Friday, November 7, 2008
News It's a Whole New World
Posted by Dan Savage on Fri, Nov 7, 2008 at 11:59 AM
I'm listening to Obama's first press conference as president-elect. Ladies and gentleman, on January 20 we're going to have a president who can speak in complete sentences.
Obama says "uh" quite a lot—and it's a low, gravelly, croaky smokers "uh." I'm listening to this on the radio and I just realized, when I wished I was watching it on TV, that I was picturing Obama in the White House briefing room. Which he's not in, since he hasn't been sworn in yet. It's going to be a long ten and a half weeks.
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5
this makes me think of the slog today: http://myspacetv.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=45932089
6
the uhhhs are kind of annoying, but if that's as bad as it gets i'll be thrilled.
oooh, they're talking about the puppy! they need one that's hypoallergenic. i'll bet they get a labradoodle.
7
Hah he called himself a mutt. I'm thinking that's something he's been holding back for 2 years.
And poor old Nancy. So much for the Reagan love.
8
ooh, they're talking about the puppy! it needs to be hypoallergenic. i'll bet they get a labradoodle. you heard it here first, folks.
9
#3, EVERYONE stands when the President enters a room or stands up. Everyone, it is out of respect for the office and one of the things we carried over from the British Monarchy.
10
maybe it was his presidential gravitas, but he looked fatigued. i hope he gets him some nap time.
12
I laughed, I cried, I fell deeper in love with my President-elect (can we please just stop saying that already, bump up the inauguration and get on with things?). The puppy problem? Priceless. And his smooth handling of nosy "any surprises re: national security?" question was lovely. He was specific, he was detailed, he was, oh, what's the word I'm looking for... PRESIDENTIAL. And was it just me or is the press corps noticeably relaxed and happy? The tension is gone. It's a new day in America.
13
I can say it now: I've been worrying that Obama will get cancer.
But, POTUS gets the best bodyguards and the best doctors there are. The doctors kept Reagan and Cheney alive; the bodyguards kept W. alive.
14
I laughed, I cried, I fell deeper in love with my President-elect (can we please just stop saying that already, bump up the inauguration and get on with things?). The puppy problem? Priceless. And his smooth handling of nosy "any surprises re: national security?" question was lovely. He was specific, he was detailed, he was, oh, what's the word I'm looking for... PRESIDENTIAL. And was it just me or is the press corps noticeably relaxed and happy? The tension is gone. It's a new day in America.
16
my public speaking coach rapped her knuckles on the table every time i said "uh" or "um". obama needs to just SAY NOTHING in that space. it's his 1 flaw. silence is ok in that millisecond - you look like you're thinking. which you are.
17
What a relief! It's like 8 years of eating plain yogurt and then having a delicious chocolate sundae. (racial metaphor not intended, but apt)
18
@9
That's what I fucking meant. It sent chills down my spine because he is the President now. Excited chills. It confirmed that it is real. They all stood up.
I think you just misinterpreted me.
20
"Beep! Beep! Beep!"
That's the sound of the moving truck backing up to the White House.
Let's ask them to leave now before they destroy any more of America over these next 10 weeks.
21
@7 That was kind of weird--someone asked if he had spoken with the former presidents and he said, "Well, all the living ones. I didn't do a Nancy Reagan séance thing." That's going to bunch up some panties in Simi Valley and Bel Air.
23
I've experienced many chilling moments of OMG, we have a real president, and I am loving every shudder. May all the Knights Who Say Nuk-u-lar be banished from the land forever.
24
I'm going to chalk his pauses and "uh"s up to nerves, exhaustion, and having to answer questions on the fly. Since he can put a sentence together, answer a question (eventually), and give a prepared speech like a master, I'll let the "uh"s pass. I'd rather his responses sound genuine rather than canned.
25
my highschool Speech and Debate teacher would be having kittens over Obama's "ums". he would dock us a nickle for every uh, um, or like used in class. then we would auction something off at the end of the semester to clear our debt. the proceeds would go to a charity that we as a class decided on.
it was actually quite brilliant.
26
DOUG. @11: We are fucked, but in good hands. Like a crack baby at the Mayo Clinic.
DOUG. You have captured the moment. To get an idea of the crack baby state of our nation, I recommend Newsweek's current cover story.
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