The answer to the SOTU is usually a very sorry affair. On both sides, frankly. Although of course it is more fun to talk about the disastrous republican answers to the SOTU, during Obama. Jindal in that horrible “Gone with the wind” set at the bottom of a winding staircase. Rubio, stuffed behind a podium guaranteed to be short enough for him, but not equipped with enough water.
I will start with the staging of the Democrats’ response tonight. They included an enthusiastic audience. Brilliant, why hasn’t every response to the SOTU done this simple thing? And I just betcha from now on, they will. Any speaker will do better with an enthusiastic audience.
But let’s remember that it was Democratic strategy that accomplished this, something so often dissed here. Also, Joe the III came out of the blue to me as the Democratic choice to answer to the SOTU. I was hazily aware of him, but had no idea of who he really is, or how much faith the Democratic Party had in him to give him this onerous job.
It was a huge hat tip to the new and the young blood in the Democratic Party, which many here have been screaming for. Well, Dems, your party just gave a very challenging job to a young Democrat most in this country have no idea who is. They DID NOT go for their many establishment Democrats. They went for young and fresh.
Now, let’s move on to Joe. Man, he exceeded my expectations. Having watched some of his speeches after hearing he was to deliver the answer to the SOTU, I was a bit worried. He seemed young and able, but also, a bit clipped in his speech patterns, and I wondered if he could deliver “the soul” of our party in the way really good orators have done. Such as Obama. Such as MLK, and yes for all his faults, Bill Clinton.
Well, just wow was my response. I saw a younger Democrat just on the precipice of his power to communicate, to spread his wings and let it fly. Reminds me a bit of when I first saw a guy, who no one could pronounce his name...but everyone was saying the next day, who was that guy?!
Now, I know that the response to the SOTU address will always be limited in terms of the press it gets. This is yet another consequence of being the minority.
But for me tonight, I saw a new generation of Democrats, standing up under incredible pressure, and getting the job done. Well. As well as it can be done in this circumstance. AND, I repeat, with some excellent Democratic strategy.
Young Joe Kennedy excited me tonight. Not sure how long it will take him to evolve to his highest talents, and not sure where’s he’s going. Will have to see a lot more. But don’t have to know all that tonight. Just SO inspiring to see a young Democrat take the podium, and Imo, hit it out of the park.