(Edited) tSomethings President Obama added to his speech at Tucson.

[denem]

He was going to say:

I want us to live up to Christina's expectations. I want our democracy to be as good as she imagined it. All of us – we should do everything we can to make sure this country lives up to our children’s expectations.

IWhat he said was

I want to live up to her expectations. I want our democracy to be as good as Christina imagined it. I want America to be as good as she imagined it. All of us – we should do everything we can to make sure this country lives up to our children's expectations.

The words I want to live up to your expectations. I want America to be as good as you imagine it to be. pierce my heart.

That children grow up so quickly reminds me of our compromises, the absences, the long hours at work, the bittersweet appointments with 'quality time'.. For those like myself, who saw too little of my father when I was growing up, the burden, the guilt is always there.

For a President, the burdens of office are immense. Being familiar with his life story, I am most touched when reminded that his struggle for identity is found in family. He spoke yesterday of the American family 300 million strong, and the families there enduring tragedy. As President he is absent while his own daughters are in the cross hairs. Campaigning or overseas, there is always the possibility that his children will be left without a father. He said:

Perhaps we question whether we are doing right by our children, or our community, and whether our priorities are in order. We recognize our own mortality, and are reminded that in the fleeting time we have on this earth, what matters is not wealth, or status, or power, or fame – but rather, how well we have loved, and what small part we have played in bettering the lives of others.

The office of the Presidency provides a singular opportunity to better the lives of other. The President's work offers an opportunity to express in a unique way his hopes, his love, his dreams of a brighter future for his American family, In the sacrifices of Public Office, Barack Obama expresses in the most tangible way, his love and concern for Malia, and Sasha, and the possibilities of life.

God bless you Mr President.

[ZombieHorde]

1. You're fantasizing about talking to the President's children?

Seems kind of weird.

[StopTheNeoCons]

2. OP seems spot on, I cried last night when he talked about the little girl

I knew he was talking about his own daughters, he grunted twice at one point, he was getting choked up but he recovered.

ZombieHorde, do you have any kids? The original post was very sweet, why must you post something stupid?

[Phx_Dem]

3. You could definitely see the emotion when he spoke about Christina.

[Papagoose]

4. President Obama is known for speaking words that have meanings between the lines

At this point of his speech I felt like he was speaking about Christina Greene, Sasha & Malia, and my own daughters.

I felt overwhelmed briefly.

I sat today thinking about the profound responsibility I have to my children to make this country worthy of their expectations and how I, no matter how futile it may feel sometime, must make the effort to work towards making this a better country.

All of us know that the division and polarization is dangerous - a vigorous debate is healthy - but the direction we are headed is poisonous. I truly believe "our side" is not nearly as guilty as the "other side", but that doesn't matter. I've committed myself to try my best to avoid the name-calling and anger that I know I am guilty of and I am thankful to President Obama for reminding me of why this is important - for Christina Greene, for Malia and Sasha Obama, for my daughters and for the sons and daughters of America.

[denem]

5. If I took an overly intimate perspective, I apologize..

I want to live up to your expectations. I want America to be as good as you imagine it

... is audacious as hope can be, an impossible standard for any President, let alone a man confronting our current circumstances. That children grow up so quickly reminds us of our compromises, the absences, the long hours at work, the bittersweet appointments with 'quality time'.

For those like me, who saw too little of my father when I was growing up, the burden, the guilt is always there.

For a President, the burdens of office are immense. Being familiar with his life story, I am most touched when reminded that his struggle for identity is found in family. He spoke yesterday of the AMerican family 300 million strong, and the families there enduring tragedy. As President he is absent while his own daughters are in the cross hairs. Campaigning or overseas, there is always the possibility that his children will be left without a father. He said:

Perhaps we question whether we are doing right by our children, or our community, and whether our priorities are in order. We recognize our own mortality, and are reminded that in the fleeting time we have on this earth, what matters is not wealth, or status, or power, or fame – but rather, how well we have loved, and what small part we have played in bettering the lives of others.

The office of the Presidency provides a singular opportunity to better the lives of others, his work a unique opportunity to express his hopes, his love, his dreams of a brighter future for his American family, In the sacrifices of Public Office, Barack Obama expresses in the most tangible way, his love and concern for Malia, and Sasha, and the possibilities of life.


OK, I am soppy maudlin wreck at times, but this is how I feel.