Andrew Sullivan: Obama "the most lethal and remarkable Democratic figure since John F Kennedy."

[THUNDER HANDS]

It was a deeply substantive speech, full of policy detail, full of people other than the candidate, centered overwhelmingly on domestic economic anxiety. It was a liberal speech, more unabashedly, unashamedly liberal than any Democratic acceptance speech since the great era of American liberalism. But it made the case for that liberalism - in the context of the decline of the American dream, and the rise of cynicism and the collapse of cultural unity. His ability to portray that liberalism as a patriotic, unifying, ennobling tradition makes him the most lethal and remarkable Democratic figure since John F Kennedy.

What he didn't do was give an airy, abstract, dreamy confection of rhetoric. The McCain campaign set Obama up as a celebrity airhead, a Paris Hilton of wealth and elitism. And he let them portray him that way, and let them over-reach, and let them punch him again and again ... and then he turned around and destroyed them. If the Rve Republicans thought they were playing with a patsy, they just got a reality check.

He took every assault on him and turned them around. He showed not just that he understood the experience of many middle class Americans, but that he understood how the Republicans have succeeded in smearing him. And he didn't shrink from the personal charges; he rebutted them. Whoever else this was, it was not Adlai Stevenson. It was not Jimmy Carter. And it was less afraid and less calculating than Bill Clinton.

I've said it before - months and months ago. I should say it again tonight. This is a remarkable man at a vital moment. America would be crazy to throw this opportunity away. America must not throw this opportunity away.

Know hope.

http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/

[Colobo]

1. Obama is a once in a lifetime leader. An American icon in the making.

[lapfog_1]

4. A more perfect JFK... or Bill Clinton... -n/t

[roguevalley]

23. he is JFK with the personal life organized. Ted recognised his brother

in him all right.

[K Gardner]

2. "Know Hope". Next t-shirt in the making.

[LSparkle]

9. I fucking WANT ONE of those! And Andrew Sullivan is one of us ...

He may have been a Republican at one time, but he
was more a Maggie Thatcher Tory ... because in
Thatcher's time Britain may not have been a safe
place for a man like Sullivan; he appreciated her
"law and order" stance against violence.

But he identifies with Obama because, like him,
Sullivan is (as Patti Smith Group sang) "OUTSIDE
OF SOCIETY ... " Which is "WHERE I WANT TO BE"!!!

[berni_mccoy]

3. I was JUST Going to Post This. Andrew is ON BOARD!

[blitzen]

5. that's rather brilliant...and I couldn't agree more!

[Mojambo]

6. America would be crazy to throw this opportunity away. America must not throw this opportunity away

VERY well said.

[RoyGBiv]

7. I want to highlight this line ...

"What he didn't do was give an airy, abstract, dreamy confection of rhetoric. The McCain campaign set Obama up as a celebrity airhead, a Paris Hilton of wealth and elitism. And he let them portray him that way, and let them over-reach, and let them punch him again and again ... and then he turned around and destroyed them"

Rope-a-dope.

Many of us said that's what he was doing. Many of us. And we were shouted down, but there it is.

He's going to keep doing this, and he's going to keep knocking McCain on his ass, and McCain will not recover.

[americanstranger]

19. Damn straight, G.

I can't even count how many times I posted here that O was just giving McCain's boys enough rope to hang themselves.

Back when DU was going through twice-a-week anxiety attacks because O wasn't reacting to every little thing, there were a few here who recognized the tactic for what it was.

Nice to see we're vindicated.

- as

[RoyGBiv]

22. It is nice ...

It's nice to realize the trust I had in the candidate is vindicated.

:toast:

[gauguin57]

8. YES! It was a liberal speech, but it MADE THE CASE for its liberalism!!

Good point, Mr. Sullivan.

"... It was a liberal speech, more unabashedly, unashamedly liberal than any Democratic acceptance speech since the great era of American liberalism. But it made the case for that liberalism - in the context of the decline of the American dream, and the rise of cynicism and the collapse of cultural unity."

[gratefultobelib]

10. Brilliant response, Mr. Sullivan!

[Smarmie Doofus]

11. Don't run out of adjectives, Andrew. nt

[OwnedByFerrets]

12. Ty Mr Sullivan...welcome to the light...nt

[mzmolly]

13. Wonderful analysis

by Mr. Sullivan.

[Stern21]

14. K&R

Great analysis.

[chieftain]

15. Thanks for sharing this insightful analysis. It is one of the best

I have seen.

[nsd]

16. Kicked and recommended.

A brilliant, succinct analysis. America must not throw this opportunity away.

[ellie]

17. I have to agree

Obama answered every criticism. He detailed his plan and how he was going to pay for it. He talked about his life and the values he received growing up. There is no way people can say that they don't know who he is or what he stands for. I haden't listened to an entire speech of his before, and I am impressed. My sister called me up afterward in tears and my mom called me also to gush. It was a fantastic smack down of all the Republican attacks.

Oh yeah, and Al Gore rocks!

[NYCGirl]

18. Excerpts from emails to Sullivan:

"There is a fork in McCain's head and fat ladies are singing."

"If America votes for John McCain after hearing this man's vision, it truly isn't the country I think it is."


http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2008/08/email-of-the--3.html

[0rganism]

20. Sully's sure gone 180' over the last decade

This is a nice pundit pickup for the Dems, if it holds true. He has significant readership.

[polichick]

21. Like that one "regular" American said - we would be INSANE not to elect him!

[judasdisney]

24. Once-in-a-lifetime? Nothing some Cheney sleeper cells and False Flags can't overcome

[dickthegrouch]

25. We need to join this thread with ....

the one about complaining to the Associated Press about their hit piece link:www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x6803248

Andrew Sullivan is a Republican who is NOT afraid to tell the truth. Perhaps AP should employ him rather than the SOS we're all complaining about.

Throw this in AP's face.

Get Obama elected.