Posted on 02/03/2009 8:49:14 AM PST by Lucky9teen
Baltimore, Md. - George W. Bush's last State of the Union message was interrupted with applause nearly 70 times. His speech was just 53 minutes long, which means clapping (much of it awkwardly partisan) halted proceedings every 45 seconds or so.
For Barack Obama, a rhetorical master in his presidential honeymoon, it should serve as impetus for change.
When he delivers his major speech to the joint session of Congress later this month, he has an excellent opportunity to restore dignity by actively discouraging superfluous applause. If he succeeds, he can stop this high-profile stage for the world's model for democracy from sinking into a Soviet-style sham.
It can and should be changed, and if a new precedent is to be set, the initiative must come from the president. It helps immensely that we now have a president with a sense of style as well as a self-confidence that seems to need minimal stroking.
Obama has pledged repeatedly to change the tone in Washington. His effort to promote a dignified atmosphere for his joint-session speech would go a long way toward doing just that. In addition to letting members of Congress know now, he could reiterate the request for minimal applause at the beginning of the speech.
If he feels compelled to follow recent tradition and introduce some notable figure in the audience, then let them be applauded. Otherwise, there are important things he needs to tell us in these difficult days and the 10 percent or more of the available time that otherwise gets devoted to applause can be put to much better use. Perhaps even for spelling out ideas and plans that will warrant one genuine and credible bout of "stormy, prolonged applause – all rise – and shouts." At the end of the speech.
(Excerpt) Read more at csmonitor.com ...
“a rhetorical master”
bwa ha ha ha.
Translation. I’m an empty suit and distractions may cause me to loose my train of thought.
So many things to remember. When to clap, when to goose step, when to yell “Sieg Heil”.
He's said to be a master debater
He’s a master at everything even baiting a hook on a fishing boat. he’s a master baiter.
Yeah, he’s also said to be a uniter.
He’s neither. Cocaine messes up the thinking pretty bad. They’ll keep him well away from anything unscripted.
This speech will simply be Obama back in campaign mode - making promises he will not keep or will use to bait and switch.
Take away his freeky teleprompter and see how much of a rhetorical master that joker is.
“that seems to seems to need minimal stroking”
“He’s said to be a master debater”
And women like him because he can “turn a phrase”.
He’s a cunning linquist.
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