Comments on Barack Obama

This intro is very Ken Burns.

Let me guess, everyone is crying, right?

This video is great.

@1, you nailed it, VERY Ken Burns...

I am almost in tears, and dude isn't even on stage yet. Fuck.

Who's Barack Obama?

@4, I'm a little bit worried it's going to be 16 hours long!

Is he wearing a flag pin???

Sigh. I can't decide whether that's bullshit or necessary for him to "convince people of his patriotism".

He's looking a bit like he's not sure how to control the crowd.

Man, people need to shut up already. He needs to stop saying "Thank you, thank you very much."

This is dookie. Why no liveslog widget?

Wow, a shout out to the Clintons right off the bat. That's nice... "an inspiration to my daughters and yours".

well stop on by, Eli. I have some of those fake chicken nuggets and some bbq sauce.

god, if he doesnt win this election i will fucking riot.

totally, Mae

...and where ARE the clintons? if their support were more than salutary, they too would be there.

...could they possibly be thinking that if...if...if there were an "incident", they'd best be kept in safe harbor far, far away from that open field?

@14 You won't be the only one. Maybe we should all stock up on bottled water and canned goods.

He is getting fiery. I LOVE it.

Meanwhile, here in the Buckeye State, Obama's opponent can't even scare up 10,000 people to fill a hall in Dayton. And by the way, who the fuck announces anything in Dayton, Ohio?

Honestly, if we don't elect Obama, then . . . well, what's wrong with us? We must have some serious emotional problems.

Worse than all of the accumulated tears is the standing ovation, now the most hollow gesture one can possibly make, short of a half-hearted tug job.

"Eight is enough" was a little lame.

Ho, another Buckeye Slog reader! O H!

@19: or some serious balloting problems.

I have thought the same thing about the rioting... but, what would people riot against? Particularly here in Chicago. I just wonder how that would play out...

I would be less inclined to riot and more inclined to hole myself up and cry for a week, I think.

The last thing I expected this speech would make me think about is Dick Van Patten. Now I have the Eight is Enough theme song in my head.

How is McCain going to respond to all this? is slog going to cover the rnc?

Hahahahah! How can you trust someone's judgment who thinks Bush was right 90% of the time?

I O!

(Ordinarily it would pain me to do that, 22, since I went to Michigan, but this Barack fella makes me giddy.)

I'm with 24. ben & jerry would make a lot of $$$.

"He just doesn't get it" is so The American President. Is Obama stealing from pop culture????

Eight is enough?! What did Dick Van Patten do to deserve this?

Speak it out, brother! "You're on your own!"

Incidentally, a reviewer referred to The American President as a "liberal's wet dream." Obama too?

And that's as close as Dick Van Patten will ever come to a Slog simulpost.

Uh oh, I think he just referred to Harvard as one of the best schools in the country. Pointy-headed elitist!

The National Weather Service report for Denver is announcing a "Rainbow Magic rainstorm with a 60% chance of intermittent unicorns following a tornado made of spun sugar!"

My friend that I'm watching this with just had a total freak out about the possibility that McCain could win. She thinks there will be-must be riots. What do you guys think? The thought disturbs the fuck out of me that McCain might win.

oooh zing on the celebrity defense!

That flag pin is driving me nuts. I can't stop staring at it.

Why is the TV showing a 3-4 second delay versus the internet feed?

I hope to all the gods I deny that McCain has killed a 9 year old or something like that to lock us in. I'm too scarred by Gore and Kerry to believe this isn't going to come crashing down by a few votes or a fucking Diebold machine and ruin life.

Why is he dumbing down everything? Seriously! And did he seriously play the "New Orleans Card?" And does he have anything to talk about other than promises???

I just can't picture potential riots, in my city, anyways. In highly Democratic Chicago, what would people target? Or would it just be random chaos?

Julie, he's been wearing the flag pin for quite awhile now. It didn't start tonight.

Has anyone else noticed how Biden's wife keeps gazing at him all dreamy eyed?

This party pooper woman behind Biden who keeps sitting and glowering at every standing ovation really needs a punch in the tits.

Can he really do all that stuff?

aw Barack, pay my student loans and give me some health insurance?

Yay coal and nuclear power?

@40
In case of wardrobe malfunction.

CattyMaran, why NOT play the "New Orleans card"?

@42, I doubt the citizens of New Orleans think of themselves as a "card." Also, "promises" are what campaigning is about. It's called a platform.

@44 - I know but it is staring me down. I think it's the dark suit.

I love, love, love the temperament card. Keep playing, it Barack - go after that hair-trigger-tempered motherfucker.

@42 I thought he didn't go far enough on New Orleans. It just that they let a city drown, they let 2,000+ people die!

HOLY FUCK he smacked the shit out of McCain....to the cave indeed!

@53, deep breaths. it's all going to be okay.

@42, like meggers said, it's called a platform. is this the first nominee speech you've seen?

Eli-
Hearing comment on speeches and fawning over the Obama camp in a completely weird way is getting kind of embarrassing. Dude, we get it. You like him, we're voting for him, great. But your bizarre comments of "mastery" and Michelle’s speech being "the best one ever by..." just make you seem uneducated on American oration. You’re a fine reporter but an awful commentator. Please stop.

NOLA was terrible, sad, and a mess- but- aren't we wanting to FORWARD in time, not backward?

Katrina and the aftermath was terrible, sad, and a mess- but- aren't we wanting to FORWARD in time, not backward?

I wanna marry him. Why can't all men be like Barack Obama?

@60 - Yes, but speaking as someone from Louisiana, we haven't moved on. New Orleans is still devastated, and we are facing the possibility of seeing the scant progress that has been made ruined next week. I really don't think he went far enough on that issue.

There is nothing wrong with wearing a flag pin.

Or not wearing one.

Barack ROOLS!

aw. i love all the shout outs the queers have been getting.

@61. Barack Obama is your new Mr. Right.

He's gonna take our AK's and AR's away from us.

Michelle Obama has terrific arms. Sleeveless dresses in the White House!

Lots of references to OH. Think he's gonna be here at lot between now and Nov. (which is good, because I'm gonna miss the rally @ Dublin-Coffman this weekend.) Hi to LDP and CHZA from Cowtown!

@57, actually, yes it is- first time I've cared about politics in my life! Hey, at least I'll admit it!

Any Hillary supporters that still are talking about voting for McCain best be listening up right now.

This is more than a home run. Obama is at his very best right now.

"I'm not the likeliest candidate. I don't have the right pedigree" Hmmm...wonder what he meant by that...

Uh, oh...here it comes... King!

See- even Barack knows me- "The young at heart who have picked up and gotten interested in politics"

My insides do cartwheels every time he stumbles over his speech. Nerves!

wow, wonderful

Raise your hand if he made you cry.

what the fuck is that song?!

Ooh, New Country flag-waving music. Ur.

Who picked the music?

I got a big kick out of CNN's "Now, Next, Later" schedule at the bottom of the screen. It says "Next: Celebration". That struck me as very funny...

Usually I don't listen to country music but listening to the lyrics of this song makes this speech much more powerful.

He killed. Absolutely killed. This is the first time I've been really hopeful and excited about a presidential election, and I've voted in a lot of them (how 'bout that Michael Dukakis, huh?)

Amazing.

I wonder if Al Gore is going to have all those streamers recycled?
haha

ending with country music. Brilliant.

Is that 'young country' they played at the end? Yucky.

I thought he did well, but I am not crying. I'll be interested to see reactions... like Eli said, I feel like I'm too close to this whole thing to be able to interpret how most people will react.

Plus, I'm trying not to think too much about how crushed I will be if he loses....

He was truly presidential. I don't think he can lose.

@82, you're funny.

Looks like the streamers failed to deploy on the right side.

@75...
naw naw, it's just something in my eye!

Ah, what a nice speech. Really, the Dems did a great job with this convention. The trolls will disagree of course - that's what trolls do - but I am just pleased as punch.

I can't bring myself to read the above posts yet. I am genuinely choked up.

@89

True. It was a success.

The best candidate speech I have ever heard.

Geez, I just went from c-span to msnbc. Why don't Olberman and Matthews just marry Barack?

Then I could marry Michelle.

this prayer is kinda freaking me out.

the country music was a smart strategic move

yes, i cried. still teary eyed. it truly was historic, and too good for words.

Well I'll be good god damned. I feel like I just saw our equivalent of Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address.

I took tons of notes, but none of those words mean a thing next to the pride I feel right now.

Wow. Just...wow.

My mother was a big Obama supporter, long before this campaign. Last year she died. Tonight, she would have been so happy. I know you're watching mom.

@69, wow. good for you for getting interested, then! i wish i had some websites or books to suggest, to help you learn more about this part of the process, but maybe you've already got that covered.

The ending didn't get me, but when he stuck it to the assholes with the patriotism bit. Damn. not a dry eye in the house.

"Wow" is right. Thrilling. Love this guy.

Oh man, Nancy Pelosi is such a buzzkill.

Truly moving speech.

the tears started rolling when he said "america is better than this." what a beautifully cinematic speech.

That was a great speech, Dan.

No ridiculous McCain = Bush "slip". Some leitmotivs, but rarely descending into mere sloganeering. Substansive points that were not just hyperbolic claims. Straight talk about soldiers, war, and patriotism that didn't sound like phoned in sound bites. And the eloquent, paced, baritone voice certainly doesn't hurt.

If I weren't part of the 5% on which this man wants to raise taxes, if I didn't think that the key to keeping government small was to keep it divided, I'd vote for this man.

wow.....amazing speech!!! so great, i can't even begin to say my excitement.

If I didn't care about other human beings, the future of our planet, and the well being of my country, I would vote for McCain. Our next president looked amazing. And he blew it out of the water.

@103

Well, at least don't begrudge the other 95% who likewise vote for their own best interest.

Here's what I remember, if it helps:

"We let one of our major cities drown. America, we are better than this."

I don't think I knew how much that had been crying out from inside me until he said that. Just steaming mad.

"He won't even follow him to the cave where he lives."

Yes! Why has Osama bin Laden been so far from our national discourse? Why didn't Democrats in 2004 and so far in 2008 just murder the Republicans for not catching him?

"We should be able to agree that everyone should be able to visit their loved ones in the hospital and live their lives free from [something, I got a head rush at this point]"

Holy cats. I could get a president who not only gets that point but will say it out loud.

David @103, I am also part of that 5%, and yet, shockingly, I'm able to see beyond myself and think about what is best for our country and its citizens, not to mention the rest of the world. You should try it sometime.

It will be interesting to see what parts of the speech the media chooses to focus on. The Yahoo headline right now is "Obama: 'I will cut taxes.'"

Barf! Dino Rossi just cashed in on Obama's speech in a commercial.

I was truly moved.

More importantly, I actually listened to the speech — first politician in a long time who I felt actually said something.

Obama is something remarkable, indeed, and don't worry, David Wright, Obamanomics will enrich this country and you'll be better off even if you pay higher taxes: kind a like the Lasser Curve in reverse. You pay more taxes AND you get richer! Hey!

You gotta see The Daily Show. Obama has an adorable white war hero uncle.

Most important:

Obama just laid out his own buffet table. He can cut pieces off this speech and use them until November. "A big campaign about small things." "If John McCain wants to argue about who has the temperament and the judgement to be commander in chief, that is an argument I welcome." "He won't even follow him to the cave where he lives." "John McCain stands alone, stubbornly" etc. Just one good argument after another.

Or, you pay more taxes and in return this country doesn't become Britain in 1948.

That was seriously about the best thing I've ever seen.

Could he possibly rock harder?

#112 We still have 2.5 hours until the Daily Show is on here in Seattle.

@116 Huh. I must have an earlier feed on DISH netwrok. It's coverage of yesterday anyway, but it's great!

@103 - Don't unnecessary wars and massive deficits trump the inconvenience of higher taxes?

You can pay me now, or pay me later ...

The country music song by brooks n dunn was gwb's theme song in 2004 -- obama is owning it; and owning the flag, patriotism, etc... good move in key states... we think 35 million were watching from all over the us

@ I'm actually in Richland WA not Idaho.

I didn't cry this time. But it was a great speech. It's time, baby, it's time.

More good stuff:

He used language that emphasized the importance of this election (I believe he said "one such turning point") but didn't make himself look stupid by calling it "the most important decision of our lifetimes" or some such hyperbole.

He wasn't afraid to use biblical language. (I'm not a religious person, but Christianity is a key aspect of Western culture, and I've always found the left's studied avoidance of it ridiculous.)

He didn't shy away from Democratic shiboleths: that there are failing schools, bad government programs, useless government burocrats, that wars can be useful, that people bear individual responsibility for the fate of themselves and their children.

Actually, I can only recall one patently ridiculous statement: that "no one" benefits from illegal immigrant labor. (What about the laborers, the employers, the owners, and the consumers?) But as speeches by politicians go, that's a very low count.

Can we maybe get this guy as president, but throw out Kerry, Hilary, and every other Democrat who spoke?

#117 Oh! You're watching last night's episode then.

I would like to take back what I said in 2004. THIS is my proudest moment as a Democrat.

He nailed it. Loved the specifics and most of all going on offense, calling the GOP BS and taking back the flag, security, patriotism. Loved the line about fighting a group active in 80 countries by invading one of them. Loved the nod to FDR and JFK. They used force and diplomacy.

Tres bon, tres vachement dit!

OMG. OMG. OMG. I just realized that Obama picked up his biggest endorsement yet tonight. I stepped outside to have a look at the sky, and can report that God in His infinite political good taste did not send the torrential rain storm that the religious bigots have been praying would ruin Obama's acceptance speech!

Cattymaran:

First (at 42) you say that he's only making promises, but then (at 59) you want him to be looking forward instead of back.

I'm confused.

If you want to know what Obama has to say, why don't you just follow the Bilderberg and CFR agenda? They are the ones who purchased him, afterall. What comes out of McCain's and Obama's mouths has nothing to do with what they will actually do in office. Since when has it ever for a presidential candidate in te last 20 years?

That was an absolutely incredible speech. He actually inspired cynical old me. He made an orchestra from my heart strings.

I don't know what to say other than that.

When he was on the "ownership society" = "you are on your own" part I really expected him to say that "when the levy breaks, you are on your own."

But then maybe it would have sounded to much like a Led Zepplin song.

Yeah, the JFK and FDR references, in the context of the speech, were a great big beautiful "fuck you" to the peacenik wing of the Democratic party. To anyone with a sense of history, he was saying "I'm not about that Kumbaya bullshit that RFK led my party into after Vietnam. I'm all about those old-style Democrats who kicked Nazi and Soviet butt. Did you like that picture of me with the general in the helocopter? Let's see how the Iranians like it."

Between that, and his admission of a role for drilling and nuclear power, you can be sure he would never have won the nomination if he had delivered this speech in the primaries.

hey top 5% dude:

see http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/income/histinc/h01ar.html

if in top 5% you made over 175K in 2006

meanwhile the upper limits of the bottom four quintiles respectively were $20,035 $37,774 $60,000 and $97,032.

If you pay a bit more, then we can ensure everyone esp. those at

And best of all at over 175K you can easily afford it much easier than those making 20 or 30K.

Makes sense eh? Let's all celebrate your success as we vote for Obama and raise your taxes so 95% pay less.

BARACK! GONNA RISE UP!
ROCK FLAG AND EEEEEEEAGLLLLLLE

Plenty of celebrities come from tough childhoods. I'm not sure it's a very meaningful rebuttal.

The ending, when he's walking back out with his family and the first fireworks, go off, were terribly edited in NBC's version -- you couldn't see the fireworks, you could only hear the snarl of a dozen small explosions. Having spent the entire campaign thus far dreading in some small corner of my mind that someone will shoot him, hearing that sound and not immediately realizing it was fireworks made my heart stop.

They're saying the RNC may be pushed back due to weather.

HIL-LA-RY ! HIL-LA-RY ! HIL-LA-RY !!! Go Hillary 2012!!

Yeah, Obama, awesome, all that. More importantly: "haunted leg" is the best Slog nickname in quite some time.

What a big bore and waste of time. Glad only spent 2 minutes listening to that no substance empty suit mofo.

Once again - it's not about me - it's about you in true "but-rather-ask-what-you-can-do- for-your-country" fashion. Pick up your shovels and hoes, guys, it's time to put your shoulders to the wheels - otherwise we get grumpy old Andy Rooney with his stubby finger on the new-Q-lar button.

"live their lives free from [something, I got a head rush at this point]"

Free of discrimination, just so you know.

@123 -- No. The Daily Show is taped at 5 pm NY time and shown at 11 local time -- god knows what time they taped in Denver, but they can't cover anything that occurs after that. Jon said the speech was "embargoed" until tomorrow's show. It's still very funny. And Obama's bio video is hysterical. Enjoy it Seattlites!

Hee. Watching now. Uncle Charlie in the Baby Bjorn: awesome.

aw, leek, you sweet talker.

That was a fucking downright Presidential speech. Righteous as all hell.

Speaking as a resident slog-troll:

Who is this Barack Obama, of whom you speak?

For everyone recently complaining that Obama needs to fight back more instead of letting McCain et al spread shit... I give you this speech.

Not like there was ever any question but this is the president I WANT, not the one I'll settle for.

@146: You never come to bar nights any more. What's the deal?