influence our elections. I had been under the impression that it was called “free speech.” But never mind. It was an electrifying moment. Thank you, Mr. President.
An electrifying evening, all in all. Well done. And yes, God bless the United States of America.
Christopher Buckley's books include Supreme Courtship, The White House Mess, Thank You for Smoking, Little Green Men, and Florence of Arabia. He was chief speechwriter for Vice President George H.W. Bush, and is editor-at-large of ForbesLife magazine. His new book is Losing Mum and Pup, a memoir. Buckley's Daily Beast column is the winner of an Online Journalism Award in the category of Online Commentary.
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Christopher Buckley's books include Supreme Courtship, The White House Mess, Thank You for Smoking, Little Green Men, and Florence of Arabia. He was chief speechwriter for Vice President George H.W. Bush, and is editor-at-large of ForbesLife magazine. His new book is Losing Mum and Pup, a memoir. Buckley's Daily Beast column is the winner of an Online Journalism Award in the category of Online Commentary.
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Christopher Buckley's books include Supreme Courtship, The White House Mess, Thank You for Smoking, Little Green Men, and Florence of Arabia. He was chief speechwriter for Vice President George H.W. Bush, and is editor-at-large of ForbesLife magazine. His new book is Losing Mum and Pup, a memoir. Buckley's Daily Beast column is the winner of an Online Journalism Award in the category of Online Commentary.
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Christopher Buckley's books include Supreme Courtship, The White House Mess, Thank You for Smoking, Little Green Men, and Florence of Arabia. He was chief speechwriter for Vice President George H.W. Bush, and is editor-at-large of ForbesLife magazine. His new book is Losing Mum and Pup, a memoir. Buckley's Daily Beast column is the winner of an Online Journalism Award in the category of Online Commentary.
mbgillil
Well said, sir.
Cara-C
The truthfulness or lack thereof of the speech is irrelevant. All that matters is that Obama is able to lie to and manipulate us with style.
Americans must stop listening to what Obama SAYS and start watching what he DOES. The two are not related.
And you must include some reputable conservative publications or blogs in your reading (DrudgeReport, HotAir, AmericanThinker, etc.), not for the opinion, but because they are reporting facts that liberal blogs and the left-controlled mainstream media are not.
Annagain
Clearly, all that matters is kabuki theatre. His actions don't matter at all -- words just words. That's what's important. America didn't elect a leader, they elected a reader.
Why the hell are so many pundits running political cover for him? Still? We are in a dire situation in this country and need effective leadership with practical solutions for job creation -- not campaign speeches. POTUS seems to forget he is already the POTUS and has been for over a year now. Continuing to blame Bush is tired. Particularly when Dems have controlled Congress for three years and he now has a supermajority. I do not need to see him insult and blame everyone else in an effort to aggrandize himself.
He and Axelrod already won a prize for best commercial brand at the end of 2008. It's 2010 now. Time to get to work. It is disgraceful that the whole first year he would waste Congress' time pushing an unreadable horrid health care bill and not bother making jobs JOB ONE. Now that its an election year, he wants to pander about this after so many have lost their homes and jobs? Too late. But Mr. Buckley, keep writing about how he gives one helluva speech. That's really gonna keep food on the table.
CrackpotPress
How is the Drudge Report reputable? Obama does give a great speech and in a time where I am one of the ten percent who are out of work (over a year) it's nice to hear something positive.
What has the conservative movement done for me? NOTHING! They just made a big mess of things and left me holding the bag. When the last recession hit, they did nothing. Zero.
CatoTheCensor
I'm sorry; did I really just read the words, 'DrudgeReport,' 'HotAir,' 'AmericanThinker' and 'reputable' in the same sentence? I keep re-reading it, to see if it will shift. I stare at the words on the page in something like horrified fascination, unable to look away, my eyes snagging on mountainous capital As and flat topped Ts.
Whatever next? Glenn Beck as serious commentary? Michele Bachmann as a sane and respectable legislator? The discovery that Elvis really is alive and well, and living it up in Borneo? There really was an imprint of Jesus on your breakfast toast?
I ask merely for the sake of information.
See, there are still sane, talented, entirely legitimate and, yes, respectable conservative commentators out there. Christopher Buckley. David Frum. David Brooks. Reihan Salam. Peggy Noonan. Ross Douthat. Go forth, young Padawan. Read 'em and weep. Then, we can have a legitimate conversation about reputability.
jmckee
The very fact that you include the Drudge Report in your "reputable" list makes your entire post invalid.
OrionCA
"My personal takeaway was his endorsement of nuclear power."
Yeah...right. This is the guy who killed Yucca Mountain. How can you be FOR nuclear power yet AGAINST building someplace to store the waste? The truth is that Obama endorses nuclear power in the same sense that your parents endorsed Santa Claus or the Tooth Fairy when you were little. They didn't believe in either of these but saying nice things about them kept you happy. Obama gave over 40 speeches about the importance of health care reform last year but met with Congress to thrash out the details maybe once or twice. Talks big but won't get his hands dirty and thinks we're too stupid to notice.
timeisnow
Christopher ,
You are a butt head and Radical Left wing Progressive just like Obama.
bmcvegas
I see the wingnuts are out in force today....
bthove
How intelligent, timeisnow. Pat yourself on the back for that one. Yet more proof that the right is intellectually bankrupt and pathetically reactionary.
fenngibbon
I'm sorry, bmcvegas, but only John Avlon can use the term "wingnuts" on TDB. And use it, and use it, and use it, and use it, etc., etc., etc.
Jeffriesboys
Really. Well, Mr. Buckley, please tell me how we are to have nuclear energy (which I am all for) when our POTUS wants cap and trade. You see it is all give with one hand and take away with the other. So, SSSSUUURRREEE you can have Nuclear Energy - but we are going to make it cost prohibitive to do so.
Another little problem - if he is all for transparency, then why didn't he start BEFORE the speech????? Why is he accusing the GOP of being obstructionists when Boehner hasn't heard from his office in OVER A YEAR????? Why is he bragging about releasing visitor's logs, but did so ONLY after Fox sued him under the FOIA???? Because he is ALL TALK. He is praying it will take at least until after the Nov. elections for the American people catch on. Well, guess what we aren't that STUPID. We aren't duped by pretty words. He has had his chance and frankly blew it. Now, it is time for you obloviating fools fawning over his pretty words to sit down and SHUT UP and let the rest of us get about the business of cleaning up this mess.
JDelgado
I am going to do something that I've hated about reading all year long... And that is to complain about the other side... Why can we NOT "just get along?" Why is it about the Left and the Right all the time... Now the Independents??? Obamas call to action, not just in Washington but throughout the Nation should be applauded, I am geared up to become that entrepaneur he mentioned in his speeches. I dont care if you are blue or red or whatever I will hold your hand, I will dig the ditch along side you, I will travel that dark and windie road with you. Health care, of course I want our old to hold on to all of their benefits maybe even gain MORE... I will be old someday. For the poor, the job less the homeless... lets extend our hand and help them get on their feet, hand them some gloves and a shovel and let us all get back to work! For our businesses big and small... Invest in your employees, give us a sense of ownership. Inspire us to buy AMERICAN not "made in china" products!!!
bigwurzz
America doesn't have Presidents anymore all we get are Spokesmen. The last time we had a real president they took him for a slow ride in a convertible.
gary4205
I always suspected Buckley was an idiot, possibly a moron. Now there is indeed no doubt left. He is both.
This is this is the biggest load of crap ever.
Put down the crack pipe Chris and come back to reality.
Obama is an Epic Failure.
sippewissett
Love the symphony metaphor. Trolls will be all over this to stomp out the moment, but Obama is an impressive thinker and orator. I am proud he is our president, especially after 8 years of cringing. I hope he can get both parties off their respective *sses and working for us instead of for re-election.
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fred88
"Tonight Mr. Obama proved-once again-that he hears the American music and can play it like a maestro. As well as Ronald Reagan. Both presidents had-have-have music in their souls. The other people in the room where I watched the speech were in tears by the end-the kind that stream down the face. I managed to hold those back. But I could not hold back my admiration at the performance, in particular of Mr. Obama's deep humanity, as evinced by his profound, almost Lincolnesque humor"
I HOPE this is one of your parodies, Buckley.
nikkya
i am sure he will say you're welcome and thank you for doing nothing for eight years from hanging off this cliff
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EvilPoet
I will keep all of this in mind while I struggle to cope and breath. Yes indeedy - I can recall all the happy hopey pink fuzzy thoughts while shelling out well over $200.00 for my monthly doc appoints and meds. A job? HA. I wish I wasn't too sick to work. Health care? With a couple of preexisting conditions? HAHAHAHAHA.
Guzelvis
Great article. It's too bad Obama's getting bumped by Leno. Pity, that. http://bit.ly/csOXKq
winston1
How niave nothing like his father! Doesn't take much to change Christopher's mind.
daxawyes
Yes. A man's ability to read another man and distinguish fluff from fact and propaganda from reality is priceless. Mr. Buckley obviously doesn't have that gift, nor does the man who picks up what he thinks is a beautiful prostitute, gets her to the hotel then finds out she is a man.
wyorich
If Chris truly believes this, Dad is pukin in his coffin.
verycold
Is this tongue and cheek? I think so. He is yanking everybody's chain.
DorothyM
"Is this tongue and cheek?" What's "tongue and cheek"? Do you by chance mean "tongue in cheek"? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tongue-in-cheek
This kind of nonsense is what happens when the TV is the main source of information and people stop reading. The above is only a shade less silly than "road to hoe" which I saw on another website yesterday.
gibels
Thank you Mr.Buckley because I agree with you ....
Its been a long time since I have been able to watch a President give that long of speech and enjoyed it ...
I know the Obama haters will pick apart this speech and find every thing wrong with it so be it ....
But the President is not what is wrong with this country its the congress and senate ....
How does anybody expect this President to do anything when we elect a body of people that only have their own self intrest in mind...
When will We the people decide that we should not let congress or senate hold their seats any longer than the President does ....
Most of these people only serve to get rich and could care less what the people want there is such corruption in Washington...
Instead of ripping this President to shreds and I mean both parties it seems like working together could only make America so much better ...
It is a shame that we have a President that is a good descent respected man but people in this country just dont aprecciate it...
It guess maybe I just expect to much from people ...
stopmeifucan
Gibels, It is quite refreshing to hear someone speak of the Pres. in such positive terms. You are absolutely correct, He alone cannot do anything to move the country forward. If Congress doesn't start doing the job they were elected to do we're going to remain in this "black hole" for 3 more years. It's so sad to see "mature" men & women playing games with so many innocent lives and not seem to care. The thing I appreciate most about Pres. Obama is he does not wish to create anymore riff than necessary and Congress and citizens alike are reading that as a weakness. He laid out his agenda last year and Congress has toyed with it here and there just to appease themselves and others to a degree, instead of acting on the issues and getting us out of this quicksand. Yet there are those today who will complain and blame him for not doing anything forgetting that it is not him, obviously he can't MAKE Congress do anything they don't want to do.
possumdearie
He doesn't want to create anymore "riff" than necessary? That's gibberish, but aside from that, President Obama used the SOTU to castigate SCOTUS with the enthusiastic support of Congressional Democrats who clapped like trained seals. It was beneath the dignity of his Office and one of the most appallingly heavy-handed abuses of authority I have ever seen.
It better be satire from the author of this rubbish, because there is no logic that could call seriously applaud this as inspired or admirable. Krauthammer was more correct in calling it "strained and unctuous." If this is really satire, I'll take Iowahawk's letters as T. Coddington Van Voorhees VII any day.
possumdearie
"How does anybody expect this President to do anything when we elect a body of people that only have their own self interest in mind..."
Obama was elected into the Democratic majority in 2006. I would love more responsibility from the Congress that passes budgets, not the President. The last three budgets came from Democrats. Enough with this "$1.3 trillion deficit I inherited." You lie! In three years, they increased annual federal spending by $900 billion, while the admittedly profligate and irresponsible Republican Congresses under George Bush increased annual federal spending by $800 billion - in six years. And during the last three years before taking office as President, Obama served in the Senate that passed those bills, and he voted for every Democratic budget put in front of him.
flypapersam
hey great piece I felt much of what you were saying as I watched and heard a speech the likes of which I have not heard since Reagan. It was so depressing to hear the point of views that I think reflect the heart of America and see only half of the attendance stand and apploud. It reflects just how hopless it will be to ever see those things done that need to be done.
Let me point out that I did not vote for him or the other I was not sure whiich I was more afraid of. I still hope that we are seeing just a geat actor in motion but none the less he did show up at the OK corral with both guns and really hate that I missed the finger at the cheifs that sat there like dead meat.
And Eviel Poet I feel for yu man
flyoverland
People with tears? Where were you watching, the Army's tear gas training center? The speech was hollow. It was a throw back to the campaign when people believed him. Now they see what he really is and every time they hear that sing-songy, fake oratory, they know he's just a hypnotic pied piper, not a leader. The liberal, elite rats may follow him off a cliff, I'm holding on for dear life.
truthiness2
I suspect it was not tears. Most likely they were choking on their cool-aid as it was being pour up their noses.
Marjorie2
This piece is sarcasm/parody--or something in between. What gave it away? There is absolutely NO WAY any sane person (no matter how obsessed with BHO) was reduced to tears during this snoozerrific buffet of recycled rhetoric and government "program" offerings--unless they were bored to tears.
Some good rhetoric if it weren't so completely detached from reality. I am beginning to think Americans are as dumb as BHO and the Democrats think we are.
No one wa
niftynancy
Not true. Many of the people in my group were in tears, including myself and we are all perfectly sane. I am wondering about your sanity, however.
flypapersam
Hey guys I made an error
What i meant to say was I hope we did NOT just see a great actor in motion........
sorry
Thank you.
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