How did Barack Obama do?

If you missed Obama's speech last night, click here to see it and all our commentary.

Here's a roundup of some of the early reactions from America.

The Caucus: Live from Denver

He has been casting himself as an economic populist in the last few weeks, and it was no surprise that he continued to do that here. But it was striking the degree to which he did so, focusing on the economy almost exclusively for the first two-thirds of his speech — a measure both of how central it is for many voters but also of how much he wants to appeal to Reagan Democrats.

Peggy Noonan in The Wall Street Journal: Obama gets serious

The speech itself lacked lift but had heft. It wasn't precisely long on hope, but I think it showed audacity. In fact, by the end of the speech I thought it was quite a gamble.

Jonah Goldberg in The Corner: In all seriousness

I think his shots at McCain were ill-advised. Who the hell is Obama to try to out-hawk McCain on Bin Laden? Please. Not plausible. What is Obama talking about when he tries to suggest there are more Republicans for Obama than there are Democrats for McCain? C'mon.

Joe Klein in Time: Obama's speech 'very tough'

He stood there not as an orator, but as a plausible chief executive. His message was as tight as a power-point presentation, but far more elegant. And tough — above all, tough: not an egghead, not Adlai Stevenson. No, tonight Barack Obama was a politician from the south side of Chicago, ready for the brawl of his life

John Dickerson in Slate: Back to earth

It was the single most emphatic word of his address. Change is all well and good, but when Dad says, "Enough," the kids stop fooling around. It conveys an urgency and determination that talk of change simply does not. You could see that single word printed on placards for future rallies. 

Jonathan Cohn in The Plank: Less glamour, more grit

Four years ago in Boston, I watched Barack Obama deliver perhaps the most perfect speech I’ll ever see....Tonight, on television, I watched Barack Obama give a rather different piece of oratory. Although delivered with equal skill, its content struck me as more unwieldy and, at times, more pedestrian.

Dan Balz in The Washington Post: The message that the party wanted to hear

Obama was under considerable pressure Thursday night to deliver a speech of special force and power. What he gave here was a combination of old and new -- new toughness coupled with the message that got him to this point.

Justin Webb's America: A clever performance

He brought it off. I thought at one stage that the Doric columns (if that is what they were) might fall on him (metaphorically) but they did not. He is too clever for that.

Doyle McManus in the LA Times: Obama gets it in gear with acceptance speech

The new Obama, unveiled before about 84,000 cheering supporters in a football stadium, is more combative than the old Obama -- and more sharply focused on the economic problems of the nation's working class

Andrew Sullivan in The Daily Dish: The hope we confess

Above all, he took on national security - face on, full-throttle, enraged, as we should all be, at how disastrously American power has been handled these past eight years. He owned this issue in a way that no Democrat has owned it since Kennedy. That's a transformative event.

Jacob Heilbrunn in The Huffington Post: Obama goes on the offence

Obama showed that he does not conform to the image of the Democrat as wussbag by directly assailing McCain's foreign policy credentials -- specifically, his claim that he would "follow" Osama bin Laden to the "gates of hell." But why just follow? As Obama made clear, he needs to be taken out.

Paul Krugman in The New York Times: Feeling no pain

My first reaction to Bill Clinton’s convention speech was sheer professional jealousy: nobody, but nobody, has his ability to translate economic wonkery into plain, forceful English.

Editorial in The New York Times: Mr. Obama’s Party

Mr. Obama long ago proved his skills as an orator. He went further on Thursday night, using his acceptance speech to add detail to his promises of hope and showcase a new theme that could find resonance with Democrats, new and old, and a broader range of Americans.

Comments

[Martin Gray]

My own reaction was it couldn't have been better if Hollywood scripted it - wait a minute - they did! Right out of the movies. Simply "over the top" and typical of the empty set piece rhetoric that has filled his campaign speeches so far. He did nothing to remove my doubts.

[Peter Smith]

It seems obvious from recent events that a Republican USA has no idea of how to deal with a resurgent Russia or how to win friends & influence people in the wider world. The USA, for its & the rest of the worlds sake, needs a leader who has the talent to recognise what is required in order to make the right decisions at the right time for the benefit of the majority & not just for the minority, let's hope that Barak Obama has that quality.

[Garth Rex]

Sincere, soaring, superb and sublime....! That speech has affirmed and confirmed that BARAK OBAMA will be the next President of the United States of America. THE ELECTION IS, EFFECTIVELY, OVER!

[Marlene]

I still consider myself a Republican but my party left me a long time ago. I tend to be a ticket-splitter in elections. This year I am voting for Barack Obama, a decision I made months ago because I believe Barack is someone who can evoke change. The tears were coming down my face last night, as I watched the acceptance speech because Barack spoke to me - and to all Americans. Of course, promises cannot be kept or maintained unless we also have a Congress that is receptive to change and progress. Yes We Can - and We Will.

[Simone Vest]

I'd love to have seen the reaction of the neocon who had publicly hoped and prayed that the Lord would send a megaflood to rain on Obama's parade? Hope he saw the clear skies over that huge crowd, and got the message!

[Daphne Kenward]

Obama has said the things so many in the past was afraid to admit to, that the American foreign policies were out dated. To govern in this new and chalanging times we need leaders who know what the challenges are. One with the ability to face facts that these are times where pretending that this world is not full of problems or how to deal with them. Obama is a MAN for this time and age, the old men of Washington have lost touch with the people and the wider world.

[JOHN CHUCKMAN, TORONTO]

Exhilerating.

This was the kind of speech which I very much hope characterizes his campaign.

Even were he to lose, he would do so with a profound sense of pride and honor.

But turning into a Hillary-like figure - the Hillary of Pennsylvania - brings only the absolute certainty of no change.

[Anne]

Obama had quite a shopping list--health care, development of new sources of energy, ensuring social security, improving education.

Unfortunately, my family is in the top 5% that is going to pay for this. While in ten years I will have to put two children through college (at least $200,000 for each child, without any hope of no financial aid) and my husband will retire without a pension because he took a chance by working for a startup company.

While we are in this top 5% now, we were pretty poor starting out (living in spanish harlem, NYC). We took a lot of chances; moved around the country for different jobs, spent a lot of time as a single parent while my husband travelled for work and now that has paid off-Obama will punish us.

CNBC, the wall streeet financial station, seems as sad as I am.

[Tristan]

Us young people want the War to end! I have friends from all over the world and some who came here from Iraq. And out of all people I have met, these are the most welcoming sincere friends I have had. World Peace is around the corner and John Mccain is that guy that doesn't want to let us around that corner. Open your eyes people. I'm 22, havent even started REALLY living and i'm seeing soldiers younger than me dieing in Iraq. Bush and Mccain clearly don't care! OBAMA IS OUR FUTURE, OBAMA WILL LEAD US AROUND THE CORNER TO WHERE PEACE RESIDES, OBAMA IS THE CHANGE WE NEED TO START LIVING LIFE AGAIN AND NOT WATCHING THE WAR, NOT LIVING CHECK TO CHECK TO PAY DEBTS AND HIGH GAS PRICES. If you have support Bush and are fed up with the way the world went downhill since... THE GRASS IS GREENER ON THE OTHER SIDE.
I'm actually worried to see the results IF McCain wins.
Worst of all. I'm Canadian. But the American presidency has proven to affect the entire world. So, please... for the WORLD. Accept a Change!

[taylor landery]

If you were'nt inspired to CHANGE after watching the ENTIRE DNC-(Obama,Michelle & GORE especially );
Then I feel great sorrow for you. How could you sit there, and deny the fact that the state of this great NAtion IS "out of WACK" ? Obama was fantastic, as usual! He doesn't have to prove ANY MORE, in my eyes. Get over yourselves. Accept the fact that the world is not always about BEING BLACK or white!!"No way, Now how, No McCain!"

[Martin, Chicago]

Listen to what the CONSERVATIVE pundits said: Conservative commentator, one-time presidential candidate and Nixon speechwriter Pat Buchanan called the speech "magnificent," the best and most important convention speech he had heard in 48 years. Longtime Republican David Gergen called it a "symphony." Fox's Bill Kristol said Obama faced ``very high expectations and exceeded them.'' The Washington Post's Charles Krauthammer, who can't say anything nice about among Obama, was amazed at the "brilliance of the political mind'' behind the event. And historian Michael Beschloss said it was better than John F. Kennedy's eloquent 1960 performance.

[Leandro]

My family is split, mom is democrat, dad is republican. Dad has had NOTHING nice to say about Obama.... until last night. Even he admitted that Obama showed the world signs of strength and character.

[Cameron Smith]

Big deal. It's all about words: puffery, feel good blather, vacuous words that mean nothing; and to quote Shakespeare 'full of sound and fury, signifying nothing'.

...to use the proper word: He's adept at 'speechifying'. Seems like he's given a moderate closing statement based on misdirection and high school sophistry rather than tackle the hard issues head on.

With that empty suit and equally empty head, Obama is at once a god of Rhetoric, Olympian and of no account. He is less than the man behind the curtain promising the sheeple trillions of dollars of goodies that are, by all fiscal logic, impossible to deliver.

'The bigger they are, the harder they fall'. America should be cautious because of the old adage 'Be careful what you wish for. You just might get it'... his immaturity, ambition and raw hunger for power alongside the blatant inexperience is his Achille's Heel; and will be his own downfall - and America's IF they are swayed by empty speechifying.

[Cllr Patrick Smith]

Barack Obama has earned the respect of the American and international wider public,as a result of his vision and clarity on policy and accent on the need for `change'!

That `change' as a keynote motif of his Denver Speech,should now emulate the great Democrats, Kennedy and FD Roosevelt!

[M. R Rambler]

A well-scripted speech by Obama, however only the speech is not a criterion for his dynamic leadership, a deserving candidate for president ship Democrats have found after John F. Kennedy. Let us see how Obama tackles Osama and other Islamist terrorist in Afghanistan and Pakistan after his probable election as the president of United States.

[beanne]

He should write a new book and title it the audacity of lies....cause that is what he is full of and that is what his speech is full of..I just can't get past the part where he said as comander in chief he would make sure our military had what it needed..so as a Congressman from Ill though, he did not seem to care if our soldiers went without armoured vehicals ( my son being one of them) as a Congressman he voted against supporting our brave men and women who he would not even visit on his Euro photo op tour...what kind of a person does this? Only got one word for it ..TRAITOR the webster dictionary says traitor is one who being trusted betrays his country...that about summs it up.

[gb dem]

i cannot wait until the Harvard Law grad debates the naval academy flunky.
That should be interesting...(to all those who think Obama is an "empty suit" that relies soley on teleprompters to deliver quality oration)

[A. Khan]

It surprises me no end that Americans can even consider voting for a man who cannot inspire them but keeps referring to sacrifices he made in the past. Give me a break... This country needs an inspirational leader who can lift it out of its self doubt and economic and international problems. That man is not John McCain.

[C Schmidt]

Obama gave a good speech. Oprah cried so hard she lost her eyelashes! He is a fantastic orator when he has a teleprompter, but when he is on his own, without speech writers, he flails saddly. It seems he has no idea what he believes and that he depends on others to tell him. Too bad. He could have been great with the right grooming. Sarah Palin gave a better speech today. Amazing woman.

[Alicia]

I was deeply moved by Obama. I saw a man last night that could lead the country in the direction America needs to go. He laid out his thoughts clearly, and made promises that I hope he keeps. In order to make these thoughts realities I have to call my congress person, and I have to talk about my opinions. Local Government is key, but Obama is the best cheerleader for a better America.

[Jimmy]

I was very impressed, more by the apparently huge optimism and enthusiasm of the supporters. It was a distinctly american

To those denouncing last night's speech as 'empty' and so on - I am yet to hear what questions or uncertainties you have been left with. As far as I can see, all the major bases were covered.

[Bouc Ancien]

I don't doubt that GB Dem is referring to the intellectual strength of the two American Candidates in his comments on their university performance. However, as an Annapolis alumnus, I find the implication of "flunkiness" for the boat schoolers a tad over the top. Don't sell us short. Naval Academy graduates grace both sides of American political thought; include Nobel winners in Peace and the Sciences; political leaders, policy makers, authors, entrepreneurs, and educators; and the occasional jock (athlete). Not to mention the men and women who ably serve the United States in the forces and government. We certainly have our fair share of villains and characters, but that isn't a sole prerogative of the Naval Academy or, for that matter, of Harvard. Recommend you pick up a copy of "The Nightingale’s Song" if you'd like a bit more insight into the effect the Academy had on Senator McCain. 'Nuff said.

[Philip]

Talks the talk but then again so did our english version Blair.There is a time for words and a time for action and Blair has taught me that a million fine words and a cheap headline is no substitute for leadership.

[Chas]

A fine speech - that is what he does. Speeches. He has absolutely no legislative or executive achievement to his name. He has never been in front on any issue which is remotely controversial. He is a machine politician from one of the more corrupt machines in the country. All hat & no cattle.

[Brian Sumpter]

Thank God. It looks like we have a candidate who's oratory is so great, the Republicans will be unable to steal or buy this election. And to the sorry person in the top 5%: Cheer up, we will be proud of you for your sacrifice.

[Barney]

Prediction on upcoming debates...Obama will come off as a poser that continually has to explain what he was "you know" trying to say...McCain will come off as someone not at the top of his game, but someone with the country's best interest at heart...Biden will present as informed but nasty...Palin will present as uninformed but capable...bottom line...it's going to be a great run up to the election.

[Craig]

I was a republican until I saw that the Bush administration did not do anything for the economy of our country. His legacy is a huge debt and a big deficit. I will vote for Obama this time. He has good judgement and knows what he is talking about.

[Peter]

How can people say that John Mcain is actually the man for the Job...at the moment you can tell that he is not as inspirational as Obama...Obama is the changes that the world, but first and foremost America needs.
He's also got joe biden, a man of extraordinary experiance by his side...Americans have nothing to loose by choosing Obama...besides this is not a racial thing..its not about a woman being elected, or about a black man being president or any of the "history-being-made jargons"....its about AMERICA and what is best for the world...VOTE FOR BARACK OBAMA

[Tufail]

America has really find the man she needs desperately. Good luck America congratulations on discovering a leader like Obama. John McCain is far far behind from this man.

[Helen]

Great speech! OBAMA for 08!

[Inna]

I thought Michelle's speech was way better. Obama recycled so much of the stuff that I had heard more times than I care to remember that after watching parts 1 and 2 (on YouTube) I clicked to Part 5. I wanted to see the Obamas...

The speech I'd heard too many times before.

Regards,

Inna

[Kat]

Anne, why not just send the kids to Idaho for college and save yourself some bucks -- $100,000 each child perhaps? Who needs Harvard, NYU, U. of Chicago, etc.? I suggest Boise State over the University of Idaho, however, for an even greater savings. Plus, Broncos are cool, Vandals are not so cool.

[Victoria WIllet]

Good speech, credit to Obama's advisories who wrote it. however there was certain questionable comments: 1)95% tax cut? This is impossible, 2) every child will be able to go to college, this is possible now. 3) slashing at President Bush shows no respect towards the TOP person of America. Which in turns show disrepect toward USA. He should wear American flag pin, as his VP does, and He should of done a ceremony toward soluting the flag, since there is an issue of him not soluting and not respecting the USA flag.

[Russ B.]

Here is what I heard....CHANGE...blah blah blah....CHANGE....blah blah blah....I will get Bin Laden and Mc Cain wont...never mind we had 8 years to get him BEFORE 9/11 and failed....and CHANGE...blah blah blah...what an empty suit! Oh and that sorry person in the top 5% when you squeeze him he will just make it up to himself by cutting jobs of the other 95% to get his...yeah that will show them!

[lawhite]

Obama doesn't seem to realize that a Democratic Congress has created most of the economic mess in this country. Bush didn't do that, the Democrats did. Give both credit and blame where it is due.
All the politicians promise change and improvements...few deliver. With the selection of Biden as his running mate, there will be no change from business as usual.
Palin, on the other hand, is a fresh breeze to the desert. She isn't owned by any political hacks. Far more exciting than Obama can ever be! Straight talk and honesty is what we want, and she's the only one who is giving it.

[lawhite]

Obama doesn't seem to realize that a Democratic Congress has created most of the economic mess in this country. Bush didn't do that, the Democrats did. Give both credit and blame where it is due.
All the politicians promise change and improvements...few deliver. With the selection of Biden as his running mate, there will be no change from business as usual.
Palin, on the other hand, is a fresh breeze to the desert. She isn't owned by any political hacks. Far more exciting than Obama can ever be! Straight talk and honesty is what we want, and she's the only one who is giving it.

[Jurgen]

Can he. Barack Obama,really be this good? are we about to be surprised and given a lesson of how Government/Politicians should behave? or is it all smoke and mirrors? ... We can only live in Hope.

[neil]

Tough ???? It takes "tough" to recognize "tough" --Joe Klein you "ain't" tough and neither is Barack...Real tough guys don't need to "act" tough , they just are and everyone around them knows it...."I'll debate Mccain anytime anywhere" --Please....Obama took a big confidence(tough)pill that night...He won't be repeating that challenge guaranteed !! How many fistfights has Barack ever been in or you Joe Klein...I grew up in the Northeastern part of the San Fernando Valley(Sylmar) ask anybody from Los Angeles they'll tell you "it's a pretty tough neighborhood"....

[Liz]

Barack Obama has been chosen by a higher power, a supreme being, our creator and our God.

Through divine providence "the first shall be last and the last first, many are call, but few chosen"

Barack is chosen by God Almighty.

[Rob]

"Unfortunately, my family is in the top 5% that is going to pay for this ... Obama will punish us."

If you see helping the poor and disadvantaged as punishment, if you see great wealth as 'unfortunate', if you believe that the work you've put into your fortune should keep you forever above those millions who work hard for no gain, then you deserve every loss that may come to you.

The talk of change, of new and old, is perfectly illustrated by those who seek to hoard their wealth against the demands of fairness, equality, and opportunities for the many rather than the few. Most of the developed nations of the world abandoned this stance, this wealth-led chauvanism, many years ago, but mainstream US politics remained ensconced within an insular and increasingly anachronistic bubble.

Kept firmly within by the fear of - and distaste for - anything that might smack of communism, the political mainstream grew to be obsessed with anti-socialism, and with a pre-Victorian devotion to the absolute right of the wealthy to hold on to their money, the absolute demand on the poor to stay where fate had abandoned them.

But as the fear became empty and baseless, so it began to dissipate, as a once-foreboding stormcloud emptied of its rain. As the fear left, so the bubble burst, so ever more voters looked at their world, view unobstructed by the old ways.

The politics of the old America is unjust, mismanaged, short-termist, insular, harmful and economically lop-sided. Oh, and utterly bankrupt, morally, socially, and increasingly financially.

Neither of the candidates in November's election represent the old. Mr McCain, inevitably, has much support from that quarter, and will need to build his campaign on winning still more, but he is not one of them, in the sense that President Bush undeniably is. Mr Obama could not be further removed from the mistakes of the past.

This election marks a turning point, for the US, and for the world at large. That much-bandied, much-overused, much branded word - 'change' - means something far beyond either candidate. And, regardless of the avarice of the 'unfortunate 5%', it is change for the better.

[Johannes]

Orwellian.If what Obama had to say was so inspiring (to those easily impressed) Why the "Wembley -vision" monitors? Reifenstahl did it better anyway...Besides he forgot to say "jelly doughnut".

[RobertG Arizona]

Leni Riefenstahl's Triumph of the Will?
Less sissy than some other of his speeches?
Energized the Left and bored the rest?
Doesn't matter, he is going to lose anyway?
All of the above?

[mrb]

Some people are easily impressed with Obama talk. John McCain takes strong positions reguardless of his party or the popularity and it appears that Palin does as well.

[Kay]

Four years ago, I was so impressed with Obama. I stated then that he was going to go places, however he is the one who has changed. He has bowed down & kissed the white Democrats rears. He & Michelle have been groomed to their commands.
The Obama's have given up who they are to gain "power", but have sacrificed the beauty of who they are & what they desired in regards to change for this country.

[Nina]

With all do respect to McCain, being a POW does not make one exceptionally qualified in international diplomacy. Palin is favored as one best qualified to Govern Alaska. Her personal choice to value her baby's life beyond complications of downs is honorable. But as a business woman and a full time mother of two young ones and a conservative independent voter Obama and Biden are the best choice for a stronger and prosperous America. I was undecided until this month and after carefully listening to what is at stake, one would have to be completely closed minded not to weigh issues aat hand. Palin should be able to stand her own in a debate and Biden should take his gloves off when up for the positional bid to occupy one of the highest offices in this country. I remember Dan Quayle and the Bush Sr, does anyone else remember how bad the economy went then? How utterly out of touch they were with the American people not to mention the international community. Yes they won and that team- Bush Quayle ran this country right into the ground. McCain/Palin is recycled policy from the same vein. Obama has convinced me not only with his oratory but with his policies that his team is the winning ticket. We can now compete in the global economy and fix our job/health and security issues. As one who favors California Gov. Schwarzenegger a Republican, I will vote what is right for the country and stand behind that choice until the next elections when we weigh the results. We cannot go back as Obama has said, no way no McCain/Palin.

[Cynthia Lewis]

The love fest continues. You gotta be kidding me, not a single criticism?

So, what was the "bounce" % after this speech, hmmmmmm?

[4usall]

For anyone who has children, parents, family, friends and co-workers, whom they want to see healthy or have a chance at a healthy lifestyle whithout loosing everything; for anyone who cares about being rewarded for the honest work that they do; for anyone who fears for their family members who are either already in the military, choosing to go or feels they have no other choice but to go into the service; for those who are in the military who are not getting what they need to do their job; for those veterans who have been so badly neglected; for those students who have the drive and the skills but no money to attend college; for anyone who has been made feel "less" American or "less" human because their religion, skin color, sexual preference, age, or gender, I would rather see a debate between you and 5% Anne from above than Obama/McCain. It seems to me self-centered thinking has gotten us into the mess that we are in. (We can't blame Bush for everything) And, although very self-righteous, even 5% Anne has a voice that needs to be considered. Obama spoke of a more "United" America. Obama has proven that he can attract over 80 thousand people from very diverse backgrounds to come together to listen. This was very impressive - what a "melting-pot". I'll make my decision after I see mow many diverse people McCain can bring together. I hope that all people will stay tuned with an open mind to both candidates instead of making hasty biased decisions.

[Col. Jon Pontoon-Kleer (rtd.) Indiana]

McCain will still win. His trump card is that anyone (and I mean anyone) who belittles his captivity by the Congs in Viet Nam is promptly labelled a terrorist and unpatriotic. The poor old codger is milking his 'hero' days for all it is worth. He is like an old Vet who at parties keeps going on and on about the war!! :)). If the Americans vote for that jerk, God, please help us!!

[Gt]

I have read all the comments and feel so sorry for Beanne,CLLR Patrick Smith,and the many others who have been deceived by this smooth-talking politician, BO. He is not a man of substance!
Who really knows about his origins? Who really knows what he is made of, since he is so arrogant, you cannot see the real"man? What does he really believe to be true???? Why did he subject himself and his family to the hateful rhetoric of his pastor for 20 years if he did not believe the same way???
Cameron, you got it right!!!So did Chas.

[Jane Dick]

I am encouraged by Palen as VP.
Can you imagine her crying if asked how
she manages to get up and get her hair
done every morning like HRC did?
No this is quite a woman!
So glad to vote for McCain and Palen!

[Pat from Texas]

Pretty speeches do not a man make.

St. Bernard of Clairvaux was a pretty good orator and look at the mess - the crusades for the uninitiated - he made.

Obama can't even tell the truth - the other night O'Reilly on Fox asked him to admit that he was wrong on the surge - after being stood up against the wall, he finally said yes - but then tried to weasel out of that.

He said he had never heard his inspirational pastor say the racist, hate-mongering garbage, then he had but, but he wasn't in the audience, but he knew about them but he didn't agree, (but he didn't object either). This wasn't the man he had known for 20 years!

If you had met this pastor, how long would it take you to peg him?
Such willing stupidity shows either a lack of intelligence or an agreement, doesn't it?

Obama finnally didn't break the relationship until the pastor insulted him personally. Great character that shows. Real manhood.

He said he barely knew the bomb-killer Ayers? Really? he worked closely with him and Ayers threw the first "introductory party to politics" for him in Chicago.

Do we really need a traitor-lover to lead our country?

Speaking of Chicago - do you Europeans have any idea of its corruption? If one of your leaders was "born and bred a politician" in such a mess - even your leftist Manchester paper would have a fit.

Obama didn't even vote on most of the things he says he formulated in congress or the state party.

As for Biden - Biden had to quit his first race because he was caught lying - took his family history from one of your Brits - lock, stock and barrel.

As for egomania "I am the one the world has been waiting for"? Please!! Someone earlier said God appointed him! Puh-leez!!

Listen to him when he has no script as in the debate with McCain sponsored with the minister (I don't think ministers should sponsor campaigns). The GREAT orator couldn't even make a simple sentence come out without six "uh"'s per breath. He didn't have it written and doesn't know what he is told to think by his party.

Talk about stupid - can't you guys see through this guy?

He's a liar, a weasel a poseur and a fraud.