tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5393996338560944889.post8300213237532634912..comments2024-03-02T02:26:00.928-05:00Comments on bleakonomy: Obama's Rhetorical Superpowerstetracontadigonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04604381739383227553noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5393996338560944889.post-25572997406588356142009-01-21T09:53:00.000-05:002009-01-21T09:53:00.000-05:00Elizabeth:Here's my two cents --First Penny: I th...Elizabeth:<BR/>Here's my two cents --<BR/><BR/>First Penny: I think there have only been three good inaugural addresses in the history of the USA, including Washington who gets points for limiting himself to about 150 words. The reason is that the inauguration itself is the focus, not the speech. As a priest, I never preach more than 2 minutes at weddings, because the sermon shouldn't be the focus of the wedding; I think the same holds true for inaugurations. The actions -- the procession, the vows, the parade -- are the focus. Words are really secondary, or even tertiary.<BR/><BR/>Second Penny: I think a lot of folks expect Obama to be more fiery than he is. His tradition isn't fiery Baptist or Methodist rhetoric; it is Hawaiin cool-ness, a powerful mode that relys on low-affect (foreign to much of the continental US). Most of the US wants Jonathan Edwards (18th century, not 20th century, Edwards) 'sinners in the hands of an angry god' excitement; Obama is much more, well, Zen.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com