First off: Clinton was in a high school gym. Obama is in what sounds like a huge stadium. Just sayin....
Obama started by explaining to everyone how the weird Texas Primacaucus system works: early voting, primary day voting, and then the caucus system election night. They distributed cards to everyone there with everything they need to know to participate. They've got plenty more that they can take hope to give to their friends, family, and cousins. He wasn't preaching, he was teaching. And so on a personal note, let me say that the prospect of a former con law professor in the White House makes me happier than I can say or write.
Now on to the speech...
Obama: This isn't just about this primary, or this election. If we win, that's when the hard work begins. We will all need to stay engaged in all of the days and months to come. It isn't just rallies and speeches, policy-papers and positions and websites. The problem we face is not the lack of good ideas; it is that Washington has become a place where good ideas go to die.
I've been thinking quite a bit about this over the past few days, so I'm glad to see Obama is beginning to address it. His grassroots mobilization, movement-based approach to campaigning is mobilizing millions of Americans. But the day the campaign is over will be the beginning, not the end. He's going to need to find a way to transition the movement from one focused on campaigning to one focused on governing. That won't be easy, and the earlier he starts preparing people, the better.
Obama: Change doesn't happen from the top down; it happens from the bottom up.
He then followed this with a much more detailed explanation that usual of his days as a community organizer. He talked very specifically about the ways it educated and prepared him for this campaign and for the prospect of governing. He then moved into a much more detailed policy speech, connecting his proposed changes to the broader themes of his campaign. Health care, education, taxes, energy, immigration, economic growth, foreign policy, urban renewal, infrastructure redevelopment, technology policy - you name it and it was in there. In detail.
Not sure I have anything new to add here, so I'll just keep going...
"The problem is not a lack of good ideas but a lack of urgency."
I know this isn't new, but I wonder nevertheless if it isn't meant as an answer to Clinton's "I don't just give good speeches, I give good solutions" line. Or am I reading too deeply here?
"As your Commander in Chief..."
Lest you think there's nothing the man could say that would upset me, this "I'm your C-in-C thing needs to stop. Unless you are in the military, he is not your Commander in Chief. He is the Commander in Chief of the armed forces only, and not of all Americans. I hate when most people say this, but I particularly hate it when he says it. Because he is right - we need to end the mindset that got us into Iraq, and although this is only a tiny part of that mindset, it is part nonetheless. Soldiers must obey lawful orders from the Commander in Chief. Citizens who are not soldiers face no such obligation, and we ought do nothing that suggests they do.
"The last thing we need is to have the same old folks doing the same old things making the same mistakes over and over and over again. we need something different, and we need new leadership to move into the new century.There are those who would say you have to be weary about inspiration because you might be disappointed... Obama may make a good speech, but what is really gonna make a difference is how you work our government. But I have to say it is my central premise that the only way we will bring about real change in American is if we can bring new people into the process. Attract young people, independents, stop fighting with Republicans ands bring new people over to our side. I want to form a working majority for change. Thats how we will win elections and that s how we will govern.
If that last part wasn't a direct answer to both Clinton and McCain, this was.
"I revere and honor McCain's service, but..."
Another brilliant rhetorical move. Start by honoring him, and then shift to a discussion about how he is wrong on the issues. He can't win a battle on service, so don't fight it. Honor it and then move on. Neutralize his strengths and then move on to yours.
More thoughts later...
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