My Take On the Speech

TW: Have waited a couple of days to react to the Obama speech of Tuesday. It was actually the first inaugural speech I had ever watched live or in its entirety (being somewhat ADD and all). My initial reaction was wow he said some cool stuff, then I saw the cynics come out with their comps to past speeches and sure enough, what he said was not particularly original.

From Paul Krugman:

"Barack Obama, 2009: What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility - a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.

George W. Bush, 2000: A hundred years from now, this must not be remembered as an age rich in possessions and poor in ideals. Instead, we must usher in an era of responsibility.

Bill Clinton, 1993: We must do what America does best: offer more opportunity to all and demand responsibility from all. It is time to break the bad habit of expecting something for nothing, from our government or from each other. Let us all take more responsibility, not only for ourselves and our families but for our communities and our country.
But Obama did take some fairly clear shots at the prior administration which does mean something."

TW: But Obama did take some direct shots at the prior administration which means something:

"As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety
and our ideals. Our founding fathers ... our found fathers, faced with perils we
can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights
of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations. Those ideals still light
the world, and we will not give them up for expedience's sake. And so to all the
other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman, and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more.
Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint. "

TW: Who would miss the change in tone and emphasis relative to the Bush Administration? Ultimately the best synopsis is provided by the reporter in the Stewart piece when he said roughly: "when you put cheese on pasta it makes it tastes really good, when you put cheese on Asian food, not so much".

When Barack Obama speaks of protecting liberty one knows he means it in a sense broader than the mere physical security of Americans. When Barack Obama speaks of bi-partisanship, you at least strongly suspect it is not mere cynical political pablum. When Barack Obama urges sacrifice, given the circumstances, one knows he means it and we need it.

In other words this POTUS appears to have credibility and a vision for a broadly defined common good. A good thing.

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