Not bad. Good touch.

(via Instapundit)

He almost lost me… had me booing at the screen… near the beginning when he made what I thought were a couple unfair cheap shots at McCain… and during the riff ripping Republicans for advocating economic policies that told people “you are on your own”. That reminded me just how many issues I actually disagree with Obama on.

But then he started the section on foreign policy and he brought me right along. And then he started on his post-partisan message and he once again had me completely. Yes, clapping, cheering, even some tears. This is the stuff that had me in 2004 and made me say then that Obama would one day be president. No… had to one day be president.

In the end the speech as a whole had a lot of policy. More than I needed. But as the single event of his that more people will be watching than any other, it made sense that it was there. And deflects the “no substance” attacks.

And for that matter he systematically included bits to deflect almost all of the current attacks against him.

The build up and rhythm was not as intense as the 2004 speech, or even some of the speeches during the primary. But… but… there was something more important here.

He looked Presidential. Completely. Totally. This was almost not a campaign speech. This was almost a State of the Union speech. He was confident. He was in his element. He was in control. He knew what he believed and he knew what needs to be done. I disagreed with him on a variety of things. But even on those things, he was strong, commanding… and convincing… on some things he even made me start wondering he is right and I am wrong.

He was not just someone to have a beer with, or a competent administrator, or a nice guy. He was a leader.

This is what a President should be.

The big speech starts soon. I just moved from my office down to the family room to watch it on the projector. Obama’s head will fill my entire wall. Unlike many of the other speeches, when it starts I will shut down everything else to be sure I am paying 100% full attention for the length of the speech. After all this build up it better be good. :-)

I saw this delegate on CNN right after Hillary’s speech. I made a note to check YouTube for it later. I’m sure CNN intentionally found the most upset distraught Hillary dead ender they could find. But it still made for a compelling few minutes of television. And perhaps some insight into the subset of the Hillary folks who are not ready to fully support Obama.

Lifting from the comments on my Gustav Again post so more people will see it. My Curmudgeon’s Corner cohost Ivan is currently in Jamaica as Gustav approaches.

He makes this report:

Live reporting here from Jamaica. It’s gotten quite windy but nothing really serious yet as I am on the western side of Jamaica. The airport here in Montego Bay is closing in about 30 minutes and the hotel has hunkered down for the storm. I am not concerned about the storm where I am staying, this hotel was built in 2000 and unlike most other resorts this one Hurricane glass all around and is built out of reinforced concrete. The main building is at least 25 feet above sea level, at least, so storm surge is also not a concern. All the furniture has been collected outside and everything has been secured and battened down. We actually went on a plantation tour all day and just got back into the hotel to be greeted by the General Manager who told us to not be concerned. In Jamaica the locals expect wind and rain but at tropical storm strength no devastation.

Speaking of New Orleans the truth is that this just highlights (and I guess it really needed it because everyone forgot) just how badly or nonexistent in some areas the recovery process has gone in New Orleans. It’s a fucking joke. The Levees are not fixed, a large percentage of housing is still uninhabitable, etc.. etc… In Florida we got hit by multiple storms over the same time that New Orleans got hit by ONE, JUST ONE and we are not in a fucking panic. The crime this administration perpetrated on New Orleans is outrageous, and maybe this is what’s necessary to highlight the fucking joke the recovery has been.

Editing a few minutes later to add: As of the 18 UTC NHC update, looks like for Western Jamaica where Ivan is, 70% to 80% chance of tropical storm force winds, about 7% chance of hurricane force winds. In New Orleans, 40% chance of tropical storm force winds, 7% chance of hurricane force winds.