I didn’t think of Emanuel. He lost Axelrod, too.
But what impressed me the most about his debate performance was that it required a sustained effort to listen to what he was actually saying, versus thinking, “he sounds like he knows what he’s talking about... What did he just say?”
He never stumbled, and the blather flowed effortlessly.
He seems to slip whenever he answers direct questions, rather than when he speaks extemporaneously. He covers this weakness by filibustering.
Yes.
There are two situations in which Obama excels:
In interviews and debates in which he simply blathers on tangentially to the topic in an air that conveys “don’t worry, I got this covered.” He rarely states what he plans to do, but implicitly promises he’ll do what’s best.
Then there are the speeches formerly crafted, nuanced. The delivery was practiced and expert. They were full of vague catchy phrases and slogans. He delivers like a star seminarian— timing, gestures and expression.
But like the old preacher said when some kids tracked up his newly poured walk: “’Love thy neighbor?’ that’s true in the abstract, but they were in my concrete!”
He’s in the concrete now.