We Take Care Of Our Own

++It wasn't his Walls Of Jericho speech. He had considerable competition in this convention from great speeches ranging from Michele Obama to the keynoters, Bill Clinton and even Joe Biden. It was an even-keeled speech. The flourishes were really provided by the videos--where he gets his due in prime time when the Romney bio was short-circuited. But did he elevate. By the end the old cadence and rhythm kicked in to build to the conclusion. He finished as the inspiring orator he is. 

++He invoked the killer word against his opponent --something that needed to be said--citizenship. His riff on citizenship and mutual obligations made the cries of "We Built This" from the Republican Convention look small. He invoked a larger vision and one that is woven in American history. I hope his message resonates . I don't believe the pundits will get it. 

++He went back to his theme of hopes and change and put meat on it. He got in digs at Romney and tied him to the voucher plan. He also invoked the sacrifices of those in the armed forces. And he did something an artful politician does--give credit for all he accomplished to those who voted for him. They got healthcare passed, they got Don't Ask, Don'Tell repealed, they got the auto industry revived. In other words,they Built those things, which are enduring in the political life of the country. He called voters to a higher calling than the bottom line. That's what the change means and what he hopes will resonate. 

++It was not a policy wonk tutorial like Bill Clinton's. It was to place all policy within the broader context of our rights and obligations to each other. The end game of policy is to the Public Good. 

++I like the soaring Barack Obama. This speech built toward that end. The reason it could not be like the lyrical masterpieces of the past is because he had to detour through his accomplishments and his plans for the future. 

++In terms of policy content, It far outstripped Mitt Romney's almost neanderthal policy prescriptions at the end of his speech. But the reason for it was that Obama's vision is broader and more encompassing.

++Will this give him the mojo he needs. The next few days will tell. Pundits are already writing that he asks for patience to finish what he started to do. The idea is that somehow this is all linked to the economy--which is only part of it. I believe the pundits will not get the gist of the speech and that a fuss will be made about this or that point. If you saw it unadorned by commentators talking about what the President had to do,what he had to accomplish, what he had to say to quell his critics, then you saw the man Joe Biden described without the clutter--the man of courage and conviction. He made it quite clear what the choice in this election means.

++He wanted this election to be about a choice and not a referendum on himself I think this speech makes it so. He got the fight he wanted.

++One last thing. I always told democratic activists abroad always to ask someone for their vote, not just as a courtesy but because that was a critical moment in the transaction of democracy. President Obama didn't hesitate to ask for the audience's vote. I don't remember whether Romney even bothered.

++The other aspect is that President Obama knows more scriptural references than either of the Republicans do and also how they can be used in a public space.

++the Bruce Springsteen "We take care of our own" was a nice touch.