Comments on: Michelle Obama’s Speech At The DNC http://firedoglake.com/2008/08/25/michelle-obamas-speech-at-the-dnc/ Firedoglake weblog Sat, 28 Nov 2009 14:32:00 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: noonesbitchuc http://firedoglake.com/2008/08/25/michelle-obamas-speech-at-the-dnc/#comment-1598679 noonesbitchuc Tue, 26 Aug 2008 23:24:09 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2008/08/25/michelle-obamas-speech-at-the-dnc/#comment-1598679 <p>What to make of Michelle Obama’s use the terms, “The world as it is” and “The world as it should be?” From whence do they originate? Try Chapter 2 of Saul Alinsky’s book, Rules for Radicals. In last night’s speech, Michelle Obama said something that peeked my curiousity. She said:</p> <p> “Barack stood up that day,” talking about a visit to Chicago neighborhoods, “and spoke words that have stayed with me ever since. He talked about “The world as it is” and “The world as it should be…”</p> <p> And, “All of us driven by a simple belief that the world as it is just won’t do – that we have an obligation to fight for the world as it should be.”</p> <p>Here’s an excerpt from Chapter 2 of Saul Alinsky’s book, Rules for Radicals:</p> <p> “The means-and-ends moralists, constantly obsessed with the ethics of the means used by the Have-Nots against the Haves, should search themselves as to their real political position. In fact, they are passive — but real — allies of the Haves…The most unethical of all means is the non-use of any means… The standards of judgment must be rooted in the whys and wherefores of life as it is lived, the world as it is, not our wished-for fantasy of the world as it should be.”</p> What to make of Michelle Obama’s use the terms, “The world as it is” and “The world as it should be?” From whence do they originate? Try Chapter 2 of Saul Alinsky’s book, Rules for Radicals. In last night’s speech, Michelle Obama said something that peeked my curiousity. She said:

“Barack stood up that day,” talking about a visit to Chicago neighborhoods, “and spoke words that have stayed with me ever since. He talked about “The world as it is” and “The world as it should be…”

And, “All of us driven by a simple belief that the world as it is just won’t do – that we have an obligation to fight for the world as it should be.”

Here’s an excerpt from Chapter 2 of Saul Alinsky’s book, Rules for Radicals:

“The means-and-ends moralists, constantly obsessed with the ethics of the means used by the Have-Nots against the Haves, should search themselves as to their real political position. In fact, they are passive — but real — allies of the Haves…The most unethical of all means is the non-use of any means… The standards of judgment must be rooted in the whys and wherefores of life as it is lived, the world as it is, not our wished-for fantasy of the world as it should be.”

]]> By: mulligatawny http://firedoglake.com/2008/08/25/michelle-obamas-speech-at-the-dnc/#comment-1597993 mulligatawny Tue, 26 Aug 2008 14:02:46 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2008/08/25/michelle-obamas-speech-at-the-dnc/#comment-1597993 <p>OK thanks. I’m not a troll, although not much here on this site these days. I am probably in an antagonistic phase…I just ’strongly dislike’ that all things private are being dragged into the public sphere. Media forces everyone to be a kind of emotional exhibitionist.</p> OK thanks. I’m not a troll, although not much here on this site these days. I am probably in an antagonistic phase…I just ’strongly dislike’ that all things private are being dragged into the public sphere. Media forces everyone to be a kind of emotional exhibitionist.

]]> By: Knut http://firedoglake.com/2008/08/25/michelle-obamas-speech-at-the-dnc/#comment-1597919 Knut Tue, 26 Aug 2008 13:13:25 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2008/08/25/michelle-obamas-speech-at-the-dnc/#comment-1597919 <p>The protests did not stop the war and they were counterproductive. Unlike the early Civil Rights demonstrations, they were undisciplined and unfocused. Many of our subsequent problems, including the unfortunate culture war that brought the thugs into power for 30 years were direct or indirect consequences of those protests. They were not peaceful, and they did not help.</p> The protests did not stop the war and they were counterproductive. Unlike the early Civil Rights demonstrations, they were undisciplined and unfocused. Many of our subsequent problems, including the unfortunate culture war that brought the thugs into power for 30 years were direct or indirect consequences of those protests. They were not peaceful, and they did not help.

]]> By: Pat2 http://firedoglake.com/2008/08/25/michelle-obamas-speech-at-the-dnc/#comment-1597811 Pat2 Tue, 26 Aug 2008 11:02:58 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2008/08/25/michelle-obamas-speech-at-the-dnc/#comment-1597811 <p>I believe the point of this speech was three-fold:<br /> a) remind people why they supported Obama and his campaign in the first place;<br /> b) reduce the scary factor of millions of voters to the notion of an African-American family residing in the White House;<br /> c) what I said in my post above: Prove with personal history which of the potential First Families has shown over the years the character, determination, drive and action that bolsters the American dream.</p> I believe the point of this speech was three-fold:
a) remind people why they supported Obama and his campaign in the first place;
b) reduce the scary factor of millions of voters to the notion of an African-American family residing in the White House;
c) what I said in my post above: Prove with personal history which of the potential First Families has shown over the years the character, determination, drive and action that bolsters the American dream.

]]> By: Pat2 http://firedoglake.com/2008/08/25/michelle-obamas-speech-at-the-dnc/#comment-1597807 Pat2 Tue, 26 Aug 2008 10:58:04 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2008/08/25/michelle-obamas-speech-at-the-dnc/#comment-1597807 <p>… at this late point on this post, don’t know if anyone will see this, but — besides her amazing delivery of a well-crafted speech — Michelle Obama’s talk gave the Democrats a “top this” challenge to the lovely Sen. McCain and his present wife:</p> <p>Cindy McCain’s version?</p> <p>“Good evening. I remember meeting John as if it were yesterday. We’d exchange hidden glances, leave the gala hoopla, and hide in the nearest bathroom. Sometimes we even had to arrive separately — John in his car, me on the plane — at an agreed upon locale . . . and, remember, this was all before cell phones and text messaging!</p> <p>Those early days were tricky, yet beautiful . . .”</p> <p>Family values?<br /> American dream?</p> <p>Go Sen. and Mrs. Obama!</p> … at this late point on this post, don’t know if anyone will see this, but — besides her amazing delivery of a well-crafted speech — Michelle Obama’s talk gave the Democrats a “top this” challenge to the lovely Sen. McCain and his present wife:

Cindy McCain’s version?

“Good evening. I remember meeting John as if it were yesterday. We’d exchange hidden glances, leave the gala hoopla, and hide in the nearest bathroom. Sometimes we even had to arrive separately — John in his car, me on the plane — at an agreed upon locale . . . and, remember, this was all before cell phones and text messaging!

Those early days were tricky, yet beautiful . . .”

Family values?
American dream?

Go Sen. and Mrs. Obama!

]]> By: ItchyBrother http://firedoglake.com/2008/08/25/michelle-obamas-speech-at-the-dnc/#comment-1597783 ItchyBrother Tue, 26 Aug 2008 07:53:32 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2008/08/25/michelle-obamas-speech-at-the-dnc/#comment-1597783 <p><em>Well written passage, and very well delivered. What did you all think?</em></p> <p>Caroline, Ted, and Craig all got hits and Michelle knocked it out of the park for a grand slam. I’m actually starting to believe that America isn’t doomed.</p> Well written passage, and very well delivered. What did you all think?

Caroline, Ted, and Craig all got hits and Michelle knocked it out of the park for a grand slam. I’m actually starting to believe that America isn’t doomed.

]]> By: egregious http://firedoglake.com/2008/08/25/michelle-obamas-speech-at-the-dnc/#comment-1597693 egregious Tue, 26 Aug 2008 05:46:19 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2008/08/25/michelle-obamas-speech-at-the-dnc/#comment-1597693 <p>Yes, Pach really did ask BillO about signing his loofah. Video tomorrow.</p> Yes, Pach really did ask BillO about signing his loofah. Video tomorrow.

]]> By: stimuli http://firedoglake.com/2008/08/25/michelle-obamas-speech-at-the-dnc/#comment-1597655 stimuli Tue, 26 Aug 2008 05:11:02 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2008/08/25/michelle-obamas-speech-at-the-dnc/#comment-1597655 <p>No, just tryin’ to wrap my haid around a reason for the wife of a presumptive presidential nominee to go to Georgia at all. Isn’t that what LIE-bermann is for? =)</p> <p>here, Joe<br /> here,Joe</p> <p>FETCH!</p> No, just tryin’ to wrap my haid around a reason for the wife of a presumptive presidential nominee to go to Georgia at all. Isn’t that what LIE-bermann is for? =)

here, Joe
here,Joe

FETCH!

]]> By: selise http://firedoglake.com/2008/08/25/michelle-obamas-speech-at-the-dnc/#comment-1597613 selise Tue, 26 Aug 2008 04:40:16 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2008/08/25/michelle-obamas-speech-at-the-dnc/#comment-1597613 <p>perfect response.</p> perfect response.

]]> By: selise http://firedoglake.com/2008/08/25/michelle-obamas-speech-at-the-dnc/#comment-1597610 selise Tue, 26 Aug 2008 04:38:48 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2008/08/25/michelle-obamas-speech-at-the-dnc/#comment-1597610 <p>oh, for crying out loud. i thought personal attacks were not permitted? or does that only count for people who tow the party line/</p> oh, for crying out loud. i thought personal attacks were not permitted? or does that only count for people who tow the party line/

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