These are the ramblings of a young married couple in the great City of Chicago.
Per usual, Zach said what I meant about Obama better than I did. (Are you subscribed to In The Agora? You really should.)
Actually, I think Ross Douthat, who Zach quotes, has the best synopsis:
It was a historic evening, for Obama and for America, and there were moments that gave me shivers just watching on TV - but if you didn’t go in sold on the Democratic nominee, I think it was ultimately something of a letdown.
I understand that it is a big deal for historically bigoted political parties to nominate someone who is not a Old White Guy for president. Unless you really bought into NPR’s labeling of Obama as the Presumptive Democrat Nominee, it was not a surprise that he was nominated and he accepted. However, last night will stand as the historical marker when a barrier was broken.
Ignoring that, was that an inspirational speech? I really expected more from the great O. To me that sounded like your typical liberal policy speech. “Republicans want you to wallow in your own filth in the land of weeping and gnashing of teach while giving money to the rich. We, Democrats, care and will use the force of government to fix everything. Nothing bad will ever happen once I am elected.”
It sounded like McCain’s attacks of Obama not having any specifics have really hit home and have neutralized what is best about Obama. Obama makes you feel good with broad ideas, but when he, like all pols, talks specifics you have to know he is lying because government does not rest on a single man. (Praise be to the Founders.)
I also wonder if someone proofed that speech. Did anyone other than the Tomaws catch that he first said how he will not leave you to pull yourself up by your bootstraps and then told a set of stories about how he and his family had pulled themselves up by their bootstraps?
My favorite part was when Obama said we should not think that McCain is acting maliciously in the policies he supports. I thought that was classy. Too often when talking to others about politics (or anything really) every counter is taken personally. Obama pointed out that we should not take it personally, but understand we all want what is best for America. Where I differ with him is that I usually do think that pols are lying. I think he is lying most of the time and McCain is too. I am not attacking their character, that is just the nature and incentive of politics.
Obama voters in Cook County know the way to ensure your candidate wins is to vote early and often. I wonder how many of these voters have addresses like 4001 N. Clark Street.
(HT: Mike Munger)