I disagree.

Too bad about Gore. Such a poor candidate then, such a better one now. I found his speech last night more compelling than the actual candidate's.

Gore made me laugh (read it, didn't watch it). His hindsight as far as what the country would be like now should he have been elected was amazing.

As Alex said, scaeagles, you're missing a good percentage of the effect of a speech if you merely read it.

Speeches, by their very nature, are not meant to be read. They are meant to be heard.

scaeagles,

You really should try to watch Obama's speech. The content may be the same as what you read, and may be what it is important to you, bu the delivery is what will make/made a huge impact on others. I don't think anyone can make a truly educated statement on the impact the speech will have made without actually listening to it.

Possession is 9/10th of the law and delivery is about 7/10ths of the impact.

You're wrong about this. Just because you weren't excited about them doesn't mean no one was. Some of us were excited about them and donated to them and travelled to other states to campaign for them.

Fear of failure only works if it motivates one to do all they can to help. If you feel that you're probably going to fail, how hard are you going to try? Simply saying that you predicted those outcomes and you predict another negative outcome actually hurts. For the forest to be green, each leaf must be green. What if all of us leaves agreed, saying "he's probably not going to win"?

Same goes for assassination talk. Kinahora, poo poo poo. Such a shame, really, that we're in this wonderful moment regardless of November, and people can't enjoy it and add to the momentum with their own shining beacon.





As for Leo listening to the speech - as I said before, I think that he won't hear it the same as others might. The words mean different things. It couldn't hurt, though after seeing his posts here, I don't think the speech will persuade him. ;) That's as negative as I'll get...

I can't wait to watch the Republican Convention just to see just how much I don't understand of their language these days.

What, you're not having a loud backyard BBQ yourself? With the loudest people you know? ;)

I have to agree. With Tom, and with Brad.

Certainly, I have been with Obama since his speech four years ago. I've wanted him to run for president ever since. I want very badly for him to win. But if you'll notice, I'm not in the political threads anymore. I don't know how many of you recall, but I used to spend the majority of my time in the political threads, pre-2004. I was empassioned, I was actively volunteering, I was full of hope. And then, I was completely crushed. Heartbroken. My faith in the people of this country was shaken, and my willingness to follow politics as closely all but lost.

I would've thought, that night four years ago, that I would be on the front-lines for Obama. And surely, I'll be donating, I've been talking to those around me about it, I've done what I feel I can. But I can't say that I don't live in fear of being crushed again. I'm terrified that McCain and his beauty queen (by which I mean second wife and/or VP) are going to appeal to those who don't educate themselves on the issues. I'm terrified that there are more people who don't educate themselves on the issues than we imagine. Last time, I was SO SURE my candidate - who I liked, and for whom I campaigned - was going to win. I couldn't imagine it'd be otherwise. It was. Never again will I be able to say that anything is certain. I have hope that this is possible. I have fear that it isn't.

Fair enough. It was hyperbole on my part.

I've edited my response out because it's beside the point. The point is, to me it's not about certainty he's going to win or not. To me, it's about the reality that there is one path to victory. That path is to remain motivated and positive. The ONLY guarantee is that if people DON'T remain motivated and positive, he will lose.

Maybe I'll feel differently in November if he does lose, but from where I stand now, I will be disappointed if he loses but I will not regret putting my energy into it. Whereas if I don't put my energy into it and he does lose, I will feel nothing but regret.