Quick political post
Jul. 30th, 2004 11:45 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
eee1313If your opinions differ from mine, skip this. I'm also cut-tagging it so you don't have to read it if it's just going to piss you off.
Okay, so. Kerry last night. I was impressed. First and foremost, because he's an amazingly good public speaker, especially when compared to Bush. Bush is the WORST public speaker I've ever heard. I'm not exaggerating for once, either. And I've judged high school forensics competitions. Seriously, someone should sit Bush down and give him basic public speaking lessons. You do not ... pause in the middle ... of a sentence ... for no reason. Although with him, I honestly don't believe he's doing it for dramatic effect, I think he just can't read off a teleprompter that quickly. Which makes me sad.
Now that my rant about Bush sucking at public speaking is done, I have to say that Kerry's speech made me happy. I know it's complete naivity (sp?) to think that everything Kerry promised will happen. Tax cuts for the middle class? Someone tell me how that's any different from Bush Sr.'s promise of "no new taxes!" all those years ago. (Side note: I remember watching that speech with my dad, and I turned to him and asked, "Who's going to fall for that?" I was in the sixth grade at the time.) But for some reason, when Kerry says this shit, it makes me happy.
Maybe it's because he sounds like he honestly wants to unite the nation. Religion isn't something for right-wing crazies. Family values aren't something for right-wing crazies. Tolerance and acceptance isn't just for left-wing crazies. These are American values, and I'm glad he said it that way, because that's what this country stands for. And I'm glad someone is putting it that way. And I like the slogan that "American can do better." Because right now, this country probably looks like a bully, or that snotty girl who cuts people down, or that executive who thinks that he doesn't have to play by the rules. This country isn't perfect, to outsiders and to many Americans. So I'm glad that someone is seeing the faults in our country, and wants to improve. It's naive to say that we're at the top of our game, because we're not.
In other news, Bush has a new refrain for this leg of his re-election campaign. "We've turned a corner, and we're not turning back." Hmmm. Does that sound mildly threatening to anyone else out there? Then again, I'm biased.
So, yeah. Kerry actually made me not hate the government. I took his words with a grain of salt, but that's better than the salt lick I normally need in order to swallow Bush's rhetoric. That's a good thing, right? Let's hope...
Okay, so. Kerry last night. I was impressed. First and foremost, because he's an amazingly good public speaker, especially when compared to Bush. Bush is the WORST public speaker I've ever heard. I'm not exaggerating for once, either. And I've judged high school forensics competitions. Seriously, someone should sit Bush down and give him basic public speaking lessons. You do not ... pause in the middle ... of a sentence ... for no reason. Although with him, I honestly don't believe he's doing it for dramatic effect, I think he just can't read off a teleprompter that quickly. Which makes me sad.
Now that my rant about Bush sucking at public speaking is done, I have to say that Kerry's speech made me happy. I know it's complete naivity (sp?) to think that everything Kerry promised will happen. Tax cuts for the middle class? Someone tell me how that's any different from Bush Sr.'s promise of "no new taxes!" all those years ago. (Side note: I remember watching that speech with my dad, and I turned to him and asked, "Who's going to fall for that?" I was in the sixth grade at the time.) But for some reason, when Kerry says this shit, it makes me happy.
Maybe it's because he sounds like he honestly wants to unite the nation. Religion isn't something for right-wing crazies. Family values aren't something for right-wing crazies. Tolerance and acceptance isn't just for left-wing crazies. These are American values, and I'm glad he said it that way, because that's what this country stands for. And I'm glad someone is putting it that way. And I like the slogan that "American can do better." Because right now, this country probably looks like a bully, or that snotty girl who cuts people down, or that executive who thinks that he doesn't have to play by the rules. This country isn't perfect, to outsiders and to many Americans. So I'm glad that someone is seeing the faults in our country, and wants to improve. It's naive to say that we're at the top of our game, because we're not.
In other news, Bush has a new refrain for this leg of his re-election campaign. "We've turned a corner, and we're not turning back." Hmmm. Does that sound mildly threatening to anyone else out there? Then again, I'm biased.
So, yeah. Kerry actually made me not hate the government. I took his words with a grain of salt, but that's better than the salt lick I normally need in order to swallow Bush's rhetoric. That's a good thing, right? Let's hope...
Yakgirl's thoughts
Date: 2004-07-30 08:05 pm (UTC)If I were evaluating him as a judge, I'd say he needs to cut out all the pausing. Or at least keep it to the ends of sentences, and if he can't do that, phrases (if he knows what those are). Second, what the hell is with the hand gestures? Especially the one where he subsitutes a closed fist with a thumb sticking out for a pointed finger. Dude, I know it's rude to point, but come on! You look like a moron. Third, try working on pronunciation. If you can't say the name of the country/leader, perhaps you should see someone at Sylvan. Other things to work on? Um, overall lack of conversational or otherwise interesting tone, clear and honest eye contact, and any variation in inflection and rate of delivery. In short, sign up for Speech 101 at your local community college, Mr. Pres. It would do you a world of good.
I think some, and please note-- SOME-- of what he says is well-written (see speech to Joint Session of Congress, Sept. 21, 2001), but it's not like he's the guy writing the speech on a napkin on the way to Gettysburg (ala Lincoln). I actually think that many Americans overlook his shitty speaking style because they think he's the one that wrote his speeches. And what does that say about Americans? Maybe you're right about many of his supporters being slack-jawed yokels.
Re: Yakgirl's thoughts
Date: 2004-07-30 08:16 pm (UTC)HA!