It's hard for me to be objective about Obama's oratory, since I don't like the guy. But I wasn't alone in my initial sense of dismay: Josh Marshall also thought that Obama -- who followed so many terrific speakers this night -- had a difficult time finding his footing.
The President began with a joke about Republican tax breaks. Mistake. Why remind the audience of the one thing they're sure to like about the GOP? Why didn't he slam home the message that the stimulus lowered taxes for the 95% who are not rich? Why didn't he emphasize that Romney's tax breaks would favor only millionaires like himself? Obama could -- should -- have mentioned the many times, during primary season, when the GOP candidates spoke about raising taxes on the poor.
Worse: Many who spoke during this convention derided the Republicans for refusing to offer specifics. But the Democrats can't fairly make that criticism when their own standard bearer also neglected to outline specific proposals. To cite but one example: Will there finally be help for underwater homeowners? To cite another: How about replacing Tim Geithner with someone not beholden to Wall Street?
In the end, the speech soared when it needed to soar. I would have preferred something more earthbound.
By the way: The Kos Krowd can still be pretty damned creepy.
9th Best President EverThis guy thinks LBJ, the flagrantly corrupt Texan clown who gave us Vietnam, was better than Bill Clinton? Madness. Fortunately, most other Kossacks seem to have freed themselves of their Clinton Derangement Syndrome.
F.D. Roosevelt, Lincoln, Washington, T. Roosevelt, LBJ, Kennedy, Truman, Eisenhower. He's a little better than Jackson.
Prediction: The Democrats will get a bounce out of this convention, and I feel sure that it will be more impressive than the bounce-ette the Republicans received after the Tampa fiasco. But Romney's $100 million ad buy starts tomorrow, and that massive propaganda blitz will insure that Obama's advantage won't last. Since Team Romney has said that they are pulling out of Michigan, the new battleground will be, God help us, Ohio. Again.
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