Obama ‘08!
August 29, 2008Barack Obama last night gave his acceptance speech for the nomination as Presidential Candidate to a stadium packed with 75,000 supporters.
I've always been impressed by Barack Obama's oratory. I've also been impressed by his policies. His opponents claim he has none, but I don't agree. Just listen to the man!
After the last eight years of Bush, and some of the farcical shenanigans of Clinton, it can be easy to lose sight of how much power, energy and potential there remains in the USA. I've been dismayed to see such potential wasted under Bush and I have a lot of hope that Obama will turn things around as President.
I thought similar things about New Labour in 1997. I was horribly disappointed by that, and I think I will have any faith in the political classes crushed if Obama wins and willfully wastes the opportunity.
But so many things he says make me think he's genuine. How can you say something like this through a lie?
And you know what – it's worked before. Because it feeds into the cynicism we all have about government. When Washington doesn't work, all its promises seem empty. If your hopes have been dashed again and again, then it's best to stop hoping, and settle for what you already know.
I get it. I realize that I am not the likeliest candidate for this office. I don't fit the typical pedigree, and I haven't spent my career in the halls of Washington.
But I stand before you tonight because all across America something is stirring. What the nay-sayers don't understand is that this election has never been about me. It's been about you.
Time, I suppose, will tell. In the interim, you can see his whole speech here:
