Speech Reviews

Thanks to Twitter, we can read opinions of President Obama's speech, while he's still giving it. During the speech, some bloggers (right and left) were complaining about the "pep rally" style of the memorial service. But, criticism of what the President said and how he said it was few and far between, tweet-wise.

And after a good night's sleep that remains the same.

It seems President Obama is getting quite the praise from the media and the public on his job last night. My own analysis: I think he did a great job. He was humble. He was grieving. He honored the dead and celebrated their lives. He celebrated the miracles that are taking place in the survivors, including Rep. Gabrielle Giffords. He paid tribute to heros. He inspired the nation to honor the hope of a child. He quoted scripture. He was empathetic.

Yes, the crowd was rowdy. But I don't think it was a "political" scene. And it certainly wasn't orchestrated by the White House. The University planned the whole thing!

Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said the President worked on much of the speech, himself, even making edits after Air Force One landed in Tucson. He adlibbed the part about the Congresswoman opening her eyes. The President learned of that shortly after he visited her in the hospital. Obama was told in the car, on the way over to the McKale center, and he asked Rep. Giffords' husband, Mark Kelly, for permission to share the update. He chose where to insert it into the speech.

The staff wasn't expecting as much applause during the speech. Robert Gibbs said the President had been thinking about this tragedy on "many different levels." As a President of the United States. As a friend of the Congresswoman. And as a parent.

After all, the President has a 9-year-old daughter himself, his youngest, Sasha. It's got to hit home.

One of the big Barack Obama themes, dating back to his time as a State Senator in Illinois in 2004 is this whole idea of "disagreeing without being disagreeable."

The White House says the elements and themes of last night's speech will be incorporated into the State of the Union.