[Grovenet] political orators

[JBlair2154 at aol.com]

In a message dated 10/2/2006 2:15:07 PM Central Daylight Time,  
grovenet-request at rdrop.com writes:

"...ask
not what your country can do for you: Ask what you can do  for your country."
I was thinking, "...just what else does he expect?" I  had no idea that the
"assistance" we were providing the insurgency in  Vietnam would blossom into
one of the most horrific wars and one of the  most horrific defeats in our
history. 



And I had no idea that JFK meant those words as a recruitment call  for the 
armed forces. Seriously. Maybe he did...at least in part...but I've  always 
remembered it as a plea for Americans, in general, to be less  self-centered and 
more unselfish: to gripe less about being taxed (as well,  perhaps, about the 
draft) to serve as community volunteers, to view political  issues from a 
broader standpoint than simply a personal one, etc. Maybe the  historians among us 
will offer more knowledgeable viewpoints than mine.  (Meanwhile, I'll 
remember with a twinge of sadness the image of Ron  gripping his M1.)
 
I was glad to see the discussion about the relevance of articulate  or even 
eloquent speakers among political leaders, past and present. I firmly  believe 
that GWB's "finest moment," -- indeed, his only halfway GOOD moment, in  my 
opinion -- was his patriotic speech on the rubble. That, more than anything  
else, helped him get reelected. Reagan and Clinton were both excellent  
communicators, and perhaps the most popular presidents in recent history. Ergo:  what 
we Democrats MOST need as a presidential candidate is  someone who has not only 
the other credentials we value (and my list, at least,  is rather long) but 
is also a powerfully persuasive public  speaker.
 
Barack Obama comes to mind.
 
And I would like to thank Katie (I think it was) who provided a  link to 
Obama's website, even though my browser wouldn't accept the link.  Her suggestion 
gave me the impetus to do a quick search and find the site, where  I listened 
to his speech about curtailing oil dependency, then his "Call to  Renewal" 
address about religion and politics. Neither of these speeches were as  
well-rehearsed and dynamic as his Democratic Convention keynote speech, of  course, but 
very substantive and impressive, anyway. Enough to make me  startle my dogs 
by clapping and yelling now and then. <G> And enough  to make me send the link 
to a former classmate who, although a devout "born  again" Christian, has the 
heart and mind of a true Democrat and thinks for  himself. And he, in turn, 
had the courage to pass it along to that small group  of neoconservative 
classmates with whom he is still in touch (and from whom I am  alienated) and ask 
them to read it. (I wish him luck!) Recently, you see, he had  received a 
forwarded email from one of them which explained why a Christian  can't possibly be a 
Democrat. He had mentioned this to me and said he had  ignored it, but I knew 
it troubled him and I knew Obama's speech would offer him  solace. After a 
recent heart attack, he has been instructed to reduce stress in  his life, so of 
course, he has been sidestepping such provocative emails. His  response to 
Obama's speech was therefore a very meaningful gesture. It says a  lot about 
him, AND about Obama.
 
So far, I haven't heard any party leaders mention Obama as a  potential 2008 
candidate. But frankly, I'm beginning to feel more and more  strongly that our 
country needs him NOW.
 
Joy