Era Of Good Speaking

One of the great losses to this nation of the last few years, probably the result of 'modern' approaches to education, has been the almost complete loss of rhetoric as an art. When everyone must be made equal (rather than born with equal rights), then no one may be allowed to be exceptional. The first time I hard Barack Obama speak, I realized he was one of those exceptional people who have managed to master public speaking to a degree which we rarely have the opportunity to observe. To say that this in not important for the President of the United States is to forget Washington and Jefferson and Lincoln and Both Presidents Roosevelt. This nation most wisely limits the powers of the President, and so to be effective, the President must inspire. To see the result of a President without this ability, one need look no further than the outgoing administration. Senator Obama's ability with rhetoric is something which our nation badly needs in its leader at this time. I applaud him and his gift.

Wow! What a lot of varied comments. To those of us with our head in the sand. Please let us stay there and believe that to have a strong leader is what will meake a huge difference in our country. Yes, we are Americans and we are free to choose and to influence (I hope) but having a strong leader at the helm will make a big difference, especially if he is working toward the goals and good of all Americans. We, as free Americans can help by drawing together to support this man with his intelligence and goals for us all. As someone said during the campaign- it is a relief to shed the aura of mediocrity and finally have a leader who is bright, intelligent and in touch with us all. My biggest wish is that he will stay connected with all of us, for his sake as well as ours. Hooray Anna Quindlen for writing this article. As a ship needs a captain, a school needs a principal The great USA needs an effective leader to set the tone and begin the task of rebuilding what was and can be again- a great country.

I am looking forward to the day this inauguration hooplah is all over and all the gushing over Obama is over and we get to the real nittygritty of can Barack Obama do anything besides prance around and make speeches. If you have assumed that I did not vote for Barack Obama, you are absolutely correct. I just hope there are enough experienced, intelligent, and dedicated citizens of America who love America enough to do the right thing for our country in his administration. Quite frankly, I have not trusted the man (Barack Obama) since I first heard of him and still don't. As far as I am concerned Obama needs to prove himself worthy of the office he has somehow been able to get himself elected to hold. A little more time will tell whether or not he can handle the job and how much of his campaign talk and promises were fabricated rhetoric. Here is hoping and wishing for the very best future for America, but I am not putting my faith in Obama. My faith is in the American people and the American System.

I disagree. The campaign was the time for speeches and for promises. Once he is sworn in, what I want is to here him say that its time to go to work...and then do it. I don't want any more promises...I want him to perform those promises and make them reality. That will encourage the American people and make us feel whole...not more words. Let him have his party and then get to work. I am waiting for performance, not excuses.

i like obama as he is a SMART OPERATOR but thats the closest he will get to the word called orator -merci

Oh, I couldn't have said it better hestiagwyn. Before I started paying attention to the 2008 election (because of Obama) I had given up hope. It seemed for the first time in my life that I had actually no ability to make any difference at all, even if it was something as simple as my vote. Then I began to listen to Obama's words and for the 1st time hope came back in my life. I told my children about him and helped those who were not registered to get registered. All but one of my children voted and they all voted for Obama. They felt the same great truths and solutions emanating from him too. Their friends felt the same and this same energy resulted in overwhelming support for his presidency. So my children (3 of them voting for the first time) and their friends (many of them voting for the first time) voted and talked and felt good about what they were doing. President-elect Obama has removed the fear I was feeling almost every minute of every day. Fear of saying the wrong words, fear of supporting the wrong causes, fear of writing anything negative in reference to GW Bush and Co. (I still did these things but I had fear). GW Bush and Co. are selfish people elitist to the core. I had 2 ex-husbands with very similar character traits everything and everyone was solely here for their use to further their agenda's period (and I'm talking about my ex's but it is the same for GW Bush and Co.). This is not leadership. This is not what life on planet earth is about. In the case of my ex's one was a diagnosed paranoid schizophrenic and the other was a narcissistic monster with personality disorder. Who am I describing GW Bush and Co. or my ex's. I survived my ex's and hopefully the world can survive GW Bush and Co.

This article clearly requests that Obamaa BE the leader he has been elected to be. Lead us into recovery, lead us by wisdom and example. I really don't think anyone is expecting a single man to "fix" the problems that have taken years to create. I voted for Obama because I believe he has the ability to lead me and my fellow Americans, back into the path of peace, personal, social, financial and moral responsibility. He can't make it happen but by nature most people fall in line behind their leader - things just work better that way. It happens in communities and companies, for the better and for the worst. I choose to follow a leader I believe cares about what is good and right and best for MOST of the people, not the elite few.

Oblama is not going to bring this great country together. I think that you article is out in another world. The only thing that will bring this country together is the American people. You need a wake up call or you must be complacent in your life. You have to hrlp yourself first before you can help others. Oblama is not the answer to our problems in this country. Maybe you ought to get more in touch with what is going on around you then staying in your complacency.

Excellent column! Somehow, I think he knows what you've conveyed and will not disappoint us. How fortunate to have a POTUS who loves both language and the law and who relishes challenge. It's a new day!

Anna Quindlen, I did not find any references in your article as to why you love Obama so much because he's going to help millions of women murder their unborn children, and I know this is the only topic that normally occupies your psychotic feminazi brain, so what gives? I wonder if 50 million murdered babies would have grown up to listen to Obama's dull and arrogant rhetoric, or would they rather listen to the rustling of the wind in your empty head?

Mrs. Quindlen,
Thank you for putting the flashlight on the one most undermentioned aspect of our next leader. I personally beieve that his talent for speech surpasses even the great Bill Clinton. Whether anyone wants to believe it or not his Oratory talent is more responsible than anything for getting him where he is. The power to inspire and motivate the masses into action is a power like no other. This will be the reason that this President will have the power of mass following and dogma and, because of which, this President will have power like we have yet to see in this county. The ability to make the speech, in todays politics and media environment it is the talent that must go before all others for anyone seeking office, a hard lesson learned this past year for the Republicans. Like a jedi, He is able to move others in ways that are mysterious and inexplicable. What remains to be seen is, what side of the Force is he on?

holly roller
you are odious offensive and ignorant
aND DO U LIVE ON A TREE

i agree i like obama for his principles but he has very limited vocabulary and his oratory is rather very limited if any -he is facing the tele and has lots of moments where hw stops to find the next thing to say

but at least he can talk without being coached even if it is rather drab

clinton and bush were just parrots -they spoke others dictations

there is no hope for anyone with a mind in politics -days of julius ceaser are gone