Credit where credit is due

[JDPriestly]

I personally did not like Obama's speech, but one thing he did was very, very good.

He asked people to call their members of Congress and request them to support a compromise plan.

That was one of the smartest things he has done thus far.

His request was doable by almost everyone and it gave everyone an opportunity to take action and not just sit and smolder.

That was smart, and he should make more similar very specific appeals.

A general appeal to people to write or call is not very compelling, but this appeal was constructive.

[gateley]

1. Agree - it was a great move.

I didn't DISlike his speech, kind of meh, even though he said some really good points. I just respond much better when he's just "talking". But people sure heard that clarion call, loud and clear! :thumbsup:

[Ship of Fools]

2. I liked his speech not so much for what he said

but for the tempo of it. He moved it along at a much faster speed than the speeches he normally delivers, and it kept MY attention for that reason. He also jumped right into the heart of the matter w/o too much information up front, again possibly losing attention of listeners.

I sometimes wish he'd invest in some acting lessons. I used to love the pragmatic, unemotional delivery, but I think he needs to bump it up now, BIG TIME.

Just one woman's opinion.

[gateley]

3. I think you present an excellent point -- the pace and w/o

too much info. The Republicans give us bullet shot sound bites, and we're all over the place. So yeah, that was a plus, too!

He's good giving rousing speeches, and my fave - speaking extemporaneously and interacting with people, but the statements like this one, need to be a little zippier -- I agree.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

4. It was a needed reminder to the population that they have a responsibility to act

Many people only go to vote and then do nothing else in regards to the government of this country. Far too many more don't even bother to vote. If nothing else, it did remind people they have a voice, and how to use that voice. Which is never a bad thing in a democracy.

[JDPriestly]

6. Right. It is also a way of reminding people that we are all

responsible for the decisions of the government. And that is why I criticize so much I guess.

But Obama was very smart to ask people to call.

I'm sure there were a lot of angry calls, but now is the time to express that. It is better than the situations in some countries in which people were not warned early enough.

I wish that the Bush administration had been more responsible about warning Americans that our debt was getting far, far, far too high -- especially personal debt. We should be rewarding Americans for saving if only pennies.

[jtown1123]

5. I don't like telling us that we need to compromise on a bad plan, but yeah, reminding people

to call their reps is important. However it pissed me off that Jay Carney said he didn't know what constituents calling the White House were saying. Just goes to show they aren't listening to us...

[deaniac21]

7. Wish we were talking about debits.

[EFerrari]

8. He told people to ask for the wrong thing

but encouraging people to call was a good move.