Does Anyone Else Feel Obama Is Holding Back His Fireworks?

[DrFunkenstein]

Whatever the actual consequences of such a strategy, I can't help but feel that Obama has been intentionally playing it low-key and allowing HRC to take the frontrunner spot (and suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune) while he paces himself through the marathon.

Did David Axelrod learn something about the ebb and flow of campaign timing? Does he have a candidate with the talent to actually such make a lesson a practical strategy?

I'd be lying if I said I knew the answers.

But I'll tell you that very few people, despite our political junkie disbelief, are paying attention. Those who will pay attention at all remember Obama the same way that I do - from the keynote speech at the 2004 convention for Kerry (and maybe his Monday Night Football spot).

As someone who loves great speeches - I highly recommend William Safire's well-chosen anthology, and the iTunes "Great Speeches in History" podcast - I would have to say that was one of the truly great speeches in American history.

Since then, however, he has not breathed oratorical fire, even when he himself admits that he can easily "gin up" a crowd. In fact, he has pretty much kept things on a low simmer, even as he rakes in impressive contributions.

I suspect that his lackluster debate performances are not a strategy, but perhaps a difficulty with the format. Many of the greatest novelists couldn't write a decent short story, or a poem.

Nevertheless, I still suspect that he is keeping his rhetorical guns holstered with what I imagine is remarkable discipline.

I could be wrong, but I have a hunch that I'm not.

[aquart]

1. "Allowing"?

Why, then, he'll win. Won't he?

[Lucinda]

2. Well if he is, I don't know what he's waiting for

[Forkboy]

3. He's playing it well, I think.

He's still sitting on a mound of cash (I just saw my first Obama ad tonight).The pace will pick up now, and we'll see what he has, but I see no need for anyone to think he's not going to make some serious noise over the next three months.

[Captain_Nemo]

4. HI lackluster performance in the debates is indicative of not being ready.

Bush was also bad in debates. Atrocious, really. And look what we got.

[Capn Sunshine]

6. first off, those are not actual "debates"

and secondly, Obama HATES the debate format. He wants to be with the people.That's where he is at ease. The people have responded. More individual donations than any other candidate.

Last night our movement hit some landmark goals: more than 500,000 donations from more than 350,000 people.

We also got news yesterday from Iowa -- we're leading in the latest Newsweek poll of likely caucus-goers. Here's the breakdown:

Obama: 28%
Clinton: 24%
Edwards: 22%

And our lead climbs to 8 points when first and second choices are combined.

[Captain_Nemo]

8. They are debates and a clue as to what is to come. He's not ready to lead.

Fact is - he can't beat the republicans. And I actually like the guy (except for his male dominated religion that he likes to showcase) I think he has a good mind. He's not ready for prime time though. And if we lose this election we are really screwed - the stakes are too high for Obama as the nominee.

[Capn Sunshine]

10. "Fact Is"??????

Where are you getting your facts?

Head to head, Obama beats every potential R candidate out there
So does Hillary
So Does John Edwards

[Captain_Nemo]

15. We haven't seen what the RNC is gong to dredge up for us. IT will be big. They are desperate.

I have seen enough of his floundering in this campaign to know that he is not ready. Enough to say - "Fact is, he can't beat them."

[BenDavid]

27. I agree, Obama not ready to lead, and

of course if he cannot answer a question in a general setting,then when he does go one on one with HRC she will hand him his butt.....

Ben David

[Odin2005]

41. "Fact is" Fact? FACT? Quit confusing your OPINIONS for facts.

Especially that very low and disgusting slam at his religion.

[ElizabethDC]

16. Whether Obama likes the debates or not,

he's still going to have to participate, and people are still going to judge him based on his performance.

[hisownpetard]

19. Please do not compare Obama to Bush in any way. Intellectually, Bush doesn't

come up to Obama's ankles!

[Captain_Nemo]

21. I know Bush IS an idiot and Obama is smart. However,

He doesn't have enough of a foundation of political thought and experience from which to speak from. Look how the republicans attacked Bill when he went into office? The Clintons fought back and won. Obama won't be able to run the country and fight back.

[DrFunkenstein]

23. Actually, I'm Thinking He'd Be Able to Make Moderate Conservatism Fashionable

If he becomes the nominee, I am sure he would become the President against whomever the GOP holds their nose long enough to nominate.

And my guess is that this beloved-of-Oprah skinny guy with the funny name will set a tone in Washington that will marginalize the nutballs across the aisle and make room for more moderate voices from the Republicans.

Although I would always prefer a Democrat, I would certainly like to see more principled Republicans coming to the fore of their party after years in the wilderness.

I don't know about the other candidates, but I think Obama has a decent shot at making that happen.

It would be crucial to pushing through any major changes to our health and energy policies, let alone our foreign relations.

[Captain_Nemo]

32. I htink an Obama presidency would be a Jimmy Carter redux; 4 years Obama and 12 republican

afterwards. The stakes are way too high now. We need a candidate who is a Mack truck, not a Mini cooper.

[hisownpetard]

34. Funny example - but I don't know how Hillary would react to being called a Mack truck. nt

[Captain_Nemo]

36. All good points. Particularly, "set a tone in Washington that will marginalize the nutballs across"

the aisle and make room for more moderate voices." Sounds good but I still think its a fantasy. The neocons have so divided us that I do not think someone like Obama (whose outsider status reminds me of Carter) can inspire that in these republicans. The fight is going to be on. And it will be vicious. I still believe she can handle it and still create the change we need. I think we are beyond inspiration. We are fighting for the survival of our republic.

[venable]

5. maybe what he is showing is what he's got...

what makes you think there is some oratorical or strategic genius there. maybe what we see ARE his fireworks.

maybe he is just a smart, good candidate and this is what we are seeing. he is no more nor less than that.

[illinoisprogressive]

7. You are right. His advisors have said the campaign planning

is geared for voting in Jan. not in Sept or Oct. they wanted to keep him from peaking too soon. And Obama has laid this strategy out with them. Don't worry he is doing fine. He won't put on the fire to please a bunch of bored pundits.
Remember, this is truly a marathon. You have to pace yourself and then pour it on in last few laps.
His debate appearances are not geared to his style. They are geared to the scripted sound bite politician.
Obama is authentic and unscripted. To give a credible answer to complicated issues, his style is to talk honestly and not in scripted sound bites. When he is in a smaller debate forum he is devastating to the other candidates. he is very deadly. But, in a 30 sec. sound bite style with 10 other candidates, his style cannot be effective.
he is simply too honest and authentic for it.

[Captain_Nemo]

9. This photo of him makes him look like a preacher....yeech.

[jillan]

12. I have been wondering what is going on in that picture.

I can't quite figure out what he is doing.

[Captain_Nemo]

13. I htink he is trying to channel his male god in the sky.

[jillan]

22. Or trying to ignite those fireworks?

[ElizabethDC]

18. That was exactly the same thought I had!

I thought, he looks like some sort of faith healer.

[Captain_Nemo]

20. And it is funny that the people who like him so much think of themselves as so

liberal and progressive. They completely ignore Obama's male God talk. It personally offends me. Her response was great when asked about her religion. Senator Clinton said she was taught that religion is a private matter.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

[hisownpetard]

24. That "private matter" answer was just a cop-out. It's not a private matter when you're

running for office and, personally, I'm sick of middle of the road non-answers
from people who are always weighing how many votes they may lose or gain.
Just answer the question, will ya?

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

[Captain_Nemo]

31. The use of religious preference in US politics since the eighties has been a way to corner

a candidate on positions of abortion and gay rights. She absolutely answered correctly. It will be a good thing when religion is not used (the way it has been used since the eighties) in our politics anymore. It hurts women and gay people. It is time for all politicians to stop dividing our country with religion.

[hisownpetard]

33. I completely agree with what you said. But I also believe that sometimes Hillary's answers

are too 'studied,' too designed. Many people perceive that as insincerity or
an unwillingness to be transparent.

[Captain_Nemo]

35. Yes, I agree with your position. I can see that. I see her flaws. But, an Obama candidacy scares

the hell out of me.

[hisownpetard]

37. What aspect of it scares you? n/t

[Captain_Nemo]

39. He doesn't have the experience . The stakes are too high right now.

[DrFunkenstein]

11. I Can't Help But Wonder When Those Smaller Debates Will Come

My guess is that everyone will hang in there at least until the first round of primaries. By that time, the circus may already be over.

I would love if they broke up the candidates into random groups of three (maybe with some wild cards, since I forget how many people are actually running).

I am a total political junkie, but I've pretty much skipped the debates because they are a)idiotic, and b)idiotic.

I love, love, love debates - the kind that Jon Stewart longed for on his Crossfire appearance - but the ivy-league media cannot seem to work its way out of this closet.

So, I have to say that I wonder when Obama would get that national platform to show off his rhetorical biceps.

I think a one-on-one debate between the front runners would be must-see TV, and I'm pretty sure I know who would come out on top.

But, for now, I can only dream of well-crafted anaphora and epistrophe.

[jillan]

14. You should watch them - you learn alot.

This last debate was the worst one yet - but it was also the most informative.

[hedgehog]

17. Damned if you do, damned if you don't

If he did "gin up" his crowds, the MSM would be nattering on about how he is just a rock star and not presidential!

[demigoddess]

25. fireworks, what fireworks?? I like the guy but have the feeling he does not

know how to fight any more than Kerry did. Both good gentlemen and true, but not fighters. People say they hate Hillary, but at least you know she will put up a fight, even if she has to be gracious on the surface.

[hisownpetard]

26. I think you're mistaken. I feel certain that Obama would not turn away from a fight;

he's just being a gentleman for as long as he can be, until the gloves have to come off.

[2rth2pwr]

28. I remember all the talk about how Kerry was going to

"really bring it, just wait you'll see."

[Naturyl]

29. So far, Obama bores me to tears.

He's supposed to be this amazingly inspiring orator, but so far I've found it difficult not to fast-forward through his segments in the debates. Kucinich, on the other hand, has been on fire. Why no one is talking about his oratory skills is beyond me, unless it's just simple media bias. Dodd and Biden are both sharp speakers as well. But Obama and Hillary have been about as forceful and persuasive as damp cardboard. I'm still waiting to see what all the Obama fuss is about.

[emilyg]

30. Hillary makes my heart sing.

[Colobo]

38. Obama inspires a new generation.

[Naturyl]

40. I must be an old generation, then.

I'm willing to be convinced by Obama. But he needs to start doing it.

[Clintonista2]

42. Obama's fishing for a spot in Hillary's cabinet. nt.

[ellacott]

43. I can't see Obama as part of HRC's cabinet n/t

[Clintonista2]

44. Neither can I, but that's apparently not deterring him from trying. nt.

[ellacott]

45. There is no proof that he's trying

It's in the minds of many people who are assuming this but nothing has been said by him.

[ripple]

46. That's absurd.

Obama is clearly in this to win...and he's starting to step up his criticism of the Clinton legacy and Hillary's irresponsible IWR vote. If what you say were true, he would be toning things down, not amping them up.

There's no way Hillary would ever allow herself to be overshadowed by an Obama VP, anyway. And if he were VP, she most certainly would be.

[ellacott]

47. Also, many of the Dems who are endorsing her want those positions

If he doesn't become President I would like to see him run for Govenor of Illinois.

[ripple]

52. I think I could get behind that

I'd definitely prefer that to him continuing as a Senator, anyway. The longer he's in the Senate, the more material he gives to those who wish to distort his record.

[Clintonista2]

48. Obama "outshadows" Hillary?

:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

Remind me again how he's doing in the polls lately? :rofl:

[ripple]

50. There is no doubt that he is more publicly appealing than her

Hillary's popularity in the polls is largely attributable to people seeing a Hillary presidency as a right of passage, not so much because she has the sort of charisma that makes people flock to her. She has been heavily promoted within the state parties (largely due to past ties with Bill, rather than her own attributes), which only reinforces her implied status as the dem nominee.

There is an "it" factor that plays into Obama's extensive grassroots support and it's something that no amount of money or political influence can buy- Obama has it and Hillary doesn't.

[ljm2002]

49. IF that's what he is doing...

...then I have to say, the last thing we need is another "keep the powder dry" Democrat.

From what I've seen, he doesn't tend towards fireworks. He really is low-key, and he really believes, in spite of all evidence to the contrary, that it is possible to indulge in bipartisan politics without undercutting the Democratic position. In other words he's foolish and naive, politically speaking.

We need a fighter, not a conciliator. Maybe, once the Neocon / American Heritage / Federalist Society axis of evil is crushed and ground into fine dust and used for fertilizer *, that might usher in an era where a person of Obama's bent would be a fine candidate. Until then, please please please do not inflict another wuss on us. Please God, no.

=====

* Metaphorically speaking, of course.

[Tellurian]

51. I'm beginning to think Obama didn't write the 04' speech, someone else did...

Obama has been unable to strike a similar cord in his speeches since then.

People will remember his faltering debating skills. That's the big takeaway from the debates.

[Clintonista2]

53. Nah, I think he wrote it. He just doesn't seem so charismatic when placed side by side with

Hillary.