I don't know if they'll see lack of substance behind the style, but i do think people know 'whiny' when they see it. i think Obama's Achilles heel is his tendency to be whiny and passive. (Re: Leave Michelle alone!) I do hate this tendency to mistake excellent oratory skills for intelligence; it hampered Bush for the past 8 years, and it was unfairly used against him.

As for McCain, those who are going to vote for him won't care. I think if you really want a coup to make things interesting, McCain should approach Hillary as his VP, as I seriously doubt Obama will even consider her. I could see Obama being totally off the wall and asking Michelle to be his Veep--after all, isn't it against the norm for him to even be the nominee?

And, of course, the greater question is this: does Obama's nomination justify considering ending affirmative action and other race-protections?

Judging from the way the press swoons over every word that he says and how he says it, I am afraid that many people will be swayed by his oratorical skills. You can have the strongest message, have all the right policy ideas, and be on the right side of every issue and it won't mean a darned thing if you can't get your message out clearly and concisely. We have seen what the utter lack of oratorical abilities has done to the Bush administration, and it it not hard to see a similar thing happening with McCain.

Despite Obama's many shortcomings, he can captivate an audience and when he finishes speaking you go away feeling that you have heard something important. When McCain speaks you go away yawning, since he never seems to speak about any issue with any passion (other than castigating conservatives). Passion moves the needle with people, and Obama seems to have a lock on passion in a race with McCain.

Interesting question. I think Obama's oratory skills will hurt him. It might get him elected ringleader at the circus or head of the motivational speakers guild, but our highest office? Americans recognize that we need a strong leader with a record of accomplishment in that office.I think McCain wins because he's more serious and despite the blinders dems put over their eyes, the majority of Americans understand that national security and the economy are not toys for a child to play with and possibly break.

Sure Obama has these rousing speeches to people who want to hear change, hope, change, hope...blah blah. He's the anti-Bush. But that's all his speeches are...nothing about his policies, nothing about his plans for the war, economy, abortion, or other issues. It's sad many people are duped by this but when you get the media feeding us this crap it's no surprise there are tons of sheep out there.

"They need to have a course in college called common sense and everyone should take it. Problem is there isn't too many people that could pass or teach it." -my grandfather

I think that McCain is actually a fairly impressive orator as well.  Not that it makes me any more or less inclined to vote for him. 

Obama's appeal is not just his appearance and oratory skill, but that empty message he delivers.  People are going to cheer when the rockstar screams "HOPE AND CHANGE yeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhh!"

Hopefully, people will look beyond the prepared speeches and pay attention to how he answers questions.

I have noticed that his first line of "defense" when asked an uncomfortable question is to attack the question itself: (paraphrasing) Now you see, that is  the kind of politics the American people are tired of! 

In other words, the question is inappropriate and therefore not worthy of an answer. 

 He is definitely eloquent (is that going to become the new "a" word that we're not allowed to use for him?) and talented at rhetorical flourishes, but I think the more people hear him speaking "off the cuff" the more people will realize that his is all sizzle and no steak. At least I hope so.

If you can't dazzle 'em with brilliance, baffle 'em with bull$**t.

...Bill Clinton.

Unfortunately, the American people have fallen back to sleep after 9/11. It will take another catastrophic event to wake the masses and stir the true American spirit again (if it's not too late, that is). The MSM and the DNC puppet masters are using a perfectly orchestrated, "Messianic" lullaby hinging on the promise of secular wants and values and it is having the exact desired affect.

Many, many American's today have the "I want it all, and I want it now" attitude. Long gone are the days of delayed gratification, saving for a rainy day, look before you leap, consider the consequences, etc, etc, etc.

Obama lies, democracy dies

I'm guilty of playing into the almost daily Joy Behar and Mika "stupid statement of the month club" but it occurs to me -- I'm old and slow -- that we have more important matters to debate on this site. 

Can you NBs stop reporting on these two for awhile and get us back to important things. I really do not believe either of these two are worth your time or my time.  Just let 'em simmer on a back burner, they aren't going anywhere and the world doesn't need to talk about them anyway.  Gives them a status they don't deserve.