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NOTE ON DAVID BROOKS' POST CONVENTION OP-ED:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/29/opinion/29brooks.html?em
Hmmm David Brooks' op-ed today feels a little harshly cynical and comedically tone deaf. I understand the impulse to bring Obama back down to earth: to mock the messianic overtures and to expose what is purely partisan in the lofty post-partisan rhetoric--but this effort seems a bit mean-spirited and simply not that funny. I'm frankly surprised. I have a lot of respect for David Brooks as a smart and fair-minded non-believer and have found myself largely--if reluctantly--in agreement with him on a fairly regular basis. But i really think he missed the boat on this one. I'm not convinced that it's impossible to write jokes about Obama, but David Brooks certainly hasn't cracked the code.
MILE HIGH MOMENT: DNC CLOSING NOTES
Obama did an excellent job showing his mettle and concretizing his proposals. He eschewed the soaring rhetoric and did what he needed to do--sort of like a boxer winning a clear and convincing if not spectacularly crowd-pleasing decision. All in all: a very solid, workmanlike once-in-a-lifetime historic performance.
The introductory film did a great job of humanizing him and placing him in the context of his humble beginnings. Put a little flesh on the bony enigma. Hung a little narrative on the ethereal abstraction.
Loved the pre-emptive strike against McCain's fear-mongering tactics. Loved him directly challenging McCain on the topic of who would make the better Commander-in-Chief. Loved the reminder that no political party has a monopoly on patriotism. And loved the compelling refutation of the absurd charges that he is just another big celebrity. Also really liked the claim "America we're beter than these last 8 years."
That said: Some minor cavils: While it was understandable that he sacrificed poetry for policy and inspiration for information, I sort of wished that I'd felt as moved by this speech as I had felt listening to some of his previous speeches and had felt watching the little intro film last night. (And yes, in this nitpicking I do feel a bit like one of those annoying gymnastics color commentators who, after a thoroughly impressive routine, can't stop talking about the tiny technical errors that separated the performance from perfection.)
I still get really uncomfortable about Obama's protectionism. It feels like intellectually dishonest pandering-- a small betrayal of the themes of truthfulness and respect that have been essential to his campaign. But I understand that it's probably necessary to get him elected.
And I wasn't a big fan of the classical Greek setting and the huge open air arena. Not so much for the grandiosity as for the fact that it seemed to remove him from rather than connect him with his live audience.
Love the PBS crew--and will miss them. Jim Lehrer, Mike Shields (a delightful cross between John Kerry and a basset hound.) David Brooks and the sundry political historians. With all due respect to the tirelessly self-promoting blowhards from CNN, THIS is the best political team on television.
All of this said: My honest feeling is that Obama should simply put his little girls in every single ad and have them say "Vote for my daddy. He'll be a great president." If he were willing to shamelessly exploit those little angels for political ends, i can guarantee he would win the election by a landslide. They are a force that is simply irresistible and unopposable. Karl Rove would be powerless against their charms. Even white southern bigots would find themselves riding the O train.
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Posted on 8/29/2008
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