This ran on Jimmy Fallon’s show last night. And it certainly does not inspire confidence. Of course, it wasn’t meant to.
For those interested, the actual speech went like this:
Not a great improvement. Whatever happened to that inspiring orator we first heard back in … 2004, delivering that rousing keynote address at the Democratic National Convention:
Well, I say to them tonight, there is not a liberal America and a conservative America — there is the United States of America. There is not a black America and a white America and Latino America and Asian America — there’s the United States of America.
I don’t imagine any of us is that idealistic these days.
He almost uninspired me, but on this topic I didn’t need any rhetoric to bolster my opinion that we need positive actions. And we need them now.
We needed them 50 years ago when the hippies first started hugging trees. We’re way behind the curve on this and I honestly worry that we can’t (or won’t) do what needs to be done fast enough to save the planet we know. To be honest, I’ve no doubt the planet will survive, even if only as a barren rock. It’s the survival of mankind that’s at stake.
No offense intended, but I thought Barack explained it well. The watershed that feeds the Everglades is where Florida gets its water. Unfortunately, the GOP, the party of “no”, has effectively conditioned many people to turn off their brains on conservation and ecology. People are inclined to take the easy way anyhow. When they turn the tap, water comes out. Problem? What problem?
Soaring rhetoric is wasted when the audience is unreceptive and might even be counterproductive if its touted as tree-hugging overreaction, and it would be.
Oh I’ve no doubt he understands the problem. I just thought it was funny the way Fallon edited it. And I’ve no doubt the people of Florida understand. After all, when the seas rise, they’ll be the first to go.
My particular problem is understanding why people believe that career politicians (1) know what they’re talking about and (2) are honest.
Well, now, see, there you go poking holes in the last few fallacies upon which this great nation is built. Cuz nobody seems to have noticed we put the climate change deniers in charge of the science committees, and the pro-lifers in charge of the medical technology committees. And as for honest politicians, just ask the Koch Brothers and Sheldon Adelson. They’ll tell you their boys in Washington are the most honest politicians money can buy.
Sigh.