Obama and Jindal's speeches of Feb 24th 2009.

[frigidmagi]

I did a Youtube search on both and this is pretty much what I found.

The President's speech is divided into 5 parts. Governor Jindal's into 2.

Obama Part 1

Obama Part 2

Obama Part 3

Obama Part 4

Obama Part 5

The rebuttal

Jindal Part 1

Jindal Part 2


Magi's Opinion:

Obama's speech covered alot of ground and has must be expected of he hit that ground running. While he does crack some jokes and towards the end breaks out the sap, for the most part the speech is forceful and serious. He outlines what he wants clearly and distinctly and manages to make a good case. He also invokes Theodore Roosevelt in his speech and I'm a sucker for that kinda of thing. The applause was thunderous and drives home just how big the Democrat presence in Congress is, a mere 4 years after it was widely believed in right wing circles that they were doomed.

Among the things he calls for are:

Carbon trade and capping.
Education reform.
Health Care reform.
Greater control over the banks and bailout spending.
Saving and creating Jobs.
Saving and protecting manufacturing.

Best lines in the speech for me?

"Dropping out of High School isn't just giving up on yourself. It's turning your back on your country!"

"Getting families involved in education isn't a democrat issue, it isn't a republican issue, it's an American issue"

Jindal I'm sad to say isn't anywhere close. It's not just me thinking that either, even Fox News gave him a negative rating. It's not just the to quick droning, he seems to have been transported from 1986 without a single change in his presentation. Which I think at this time is an utter misreading of the mood and desires of the country. Right now people want help and they believe their government, the single most powerful mortal agency in their lives should provide it. They do not want to be told that agency is the problem, nor do they believe everything will turn out fine without it.

This was his big intro to the country and he came off as kinda out of touch, without ideas and somewhat smug and over humorous. The rhythm and mannerism of the speech called for a Southern style down home folksiness that he just couldn't pull off. He would be well advised not to try that again I think.

Jindal himself said that the Republicans had a responsibility to be honest and forthright about their disagreements and try to present better ideas. As far as that statement goes, I agree with Governor Jindal, it's a pity he didn't actually do so in this speech.

[SirNitram]

I'm going to do something shocking. Agree with and quote Fox News and David Brooks.

'Sing-songy', 'a disaster', and 'tired old boilerplate'.

Jindal did the impossible. He made the purplish-line of McCain Voters/Obama Voters(Purplish, because they were red and blue, and always entwined) stop hugging the 95%+ mark on MSNBC's screen, and fall like a stone to 40s-50s INSTANTLY with his desperate attempt to tell his personal stories.

[General Havoc]

A New York Times columnist called the Republicans "Nihilistic" after listening to this speech.

I almost agree.

[Derek Thunder]

Dear Bobby Jindal

Re: Volcano monitoring funding

Sir,

Fuck you.

No, but seriously, to elaborate on this, while Obama's speech wasn't perfect (I agree with Paul Krugman that it was a little light on specifics), it set the right tone and an ambitious progressive agenda for the next four years. The republican response seemed to show that the party has learned nothing from 2006 and 2008.

[rhoenix]

Dear Bobby Jindal

Re: Volcano monitoring funding

Sir,

Fuck you.

No, but seriously, to elaborate on this, while Obama's speech wasn't perfect (I agree with Paul Krugman that it was a little light on specifics), it set the right tone and an ambitious progressive agenda for the next four years. The republican response seemed to show that those in control of the party have learned nothing from 1976 onward.

Fixed that for you.

[SirNitram]

Not true. They've learned lots of ways to focus-group, PC-ize, and re-brand even the most absurd stances to the point where it comes off as something entirely different.

[rhoenix]

Not true. They've learned lots of ways to focus-group, PC-ize, and re-brand even the most absurd stances to the point where it comes off as something entirely different.

Touche - they did gain a marketing department.

[General Havoc]

Indeed, I would say that they unlearned a significant number of things from 1976 with that speech.