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Thursday, December 10, 2009

International Read Obama's Nobel Acceptance Speech

Posted by Eli Sanders on Thu, Dec 10, 2009 at 9:48 AM

It's long, but it's worth it—and it's about a lot more than just the controversy and irony involved.

Comments (10) RSS

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Is there any Obama speech that isn't 'worth it' in your view?

Posted by cliche on December 10, 2009 at 9:59 AM

@Cliche: Did you read this speech?

Posted by Eli Sanders

on December 10, 2009 at 10:13 AM

All he needed to say was:

"Thank you to all who voted for me. I couldn't have done without George Bush".

Posted by CocoBot on December 10, 2009 at 10:18 AM

Yes, Obama gives great speeches. Too fucking bad that's the only thing he does well.

Posted by Fifty-Two-Eighty

on December 10, 2009 at 10:22 AM

The Dr. King quote about the "is-ness" and the "ought-ness" must have given the interpreters some trouble.

Are all Nobel peace prize acceptance speeches this sharp and pointy? What did Kissinger say?

Posted by Amelia on December 10, 2009 at 10:36 AM

@4: he makes nice with Boehner and his ilk well. too bad it's returned with loathing.

Posted by Max Solomon on December 10, 2009 at 11:22 AM

One word on that speech: 'shallow'

Wait... I could also go with 'demagogic'

I could also agree with Eli on #2

Posted by oh_man on December 10, 2009 at 11:24 AM

Speeches aren't actions.

Now a carbon tax on all imports from other nations - 200 percent for non-signatories, 100 percent for those that don't reduce emissions by 2025, and a sliding scale (done each year) for those that reduce emissions 1-20 percent of 20-1 percent, that would be action.

But ... he's gutless.

Posted by Will in Seattle

on December 10, 2009 at 11:28 AM

@2

See, the problem here, Eli, is that these dipshits don't have the attention span to get thru the whole thing. I mean, yer asking a lot - it's like 5 whole pages and stuff. Ya know, I mean like, I gotta get back to my cool new iPhone app, man.

Speech was beautiful (believe it or not - read the *whole* damn thing *gasp*). The guy really does have skillz and I do buy his words, while acknowledging that he isn't perfect. Course that's not cool to admit because you people seem to think that cynicism = intelligence... which pretty much renders your maturity level to that of a sullen teenager but, hey, whatever - your choice. If it makes you feel better about yourself - go for it.

Posted by Confluence on December 10, 2009 at 2:05 PM

Obama gives a powerful speech, there's no doubt he got me several times, but it's the generalities and the hope and the change that's still has that campaign appeal to it. I think what was more important to what he did today was what he didn't do. He didn't go on TV, news, press, children, like all Nobel winners have in the past. He's given a single acceptance speech acknowledging his place in history, and it would seem at the moment he's not proud of that, and he's showing that. We have no choice but to sit back and enjoy the ride, just like last time, right? That's just how the system works, and I hope later he can talk about this after his last term.

Posted by watchout5