Posted on 01/24/2003 5:08:21 AM PST by SJackson
Oratory is no longer taught in the schools, and few politicians practice it, which is probably a good thing.
Not many people go to speeches anymore; they hear their political campaigning via soundbites, which isn't quite the same thing.
Yet those people who do show up at speeches, especially presidential campaign speeches, invariably show up to be inspired, and they are almost invariably disappointed.
Running for president is such a high stakes game, in which a single mistake can ruin you, that most candidates opt for safe, pre-digested, previously tested rhetoric, instead of soaring prose.
There are always exceptions, and these exceptions always wow the crowd. But then what?
The Democratic Six Pack -- and the number will probably grow by one or two in coming weeks -- is not strong on oratory. All are capable of delivering a decent speech, and all will probably get better as the campaign progresses.
But as the Democrats showed Tuesday night when they addressed a NARAL Pro-Choice America dinner celebrating the 30th anniversary of Roe vs. Wade, there are two among them who can actually rouse a crowd.
They are Howard Dean, former governor of Vermont, who is a very longshot to win the nomination, and Al Sharpton, civil rights leader, who could probably win the nomination only in some alternate universe.
It is a phenomenon the Republicans experienced in 1996 and 2000 with Alan Keyes. He was always the best speaker, he always wowed the crowd, he never failed to impress, and he had no chance of getting the nomination.
So what are the rest of the Democrats to do? Just watch Dean and Sharpton blow them away on the stump?
Probably. Or they could refuse to show up at too many more of these group dinners. (Dick Gephardt has already turned one down in New Hampshire in February.)
"Both Dean and Sharpton completely pander in every speech they give," a political operative for a competing campaign said. "Especially Dean. He goes to the left and excites the base. But that makes it very hard for him to win a general election."
Dean, of course, is not worried about a general election. He would be daffy with delight if he managed to win the nomination.
But what the operative was saying is that candidates with no hope of winning can afford to be reckless and candidates who may have to face George W. Bush or even govern cannot be.
"In order to get nominated and elected, you have to demonstrate a broader reach than either Dean or Sharpton," the operative said. "Sharpton is very entertaining, a motivating speaker. But is he as intense as Jesse Jackson was? Will he really do well with Southern blacks?"
The operative thinks -- hopes -- he will not.
(Excerpt) Read more at jewishworldreview.com ...
Clinton divided the country into democrats and others. Gore did much the same. Sharpton is a racist and Dean merely spouts the same old rhetoric while all hit truly below the belt at a President who has won the respect of a country, while he is trying to win a war against terrorism and keep America solvent at the same time.
None of these “wanna be president” have anything to suggest as an improvement other than to promise cradle to grave government care. Someone should point out to these addle brained nincompoops that America is a REPUBLIC not the Welfare or Socialist country they would turn it into were they given the chance. You will notice not one of the democratic contenders stand for American Sovereignty or in any way honor our United States Constitution. They think the UN is paramount in any and all decisions.
The Democratic Party is no more; it is made up of questionable people who want to be in government for the money – not to better America – but for the betterment of a few friends, special interest and for the wealth they can steal from the people through taxes and land.
These are not leaders who believe in Americans or care a whit about them or the nation, these are people who are willing at all costs, to put America last and themselves first. The President’s first responsibility is to protect American citizens by upholding our Sovereignty; keeping the nation together as one Nation not dividing it up into slices for the rest of the world. The DNC has lost its moral compass and has become something akin to the Third World mentality it emulates through crime and corruption NOT through honor and integrity for the nation.
Ms. Brazile sees her party clearly.
Of course the democrats have no vision. The few visions they had were all shattered on 911 by brutal reality. So its back to the old week-to-week, event-by-event, poll driven and media lying existance. Its plainly obvious that they have no vision except to be in power and control the money of tax paying citizens.
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