There is so much to say about the recent S&P downgrade of the United States’ creditworthiness, and it’s pretty much all been said. Hell, it had all been said a month ago. However, I happened to be listening to the radio yesterday when President Obama’s speech (finally) began, so I paid attention, mostly out of morbid fascination.
Now did you monitor the markets at all yesterday? Would you say investors were jittery? Would you say the country was rattled? Even given the seriousness of the situation, that should not have been a difficult speech to give. It was a time for a president to speak of what is right and good about America. It was a time for a president to speak of America’s resilience. It was a time for a president to remind us of the things that unite us. It was a time for a president to calm and inspire.
So, of course, Barack Obama, demonstrating all the awareness and nuance of a warthog in a cottage garden, wagged his finger and moaned “they started it.”
Again.
Given Obama’s campaign, I remain amazed at how badly he speaks day-to-day as president. It’s like there’s a switch on his back with two settings: “transcendent visionary” and “boorish dickhead.” For a guy who’s supposed to count oratory among his strengths, he’s never had even loose command of the feel of presidential rhetoric. He’s clearly aware that he has the largest audience in the world, but I think he thinks that’s enough. He doesn’t get that he really needs to be above typical verbal sniping in a speech like that. He doesn’t get how the power of the bully pulpit works.
Even the President of the United States must persuade. The traction comes from making that initial positive impression on a large number of people—there’s that audience size thing—and putting those people to work for you. A president’s position lives or dies in the following hours and days, as we talk to one another. I think Obama doesn’t get that. I think part of him is genuinely flummoxed as to why what he says isn’t eagerly and immediately accepted.
(It’s that same part of him that probably wondered what the big deal was when he said “I won.”)
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I know many of the bloggers and some pundits I read are not old enough to actually remember hearing Jimmy Carter’s Malaise Speech and how that was such a watershed moment where the populace pretty much had had enough. At the time, the speech was reported as being “well-received” and a blip upward in his approval rating happened.
People remember the feeling they had when a leader gives a WTF speech. I can’t even tell you what he talked about during the Iranian hostage crisis, but I do remember that Malaise speech and how it made me feel so dejected.
I think that’s how this president’s speech will be remembered, as the “It’s their fault” talk.
I sought Carter’s malaise speech out after Rush talked about it. It was really something else. My impression was “wow, I wouldn’t follow this guy to the concession stand, much less to a Greater Tomorrow.”
I no longer fear any sort of “pivot” faux-centrism. Obama is too stupid and self-absorbed to understand the concept.
And what’s intriguing about that particular speech is that Carter entrenched himself with advisors for something like a week to figure out what needed to be said.
Now, that is an interesting tidbit, because I’ve heard/read more than once that Obama’s not much of an advice-seeker. (Rather easy to believe.)
I think you hit the nail on the head with “Even the President of the United States must persuade.” Not only must he persuade, he must believe in it himself. There is a fundamental disconnect when Obama talks about the United States. Even though he says the words about it being a great country, you get the feeling he doesn’t believe it. That to him, we’re no better than any other nation and definitely worse that most of Europe for all our “inequalities” that he wants to fix. There is no pride in his voice, in his manner, when he talks about America, not even when he says “God bless America.” He mouths the words he’s expected to say.
Miria, your comment is devastatingly accurate and thoroughly depressing.
I see how we got here. I hope we’re smart enough to get out.