Posted by Bjnemp (anonymous) on August 28, 2008 at 11:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Same old democrat's pie-in-the-sky promises we have been hearing over and over again for twenty years, just delivered better.

Posted by Absolute (anonymous) on August 29, 2008 at 8:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I thought it was great speech and I sincerely hope that he is the next President.

Posted by open_eyes (anonymous) on August 29, 2008 at 8:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)

It sounded great, of course. But its just a speech. Hitler was known as a great speaker & master motivator.
Problem is, has anyone paid attention to him when he is asked questions directly and not from a cue card or prepared speech? I think he sets the world record for "uhms...". I think he's a great speaker when he has a prepared speech he can read from, and an absolutely horrible speaker when he has to reply off-the-cuff and unscripted. This speech fell in the former category.

Oh, by the way, I can promise world peace, cure cancer, end to hunger, poverty, crime and all unhappiness over the entire world. Actually, anyone can promise that. And blame everything from the price of rice in China to the spread of the common cold on the former/current administration. But following thru on those promises, however, is something else....

Posted by rcakmon (anonymous) on August 29, 2008 at 10:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)

It was a great day for our country. Obama's speech was excellent! It was wonderful to hear a candidate talk about what our nation can be instead of what we should be afraid of.

Posted by Observation (anonymous) on August 29, 2008 at 10:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I thought it was a terrible speech and I truly hope for our country's sake that he is not elected to be president. I think McCain/Palin is a winning ticket.

Posted by Fixed_News (anonymous) on August 29, 2008 at 10:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)

How can anyone think Palin is going to help McCain beat Obama? McCain would have faired better with Kucinich.

Posted by mythoughts (anonymous) on August 29, 2008 at 11:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Wow! An excellent speech. I especially liked the "We may not agree on a woman's right to choose, but can we not agree that more needs to be done with family planning? We may not agree on homosexual marriage, but surely we can agree that the person you've chosen to spend your life with has a right to visit you in the hospital?" (I'm paraphrasing.)

I want to have hope, I want to move forward. I'm sick of the scare tactics of the far right, the knee jerk reactionaries who think with their privates instead of their brains. I'm sick of being stepped on by big business, big oil, big government, and I cannot believe that we have not put Bush and Cheney in jail for the way they've wrecked the constitution, ruined our economy and destroyed our once-enviable standing in the world.

The republicans have mortgaged this country up to the hilt, and are laughing all the way to the bank.

Posted by create (anonymous) on August 29, 2008 at 12:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Obama's impassioned speech was stunning. In particular, I was impressed with his idea of knowing how he plans to pay for what he promised. And they were good promises too, not just more of the same.

The speech was inspiring to the ordinary man in the street, and there is power in that. People heard that it was not about him, that it was about us and how we must work to fulfill America's promise. People know that he has first hand experience with having worked to earn his own way to fulfill his own American dream.

Some are saying that the speech was full of promises. Well then, let's just not promise to fix anything at all; let's not promise to make any kind of improvements; let's not promise to do anything about energy; let's just want more of what we've had for the past nearly 8 years.

With all the turmoil in this country, we need someone who can be fiscally conservative. Obama's nomination is a gigantic step forward not only for our ailing economy, but for every area.

Posted by Pollyanna (anonymous) on August 29, 2008 at 12:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I like the way you are thinking, mythoughts. I think a lot of America is very tired of the way things have been in the past and that makes it an uphill battle for any republican seeking the office of President. I will be sorely disappointed to see another old, white man with the same ideologies become President.

That being said, I'm ready for a change and I'm excited at the prospects of change. If anything, this election has made me a more educated citizen. I'm reading more papers, watching more CNN, having meaningful conversations with friends and colleagues about what our country should be and how do we get there. I don't think I'm alone in this renewed interest in our country and politics.

IMO, McCain's choice of Palin only makes a case for Obama stronger!

Posted by emporialifer (anonymous) on August 29, 2008 at 1:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)

create,
I agree that we need someone who can be fiscally conservative, and I'm not saying that Obama can't do that, but have you read what Palin has done in Alaska? She decreased her own salary - how many politicians would admit they are overpaid? She sold the jet for 2+ million that the prior administration had bought with tax payer money. Property taxes dropped 60%. To me that sounds like someone who has proven that they can be fiscally responsible.

I'm not saying there is a perfect choice in this election, but I think everyone needs to take a hard look at what each candidate has to offer. Promises are great, but unless carried out, they don't mean anything. I want a team that has a track record of doing what they promise.

Posted by esuhornets (anonymous) on August 29, 2008 at 1:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Pollyanna,
Why did you need to throw in the race issue? White or Black who cares!?!

Posted by rcakmon (anonymous) on August 29, 2008 at 1:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I agree, esuhornets. Sadly, there are many white Americans that still believe that people of color are less than they are.

Barack's color and middle name will be repeatedly brought up by the far right. It's part of their plan...use fear of change or anything different when you don't have anything to offer.

Posted by Pollyanna (anonymous) on August 29, 2008 at 2:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)

esuhornets: Umm...my point was about change. Our country has been led (President wise) by usually middle aged white men. Just a fact. Acknowledging that he is black does not make me "far right" or anything else. Whether he or Clinton won the democratic nomination, it could be a historic moment for our nation. Black president, woman president. Something we haven't seen before....hence change. I for one, am excited about that possibility.

And, I believe it does matter. I'm sure that his race, culture, heritage, history and family are very important to him and make up who he is, just as our differences in race, culture, heritage and traditions are important to each of us. I think Obama has a unique opportunity to teach us all to to come together as one nation while respecting the diversity of our population.

Posted by flexj66801 (anonymous) on August 29, 2008 at 3:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I lived in Arizona for sixteen years & for the life of me I can't think of one thing that McCain did that impressed me or stands out in my mind. I truly believe that if he is elected the downward spiral of this nation will continue.

Posted by bdprotheroe (anonymous) on August 29, 2008 at 3:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I liked Senator Obama's speech just a much as I enjoyed the other speeches from the 2008 Democratic Convention, especially that of Rep. Dennis Kuchinich. He was to the point on the issues, but was he (overly-)lively, or what? Made me think back to the 2004 primaries with Governor Dean's "Yee-Haw." :) I was amused.

Additionally, I look forward to viewing the 2008 Republican National Convention and all the speeches to be given. One must consider both points of view, right? (BTW, last night I heard the convention may be delayed due to Hurricane Gustav. Has anyone heard anything more?)

I think we all can agree, in addition to the nomination process, the conventions are far more focused upon pomp and circumstance, fireworks, confetti and balloons than anything else.

What I look forward to is the presidential and vice-presidential debates. That's when we get to see the topics, viewpoints and proposed policies put to a good arm-wrestling.

Brian Protheroe,
San Francisco, CA

Posted by create (anonymous) on August 29, 2008 at 3:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Sorry emporialifer, McCain's track record has been nothing but rubber stamping Bush. That's gonna change? No thanks, I want something new and innovative. I'm tired of a troubled economy. I'm tired of joblessness and its inherent problems. I'm tired of listening to the same old rubbish put forth by the fat cats in big government, of blaming the terrorists for our every ill, of a president who behaved as if he was out of the loop half the time like he was after Katrina -- "You did a good job, Brownie." How out of touch can the president of a country get?

Sure, Pallin has shown herself to be pretty fiscally responsible. But she's not running for president.

Posted by mammawd (anonymous) on August 29, 2008 at 4:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)

He can talk the talk...can he walk the walk?
I think each candidate should be put in office for a 6 month probation period (no sick days and no vacation days). See how they do and our "vote" will be their evaluation.

Every 4 years we hear promises....promises! Let's see someone really do the job!

Posted by UsayULoveGod (anonymous) on August 30, 2008 at 1:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)

All I know we cannot have another 4 like the last 8

Posted by jayhawker (anonymous) on August 30, 2008 at 1:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I remember what my Dad told me about Adali Stevenson in the 1952 race, my first year to vote - son, watch out for candidates who have nothing but a handshake and a shoe shine. O'Bama sure can make a speech, though. Come to think of it, so could Stevenson.