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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsBarack Obama just made one of the best speeches EVER...
Last edited Wed Feb 10, 2016, 06:17 PM - Edit history (2)
He was speaking to the Illinois Legislature and it was carried on all local channels. The subject matter was the state of our politics and ways to improve it. He touched on many issues including corrosive effect of dark money in politics, hyper-partisanship, inflammatory rhetoric, voting restrictions, gerrymandering and many others.
He offered solutions and basically challenged both democrats and republicans to have the courage to live up to the standards set by previous statesmen. He particularly noted Abraham Lincoln. It is much too beautiful to be paraphrased.
It was vintage Obama, he expressed moving sentiments with affable grace and humor.
I will miss him....
On edit, he starts really cooking at around the 24 minute mark for those in a hurry.
handmade34
(22,756 posts)I will miss him as well... I already miss that he doesn't get the coverage he should (because of the primary)
lamp_shade
(14,814 posts)already starting to miss him.
hwmnbn
(4,279 posts)There is something about his elegant ideas which are at their core, simply decent and encouraging.
one_voice
(20,043 posts)MrWendel
(1,881 posts)to the speeches of old. He addressed everything I wanted him to address. Even spoke to his haters, even here on DU about being a progressive and what it means to him.
hwmnbn
(4,279 posts)He had both sides laughing while pointing out the harsh truth to these politicians.
As an example of effective communication, this is masterful.
olsondr
(12 posts)I agree, it reminds me of those heady days in 2008 when we waited on his every word. But hearing him talk about the problems of gerrymandering and voter intimidation is a little bittersweet for me. I had really hoped that he would have dedicated some political capital in his second term to stopping and reversing those trends. It's going to be hard for Democrats to retake the House any time soon, not to mention the rash of state legislature and governorship takeovers in traditionally blue states that all happened under his watch. Not that I blame him for all that, but even figuratively, he's the head of the party and could have shown the spotlight there. Here in Wisconsin our state is crumbling after 6 years of Scott Walker and GOP control of both houses. Other states are in the same boat.
hwmnbn
(4,279 posts)I'm in agreement. Much of this work has to be done at the individual state party level.
I hear you about Wisconsin and hoping you guys make a comeback and recover from the Walker fiasco.
I'll leave you with a small encouragement... at least you're not Kansas!
Helen Borg
(3,963 posts)But during these 8 years, things have only gotten worse for the middle class. So, this speech is no more relevant than a nice acting performance by a good actor in a movie that ends up winning an Oscar.
DFW
(54,268 posts)The same state that produced Russ Feingold and Bill Proxmire also gave us Joe McCarthy, Scott Walker and Jim Sensenbrenner. My BIL is from Madison, and tears his (substantial) hair out at some of the goings on "back home."
madamesilverspurs
(15,798 posts)And it was damned pitiful that only CNN showed it.
MSNBC had to cut away to keep themselves available in case something dribbled out of Trump's pie hole.
hwmnbn
(4,279 posts)This should be seen by a much wider audience.
MerryBlooms
(11,756 posts)It was on both CNN and MSNBC, so it did get national play; deservedly so.
muriel_volestrangler
(101,262 posts)The state of politics in Illinois can't really be discussed without him.
hwmnbn
(4,279 posts)nothing about Rahm.
annabanana
(52,791 posts)badly needed there.
hwmnbn
(4,279 posts)I suspect he will be in high demand for a long time.
Surya Gayatri
(15,445 posts)How this excellent man will be missed.
"YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'VE GOT UNTIL YOU LOSE IT..."
BHO will be vindicated and much respected by historians.
rbrnmw
(7,160 posts)I love him and will miss him so much.
hwmnbn
(4,279 posts)Some folks are once in a generation. I'm thinking he's a multi-generational talent.
Maru Kitteh
(28,313 posts)It was EXTRAORDINARY.
rollin74
(1,969 posts)Hannahcares
(118 posts)President Obama is not only a gifted speaker, but a thoughtful caring man who truly wants us to work together to solve our nation'so problems. We are so lucky to have had him as President. He will be sorely missed! Peace, Hannah
hwmnbn
(4,279 posts)I don't post as often as I used to, but this speech really moved me. He has set a high bar for future politicians.
Pisces
(5,599 posts)I believe he would win a 3 term easily. I for one will miss him.
hwmnbn
(4,279 posts)But he's already accomplished much and he deserves to live out his life enjoying the fruits of his service. I'm sure he will continue to contribute to our country and culture.
longship
(40,416 posts)And that was before a state legislature!
Just fucking amazing.
R&
hwmnbn
(4,279 posts)and use it as a post graduate curriculum on public speaking.
But more important than the tenor of his words is the soul in his ideas. I think that's what sets him apart.
longship
(40,416 posts)But I find his speeches a bit jarring, not by what he says, but by his staccato cadence, which to me is off-putting. He cuts his speech into short sentences and phrases, pausing between them with little change in inflection. I guess that is his style because I've never heard him not do it.
Yes, he is a great speech writer and is able to speak extemporaneously as well as anybody.
But he is no Churchill who, speech impediment and all, no less than Edward R. Murrow called the best broadcaster in England.
Here is an example. Churchill speaking before the US Congress in December, 1941, regretfully, an excerpt:
hwmnbn
(4,279 posts)but the substance of his speeches that fixes my attention.
On the other hand, during his campaigns he's had some moments of soaring eloquence that moved my spirit.
longship
(40,416 posts)He is a great speaker, and this was a good one. I watched the entire hour of it. I just critiqued his staccato delivery. He should be more fluid and with more inflection.
I suppose that is not his style, so I should probably relax about it.
Still, it's one helluva speech. Before a state legislature no less.
My best.
malaise
(268,664 posts)Brilliant
MuttLikeMe
(279 posts)I will miss him and Michelle so much.
hwmnbn
(4,279 posts)Michelle is a powerhouse too.
LittleGirl
(8,277 posts)hwmnbn
(4,279 posts)while it was a low keyed speech given in a relatively obscure setting, the ideas were insightful and the sentiments underlying them powerful.
and it was good to hear his opinions on how divided we are as a nation.
B Calm
(28,762 posts)passiveporcupine
(8,175 posts)I was thinking, near the beginning of the speech, how nice it would be to just visit with him. He has no affectations...he's just so natural and warm and welcoming. I don't know many people who can be in the spotlight like that and be unaffected by the position of power.
He's just an awesome human being. His sense of humor is perfect...and he laughs at himself with such ease.
I know he can't stay in office forever, but my heart aches at the thought of him no longer leading us.
I consider myself so fortunate to live in a time when I got to witness him as our POTUS. Of course his family reflects his grace and humility.
I love this man.
hwmnbn
(4,279 posts)and to think of the constant stream of ugly right wing personal insults and political obstruction to which he's been subjected from his first day in office. I suspect there must have been private moments where he was either enraged or deeply hurt. However he's always carried himself publicly with grace and decorum.
Yep, he's earned my respect and gratitude not just for his intellectual acumen or political accomplishments, but for the example he has set as a decent, caring human being.
Marty McGraw
(1,024 posts)and dumbfounded me how anyone (and I am speaking of the conservative rot heads) could hate this wonderful man as much as they did. Even if one didn't side with politics, the vitriol was almost like religious fervor
malaise
(268,664 posts)Another brilliant reasoning from a decent human being,
Sunlei
(22,651 posts)hwmnbn
(4,279 posts)cilla4progress
(24,714 posts)May he live long and remain a statesman and influence our politics for decades.
I hope the next president doesn't screw it all up.