[Grovenet] political orators

[allnutt]

Credit goes to Beth Genly for the link to Obama's website. : )

Katie
(But thanks for thinking of me.)

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <JBlair2154 at aol.com>
To: <grovenet at rdrop.com>
Sent: Monday, October 02, 2006 1:15 PM
Subject: Re: [Grovenet] political orators


>
> 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
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GroveNet mailing list
> GroveNet at rdrop.com
> http://www.rdrop.com/mailman/listinfo/grovenet
>