[meandog]

McCain's speech was a great milestone in the respect it was aimed at Americans rather than Republicans. Admittedly, he isn't glib, and he isn't the orator that Obama is...but he's genuine. But great speeches are not always made by great people, i.e. Hitler (Ein Rich, Ein Volk, Ein Fuhrer), Mussolini (famous 1925 speech to the Italian Chamber of Facists), by Lenin and by Americans such as Wallace ("segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever")...

The best presidents IMHO haven't been great speech makers. Eisenhower was a terrible speech maker, so was Truman.

I remember how estatic the (media said the public) was about Mario Cuomo's speech to the Dem convention back in 1984 on behalf of Mondale, how disappointed it supposedly was with Reagan. How Michael Dukakis was a great speaker and how ineffective was Bush 41. Guess speeches aren't everything...

McCain will be just fine...can't wait for the debates!

[gswilder]

It was more of a presidential speech to all Americans, vs a rallying speech to the republicans.

While watching it, I thought it started slow. Great middle portion, where McCain gave substance on the differences between his plans and Obama’s. And such a strong, touching, ending. Powerful ending.

At times, if you closed your eyes, it almost sounded like Reagan speaking. Don’t misunderstand, I am not claiming McCain is Reagan.

However, after re-reading much of the text of the speech, I must say it was better than I first thought. There is a lot of powerful stuff in McCains speech. A lot of depth and complexity, that I did not hear or understand fully the first time.