David Gergen says Obama's inaugural speech was not 'one for the ages'

Los Angeles Times ^ | 10:40 AM PT, Jan 20 2009 | Greg Braxton

[lewisglad]

David Gergen says Obama's inaugural speech was not 'one for the ages' 10:40 AM PT, Jan 20 2009 CNN senior political analyst David Gergen sounded a bit let down by President Barack Obama's inaugural speech.

"It was not as lofty as I would have anticipated," said Gergen, noting that Obama had visited sites such as the Lincoln Memorial for inspiration. He said that while previous presidents had given inaugural speeches "speaking to the ages," Obama's speech "was speaking to this generation. It was very rooted in the here and now."

[Sudetenland]

It was a peaen to mediocrity. In one fell swoop Obama turned Bush into one of the greatest orators in our nation's history...no mean feat.

Bush's 2001 Inaugural Speech

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

The Messiah who Failed
""It was not as lofty as I would have anticipated," said Gergen, noting that Obama had visited sites such as the Lincoln Memorial for inspiration. He said that while previous presidents had given inaugural speeches "speaking to the ages," Obama's speech "was speaking to this generation. It was very rooted in the here and now."

Poor David. Poor Peggy Noonan! No soaring poetry of "transformative" leadership. Imagine...a third-tier Cliffsnotes Inauguration speech. Back to waxing his pecs?

Maybe they could set the lyrics to a Rap/Hip-Hop beat?

Title: "Children of a Lesser Messiah."

[TexasNative2000]

His speechwriters have not converted from ‘campaign mode’ to ‘governing mode’.

[GOPJ]

I don’t have much use for David Gergen.

I liked Obama's speech - and I feel better than Gergen didn't...

[jersey117]

If Buchannan liked it, I guess it received the MSNBC 4 star tingle.

[WOSG]

Wow. He’s usually good for a quote that turns the mundane into something amazing. Since he’s kind of boring, he would know a snoozer speech when he sees it.

[lewisglad]

“Children of a Lesser Messiah” rotflol!

[a fool in paradise]

I thought he was articulate. Where was the nautical imagery he used in his autobiography? Why didn’t we elect the guy who wrote that instead?

[DoughtyOne]

I taped the thing, but I haven’t listened to it yet.

[Allegra]

CNN senior political analyst David Gergen sounded a bit let down by President Barack Obama's inaugural speech.

Awwwwwwwwwwwww

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

“The Thrill is Gone.” So David and Chris will need Viagra for Obama’s speeches now?

[GOPJ]

I heard Pat Buchannan (sp) just loved it!!!! No Joke. Thought it was outstanding.

Sometimes Buchannan's right. I liked the speech too.

Obama's right - we do need to pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off and get on with making things better...

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

"Where was the nautical imagery he used in his autobiography? Why didn’t we elect the guy who wrote that instead?"
48 posted on Tuesday, January 20, 2009 4:01:34 PM by a fool in paradise

Because Bill Ayers didn't give Chris Matthews a thrilling tingle up his leg? (i.e., a boner)

[Auntie Dem]

...It certainly isn’t as important as Dan Quayle’s misspelling of “potato.”

Dan Quayle didn't misspell potato. The sponsors of the event had the words pre-prepared, and they spelled it p-o-t-a-t-o-e. Quayle turned the card over and saw the "incorrect" spelling and corrected the child who spelled it correctly the first time. I recall the event, and saw Quayle's surprise at the alternate spelling.

You say potato, I say potatoe.

[Army Air Corps]

That is funny right there.

[WOSG]

Interesting.
but if Obmaa’s policies are awful then the speech good or bad is a bit of a “other than that, how was the play Mrs Lincoln?” question. Does PatB like the speech but hate everything else he’s doing, or has he drunk the koolaid.

In short, the import of the speech itself is overrated.
Lincoln was right. People dont long remember most speeches. This one will be as forgotten as Clinton’s 2nd inaugural or Nixon’s first. If Obama is lucky, he might get a phrase as catchy as JFKs “Ask not...”

[GoCards]

Gergen is so drama. Listening to him right now as Bama and his wife walking. “Im nervous for them, they need to get back in the car, they are so brave....” Lord

[TFine80]

The same thing occurred to me during the speech!

So he was indeed wrong on the number?

[webschooner]

What?? A crack in the Obama Groupie facade? I can hardly believe it!

For his insurrection, Gergen will no doubt be tortured in the basement of the White House post haste.

[b4its2late]

Gergen is an idiot.