Barack Obama's INVESCO Field Acceptance Speech

Barack Obama delivered his acceptance speech, as the Democratic Party's presidential nominee, in front of some 84,000 supporters yesterday evening at INVESCO Field, in Denver. Here's Part 1 of the video, and here's Part 2 of the more than 40-minute speech. Here's the [prepared text of the speech] distributed ahead of time by his campaign team. I watched it live with my wife -- just couldn't miss it.


One prominent commentator, David Gergen, described the speech as "a political masterpiece." Another, Rebecca Sinderbrand, described it as "the August equivalent of the Super Bowl -- a massive event that sucked up most of the media oxygen, complete with fireworks, a capacity crowd, and celebrity acts that would have been at home at any halftime show."

Not coincidentally delivered on the 45th anniversary of Martin Luther King's historic "I have a dream" speech, Obama's acceptance speech risked comparisons with the MLK speech, which was clearly of a different genre. The fear that it might not measure up (even though he was not supposed to try too hard), or that he had to be seen to bring his as close to the level of the "dream" as possible (even though his must, of necessity, be "workmanlike"), became a part of the drama and suspense of this eventful and, in the end, awesome week. Opponents and supporters, both, anticipated a delivery that was at once different and the same! Opponents hoped, of course, that somehow (despite past performances) there would be failure this time -- a failure to meet lofty expectations. Many supporters, on the other hand, feared a turn of fortune that they dared not speak -- a "less than satisfactory" verdict by media pundits. But they hoped for the best -- which, it is clear now, is what they got.

I think it was a great speech, a different speech -- a speech for the ages. It was a great moment. We will look back on it for years. And we will continue to wonder how he was able to deliver a nearly flawless, six sigma, speech for that long.

I saw tears in the field, among the delegates. But there had been a tear here and there throughout the convention. People shed tears for different reasons, but it is the same tears they shed.

Obama looked and sounded very presidential -- and as combative as a President ought to publicly be when dealing with forces that cause his followers ire.

I don't see what McCain and the Republicans can do to deny him the Presidency now, with elements of his party having closed ranks with as much finality and finesse as we witnessed -- and as is possible in such symbolic and public rituals of common purpose and comradeship.

The Two Clintons and the Power of Speech

Bill Clinton delivered a masterful speech at the DNC on August 27, one night after Hillary delivered hers. At least one pundit declared it one of his best, ever. Watch the video here. And here is the text of the speech.

I did not watch it live, as I did Hillary's -- and part of (Montana Governor) Brian Schweitzer's, who, one observer has claimed, is another next President. I must admit that Governor Schweitzer, who had been completely unknown to me till I heard him speak, impressed me the most for the sheer artistry of his delivery Tuesday night -- and it seems I wasn't alone [click here for one of several posts I have come across after the initial publishing of my own post].

This week's proceedings at the Denver DNC have highlighted one fundamental fact about human nature: We are all susceptible, in one way or another, to the oft-overlooked power of speech; and we are wired to respond to fine deliveries.

A singularly powerful speech has a chemical effect, so to speak, on the brain -- capable as it is of changing the thinking of millions, even against their initial will and "testament", or inclination.

And then there were two.

But is this power something to be wary of; or, like fire, something simply to master? Is it friend or foe to the audience's better judgment -- to reason?

The doom and gloom that was predicted for the DNC has, overnight, turned to celebration -- an all-round resumption, as it were, of Obamamania! All largely because of the words uttered, from the heart, by the two Clintons.

Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" Speech: 45th Anniversary

To-day marks the 45th anniversary of Rev. Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech, which he made in Washington, D.C. on August 28, 1963. Not coincidentally, Barack Obama (who was only 2 in 1963) will later to-day deliver his acceptance speech, as the Presidential nominee of the Democratic party.

Before we tune in to that acceptance speech, let us refresh our memories of that historic speech by Martin Luther King, about which much has been written. There is clear similarity between the oratorical styles of those two iconic figures of American society -- and the younger of the two, it has been said, has gone out of his way to consciously and deliberately "appropriate", copy, imitate, adopt (what's the word?) the form (though clearly not the content) of his precursor's style. It has even been said, in an accusatory way, that he has unilaterally deigned to inherit his elder's mantle.

It wont be said for much longer.

Hillary Clinton's Speech at the Democratic National Convention, August 26, 2008

Hillary Clinton's speech in mile-high Denver, Colorado, on August 25th, laid to rest a number of nagging questions and worries. Questions and worries about loyalty and betrayal, about ship-jumping and proper rules of the game, about race and gender and evenhandedness when it is someone else's fair turn to carry the mantle; questions and worries about the likelihood of victory, and even of defeat, in the face of all this -- defeat of a party seemingly about to tear apart with victory in plain sight.

It was a well-crafted speech delivered with finesse and from the heart. No one can seriously doubt her commitment now to her party's cause in the coming elections. No one will doubt her respect for Democracy's verdict.

She has clearly put principle and party before self. And I think her party -- its members -- will remember her for a long, long time. They will remember her very, very fondly.

Those who watched her entire speech, including yours truly, will too. They will never forget her graciousness and strength of character, which, admittedly, was latelt out of sight to those who did not support her -- did not, indeed, care much for her -- in the heat of a prolonged nomination battle.

No one knows what the final verdict will be in November, in the Presidential elections. And yet one gets the feeling that by an historic act of will, by the sheer performance of one person, the door to the White House has somehow, just that palpably, shut in McCain's face. One gets the feeling that things are going to begin to get "elephant" for a Republican lot which, this same August, had begun to dream, against earlier odds, an impossible dream.

And no one knows what lies in Hillary's future. Yet there is this faint hint, in the aftermath of her delivery, that her party is not about to see the last of her, and that she is "not done with it" just yet. Indeed, in that singular delivery, she brought herself forth anew -- in an amazing moment of re-birth. She blazed an invisible path which no one will have the strength to cross, and which may yet see a woman in the White House, within a decade, as President -- a President called Hillary.

Michelle Obama's Speech at the Democratic Convention

Michelle Obama delivered a memorable steech at the Convention on the opening night, August 25th, 2008. Here's the video clip.

And here's a transcript of the speech.

Fareed Zakaria = Dignity

Fareed Zakaria = Dignity

Fareed Zakaria -- Newsweek columnist, author and CNN talk-show host -- strikes me as a deeply thoughtful and dignified man.

What I don't know is how much flack he can take -- that is, how long he can stay cool under fire.

Is he at peace with himself?

Is he high-strung or just what we see?

Schedule of the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado

The Democratic National Convention kicks off today in Denver, Colorado. Here's the convention schedule.