President Obama's speech in Tucson will trigger much commentary, but in speaking many words, he really uttered the last one. There was a finality to Obama's speech, a lapidary effect that endowed it with humility and gravity. It would be hard to think of a more moving and dignified speech, particularly when set against the foil of Sarah Palin's creepy and self-absorbed effusions earlier today.
In essence, Obama returned to his earliest and most deeply felt theme, which is that optimism, not hatred, civility, not rancor, hope, not despair, should guide and elevate America, no matter how heated or turbulent political issues may become.
But for all the weight and gravity of his talk, Obama had to compose himself at the end of his talk, when he spoke of Christina-Taylor Green skipping through rain puddles in heaven. Perhaps you could even say that there was something angelic about Obama's exhortation to follow the better angels of our nature.
No doubt the usual cavalcade of atrabilious right-wing commentators will work overtime to try and distort Obama's remarks. But his address drew its strength from the fact that he, in effect, receded from the memorial service to function in the capacity of offering a tribute to the victims rather than pontificating about them.
Obama referred to the fact that the significance of these events shouldn't simply be consigned to oblivion by the time of the next news cycle. But his ennobling address may well have helped to ensure that they do not suffer that fate.
Gustav Niebuhr: Obama's 'Gettysburg Moment': For Us, the Living
As Speaker of the House, he should have been there in Tucson, not at a cocktail party fundraiser.
Bad week to do the people's business. Never a bad week to do business.
rather liberal country.I can guarantee you that your last president
did not have the high approval rate as has President Obama.
Don't forget, Norway, for some strange reason, I have to admit, awarded
President Obama the Nobel Peace Prize. Probably because we like him
a lot. I hope that I have answered your question.
are right. I should have been clear about talking
of Bush' sapproval rate in Norway, were he was not
very popular. To say the least.
We are a close friend and ally of 'the US, and do
these polls here too.
And then last night, my heart warmed as I listened to Obama, he understood the difference and he handled it like a President.
denigrates as "acceptable" the collateral deaths of children and other innocents,
he speaks:
crafting yet another appeal to knee-jerk sentimentalism and religiosity, underscored with his political message that the lesson to be drawn from a supposedly unfathomable isolated tragedy is that the sharp denunciations of war criminals and other politicians needs to cease. (constant applause).
………………………………..
The problem is not, as Obama and others would have it, political stridency,
but is instead political servility.
As our country sinks into a morass of economic bankruptcy and global militarism,
our politicians serve only to reward financial tycoons, war merchants, and careerist generals,
(along with themselves).
Only religious leaders should give the eulogies; then the political ambulance chasers
would not be able to hide behind a cloak of piety
from all the misery caused by their misbegotten policies.
One problem with rigidity in thought is that some become wedded to positions with little evidence to support them.
I guess you are too wedded to your position to realize the hypocrisy of political ambulance chasers giving eulogies about murder and collateral deaths..
respect for your great nation. They are in many ways an icon of symbols and hope.
Also for my country.
if it is not removed. So I will repeat it here:
I can only speak in general terms here, but we are a
rather liberal minded country.
I can guarantee you that you former president did not
have the same high approval rate as has President
Obama.
Don't forget, Norway, for some strange reason, I have
to admit, awarded President Obama the Nobel Peace
Prize. Probably because we like him a lot. Possibly
because of our liberalmindedness.
I hope that I have answered you question.
This speech does it for you?