The International House of Bacon

Obama’s relative rout is news in itself, but I’m having flashbacks to the 2004 Democratic National Convention. Another speech that everyone is fawning over, and I feel like I’m completely missing the boat.

Yes, Obama is an excellent speaker - especially in contrast to Bush’s lack of skill in this area. But where’s the meat? Is it not chilling to anyone else to see crowds of people going crazy for idealism and generalities?

I don’t know. Melvin Udall had an often brilliant takedown of Obama’s speech last week that, at times, seemed to put into words my discomfort with a lot of Obama’s speeches, namely that he’s able to mask the very specific problems he introduces with amateur populism masked in the always-constant change mantra.

More and more, I find myself begging for a candidate who’ll say “My goal is to leave you alone as much as possible, and to convince Congress to do the same.” This sort of thing? Can’t end well.

EDIT: My reaction in 2004 to the convention speech. Interestingly enough, he was just as nondescriptin 2004 as he is today.