Constructive gadfly
Published on August 30, 2008 By stevendedalus In Politics

 In this era of Super Bowls, Wild Cards and American Idol, it strikes me as petulant to begrudge Obama his night under the stars. Give him credit for staging such a spectacular. No one took issue with Wendell Willke delivering a speech to hundreds of thousands, the Pope or Billy Graham at Yankee Stadium and Martin Luther King at the Mall. And who could forget the dramatic landing and Mission Accomplished speech atop an aircraft carrier.

Copyright © 2008 Richard R. Kennedy All rights reserved. Revised: Aug 30,  2008.

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Comments (Page 1)
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on Aug 30, 2008

Soon the president will be elected Survivor style.  Americans are so dramatic, in general, that it will be much easier for them to grok selecting the commander and chief by who is the last one to not get voted off the island.

on Aug 31, 2008

IN the end, what anyone says about his theatrics will not sway many votes.  His theatrics either will sway for or will sway against.  It is what each sees in them.

The talking heads are just being dishonest (as usual) in not saying they are telling you what they want you to see, not what was seen.

on Aug 31, 2008

it strikes me as petulant to begrudge Obama his night under the stars

I don't 'begrudge' him anything - it helped me understand what he really thinks of himself (and me).  My initial impressions were confirmed.

on Sep 03, 2008

It seems to me that presidential elections have pretty much been popularity and beauty contests and short on issues. 

on Sep 03, 2008

That's a bit of a tough conclusion to draw from the last 2 Presidential campaigns, the more recent one even moreso.

on Sep 08, 2008

Issues that count, not sail gliding and national special privilege for the national guard. In 2000, it was a "uniter not a divider" and invading one's space in a debate.

on Sep 08, 2008

  (I like that one)

Invading one's space?  Was that the Hillary campaign?

on Sep 08, 2008

How many of those costed $5 million for the one speech?  That was above and beyond what the DNC convention cost in the first place.  I don't begrudge Obama his moment in the sun, in fact, I say he deserves to bask a bit in the warmth of beating Hillary at her own game.  But I do wonder why he couldn't give his speech and let it stand on its own merits... especially since it was a really great speech.

In the end though, More people tuned in to see McCain and Palin so the $5 million was pretty much wasted. 

on Sep 12, 2008

Was that the Hillary campaign?
I'm sure you remember when Gore dared to unilaterally and preemptively invaded little George.

on Sep 13, 2008

In the end though, More people tuned in to see McCain and Palin
Questionable.

on Sep 13, 2008

stevendedalus
Questionable.

As is the idea that hundreds of thousands of Europeans turning up to watch a speech by an American pretender means that European relations would be better under said pretender. Yet liberals delight in trying to push this.

on Sep 13, 2008

I'm sure you remember when Gore dared to unilaterally and preemptively invaded little George.

Actually no, I dont.  I remember the Republican walking over to Hillary in 2k and being accused of it.  Guess I missed the al gore one.

 

on Sep 14, 2008

Actually no, I dont
Actually, I also forgot the NY congressman invading Hillary's space. So we're even.

on Sep 14, 2008

Yet liberals delight in trying to push this.
"You guys" give liberals too much credit--we're not that great, you know, nor are we that ebulliant over such trivia.   

on Sep 14, 2008

Actually, I also forgot the NY congressman invading Hillary's space. So we're even.

Even in our ignorance?

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