President Barack Obama is probably the most popular politician in America right now. I don’t even think the residual love for Bill Clinton comes close. Obama’s last year in office has been bittersweet, of course, and we would be in such a different place if only Obama was running for a third term. That’s what I was thinking about last night… I wish this race was Obama vs. Trump. Because Obama would slay.
On Day 3 of the DNC, the party brought out their heavy-hitters. It was a really great three-hour block of television, actually. First Biden, then Bloomberg, then Tim Kaine, then Obama. I’m not going to say that Obama gave his best speech ever, but this speech was easily in the Top Five. It was partly a farewell speech (SOB), partly a full-throated endorsement of Hillary Clinton and partly a takedown of Donald Trump. Obama balanced those three subjects brilliantly and, again, kudos to the speechwriters last night. I was genuinely surprised when Hillary Clinton came out at the end too.
The biggest moment was when Obama said Hillary Clinton was the most qualified person to ever run for president:
“You know, nothing truly prepares you for the demands of the oval office. You can read about it, you can study it, but until you’ve sat at that desk, you don’t know what it’s like to manage a global crisis or send young people to war. But Hillary’s been in the room. She’s been part of those decisions. She knows what’s at stake in the decisions our government makes, what’s at stake for the working family for the senior citizen or the small business owner, for the soldier, for the veteran. And even in the midst of crisis, she listens to people and she keeps her cool and she treats everybody with respect. And no matter how daunting the odds, no matter how much people try to knock her down, she never, ever quits. That is the Hillary I know. That’s the Hillary I’ve come to admire, and that’s why I can say with confidence there has never been a man or a woman, not me, not Bill Clinton, nobody, more qualified than Hillary Clinton to serve as president of the United States… I hope you don’t mind, Bill, but I was just telling the truth, man.”
Because the Republican National Convention last week was so ceaselessly negative and pessimistic, the Democrats were able to take over the optimism franchise. Obama’s speech last night is being called Reagan-esque, because not only did he name-check Reagan, but he honestly borrowed the shiny-eyed Reagan-esque optimism of American pride. Now, all that being said… I still think Michelle Obama’s speech on Day 1 was probably the best speech of the convention!
Take about five paragraphs out of that Obama speech and it could have been a Reagan speech. Trust me. I know.
— John Podhoretz (@jpodhoretz) July 28, 2016
Photos courtesy of Getty.
CNN kept saying “full-throated” yesterday too… makes me cringe! But the speech was awesome.
Yeah, full throated is a stupid descriptor. Glad to hear it bugged someone else.
What a man – decent, hardworking and clearly became a President to not serve himself but to serve the country. This man will go down in history as one of the greatest presidents ever existed.
To have people like President Obama, Michelle Obama, Joe Biden, Tim Kaine & Elizabeth Warren to vouch for your character is brilliant.
These people are known for their integrity, hard work, honesty, values, their big hearts to help people from all races and classes.
Each one of them come from different parts of USA with different life experiences.
And yet here they are unanimously vouching for Hillary – they bring admiration to her 40 years of public service, her true strength of never back down from bullies, her intelligence, her compassion and the need to help others even those who are ungrateful.
America is lucky to have these kinds of people working together to serve the nation.
What beautiful sentiments.
I hope each of them stumps for her in a veritable all-star, nonstop, coordinated, all-hands-on-deck, all-out blitz in every state of the Union.
–TheRealPinky
Bringing Lenny Kravitz (why did I have to watch TV talking heads while he was performing in the background) and all those “Broadway” people singing about love to get the crowd ready.
To Lilacflowers….watch it on CSPAn and you will not be interrupted by the talking heads.
I second the C-SPAN recommendation. No yammering heads trying to explain to you what you’ve just seen. It’s great.
Lilacflowers Lenny Kravitz was on Seth Meyers this past Monday and he told this beautiful story about how he and his grandfather went to the White House as guests of the Clintons. Later when his grandfather was sick in the hospital, the Clintons sent him handwritten letters. My summary is not doing the story any justice but I was definitely teary-eyed after hearing it.
I adore this man and his wife. My absolute favourite US president. How can anyone think of electing Drumpf after him is beyond me….
+100
+1,000,000!!!
I’m not a big fan of Obama. I like him fine and enjoy how down to earth he and his family are. I honestly wish he had waited 8 years to gain more experience because I think he would have been much more effective as a president. Shoulda, coulda, woulda.
That being said, he rivals Bill Clinton for me as a public speaker and that’s saying a lot. That speech was great.
I think he would have been blocked in 8 years as well. He has been a leader in various positions; his lack of preparedness was not the issue. The culture in the executive branch was the issue.
Compare Obama to George W, whose father was president, exposing him to the life of a president and who had a lot of experience as a politician – he was very ill-prepared for office. He did not understand how to navigate the public when needed. I don’t think he was the brain behind the policies he put in, and was easily influenced by the team he had around him, but that was his governing choice, and I think a poor one.
I personally disagree, just because I don’t think the House would have been any less obstructionist in 8 years, and ultimately that’s been one of the biggest issues with getting anything of substance done.
If Ted Kennedy had not died (and my state stupidly replaced him with moron Senator Centerfold Scott Brown -so very sorry, please accept our do-over Elizabeth Warren), Obama would have had more success in the Senate because Kennedy had the ability to convince many Republicans to vote for legislation he championed. The House is a different story but the Senate would have been a gentler, less stupid place.
Some French journalists are covering this convention and it is what they note all .Contrary to the the republican convention ( agressive and pessimist),the dem convention is optimist.They have no problem for interviewing the supporters
Obama will miss
That’s good to know! I wondered how the conventions came across overseas. Seems like we all agree on this.
I’m going to miss Obama so much. Great president. Great husband. Great father. Sigh. He’s my presidential crush.
Basically we’re all sitting here desperately hoping that America takes the high road and goes with Hillary! No one can understand Trump supporters. We are rolling our eyes at the childishness of Bernie or Busters still carrying on like spoilt children. The Obamas are very much loved and respected by many around the world – they are enormously popular. I say this as an Aussie who spends 11 months of the year travelling around the world for my job. I’ve been in 17 countries in the last 8 months in Europe, Asia, South America, Oceania and the Middle East and I meet all sorts of people. The Democratic convention is on TVs all over the place in The Philippines where I am right now. American politics like this are a lot more theatrical than in most countries, but it’s kinda fun. The speeches at this convention have been great but the Republicans… Oh my lord. Please please please America, VOTE HILLARY!!!
My whole family has watched both conventions and they cannot believe Trump has so many supporters and why he was endorsed. My friends from other countries are also puzzled. We do hope Americans vote Hillary!
He is a great man. I am happy for him he deserves a chance to enjoy his life and his family. Boy am I thankful that he spoke last night. He is not perfect. But no one is perfect. I just really hope Hillary wins.
I just love him. Even if you don’t agree with him, he still is a good man.
Last night was the first time in years that I stayed up past 10pm, lol. I was not going to miss his speech.
YouTube! I can barely keep my eyes open past 9 these days, so I have to watch it later.
I think I fall a little bit more in love with him every time he speaks, and knowing it’s coming to an end
I am in complete denial that we only get this man as President (and Michelle as First Lady) for a few more months. That was a wonderful speech, and I loved Hillary coming out at the end for hugs. (But ssshhh, I still think Michelle’s speech was even better.)
I cried when Hillary came out at the end. I have my issues with her (not enough to stop me from supporting her in this race) but to see our first black President on stage with our first female candidate for President…man. I’m a 34 year old woman and grew up hearing that we could be anything and that included President but boy have there been a lot of years where I didn’t think that would seem possible any time soon. And the level of cynicism and hate spewed forth in every Trump speech made me worry even more. This was the dose of optimism and pride in my country that I needed.
+100000000
I couldn’t agree more. I have tears in my eyes just thinking of it now. The idea that my daughter – my strong, smart, and beautiful little girl – could look at our president and see the very first woman to break through the oldest of glass ceilings is beyond inspiring. After the RNC I have been in a state of panic. Can this really be happening in my country? Could Donald Trump really be a heartbeat from the Oval Office? I feel like I’m in some kind of alternate universe. Then thankfully, the DNC began and infused me with hope again.
Great speech from an articulate and able president who will be much missed.
I also want to give a shout out to the woman who introduced him, because she was awesome.
She certainly was, and the crowd loved her! (So did I!)
I loved her! And I loved the crowd’s reaction when she said she ran for the local school board. The appreciation of they showed to someone working to make her corner of the world a better place was beautiful. Change will always be driven by the grass roots.
Four more years! Four more years! I’m not kidding.
I’m 4th generation American and my family’s story is the stereotypical American Dream (from farmers and factory workers who didn’t speak English in generation one to highly educated yuppies in generation 4). But the optomstic message of this convention is what our family values have always been. When life gets knocks you down, it’s okay to be mad for a minute but then you have to find the courage and put in the hard work to pull yourself up and find a new path. My great grandparents didn’t come here and toil in some truly terrible conditions so that I could sit on my butt and do nothing with my life. Or so I’ve been told 🙂 So in watching the RNC, while I think it’s important to acknowledge the feelings of fear and sadness that some of the speakers spoke of, it makes me sad for them that they hold on to the anger and can’t seem to channel it into positive solutions like speakers in similar situations at the DNC.
I’m not by nature an optimist, and I thought Obama’s hope and change message in 2008 was malarkey (to borrow a Biden phrase), but last night he did actually talk about the US I know. The one that isn’t perfect, but isn’t one Trump away from hell in a hand basket.
Mr. Obama probably has the best speech voice of the last generation, honestly who sounds better at a podium (besides my his wife haha!)
The dignity, the class, the articulation, the power, the truth, the heartfelt aspect of it, the pure goodness of this man.
He also verbally spanked Trump like the little ineffective manchild he is.
Calling Trump a ‘homegrown demagogue’ really made me laugh.
I remember genuinely feeling sorry for him the past two elections, because of the messes he had to face (2008) and the continued obstruction (2008).
He’s not perfect (no one is), but he has taken more flak than anyone in recent memory. Everything (real or imagined) is his fault — or HRC’s, now.
I think history will sift through eight years of muckraking to assess his eight years as an overall success, given the state of affairs (foreign and domestic, including a Great Recession) that existed or were already on track in 2008.
I love him.
Canada will miss him.
Great president.
Let’s hope Hillary wins. She has devoted her life to public service. She was born to do the job!
I am going to miss President Obama and his family so much. His speech was everything. I made the mistake of reading comments on Christine Leinonen’s speech (I live in Orlando and my brother is friends with one of the two men who were also onstage supporting her) and I was in such a funk last night. Joe, Kaine’s but especially POTUS’ speech lifted me and helped me feel optimistic. It was a perfect palate cleanser. I want so much to live in his vision for America.
What a masterful, moving valedictory. We can only hope he’ll stay in public life. I hope he works on voting rights.
Amazing speech. He is one of the speakers I have ever had the privilege of listening to as far as speeches, especially speeches at very important events such as here, where the stakes are high.
I was so emotional when he was done and walking off the stage. I could see the emotion on his face, in a way his farewell. And then Hillary comes out and they hug and walk back out together, and the convention hall erupts, the symbolism was just a beautiful thing. I teared up again.
I always said eight years ago his invitation for Hillary to be in his cabinet as Secretary of State and her acceptance of that offer said so much about the character of President Obama and Hillary Clinton. In the primaries, she in the beginning was considered a shoo-in. Obama came from behind and took over. But she kept getting up state after state and fighting on. It was a hard-fought battle that was bitter at times and a lot of hard feelings. Barack once said she was so brilliant in debates and so prepared with her policies that it forced him to become a better candidate to be able to compete with her. And that is true.
That he wanted her in his administration because he had developed such respect for her and her abilities and that she showed him the respect he deserved after he won during her gracious concession speech and supporting him in the election against McCain, even though she had wanted the Presidency so badly, made me an even bigger fan of both of these people. These are two people who do know how to work for the greater good of the country.
I was emotional during his whole speech and in awe. President Obama will be missed, but his absolute belief in Hillary should be a comfort to many when voting in November.
Perfect!!! You expressed it beautifully.
Totally agree.
I cried when Obama came out, hating the idea that it may be his last major speech. The Obamas have been a Predidential family that has represented our nation so well. I’ll miss them and it makes me sad. It makes me think of what the Wild Things said to Max in Where the Wild Things Are: “Oh no, please don’t go. We’ll eat you up, we love you so!”
man, I just love him. while Trump makes me feel so embarrassed that he could somehow be an actual candidate, Obama makes me proud to be an American.
The DNC has had fantastic speeches left and right, and I can’t think of one memorable speech from the RNC. The Obamas are just really truly great. I’m not American, but I came to admire them very much, I mean, who couldn’t? I sincerely hope that Hillary wins. I think I was watching Bill Maher and his guy said, if you read the description for ‘sociopath’, it is Trump. I did and I was shocked. I thought he was ‘just’ a narcissist, but now I think he is also a sociopath. So dangerous. http://www.wikihow.com/Spot-a-Sociopath
Ted Cruz’s speech was memorable. I enjoyed his speech the most.
What? Scott Baio’s speech didn’t bowl you over?
I’m not ready to see him go, the optimism he came into Office with and the fact that even with all the tragedies, even with the hate and accusations from some of his fellow Republicans, even with the racism he has seen he still holds tight to that optimism refusing to let it be tarnished or torn from him. That is one of the many reasons he has always been so respected and trusted.
We have not come this far as a country to go back. We have not. We will not. We will not allow people like Donald Trump and his ilk to paint a picture of America that exists only in their warped wealthy minds.
I truly believe President Obama never had a careless day at the helm, he made mistakes but he made them in thinking they were the right decision. He made them because even the best option still leaves room for flaws and tragedy. I also believe Hilary will never have a careless day in the White House. That when she does make mistakes that it will be because even with the best intentions and most reasoned and measured thinking and planning you simply can’t control all factors. I think she will be strong and capable.
I know it doesn’t affect her ability to perform or reflect her qualifications. But those pant suits are killing me…
Hahahahaha. I know.
We just have to let that go. She gets excoriated for literally every hair, makeup or clothing choice she’s made since Bill’s first run for Governor (back in the ’70s?). When we talk about not judging other woke based on their appearance, there’s no better example. It’s her uniform.
When I met her, she wasn’t wearing her uniform and she looked fabulous.
I think we were all joking, here… unlike Tim Gunn’s idiotic statement.
seriously. I can’t Even entertain anyone who comments on Hillary’s appearance. It brings out all my bad sides.
Let her keep her pantsuits. A lot of employers in the 1970s didn’t allow women to wear pantsuits in their offices. (Source: my own office working mother.) That Hillary wears them constantly is a profoundly feminist statement for a women of her generation. Don’t forget how far we’ve come in literally the last 50 years alone. And, how far we still have to go.
I’m repeating myself…
As much as I’m excited by the prospect of Hillary, I’m going to miss the Obamas.
“Because he’s [Trump is] selling the American people short. We are not a fragile or frightful people. Our power doesn’t come from some self-declared savior promising that he alone can restore order. We don’t look to be ruled. Anyone who threatens our values, whether fascists or communists or jihadists or homegrown demagogues, will always fail in the end.”
To me this was a very strong indictment of Trump. That line “We don’t look to be ruled,” stood out to me. I understand that in times of doubt and fear it is easy to look to a “strong” authoritarian leader, but this idea of one man being the solution is actually antithetical to American values.
It was an amazing speech from an incredible man. I’m going to miss them badly. God help the planet if Trump gets in. Just out of curiosity, has the States ever had such a buffoon like Trump running for president before? Someone who is a real joke, only not funny at all?
My guess is ‘no’. He makes the few who were considered laughable in recent decades look 100 percent normal by comparison.
Has anyone ever gotten a major party’s presidential nomination with apparently *zero* public office experience? Not even local school board or county commission — nothing??? Think about that. It’s surreal.
@Christin The closest I can think of is Ross Perot, another rich businessman. But at least Perot had years of legitimate military experience on his record (US Naval Academy and then a stint in the Navy).
Dear Secretary Clinton.
Should you win the election this November (and you do have my vote) within the first year of your presidency, you will probably have several seats to fill on the US Supreme Court. I suggest that you strongly consider the current President of the United States Barack Obama to fill one of those vacancies. It will not be an unprecedented move, President Taft went on to become Chief Justice, but it would be a brilliant move that would serve our nation well for decades, if not centuries, to come.
That would be bad a–.
That would be great, but, does Obama have the Constitutional Law experience/background necessary? I know NOTHING about law.
He was a constitutional lawyer and taught constitutional law, I believe.
I wonder if he has the record (that might be required?) to be a Supreme Court judge> When we hear about candidates, we usually hear about their decision record and where that record places them on the conservative/liberal ideology.
But I would love to read his decisions! I think they would be very thoughtful.
Works for me!
He was a professor of constitutional law. He has been President and knows how statutes and regulations and agencies that implement them work, including due process and equal protection. More experienced than Elaina Kagan.
I hope this happens. Bill O’Reilly’s head would explode.
Oh my God, how awesome would that be!!
Settling up his account with the Clinton’s. He’s done a difficult job with a Republican Congress, but he had a chance to give us change in his first term and sold out to insurance cos and big pharma. The ACA is a horrible piece of legislation. HRC will be no different as she’ll have pipers to pay too. We’re screwed whoever wins. Let’s see what happens after the TPP is signed because this is what this is all about. Hey, but she’s a woman, so that’s all that matters, right?
Do you vote in mid-term elections?
Nice try, but you can thank the republicans for selling out to the insurance companies. They did their best to gut the ACA. Personally, as someone who hadn’t been able to afford health care for several years perviously, I’m grateful that when I’m sick I can go to the Dr and they have to take care of me.
“We’re screwed whoever wins.” Really? You really think that? Things will get so much worse if Trump is elected. He’s dangerous. Hillary is professional, pragmatic, and she understands the job. Trump is a volatile, think skinned bully. There’s really no comparison.
Aw as someone who has insurance for the first time that works for her and is able to afford her medications I just want to say “Perfect is the enemy of good” and it always tickles me how heartily people complain when the good wasn’t good enough for their liking, they prefer perfection or nothing – which was where the issue was heading.
…perfection or nothing.
^That seems to be a lot of people’s mind set these days.
I don’t know if you understand how government works but we are a two party system so even when he had a majority he didn’t have 100% one party so he to get a bill passed he had to make COMPROMISES!!!! I know its no fun, and it makes you want to take your ball and go home. But see when you do that 20million new people don’t get insurance. All those people that work for the auto industry would be out of jobs, we wouldn’t have had record job growth.
I know we didn’t get it exactly how we wanted it but my God the man accomplished so much and saved this country from ruin. He did it with the most oppressive congress in history (party of no) and he did it with the right ideas of working with people and compromise.
Do you mean the insurance companies that can no longer discriminate against me because of my cancer diagnosis? Those insurance companies? The insurance companies Paul Ryan thinks should be able to discriminate against me because of my cancer diagnosis? Them?
People either don’t realize or ignore this important step forward in healthcare. My father worked longer than he needed, just to be sure my mother’s pre-existing condition would be covered.
Honestly, as somebody who has worked in healthcare for the better part of a decade, I don’t feel that the ACA did any better or worse for the country than where it already was. HMO plans were already going out the door, and inflation rates were steadily driving up healthcare costs as it was. It fixed certain things and failed to address other issues. Repealing it isn’t really necessary so much as further legislation is needed to iron out the areas where it fumbled.
The real problem is that we need a complete, top to bottom reform of the healthcare system, and you need a coordinative effort from a Congress willing to compromise to do that. At this point, I feel like that’s almost impossible in the current climate – neither party is going to meet in the middle when it means giving up being the “lone savior” of the American people.
Love our President! What a fine man in every sense of the word. I loved his intro. That lady confirmed everything I thought…kind eyes and a warm hug. Wonderful man!
I was just telling someone last night that we didn’t deserve the Obama family but I sure as hell enjoyed having them be our First Family. Obama could’ve done SO MUCH more with a Congress that did their jobs instead of fighting him at every turn. I get sad thinking about it. History will be on his side though I have no worries about that. But I’m gonna miss having a White House as cool and classy as it was since Jan 20, 2009.
Also I know I’m not in the minority that LOVED michelle’s speech and wants her to run as well in the future.
I think it was the best speech he has done ever. I almost got off the bed to give him a standing ovation in my bedroom. It was truly beautiful.
Don’t boo…vote!
Change is never easy.
Well said President Obama.
Honk!
He’s a moving speaker and has been a fantastic president. He’ll go down in history as one of the greats, I believe. But most importantly, I think he’s a very good man. I’ll miss this First Family terribly.
Can’t begin to imagine Trump giving a speech like this.
I am going to miss Obama so much.
qwen, I wouldn’t even try to imagine. Trump doesn’t have the mental or emotional intellect to pull off a speech like this, even with a teleprompter. Obama rocks.
can we keep him as a president? pretty please? or MObama? both hilary and of course, rat haired guy are so bellow Obamas… sad.
I love him. ❤️
I saw him interviewed a couple of days ago, and he made an excellent point about never assuming you’ve won until the last vote is counted. I still remember 2000 and all the issues that can happen if people in different time zones start thinking it’s over (thanks to the TV pundits and exit polls).
Vote, vote, vote!
I sobbed, I have no problem admitting that. He has truly been a fantastic President, he will go down as one of the best ever, and this country has been so lucky to have him. That speech was wonderful. I don’t think we will ever be able to express how much this man and his family served this family with grace, dignity, class and honor.
The video of of his 8 years got me teary and the speech put me over the top. I am not ready to say good bye. I really am not.
I will say the visual of our first black President hugging the potential first woman was a power image.
I agree with everything. A politician with clean past, clear vision. He is just amazing. And Michelle Obama is just the perfect first lady, because she is a lady and she has brain.
Sadly, some people see Obama as weak. Cos he did not start more wars… Those are gonna vote for rat ginger hair. And that scares the crap out of me.
I’m going to miss him and FLOTUS too, and I’m not even American. They’re incredible.
+1
Senator John McCain’s wife Cindy tweeted something nice about the DNC.
“Thank you @amyklobuchar for the great speech about human trafficking tonight at the DNC. I wish my own party had done the same. #stophumantrafficing.”
“No wall can contain the American Dream”. Just beautiful.
Don’t watch convention coverage but I am saving time to listen to this speech [and Biden’s and Sen Kaine’s] asap.
Reading some of his past speeches and thoughtful papers when he started his first presidential campaign is what made me decide to support him in the first place.
I am so proud I got to vote for him! Twice.
I think someone may have already mentioned this, but kudos to CSPAN (www.cspan.org) for televising every minute of the convention! I think the DNC has been such a rich and productive conversation about the history and future of the U.S. democracy.
I really cannot understand how people can vote fot Trump.. Clinton is not perfect but she’s better than Trump… In terms of international relationships, foreign diplomacy and trying to get foreign friends, Obama excelled and I do believe Trup will ruin many bridges Obama accomplished…
As for the Healthcare system, he tried, but the others wouldn’t let him do better and it’s a shame people don’t seem to understand it and think it was just speech… What a shame, Americans do deserve a better access to healthcare than what they had, and a lot still has to be done…
The medical insurance industry is so profitable that the insurance companies are a powerful force against reform. They have been able to raise premiums at will (30% to 35% per year was typical in my state), raise deductibles to obscene levels (they raised mine to $5000 while I was still recovering from a long illness, in a state where the average yearly income was $25,000: this is why even insured people often don’t see a doctor when they should, it costs too much and isn’t covered until the deductible is reached). They had low lifetime limits on coverage, leaving people uncovered quickly, and refused to cover anything they considered as “pre-existing”. Plus they cherry-picked after the fact what exactly they would reimburse, and there was no way to find out in advance.
I was surprised any form of the Affordable Care Act passed on Obama’s watch. The smears against Hillary Clinton (repeated so often that many people assume they must be true) actually began during the period when Bill Clinton put Hillary in charge of health care reform. I believe the silly impeachment of Bill (for being sleazy about sex like most other Presidents?!? My non-American colleagues thought we were insane) was actually a maneuver to neutralize Hillary’s efforts on health care reform – and it definitely worked. Look for more of the same in this election, because if she gets into the White House – she will be able to help protect the current reforms and extend them, and she knows how to deal with Congress. The insurance companies ran off with a bundle of profit by narrowing the network for Exchange policy holders when they could, in practice meaning the federal government was heavily subsidizing coverage that only applied to emergency care (contrary to the purpose of the program). If they feel their profits are further threatened by a President Hillary Clinton, they will do all they can to manipulate the vote in November. Trump will try to dismantle the reforms and certainly will not do anything to rein in the insurance companies. Pence likewise, judging by how he worked against the reforms in Indiana.
Trevor Noah was so funny – he had a clip of Obama smiling at one point in the speech and he said that wasn’t a happy smile, it was the smile of a man who’s going crazy thinking “I brought you back from a recession, stopped two wars, and you’re going to hand this country over to Cinnamon Hitler?”