An American idol in Germany

[Platapus]

It was a stirring speech. Obama is a good speaker. I did not agree with everything he said in the speech but I don't think there can be anyone that I would totally agree with.

He said some things I liked, somethings I did not like, and a whole bunch of things I don't really care about. But he is a charismatic speaker and that counts in politics (look at Regan).

Still not a solid Obama fan but not an Obama hater either. We have 3 1/2 months to go. Way too early to get spun up on things.

[AntEater]

Actually he didn't say much, but what do you expect from campaign speeches, and from speeches in general.
Not much new to what he said
One thing was interesting was the call for nuclear disarmament, not only from Iran but worldwide. I wonder if he keeps this up during his presidency.
At least he can pronounce "nuclear", so no more "nukular" weapons in "Isreal" with the next president (McCain can also do that, I suppose)

On the whole, he's really a great speaker. Dubya's problem as a speaker (aside from his sloppy pronounciation and general daftness) was that he always tried to be Churchill.
Churchillean pathos requires a real man like Mr. Churchill was to deliver it convincingly. Just having a great backround and an aircraft carrier (for example) does not do the trick.

Obama, while not really imitating Dr. King, has some similarities.
Instead of sticking to the classical roman approach to a speech, his way of speaking is more pastoral, almost musical with recurring themes and refrains.

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by AntEater

On the whole, he's really a great speaker. Dubya's problem as a speaker (aside from his sloppy pronounciation and general daftness) was that he always tried to be Churchill.

Not to mention churchillian sarcasm.

Watching Obama holding his speech, I had to remind myself time and again that this is not Denzel Washington in a filmed Obama-biography.