Well I'm sold....

[MessiahRp]

Yes I who was questioning whether or not I was a Democrat some weeks back in disgust over how many DLC, Center-Right Dems and Republicans were being given the high ranking positions in the Obama administration, actually feel hope over what Obama is proposing to do.

It was speeches like this one during the primaries that spoke to my inner-populist and spoke to my liberal belief system.

I still don't like Rahm Emanuel or that Tim Geithner seems too close to Bernanke and Paulsen. But Daschle was out at HHS before he ever began and aside from probably giving the GOP a tad bit much in the stimulus for their 3 measley votes Obama has made excellent decisions overall thusfar.

His speech last night was the best I have heard him give. Previous to that I thought his Nomination Clinching speech was the best he had done. This one was FDR, Lincoln and JFK all rolled into one.

It spoke to our fears and was based in reality. It was refreshing being spoken to as adults and knowing that in order to fix what's wrong we have to be willing to make sacrifices. Quite the change from the whole "go shopping" scheme to fix everything (of course that was from the same morons that brought you duct tape and plastic sheets as an anti-terror safety tip).

It spoke to our hopes and dreams. All of us want a better America where our children get a better education. This touches me personally every single day. My son is 10, so for his entire school life thusfar he has been a victim of an education system watered down and practically destroyed by Bush's No Child Left Behind and the purposeful attempt by the right to underfund it and squeeze off the public education system. It has been tragic to see my son go to school and not have art or music classes available because there is no funding available for it. No extracurriculars like Chorus or Band class either. Social Studies focused on "Steps in Respect" and basic obedience and absolutely no focus or lessons based around geography or history. Science whittled down to the most basic science. The entire school year geared to reading and math just so that the children can pass those NCLB tests.

It pains me greatly when I think that my education 20 years prior was more enriching than what he receives today. By his grade (4th) I had several years of serious social studies lessons... knew states and their capitals. Knew a lot about my own state and was even knowledgeable about European countries and their capitals. My son is just learning states for the first time this year.

When I think of what Obama was talking about from the economy to health care to education, he spoke to me and what is going on in my life and probably all of yours as well. It was the best speech I have ever heard and it was made with the true feeling that Obama believed it. There was no going through the motions reading a teleprompter of someone else's words that you yourself do not believe in. This was Obama being open and frank with all of us.

Telling us that in this time of economic peril, we can stand together and re-build what was once great.

I suspect along the way Republicans and their twins the Blue Dogs will attempt to obstruct every program that he talked about last night. Let them. Every person I know is buzzing about how great Obama's speech was. Impede his plans at your own peril.

And in 2010 it will be another house cleaning only this time the obstructionists will fall by the wayside for good.

The American people were sold last night. Not that many did but if anyone had any doubts about how inspiring and terrific our President's direction will be, they were erased fairly quickly.

I too am sold. I still plan to be critical of DLCers and Blue Dogs just as I am with Republicans and the only way to keep them in check is let them know you disagree. But it's clear to me that Our Democratic President represents my values and for that I can only say that my being on the ledge previously was completely premature.

I'm proud to say I am a Democrat after last night.

Thank you Mr. President!

Rp

[blm]

1. My hope is that Obama has coopted the centrists by tapping some of them to implement a progressive

agenda. Probably the way Bush used some centrists to carry out and even defend his far right agenda. Unfortunately, it worked for Bush. Let's hope it works as a TACTIC for progressives this time.

Great post, M_R.

[MessiahRp]

5. I hope so too...

Though it seems those "centrists" were much closer to Bush than they are to Obama in terms of political positioning. The entire spectrum has shifted so far to the right that Moderate Democrats are actually Moderate Republicans, Moderate Republicans are Right Wing and all other Republicans are Extreme Right Wing. For us, what the media raves on as Looney Liberals, that's actually where the Center used to be. Socialists and Communists used to be the Extreme Left but now Centrists are lumped in there as well... as far as labels go that is.

Thanks for the response blm.

Rp

[kentuck]

2. It was historic.

Similar to the "nothing to fear" speech by FDR.

[Deep13]

3. It was Obama-esque.

And substantively, it is what we need to do.

[zeemike]

4. There is a distinct possibility that he might be smarter than us

I know what you mean about some of the apointments...I too was disappointed, but i can only have faith that he knows what he is doing and will actually do what is right for a change.
I will be patient.

[aikoaiko]

6. On appointments: he needs people who knew the machine, but he will lead/inspire them to do better

than before.

That's the best way I see it.

[dysfunctional press]

7. talk is cheap. and relatively easy...

i'll withhold my judgement for the actual outcome.

[Deep13]

9. Well, sure, the proof is in the pudding.

I just think he is on the right track.

[dysfunctional press]

10. his words appear to be on the right track.

we'll see what direction his actions actually take us.

for instance- will we have single-payer universal coverage("medicare for all") OR "mandated insurance"...? the latter being for the most part, not a very attractive option- UNLESS you can buy-in to medicare at an affordable and equal rate for everyone.

[Waiting For Everyman]

8. Wasn't it great?

Getting things done demands some diplomacy. We have to give him some room to "wheel and deal". But I believe that he'll do as much for us as he possibly can. I really do believe that... based on everything he has shown us about who he is, and his whole background before running for president. I don't belive for a minute that all of that was empty posturing.