Andre Banks

Take Back America? Obama Speaks

(Obama at Take Back American 2007)

So, while finishing up my last post, I watched the live simulcast of Obama from the “blogger boulevard” here at Take Back America.

And like the rest of the blogosphere, I didn’t laugh, I didn’t cry, I wasn’t angry, I wasn’t annoyed. It was a pretty traditional stump speech:

Pay teachers more, bring the troops home now, you can fill in the blanks. I thought one thing was pretty amazing, though. The Senator, who is charming and has the Simon Cowell “likability” factor working for him, started in on how during the Bush presidency there’s been no “leader of the free world”. Implying, I suppose, that the U.S. presidency holds that position, by default. Clearly, the point here is that Bush II hasn’t taken any sort of positive global leadership. But it’s all so oddly imperialist. Especially when the Senator proclaimed that he wanted to be the leader of the free world. It sounded like he was running for Emperor of the Universe or something…. insert enthusiastic but awkward applause.

My final assessment: Obama was charming, he said what people wanted to hear and there’s clearly a lot of enthusiasm for his candidacy. I continue to like Barack, but I just want more. Of his real politics and actual plans.

Alright, more later.

Posted at 9:41 AM, Jun 19, 2007 in Obama | Permalink | View Comments