Sullivan Believes

Andrew was impressed. Every day we grow more impressed with Andrew. He's right. This was beyond a political speech. It was a sign that we can actually become a proud people again. We cannot disagree with a single word here.

If I needed reassurance that this man is the most formidable force in American politics today, his speech tonight confirmed it. It was shrewd - with an artful positioning on Iraq. It was graceful - with respect for McCain's service and Clinton's tenacity. It was brutal - in turning around McCain's Iraq visit meme to domestic economic woes. It was patriotic - in its evocation of Gettysburg and the Second World War. It was outer-directed: not for Obama the recourse to self-satisfied identity politics of the kind used by the Clintons because they often have nothing else. It was moving. I thought I even saw some suggestions of tears as he remembered his grandmother. It was also rhetorically more powerful than McCain - not by a small amount but by a mile. Put McCain's speech against Obama's - and this was a wipe-out. Not a victory. A wipe-out. Rhetorically, they are simply not in the same league. And if the contrast tonight between McCain and Obama holds for the rest of the campaign, McCain is facing a defeat of historic proportions.

One more thing: with McCain's and Clinton's speeches, you could not forget the politics of it. With Obama, you forgot about that at times. You actually lifted your eyes a little and believed a little and hoped a little.

Yes, he can. And anyone who under-estimates that will regret it.

He also had some choice words for Hillary's speech.

Comments

[Helena Montana]

Well! Mr. Sullivan has certainly come a LONG way in 8 years.

[Nancy]

Sullivan nailed it! One other thing Obama did in that speech - he brought in the way he really meant to describe the divisions, the things folks hold on to that got all that bitter crap started.

One thing we can do Hoff, besides the money, is not just complain when we hear these political pundits spouting off lies and "crap" - is to email them and let them know, that we the American people have Obama's back and they can shut up!

[Barry in Portland]

During the speech, I turned to my 21 year-old son and said "you are seeing History being made". I think he got it.

[the ponuppy of change you can believe in]

Well, it only took you guys 16 years to figure out "The Big Dog" and his wife. Not surprising then that you would be impressed by the likes of Bareback Andy. This is the kind of fawning, boy-crush crap Sullivan was writing about Little Bush back in 2000.

Here's a classic screed from Sully's Bush-love days where he spews his vile at anyone who opposed the Iraq Slaughter:

"If this war continues as well as it has been, won’t the anti-war left not merely be defeated but beyond humiliated? And won’t that leave an impression on at least some of them? The younger ones, perhaps? You’ve got to keep hoping. The forces of evil are being dealt a terrible blow on the battle-field. But their chattering enablers are about to be politically annihilated. There’s also a political and ideological war within the West. The anti-war crowd have lost the argument about going to war; so they are determined to win the case during and after it. They want this war to be regarded as a disaster. And it’s up to the rest of us to fight back, expose them, and keep people focused on reality, not pro-Saddam and anti-Western spin."

Very impressive, indeed.

[Jer]

Big surprise: Another Junior Torquemada lashes us with their pious self-righteousness.

Andrew has already quite literally repented. As anyone who actually reads him regularly - as opposed to merely Googling Sullivan for rhetorical ammunition - could tell you, his politics and rhetoric have evolved considerably in seven years - have yours?

Do you *not* understand how much you sound like all those other inflexible True Believers of 2000 you apparently disdain?

Condescending tripe like this only convinces me there's a loud minority of our "allies" caught up in their own brand of malignant naricissm, folks whose rhetoric focuses less on the health of the Republic and common good than advertising their own supposed moral superiority.

And on this particular morning, that's mighty damned ironic.

[the ponuppy of change you can believe in]

Thing is, unlike Little Scotty, and Bareback Andy, and JerK, I haven't had to "modify" my position, because, guess what, I've been correct about Bush . . . and the Clintons . . . and the rest of the gutless Democrats every step of the way.

And now an punk-ass little fuck like JerK wants to lecture me because I have a memory. Laughable.

[Jer]

Thanks again for pointing out it's all about *YOU* and how SELF-RIGHTEOUS *YOU* are - and allegedly always have been. How unwavering and steadfast you are in your holier-than-all judgement.

Gosh, why does that sound so darn familiar?

No one's lecturing you on your "memory," genius. They're calling out your corrosive, overarching narcissism.

That you resort to talking like one of those familiar tough-guy-hiding-behind-their-keyboard wingnut trolls when someone dares aim a pointed object at your massively overinflated Mickey-Mouse-in-a-Glass-House of an ego only underscores what an arrogant, self-involved little coward you are.

You confuse politics with masturbation. But at least its sex with someone you really, REALLY love.

[the ponuppy of change you can believe in]

Project much, JerK?

[Jer]

What's the matter, sweetie, not getting enough attention at home?

You could always try doing it left-handed -- or would that be considered "modifying your position"?

[Klondike Kid]

And how bout them Celtics?