No News
... is good news.

News about Anna Nicole Smith, that is.

And he's not another astronaut love triangle (tho many of us would immediately volunteer for NASA if there was the slightest hope), but this no-surprise announcement has at least temporarily focussed the media on a far better celebrity:

Sen. Obama launches White House bid

"We can build a more hopeful America. And that is why, in the shadow of the Old State Capitol, where Lincoln once called on a house divided to stand together, where common hopes and common dreams still live, I stand before you today to announce my candidacy for President of the United States of America," Obama said. His voice rose to a shout as he spoke over the cheers from thousands who braved temperatures in the teens.

Busses were leaving here at 5:00 am for the event -- which is really pushing it for the 4 hour jaunt to Springfield. I hope they all arrived in time. Another event tomorrow I may try to catch.

When Obama speaks and acts on his own, he is wonderful, but can be wonderfully irritating for his tendency to assume "the middle" is whatever his advisors and the media say it is, generally more to the right than it really is. When you're a president, you actually lead the people to the good place where lives peace, prosperity, and universal health care rather than let the minority of lizard brains and consultants do the leading. You lead them to change their minds and bring them along on your journey.

He should reread some of his old speeches periodically (and his books). People want genuine fire, genuine compassion.

And they want the troops home ASAP.

UPDATE: the announcement is streaming here, with a really really good speech. For those of us who may have forgotten the substance behind the Vanity Fair covers, here it is.

And I guess I won't be going to the event tomorrow -- tickets all gone. Imagine a crowd will be gathering outside, however.

Note to techs: the links sent via email seem to have been hacked, so you may want to look into it.
- posted by Cynthia @ 12:44 PM | | | Link |