# Starting to get tired of Obamas formulaic speeches. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 25, 2009, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starting-to-get-tired-of-obamas-formulaic-speeches/487311 "2009-02-25T02:44:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starting-to-get-tired-of-obamas-formulaic-speeches/487311/1 "2009-02-25T02:44:24Z")
Do I think he is a good public speaker. Yes. Do I think he is the best public speaker in the presidency this generation? Yes. BUT… It’s starting to feel like he is trying to deliver “I have a dream” with every speech he gives. The constant pauses and constant crescendos are starting to grow tiresome. His delivery is becoming formulaic and each speech has the same tempo, same hand motions at the same times, pauses in the same locations. The speeches sound ultra-rehearsed too. I know it’s only been a month or so since he took over but I think I’m reaching Obama-speech-overload. I could go for him just passing on the information and going back to work. Also, what was with the ridiculous amount of applause at tonight address? There was literally a standing ovation every 120 seconds or so. WTF? It made Pelosi look like a tool because she kept looking around trying to figure out when it was time to stand and never looked like she was applauding from her own glee. And Joe Biden needs to stop smiling so much. He looks like he sells used Toyotas on the weekend, ---
**Author:** ![Lakai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de0a6/32.png) [@Lakai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lakai)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starting-to-get-tired-of-obamas-formulaic-speeches/487311/2 "2009-02-25T02:47:34Z")
So Obama, going for his man on the moon moment, promises a cure for cancer in our time. So far it’s a pretty direct speech. He’s clearly setting out his agenda. Go health care reform! Discuss. ---
**Author:** ![whatami](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/85f322/32.png) [@whatami](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whatami)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starting-to-get-tired-of-obamas-formulaic-speeches/487311/3 "2009-02-25T02:48:41Z")
> [@Lakai](#): > > So Obama, going for his man on the moon moment, promises a cure for cancer in our time. > > So far it’s a pretty direct speech. He’s clearly setting out his agenda. > > Go health care reform! > > Discuss. Good news is that he speaks in complete, coherent sentences. Bad news is that he’s still a politician. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starting-to-get-tired-of-obamas-formulaic-speeches/487311/4 "2009-02-25T02:56:55Z")
> [@Cubsfan](#): > > Also, what was with the ridiculous amount of applause at tonight address? There was literally a standing ovation every 120 seconds or so. WTF? It made Pelosi look like a tool because she kept looking around trying to figure out when it was time to stand and never looked like she was applauding from her own glee. > > And Joe Biden needs to stop smiling so much. He looks like he sells used Toyotas on the weekend, Actually, I think it feels weird because we haven’t seen it for a while. When the Republican Senators were pleased with Bush, his addresses had a ton of applause and Cheshire-cat-grinning attendees too. Pelosi - man, that’s the seat I wouldn’t want to be in during a speech, just because Everyone Is Looking At You and you don’t even have a speech to give, to distract you from that. Have to agree about Biden, though - might be the slicked-back look on his hair, that sure doesn’t help at least. ---
**Author:** ![Lakai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de0a6/32.png) [@Lakai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lakai)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starting-to-get-tired-of-obamas-formulaic-speeches/487311/5 "2009-02-25T03:12:00Z")
Aw, and I really wanted to title the Obama speech thread. Now it has **Cubsfan’s** pessimistic gloss. Great. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starting-to-get-tired-of-obamas-formulaic-speeches/487311/6 "2009-02-25T03:14:52Z")
Hehe… It was probably sill to say that it sounded “Ultra-rehearsed”. He’s the pres. He should rehearse. I stand by what I said though. He needs to stop trying to deliver IHAD every time he speaks because it’s going to get old for everyone pretty soon, it just got old for me sooner than most. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starting-to-get-tired-of-obamas-formulaic-speeches/487311/7 "2009-02-25T03:18:28Z")
quite the crowd today. i was watching a bit of the hudson flight testimony earlier, so no surprize they were in the chamber. i don’t seem to remember first ladies being mentioned in the opening of other pres. speeches. may be i’m not remembering properly, i do remember them being introduced when they come in, but not in the speaker, mr vp, etc. part. ---
**Author:** ![anu-la1979](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/47e85d/32.png) [@anu-la1979](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anu-la1979)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starting-to-get-tired-of-obamas-formulaic-speeches/487311/8 "2009-02-25T03:27:29Z")
I know I shouldn’t feel this way but Bobby Jindal kinda sounds like an overseas customer rep faking a southern accent. Though I heard Keith Olberman say “oh god” before they muted out the anchors right before he started his speech. I guess they don’t even make a pretense of being impartial. ---
**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starting-to-get-tired-of-obamas-formulaic-speeches/487311/9 "2009-02-25T03:28:26Z")
Holy christ…Jindal is the worst. Wow…he sounds like he’s reading a script to a class of 3 year olds. Or maybe an infomercial. Just terrible. How the hell did the pubs choose him to deliver this speech? Ugh… Doesn’t help that he is pretty goofy looking too. He looks like he has a wrist for a neck. Tiny skinny neck, big jumbo head. ---
**Author:** ![ataraxy22](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ataraxy22/32/307_2.png) [@ataraxy22](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ataraxy22)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starting-to-get-tired-of-obamas-formulaic-speeches/487311/10 "2009-02-25T03:30:47Z")
Jindal sounds like he’s out of some TV show for kids! Careful not to use any big words there! ---
**Author:** ![anu-la1979](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/47e85d/32.png) [@anu-la1979](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anu-la1979)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starting-to-get-tired-of-obamas-formulaic-speeches/487311/11 "2009-02-25T03:40:38Z")
> [@Cubsfan](#): > > Holy christ…Jindal is the worst. Wow…he sounds like he’s reading a script to a class of 3 year olds. Or maybe an infomercial. > > Just terrible. How the hell did the pubs choose him to deliver this speech? Ugh.. Because they want to retain their socially conservative public image and Bobby Jindal, unlike Sarah Palin, is actually intelligent, well-educated and speaks in complete sentences rather than fragments and winks (though nutty on religion) and thorougly believes in the policies of the controlling faction. It’s doubtful that they have many other a) Young b) Ethnic and c) Ivy League educated members who are super conservative (as opposed to what they most likely are, which is upper-middle class moderates/social liberals). My impression of Bobby Jindal is that social demographically, as a Republican, he’s an exception to the rule. For the most part Republicans with his background tend to be socially liberal (hey, I am still registered as a Republican) and the party seems unwilling to publically rebrand itself with a moderate spokesperson. Just MO. OTOH, this speech was just…uh…invoking Hurricane Katrina…uh. ---
**Author:** ![thirdname](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@thirdname](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thirdname)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starting-to-get-tired-of-obamas-formulaic-speeches/487311/12 "2009-02-25T03:49:15Z")
> [@Cubsfan](#): > > His delivery is becoming formulaic and each speech has the same tempo, same hand motions at the same times, pauses in the same locations. The speeches sound ultra-rehearsed too. Check this out: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YN9pGgg8YlQ](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YN9pGgg8YlQ) This person set an Obama speech to music using Microsoft’s Songsmith, which is a program that generates an accompaniment for whatever vocal track you give it. It really does seem like he has a click-track going in his ear or something. I wonder if it works with other speeches of his. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starting-to-get-tired-of-obamas-formulaic-speeches/487311/13 "2009-02-25T03:55:47Z")
> [@Cubsfan](#): > > I stand by what I said though. He needs to stop trying to deliver IHAD every time he speaks because it’s going to get old for everyone pretty soon, it just got old for me sooner than most. I’m confused. You would prefer that he give an unrehearsed, off the cuff speech that does not inspire anyone, nobody applauds and the audience is looking at their watches halfway through?? The complaint is that he rehearses his speeches and tries to be too inspiring? My particular problem is that I’m far too handsome, and everyone I meet finds me very clever and appealing. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starting-to-get-tired-of-obamas-formulaic-speeches/487311/14 "2009-02-25T03:59:33Z")
I think Jindal is what they hope can be their version of Obama – young, smart and ethnic. I do think Jindal is smart, but I don’t think he brings any special electricity or eloquence. My impression of Jindal is that he’s very much a cynical, careerist politician. I also get an impression that he’s put a lot of effort into overcoming any kind of “exotic” or “foreign” image (which could be politically deadly in a state where David Duke was once the Republican candidate for Governor), by overcompensating in a ridiculous way to look, talk and worship in as redneck a way as possible. Maybe it’s not fair to say, but it always does _seem_ like he’s totally faking that cornpone accent. ---
**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starting-to-get-tired-of-obamas-formulaic-speeches/487311/15 "2009-02-25T04:00:23Z")
They said there was applause 61 times. 61. That’s more than once a minute!! That’s too f’n much and by having that much ridiculous applause it makes it seem less genuine. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starting-to-get-tired-of-obamas-formulaic-speeches/487311/16 "2009-02-25T04:02:20Z")
Oh and interestingly enough, for those who think that the speech was “ultra-rehearsed”, this quote from CNN: > [@](#): > > Despite the pressure of his first speech to a joint session of Congress at a time of national crisis, two senior aides tell me the President quietly had only one full dress rehearsal with a teleprompter at about 6pm ET in the White House’s historic map room. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starting-to-get-tired-of-obamas-formulaic-speeches/487311/17 "2009-02-25T04:02:39Z")
That’s really pretty average, though. Have you never watched a SOTU Address? ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starting-to-get-tired-of-obamas-formulaic-speeches/487311/18 "2009-02-25T04:18:13Z")
> [@Cubsfan](#): > > There was literally a standing ovation every 120 seconds or so. WTF? It made Pelosi look like a tool because she kept looking around trying to figure out when it was time to stand and never looked like she was applauding from her own glee. Except when Obama mentioned passing SCHIP and Pelosi shot up like a springloaded, upholstry covered grandma. Jindal made my wife fall asleep within ten minutes and I say that without any exaggeration. One moment she was up and chattering about Obama and cracking jokes about him not being able to reach the door and the next minute she’s snoozing next to me. Someone mentioned before how he wasn’t like Palin but I was honestly reminded of her with the forced sounding folksy stories and manner of speaking. For the first five minutes, what with the history lesson and all, I kept expecting him to give us a tour of the governor’s mansion and show us the way to the real Bobby Jindal. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starting-to-get-tired-of-obamas-formulaic-speeches/487311/19 "2009-02-25T04:21:30Z")
And for those counting at home, in Bush’s SOTU addresses, there was applause [Ranging from 59 to 76 times over the years](http://www.swivel.com/data_sets/show/1002786) **Cubsfan** , Obama really can’t do anything right by you can he? You even get irritated if he is applauded as many times as Bush was. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starting-to-get-tired-of-obamas-formulaic-speeches/487311/20 "2009-02-25T04:22:45Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > That’s really pretty average, though. Have you never watched a SOTU Address? Exactly. It seemed to me Obama would have liked fewer interruptions. I listened to it on the radio, I could almost hear him sighing and tapping his fingers during the applause. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starting-to-get-tired-of-obamas-formulaic-speeches/487311.md?page=2)