Democrats who have been clamoring for more tough words, less poetry and hard-hitting attacks on Republicans got exactly what they wanted tonight in Barack Obama's acceptance speech in Denver.
Clearly conscious of the charge that he is an empty suit devoid of specifics, Obama delivered a laundry list of agenda items. In short, he defined change instead of just calling for it.
And Obama devoted much of his text to direct attacks on expected GOP nominee John McCain, while forcefully countering charges aimed his way.
If one word could sum up this speech -- and the mood of many voters -- it was when Obama decried what he labeled as Washington's failures of the past eight years and all but shouted, "Enough!" The powerful way in which he delivered that word echoed around the stadium, ringing ears and raising cheers among this crowd of 85,000.
In short, Obama played street-smart offense and defense in this speech. No empty rhetoric this time. More prose than poetry. Perhaps he plans to save the lofty stuff for if he gets the chance to deliver an Inaugural Address.
Now on CQ Politics: Full Speech Text

Comments
Hey, What can I say but:
"Yes We Can"
Posted by: Karolenna | August 28, 2008 11:13 PM
Spike
As i've said several times it is the venue, an open stadium doesn't hold the noise in like an arena does.
If this had been held back in the convention hall the place would still be rocking but the stadium is now almost empty. People came to see the event and went home like a football game.
Jack
Posted by: whskyjack
| August 28, 2008 11:18 PM
Dog yet the place emptied out in 15 min.
Strange
Jack
Posted by: whskyjack
| August 28, 2008 11:19 PM
Hey Lush,
All those that came for the free entertainment, somehow stayed for the sermon.
Posted by: Rezdog
| August 28, 2008 11:20 PM
And, to think about it...McSame can't even fill a stadium in Dayton, OH that holds about 10,000. They are saying he can't even get the people to attend!!!
Poor McSame!
Posted by: Karolenna | August 28, 2008 11:20 PM
Jack -- Dog yet the place emptied out in 15 min."
No beer in the venue...
Posted by: spike | August 28, 2008 11:21 PM
Spike
A bad mistake then.
alcohol and politics a natural combination.
Jack
Posted by: whskyjack
| August 28, 2008 11:23 PM
I didn't think the speech met the standard of Tuesday's and Wednesday's. In trying to hit every base, he added content from months ago that is really stale and, in a sense, discredited.
The fireworks were limp in comparison with what we saw during the past couple of weeks out of China. And, of course, it was simply impossible to achieve the massive choreographed production that occurred there. Was it a good idea trying when critics would certainly draw unfavorable comparisons?
FWIW, Bill Kristol thought it was great. I usually disagree with him and tonight is no exception. I thought it was a magnificent historic spectacle, but not a great speech so far as content was concerned.
Posted by: Flatus
| August 28, 2008 11:27 PM
Craig -- "Clearly conscious of the charge that he is in empty suit devoid of specifics... In short, he defined change instead of just calling for it."
Craig, agree with you, but I think would have been much more powerful if it wouldn't have been a laundry list. I don't think it wouldn't have been to far to combine the rhetoric he's known for with the specifics he laid out.
Posted by: spike | August 28, 2008 11:28 PM
Hell I wouldn't buy their $5 beer even on per diem, I'd head to the car for my cooler lol
Posted by: Rezdog
| August 28, 2008 11:29 PM
have at it, folks. Craig has left the building
Posted by: Craig Crawford
| August 28, 2008 11:29 PM
This was as perfect a speech as any politician has given this political season. BRILLIANT!
Posted by: Denni
| August 28, 2008 11:30 PM
Man, poor GOP, who'd want to follow this week, they better hire those guys for their hurricane dance (KGC). LOL
Posted by: Rezdog
| August 28, 2008 11:31 PM
Craig,
You've already partied too much. Sleep it off!!
Posted by: Karolenna | August 28, 2008 11:31 PM
MSNBC reported that they're bringing in GOPers from other cities to fill up the empty seats that McCain can't fill.
Posted by: Denni
| August 28, 2008 11:32 PM
Wonder how the environmentalist are reacting to Obama's pledge for off-shore drilling and nuclear power.
Posted by: spike | August 28, 2008 11:32 PM
The GOPer on CNN has just said that the Republican who hadn't been picked as the VEEP is lucky.. now THAT is high praise.
Posted by: Denni
| August 28, 2008 11:33 PM
"The speech was like a symphony" paraphrasing D Gergen
Posted by: Rezdog
| August 28, 2008 11:40 PM
Are environmentalists opposed to nuclear or just nuclear without concern to safety?
The healt care remarks seemed to forbode a coming fight with the insurers.
Posted by: Brian H
| August 28, 2008 11:41 PM
Well done, Barack Obama! Time to move forward and seize the opportunity to kick John McCain's butt and sweep the Republicans out of office at all levels.
Posted by: eprof2
| August 28, 2008 11:41 PM
KGC......article on basket weavers......
http://www.charleston.net/news/2008/aug/28/basket_weaving_endures_from_african_tool52170/
Posted by: sturgeone | August 28, 2008 11:52 PM
This is the most complete and clear War Cry Since WWII.
I'm satisfied. that man is a brilliant strategist and this is a campaign with very few mistakes.
Brilliant Convention and congrats to all concerned!
Posted by: Chef Sheila | August 28, 2008 11:54 PM
To paraphrase MY favorite POTUS:
He was not the first choice. But he is the last one and the right one."
"What do you say, Democrats? You up for a good fight?"
~Gidget
Posted by: Gidget
| August 28, 2008 11:56 PM
What do you say, Democrats? You up for a good fight?"
~Gidget
YES WE CAN! YES WE CAN!!!!
Posted by: Chef Sheila | August 28, 2008 11:59 PM
All those right leaners at CNN are speechless after Gergen goes on and on about the success of the Demo convention and how the GOPers can't match it.
Posted by: Rezdog
| August 29, 2008 12:00 AM
YES WE CAN!
YES WE CAN!
YES WE WILL!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Denni
| August 29, 2008 12:02 AM
Yeah, but. . . .
Posted by: Rezdog
| August 29, 2008 12:06 AM
What a terrible convention;
No beer available,
Fireworks were limp
Everyone left early
All those important thingys
Posted by: Rezdog
| August 29, 2008 12:17 AM
But Rez,
Your missing all the fine points ;0)
Posted by: Chef Sheila | August 29, 2008 12:20 AM
I'm listeing still on CSPAN and the sound is gorgeous. I'm exited at the sound....
Posted by: Chef Sheila | August 29, 2008 12:22 AM
later
Posted by: Rezdog
| August 29, 2008 12:25 AM
Fired up he was, and he delivered the speech well. I like the side profile we were afforded on TV ... it made Obama look even more serious and intense.
I sincerely hope the push from Iraq into Afghanistan bears success, and Obama seemed to take on the old Bush promise to smoke Osama bin Laden up outta that cave. I sincerely hope he gets that job done without sacrificing more thousands of American troops to do it. I also hope his anti-Iran saber rattling is just words.
Flatus, I feel ya, but nobody expected China-Olympics style fireworks; my god!---in the history of the world nobody has EVER witnessed that type of majesty.
The Denver bash was OUTSTANDING...even though I am jaded...I was so confident Kerry would boot the scoundrel out in 2004, and I was even more confident in the summer of 1988 when Mike Dukakis had a SEVENTEEN POINT lead over old man Bush. I know we have a tough fight on our hands.
GREAT JOB from Denver, Mr. Crawford!
I just wish Dr. Hunter S. Thompson could have driven in from Woody Creek to see this....to me, the fireworks were a tribute to him.
Posted by: Dexter
| August 29, 2008 12:36 AM
I came back because I didn't want to leave a wrong impression since I'm sure some have one.
My point was best stated by Al Gore. It's about the status quo that no one in both parties want to relinquish. Make of that what you will.
Posted by: Rezdog
| August 29, 2008 12:40 AM
One of my favorite lines:
Change doesn't come FROM Washington...it comes TO Washington!
YES!!!
Posted by: Gidget
| August 29, 2008 12:41 AM
Thought for sure the campaign would pivot from "Yes We Can!" to "Yes We Will!" as part of this speech...
Posted by: spike | August 29, 2008 12:42 AM
SoetorObama's Info Suppression
========================
"Stanley Kurtz's appearance on the Milt Rosenberg radio program in Chicago last night provided an unsettling look into the authoritarian tactics being employed by the Obama campaign to stifle and intimidate its critics.
One female caller, when pressed about what precisely she objected to, simply replied, "We just want it to stop!" Another angry caller was asked what "lies" Kurtz had told in any of his reporting on Barack Obama. The thoughtful response? "Everything he said is dishonest." The same caller later refused to get into "specifics." Another gentleman called Kurtz "the most un-American person" he'd ever heard."
http://media.nationalreview.com/post/?q=ZmRhYmE3NzFlMTljNTdmZGQ3MjhkYTVjNzdmMjVhMzE=
Posted by: GORDO | August 29, 2008 12:47 AM
DEV-
I don;t recognize the music but (I'm on a theme here)but I would have used the song track from The West Wing and The American President!
~Gidget
Posted by: Gidget
| August 29, 2008 1:07 AM
GORDO for Prez 2008
Posted by: champ | August 29, 2008 1:33 AM
If folks were looking for a game chaser, they got one.
Posted by: Nik T. | August 29, 2008 1:35 AM
Obama Lawsuit
===========
What happens if Obama is removed as the Democratic Party nominee
"We are receiving many emails asking what happens if in fact Senator Obama is forced to step down or is removed as the Democratic Nominee. For this reason, we have posted the Democratic National Comittee's 2008 Call Rules and
Regulations pertaining to replacement of a Democratic Nominee.
In particular, page 19, Section "G" states:
G. Filling a Vacancy on the National Ticket: In the event of death, resignation or disability of a nominee of the Party for President or Vice President after the adjournment of the National Convention, the National Chairperson of the Democratic National Committee shall confer with the Democratic leadership of the United States Congress and the Democratic Governors Association and shall report to the Democratic National Committee, which is authorized to fill the vacancy or vacancies. "
http://obamacrimes.com/index.php/component/content/article/1-main/10-what-happens-if-obama-is-removed-as-the-democratic-party-nominee
Posted by: GORDO | August 29, 2008 1:51 AM
Recommendation:
I saw a really good movie this evening..Don Cheadle in Traitor..Excellent!!!
Posted by: Oregon Democrat | August 29, 2008 1:56 AM
NEW THREAD
Posted by: Craig Crawford
| August 29, 2008 2:17 AM
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