Barack Obama just made one of the best speeches EVER...

[hwmnbn]

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]

1. K&R

I will miss him as well... I already miss that he doesn't get the coverage he should (because of the primary)

[lamp_shade]

2. When he finished, I started weeping. Not sure why. I just think I'm

already starting to miss him.

[hwmnbn]

5. you're not alone....

There is something about his elegant ideas which are at their core, simply decent and encouraging.

[one_voice]

8. me too.

[MrWendel]

3. It harkens back...

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]

7. That excerpt was brilliant...

He had both sides laughing while pointing out the harsh truth to these politicians.

As an example of effective communication, this is masterful.

[olsondr]

31. Missed opportunity

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]

39. Fair points...

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]

40. Yup, nice speech...

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]

45. Wisconsin is particularly vexing

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]

4. It was terrific.

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]

6. YouTube to the rescue...

This should be seen by a much wider audience.

[MerryBlooms]

9. It was a really good speech.

It was on both CNN and MSNBC, so it did get national play; deservedly so.

[muriel_volestrangler]

10. Did he mention his old friend, the Mayor of Chicago?

The state of politics in Illinois can't really be discussed without him.

[hwmnbn]

13. He mentioned Harold Washington...

nothing about Rahm.

[annabanana]

11. I sincerely hope he stays on the public stage. His eloquence is

badly needed there.

[hwmnbn]

14. I'm sure he'll remain relevant in the world...

I suspect he will be in high demand for a long time.

[Surya Gayatri]

12. Thanks so much for bringing this to our attention. Haven't seen it anywhere else.

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]

15. Nobody in the race can replace this man

I love him and will miss him so much.

[hwmnbn]

17. Absolutely....

Some folks are once in a generation. I'm thinking he's a multi-generational talent.

[Maru Kitteh]

16. I heard it on CNN in the car; didn't catch the whole thing but

It was EXTRAORDINARY.

[rollin74]

18. it was an excellent speech indeed

[Hannahcares]

19. Thank you for posting this video!

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]

22. You're more than welcome...

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]

20. We were lucky to have him. Not one of the candidates running holds a candle to him.

I believe he would win a 3 term easily. I for one will miss him.

[hwmnbn]

23. No question about it...

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]

21. One helluva speech.

And that was before a state legislature!

Just fucking amazing.

R&

[hwmnbn]

24. I'm convinced you could make a compilation of his speeches...

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]

27. I love Obama as a president.

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]

28. It's not so much the style and delivery...

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]

30. Alas, I am being picky, picky, picky.

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]

25. Watched all of it

Brilliant

[MuttLikeMe]

26. Amazing speech.

I will miss him and Michelle so much.

[hwmnbn]

29. That's right!!

Michelle is a powerhouse too.

[LittleGirl]

32. I was captivated! Loved it. Absolutely loved it. Live n/t

[hwmnbn]

36. Agreed...

while it was a low keyed speech given in a relatively obscure setting, the ideas were insightful and the sentiments underlying them powerful.

[LittleGirl]

41. Yes

and it was good to hear his opinions on how divided we are as a nation.

[B Calm]

33. It was an amazing speech, republicans thought he was talking down to them.

[passiveporcupine]

34. He is one of th emost amazing men this country claims as a son

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]

35. Well said...

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]

44. always was horrifying

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]

37. Hubby's words

Another brilliant reasoning from a decent human being,

[Sunlei]

38. A Great Speech, Top Flight. I hope we can make it easier asap & everyone votes this election.

[hwmnbn]

42. +1 ... let's get out the vote!!

[cilla4progress]

43. No one like him.

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.