Cross posted from Blue Hampshire
My thesis is simple.
The three speeches that were given last night were geared more towards NH and the days ahead then about the results of the Iowa caucus.
No duh. I know.
Of the three speeches given, which of them is the most consistent with the pre-Iowa message and which, if any, are reacting to the results instead of building off them.
I fully concur with Edwards main point, Iowa voted for change via Edwards or Obama.
Edwards will be bending over backwards to convince NH and the rest of America that he is the better candidate to carry the mantle of change. To be honest, I don’t agree, but Edwards is a firm #2 in my book.
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I was completely put off by how Hillary stacked all her “cronies” behind her. Does Bill and Albright need the face time? Then she desperately tried to twist her defeat into a “victory for the party.” (wink, wink. She thinks she is the party or wants you to believe that)
This speech is a shotgun appeal that covers every twist and turn her campaign has taken, trying to be everything to everyone. By doing this, she shows that she is desperate to find a handle on “her message.” Trying to find what sticks is not leadership.
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Barack’s speech is elevated, using broad strokes. He knows that Americans are going “meta” in 2008. Not that policy and points are not of great importance, but here Obama is conveying the “vision” of the movement.
When everyone was listening, Barack went back to HOPE.
Thank you Charley for promoting this diary, as I feel very strongly that these three speeches capture the essence of their respective campaigns.
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p>Niki Tsongas’ bid brought me to BMG and I truly caught “the bug” over on Blue Hampshire, this fall. After Jan. 8th, I am looking to settle down on a MA blog or two.
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p>For now, I am looking North.
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p>Thanks again and please dissect the rhetoric before you in those IA speeches.
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p>There is plenty there.
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p>Ne Desit Virtus
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p>PS: The “party line” remark was not to dilute the magnitude of the turnout, but to strip Clinton’s attempt to hijack it for herself.
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p>The Clinton’s are a brand name, if not THE brand name, nationally. For me, Clintonism in the party is history.
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p>I am not afraid of the horizon
I was thinking about the Niki/Ogo election last night and was wondering if the same dynamic would occur if Hillary was the nominee. It’s not exactly the same as turnout was fairly low to begin with, but Niki didn’t do too much to get people excited. Not that it should sway a vote, but will Democrats have record turnouts if it’s Hillary vs. (any R here)?
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p>Note: Haven’t decided who I’m voting for yet, I thought Hillary had a very good week last week in discussing Pakistan, while Obama saying Hillary voted for the Iraq was so it was her fault (not so good). But it’s still week to week for me. Both will do well, who’s the best is the question.
You may not like her. But it’s simple. She said:
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p>1. You want change from Bush. We’re all pretty similar among the D’s. But I’m most experienced (Bill, Albright are positioned on camera to remind you of her “association” with experience). Therefore most electable.
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p>So if you can get 90% change from me with good chance to win, don’t go for 95% change with Obama who doesn’t have the experience to win over independent voters in the general election.
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p>2. I’m pleasant and upbeat, even when I lose.
She may have stayed on message, but it’s a bogus message.
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p>If “experience” were the determining factor of electability, then why did Edwards (less than six years of legislative experience) outperform Dean (12 years of executive experience) the last time around? Why did Kerry (21 years of executive and legislative) outperform Gephardt (26 years of legislative)?
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p>I’m not knocking experience; clearly it’s a good thing to have. But seriously if experience is the end all be all here, why don’t we just elect presidents through some sort of seniority system and do away with all this pesky voting already?
Seth, I’m not saying Hillary’s message is necessarily the best one.
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p>I’m saying John From Lowell is explicitly wrong when he says “This speech is a shotgun appeal that covers every twist and turn her campaign has taken, trying to be everything to everyone. By doing this, she shows that she is desperate to find a handle on ‘her message.'”
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p>There’s nothing shotgun about it. Narrow: I’m experienced, and I’m a nice lady who smiles (not the angry woman portrayed by Republicans).
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p>There’s nothing new or “trying to find a handle” about it, either. Experience and “nice” were what all her ads were about, too.
It seems we’re simpatico on this one. đŸ™‚
Or promote some other things to move this off the front so that everything will fit again?
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p>Much obliged.
Sorry CMD.
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p>In the YT embed code:
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p>object width=”425″ height=”355″ is standard.
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p>object width=”281″ height=”234″ is 2/3rd scale
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p>object width=”212″ height=”177″ is 1/2 scale.
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p>Admin,
Let me kmow if you want me to go to 1/2 scale.
I didn’t think it was the size of the video, but the text box thing. Guess that shows what I know.
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p>Much obliged, John from Lowell.
Honestly, I’m torn at this point, especially because I was impressed by all three speeches: Obama’s, Edwards’ and Hillary Clinton’s, despite the fact that her speech was somewhat flatter than either Obama’s or Edwards’ speeches. All of the above having been said, I’ll back whoever gets the Democratic nomination.
posted first at from BlueHampshire
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p>What I found most incredible about Obama’s speech, compared to the others is that it is NOT about him. It is first and foremost about our country, the United States of America.
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p>Obama’s message has been consistent and clear from the start.
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p>We are at a critical point in our history as a nation, and we desperately need to CHANGE course.
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p>What is so striking in watching this video compared to the others is that most of the time the crowd is NOT shouting “Obama, Obama.” The are shouting USA, USA. I think we, as a people, so much want and need to feel proud of our country again and proud to be Americans. Barack taps into this deep need to care for and love our country. It is an extraordinary country. We have been told that we have been unpatriotic for not supporting the war. But we who want change for American are real Patriots. And Barack uses the language of the constitution to bring us back and feel like true Patriots once again by taking back our country.
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p>He speaks about lifting our country up. This gives us great hope for the future and goes directly to our frustration with how bad things have turned over the last 7 years. Obama wants to believe in America again and so do we.
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p>He also drives home the importance of reuniting our country as one nation. His theme of UNITY is powerful and I think resonates with the American people who are so sick and tired of all the fighting and battles and slash and burn politics and divisiveness. He calls on us to come together for the sake of our nation.
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p>I think what else is so extraordinary about this speech is his call to the American people to join him in this effort. His message is Stand Up for Change. This is directed to the American people. We as a people need to take a stand and join him in what is a true social movement to address the problems we have at home and abroad. I think the American people want to be involved in turning things around and yet, all President Bush has asked of them is to go shopping. Obama tells us that it will be hard and that it will require courage but together ordinary people can do extraordinary things. We all want to believe that together we can take back our country: of the people, by the people, for the people.
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p>His speech is insprirational. The crowd is ecstatic at the prospect of a better future for themselves and their children. Barack Obama gets us truly excited about the prospect of a better America, something we yearn for desperately.
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p>Obama offers a new vision of America.
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p>And in the process, he always comes back to HOPE. He offers Hope as an antidote to the fear that the Administration has been peddling since 9/11. Unity over division. Change is coming to America and we can be part of it.
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p>We have not seen a leader like this in a long time. He has inspired the youth of America to engage in the political process. He has inspired Independents to come back to the Democratic party. He has even inspired Republicans, who find no good options in their party, to cross over and unite for change.
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p>And the world is watching and excited. Yesterday I was in Vietnam and spent the day with people from Sweden and Britain and Australia and Canada and Isreal and Germany and Vietnam. There were amazed and so encouraged by the news that Obama had won the primary in Iowa. Obama’s picture and victory is the lead story in China and Vietnam and in the Daily Herald, which the expats living abroad read every day. The excitement among all of these people is palpable. They believe that if America can change for the better, it will be better not only for them, but for the planet. The whole world is watching with anticipation and hope that Obama becomes the next President for the United States.
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p>To all those of you who have not joined the Obama campaign, I ask you to take another look. Please join us. Obama’s campaign is an open tent. You will be welcomed with open arms and you will feel the exhilaration of being part of something very important for the future of our nation and our world.
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p>With a big victory in Iowa, the train is just leaving the station. Next stop is New Hampshire. All aboard!
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p>Imagine…Hillary put her own spouse on stage during a speech! What’s next?