The Speech

[filkertom]

So.

Thoughts?

Comments

[nagasvoice.livejournal.com]

One of the bigger tearjerkers I've heard in awhile. My first impulse is to say, profanely, that THAT is what we've been needing for about nine years now. IMHO, that is what a good speech should be.
Thank you for the link, seeing it written down in helpful. I heard the last half of it while my mom was playing the CNN video of it.
As she noted, if the media hadn't been giving more of their time to Bailin' Palin's hate speeches instead, along with those of misogynistic and hateful right wing pundits of the more extreme variety, maybe things would be different now. I do not claim that cause and effect can be proven.
I just know we've had waaay too much of the divisive stuff, and more of this "pull together" stuff would be welcome in our house.
So far I have heard only that Sarah Palin is retrenching her offensive statements and has not clarified that she repudiates violence against her fellow citizens and does not intend any of her statements to be taken as incitements to violence. I do not know about other pundits who've been doing similar things, either. If somebody does have that, I would be happy to repost the link.

[antinomic.livejournal.com]

He sounded very Presidential. Its was good time to start.

[ashkitty.livejournal.com]

Well, it made me cry at work.

[smoooom.livejournal.com]

I think that in an arena fueled with hate and rhetoric his words were remarkable. I don't know how many were his or his speech writers. I think that some of the far end nuts (both ends) need to take a long look at what he has to say and realise that the USA is a country with some wounds that need healing. It saddens me when I hear whats going on with my neighbour to the south, I wonder where the greatness has gone. That speech shows me that it's not gone.

[nagasvoice.livejournal.com]

Obama used to write a lot of his own speeches, so he knows how to organize and target such speeches.

[smallship1.livejournal.com]

Nicely done. He took the wind out of the sails of those who were gunning for Palin and the others on the basis of the attack, which might not have been what we wanted him to but was certainly the right--the fair, the honest--thing to do.

Whether the other side will oblige with more "civility", or carry on as they have been, I have my doubts, but Obama is now impeccably entrenched on the moral high ground...and (I think) not because he thinks that's where he ought to be, but because that's where he actually is. If that makes any sense.

[ladystarblade.livejournal.com]

I thought it was a strong speech, and I found myself nodding along throughout the entire thing. And the part where he talked about the congresswoman opening her eyes was an emotional highlight. But what really got me was when he was talking about little Christina and his voice started to shake...his daughter Malia is the same age, and you just know what he was imagining in that moment. It went straight to the heart of me.

And some people have been really put off by the so-called 'pep rally' atmosphere of the service...I agree with what John King said...Tucson has been crying for days now...they needed something to cheer. And why not cheer for life and hope?

[sdelmonte]

Between this and his DADT repeal speech, there are glimmers of the man we voted for returning.

[judifilksign.livejournal.com]

I thought this a very fine speech. It made me cry.

[unclelumpy.livejournal.com]

These men and women remind us that heroism is found not only on the fields of battle. They remind us that heroism does not require special training or physical strength. Heroism is here, in the hearts of so many of our fellow citizens, all around us, just waiting to be summoned -– as it was on Saturday morning.

How DARE he downplay the heroism of our brave men and women in the military?!!

Of course I'm being sarcastic, but I have a bad feeling that's the only thing from this speech some people walked away with.

[ldhenson.livejournal.com]

Sat here at my desk and cried. I'd expected to cry out of sadness, but not out of sadness and hope.

[randwolf.livejournal.com]

If giving good speeches was all that was required, Obama would rule the earth. But...

[gardnerhill.livejournal.com]

I'm afraid I switched channels -- I was completely turned off by the applause every 30 seconds. "It's a goddamn funeral, people, not the friggin' State of the Union address!"

But I read it later. Marvelous work. I do love having a President who can speak, and capture you with both his words and the way he says them -- and who knows what to say and what NOT to say.

And without mentioning Miss Thang at all, he completely blew her whiny, tone-deaf, antisemitic pity-party out of the water.

[bayushisan.livejournal.com]

I thougt it was a good speech. Especially when he spoke about living up to the ideals that our children believe in and think that the country can and should be.

Damn....

[stdharma.livejournal.com]

Just. Damn. I have no words.