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Obama may have lost the 'magic,' but he's gained something else

BY Tom Tangney  on September 7, 2012 @ 4:48 am (Updated: 12:57 pm - 9/7/12 )

cedargrove
Obama may have lost that "magic" he was so praised for when he first ran for office four years ago but he can now replace that with experience. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

Obama's speech was fine but not an especially overwhelming speech.

Maybe after two conventions worth of these things, I'm suffering from speech overload, maybe a little bit of Obama-speak overload, but much of what I heard from the president Thursday night sounded awfully familiar. At least until the end, there wasn't a lot of the soaring rhetoric that he's so famous for.

Maybe that was the president's point. He may have lost that "magic" he was so praised for when he first ran for office four years ago but he can now replace that with experience. The president cast himself as the voice of experience.

After listing what he considers his foreign policy successes, from getting out of Iraq to the killing of Osama Bin Laden, he then chided Mitt Romney.

"Now we have a choice. My opponent and his running mate are new to foreign policy, but from all that we've seen and heard they want to take us back to an era of blustering and blundering that cost America so dearly. After all, you don't call Russia our number one enemy - not al Qaeda, Russia - unless you're still stuck in a Cold War mind-warp."

But with experience also comes humility.

"I'm no longer just a candidate, I'm the president," said Obama. "And that means I know what it means to send young Americans into battle, because I've held in my arms mothers and fathers of those who didn't return. I've shared the pain of families who've lost their homes and the frustration of workers who've lost their jobs, and while I'm very proud of what we've achieved together, I'm far more mindful of my own failings, knowing exactly what Lincoln meant when he said, 'I have been driven to my knees many times by the overwhelming conviction that I had no place else to go.'"

This was effective because it not only suggests that prayer is deeply personal for him but it also addresses a criticism from Republicans - that he's arrogant.

And to make sure he didn't drag us all down with his speech, he at least ended it with the classic uplift we expect from him.

"America, I never said this journey would be easy, and I won't promise that now. Yes, our path is harder - but it leads to a better place. Yes our road is longer - but we travel it together. We don't turn back. We leave no one behind. We pull each other up. We draw strength from our victories, and we learn from our mistakes, but we keep our eyes fixed on that distant horizon, knowing that providence is with us, and that we are surely blessed to be citizens of the greatest nation on earth."

Read full transcript of Obama's speech

By TOM TANGNEY, 97.3 KIRO FM host

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David Boze: Obama's oratory seems faded in Clinton's shadow

Dave Ross: President Obama has a tough sell, and he knows it

Tom Tangney, KIRO Radio Host
Tom Tangney is co-host of KIRO Radio's Seattle's Morning News and resident enthusiast of...everything. He loves books, movies, TV, art, pop culture, politic, sports, and Husky football.
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Comments (110)


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  • SeattleNative wrote...
    Let's give credit where credit is due
    September 7, 2012 8:51 am
    Withdrawal from Iraq: was Bush's timeline

    Killing of OBL: intel came out of Bush Administration policies and strategy

    Obama had the jobs numbers before taking the podium. For some odd reason he did not mention them in his speech.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • William Lawn wrote...
    Yup, three years after he left office
    September 7, 2012 8:56 am
    Bush got OBL.

    You guys are just priceless.

    Is that anything like Romney's retroactive retirement?

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • HPD 5-0 wrote...
    And did Barry jump out of a helo w/ an M4 over Pakistan?
    September 7, 2012 9:53 am
    Come on. The plan was set. If it went well, Barry gets the credit. If it didn't some general would take the fall. We all now it. Some of us accept it.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • itiswhatitis wrote...
    Seriously?
    September 7, 2012 10:12 am
    If this happened during a GOP admin. They would be touting that as the sole reason for reelection. If any of the "accomplishments" over the last 4 years happened to a white President, he'd be a hero (and yes, I'm white). Let's face it, the GOP is jealous because the first black POTUS fixed all their messes as best he could. Four years ago, he said it wasn't going to happen overnight and he was right, but at least things are turning around, slowly, but still in the right direction. Everyone expects instant gratification but things like this can't get fixed overnight.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • GloScot wrote...
    He set it up, it is...
    September 7, 2012 10:25 am
    True, he did say it wasn't going to happen overnight, but he said if he didn't fix this in three years he would be a one-term president. He set up the expectation. And, really, your accusation of racism is tiresome. It's a desperate one's trump card when they have nothing better. The Republicans and Democrats have had black candidates before (Keyes, Jackson, Cain and even have entertained Powell) but it still comes down to a left-wing ideology that we're fighting against.
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  • HPD 5-0 wrote...
    things are turning around, slowly, but still in the right direction.
    September 7, 2012 7:46 pm
    Dude...we...are...BROKE...and...the...Chinese...OWN US. Heeello?!?!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • William Lawn wrote...
    No, I think according to SeattleNative
    September 7, 2012 10:14 am
    Bush did.

    Some General would take the fall.

    Like one did for Jimmy Carter?

    If that raid had gone bad, Romney would be up by 10 points.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • rational wrote...
    William Lawn
    September 7, 2012 3:33 pm
    I realize you're too dense to grasp it, but he didn't write that Bush got OBL, he wrote that Obama was only able to get him because of the intel (from what liberal refer to as torture, btw) that came from the Bush admin.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • montgomerywhittlock wrote...
    If the Republicans ever come up with a new idea
    September 7, 2012 9:16 am
    I'll vote for them again. Guess who said this: "We have seen tax-and-tax spend-and-spend reach a fantastic total greater than in all the previous years of our Republic. Behind this plush curtain of tax and spend, three sinister spooks or ghosts are mixing poison for the American people. They are the shades of Mussolini, with his bureaucratic fascism; of Karl Marx, and his socialism; and of Lord Keynes, with his perpetual government spending, deficits, and inflation. And we added a new ideology of our own. That is government give-away programs…. If you want to see pure socialism mixed with give-away programs, take a look at socialized medicine." If you guessed Herbert Hoover you would be right! Republicans haven't had a new idea since 1929. Maybe that's why they want to take us back in time to the good old days. Not all Republicans suck however, Eisenhower started the biggest infrastructure program in the nation’s history – the National Interstate and Defense Highway Act, which replaced America’s two-lane roads with 40,000 miles of straight four and six-lane highways. He signed into law the National Defense Education Act, which trained a whole generation of math and science teachers, and upgraded American classrooms for the future. The Federal Housing Authority subsidized home ownership. The Defense Department spawned future technologies in aerospace and telecommunications. So, did the U.S. turn in to communist Russia? Did socialism take over as Hoover predicted? No...the economy soared, median wages rose faster then ever, and America's working class and the poor moved up. Of course, Eisenhower in todays Republican party would be called a pinko, communist, socialist. Lame. The party of Lincoln has turned in to the party of whackos.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • GloScot wrote...
    Which is funny, Montgomery...
    September 7, 2012 10:16 am
    The current crop of Democrats have overturned DOMA (Clinton signed it), DADT (Clinton signed it), can't balance budgets (Clinton and the Contract Republicans hammered out those) and can't reverse the downward spiral. I must mention, too, that Clinton said abortion should be safe, legal and rare. The current platform takes out the rare part. Makes me wonder how Clinton could have ascended the stage and even thought about defending his party and the clown posse when they're undoing and are against everything he did. See, I am conservative but can see success and give credit to whom credit is due. The truth is, every politician since Roosevelt has subscribed to Keynesian thought. The question every four years is who's doing or going to do less damage. That's why the balance keeps shifting every four years. To answer your question, has socialism taken over. Ideologically, yes. These Dems continue to push wealth distribution and class envy and entitlements that have produced and extremely large percentage of our society living off the government. I believe people are getting tired of it, though, and the proof was in 2010 when the Dems were trounced and moderate Republicans were soundly defeated, too. We have to get our financial house in order, and it's not happening under Obama.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • montgomerywhittlock wrote...
    Only Republicans refuse to evolve.
    September 7, 2012 11:06 am
    DOMA and DADT were stupid policies best left in the 90s. Join us in the 21st century, the water's fine. Gays don't bite, unless you want them to (and many Republicans do). The last Republican president to balance the budget was Eisenhower, and again, he'd be considered a communist by today's Republican party. How bold of you to give Clinton credit for the policies you agree with. We have to get our financial house in order is just another slogan. That's all the conservatives have. Outdated slogans and ideas. I could give two flicks of bicks pen about the word rare. I said it yesterday, I'll say it today. The same group of people who think corporations should be able to govern themselves, refuse to give women the same rights. Just because abortion is legal doesn't mean there are long lines outside abortion clinics. It's not a party. It's a very personal choice and you don't get to make it for me and neither should the government.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • GloScot wrote...
    Monty...
    September 7, 2012 11:55 am
    Man, I give you props and you give me anger. Nice... I do give a couple of flicks of a pen for the word rare because now the Dem platform is abortion on demand. You call it personal choice. I call it murder when it's on demand. I have to disagree with you on my financial house slogan. You watch. WHEN Mitt is president and he starts slashing and burning programs, you will see Democrats whining and complaining. There isn't a social program they don't like and will fight to death to keep it even if we can't afford it. In short, you Democrat party has revealed itself to be a party that doesn't want God or anyone who acknowledges Him, doesn't want safe, legal and rare abortion but abortion on demand (so a party that could give a rat's behind about the innocent), doesn't care about debt but will continue to rack up trillions in the same way previous presidents have done regardless of party and will turn its back on its allies, namely Israel. The Democratic Party is morally bankrupt. Perhaps the Republican Party is, too, but what I saw during the conventions is that there were more in the Republican Party who want to turn things around, dissolve debt and get things solved instead of putting heads in the sand, shaking their fists at God and smile while agreeing to killing babies -- all while saying God Bless America at the end of every speech. God isn't going to bless a nation that doesn't honor Him.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • montgomerywhittlock wrote...
    I do appreciate that you are not so hateful.
    September 7, 2012 12:47 pm
    And believe it or not, I do respect your opinion. I'm Catholic and I make no apologies for that or for my stance on abortion, primarily because my sins are between me and my God. But personhood laws are dangerous. Last month a 16 year old girl died in the Dominican Republican because she was pregnant, with cancer and the doctors wouldn't give her chemotherapy for fear she might abort. As a result, both mother and fetus died. I don't shake my fists at God. I struggle with my beliefs everyday. I ask for forgiveness everyday if I'm wrong. But to give power to a government over my body goes against everything I believe as a citizen, a woman and a Christian. My body was a gift from God to me. So I decide. Nobody else, certainly not the government. That's my biggest problem with the Republicans. They want government out of everything, except women's bodies and gay people's bedrooms. I do honor God, in my own way. By being the best Christian, but truth be told, I have the hardest time finding Jesus' teachings in the conservative platform.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • GloScot wrote...
    Too bad we can't meet, Monty
    September 7, 2012 1:23 pm
    You sound like someone who I would enjoy a friendly debate in person. It sounds like we have principles in common. These chat boards throw up barriers on our views of delivery of those principles. I want government out of my affairs, too, but I am certainly not going to authorize willingly a government to devalue life like I see the pro-abortion bunch do, all in the name of personal choice. I am glad to see you say you honor God in your way. He says to love Him and your neighbor as yourself. Jesus added that if you love Him, keep His commands and do what He says. I know for sure He sees the sins of abortion and homosexuality as the same sins that separate us from him. But they still are sins, nonetheless, and we can't whitewash them and say that they are no one else's business.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • montgomerywhittlock wrote...
    I agree. And thank you.
    September 7, 2012 1:36 pm
    It's not often I can have a decent back and forth with someone. These boards make it easy to get snappy and ugly. I'm guilty of that myself. In the real world it's not like that. I have conservative friends (good, good friends) and I don't call them evil and they don't call me communist. We forgive and we live and we love. We disagree on a lot, but we are kind to one another and I would give my life for all of them. Everytime I leave the boards I leave with bad taste in my mouth. That didn't happen this time. Thank you for that.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • itiswhatitis wrote...
    He at least keeps it real
    September 7, 2012 11:14 am
    I understand what people do to get elected, but I also know that most of the time that the promises are just that, promises. If it happens, good, if not, try again. I look at the person. Honest, thoughtful, does think about everyone. I don't get that warm fuzzy from Mittens.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • rational wrote...
    itiswhatitis
    September 7, 2012 3:40 pm
    I don't get that warm fuzzy from Mittens.

    I don't want warm and fuzzy from the president...I want honest, rational and competent. I don't get those from Obama.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • HPD 5-0 wrote...
    I don't get that warm fuzzy from Mittens.
    September 7, 2012 7:51 pm
    You want warm and fuzzy, call your mom. I want smart, competent and realistic. I want someone who will do what has to be done for our future. I do NOT want a celebrity. I do not want someone who's more focused on being on "THE VIEW" than leading. We have the latter. I want the former.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • SeattleNative wrote...
    And yet, Lawn...
    September 7, 2012 10:17 am
    ...democrats are still blaming this economy on Bush. Even though democrats handed Obama EVERYTHING he wanted in his first two years as POTUS.

    All Obama did was give the green light to go after OBL. Good for him, good for us. But it was the mechanisms that the Bush Administration put in place that found him.

    So let me hear you deny that the Iraq withdrawal was Bush's timeline...

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • William Lawn wrote...
    Since you are giving Bush credit for the OBL kill
    September 7, 2012 10:20 am
    It stands to reason he is responsible for the deficit and the unemployment rate.

    Sounds fair to me.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • fartforce1 wrote...
    Thats because we are not stupid.
    September 7, 2012 10:20 am
    If I dent a car and sell it to you, did you still make the dent? Do I get blamed if I dont fix the dent quick enough? Republicnas gave us a slow motion car wrek, jumped out of the drivers seat and said, make sure the new driver fails! and now that the wrek has stoped complain that there was an accident and refuse to take ANY ownerhsip AT ALL. Thats why we dont want to give the keys back.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • HPD 5-0 wrote...
    Thats because we are not stupid.
    September 7, 2012 7:53 pm
    By "we" you can't be referring to the left.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • fartforce1 wrote...
    You should only vote for a president based on how good his conventions is...
    September 7, 2012 10:17 am
    forget a partys history of election fraud, voter tampering, poll closing and redistricting, their inability to balance a budget and work accross party lines, inclusion of racist party membership, their desire to not work in peace with other nations and instead use vauge threats and blustering, their continual drive to war and war profiteering. No, its all about the how well they smile and lie on TV.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Gate Keeper wrote...
    Deja Vu all over again
    September 7, 2012 11:27 am
    Watched / listened to joltin Joe Biteme and afterwards dragged out my old copy (vinyl)of Firesign Theater "All Hail Marx & Lennon" album and wadda ya know it was the same!!!!. Then out comes B. Hussein Kardashian Obama and "channels" Jimmy "peanut" Carter for 40 minutes. Wow ! What a coupula maroons, and the petulant slack jaw audience swooned (libs operate mostly on emotion). BHKO is done as POTUS and he knows it and he has already blamed his supporters: "Hope & Change wasn't about me, it was you.".
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Sonics79 wrote...
    There's nothing you can say ...
    September 7, 2012 11:52 am
    There's nothing you can say to change the mind of a Republican. You counter points with tangets, facts are lies, experience is liability, do nothing but point fingers, and diversity is a bad thing. You guys never talk about helping your fellow man. And that's what Obama's speech was about. United we stand, divided we fall. And you guys are doing your damndest to divide and conquer and just take care of your own interests. You complain about socialism, what I'm seeing from the other side is borderline fascism.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • dbhawkfan84 wrote...
    OBAMA DOESN'T HAVE A CLUE
    September 7, 2012 12:03 pm
    IDIOT!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Gate Keeper wrote...
    Change?
    September 7, 2012 12:05 pm
    Hey Sonic, why on earth would I want to change my mind? I Love living in "Realville" working for a living, being self reliant and self assured, rational critical thinking switch turned on, generous on my terms, not the gummint's and certain that God will have my back, not some overbearing central gummint populated by braying union goons. Sounds pretty good doesn't it?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • kata wrote...
    Obama is out of ideas.
    September 7, 2012 2:55 pm
    Despite all the theatrics he's managed to get nearly everything he wanted passed, passed. And like undercooked spaghetti, nothing is sticking. Green energy is going nowhere because its still too expensive and inefficient. The stimulus was a total bust. Obamacare is unpopular. He rode the wave of rock star passion, glitz and dazzle - and then when the momentum stopped he just dog paddled in circles letting Ms. Jarret, Mr. Panetta, and The Clintons do all the heavy lifting while his cabinet all went off and built their own private sand castles. I honestly didn't think we could do much worse than Bush - but I was proven wrong.

    He was not and still isn't leading this country - he's dividing it every chance he gets. He doesn't have the respect of his peers. He takes petty opportunities to humiliate his rivals - and even the media that loved him and wanted him to "slow the rise of the oceans and heal the earth" - is barely keeping him afloat. But he still has the (D) next to his name and despite the fact that's the only "magic" he still has - I think people will still vote for him.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • fartforce1 wrote...
    AJ
    September 7, 2012 4:58 pm
    Look UP!
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