It is the sort of thing that goes viral.
Hakeem Jeffries acknowledged Kevin McCarthy's Speakership, ending his speech with a rhetorical flourish. It was an upbeat bit of clever positivity, a run-through of Democratic Party values and wishes, done in alphabetical order. It rises to a conclusion and an ovation.
I suspect this part of the speech will be around for a while. There is an element of showing off-- a display of verbal nimbleness that demonstrates that Democrats are led by someone who brings skills to the game. Pundits will quote from it. People will allude to it in conversation.To be culturally competent as a politically-aware American, one will need to have seen it. It is a minute and 37 seconds.
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17 comments:
MATURITY OVER MAR-A-LAGO.
The contrast is startlingly. How can any decent American not be a democrat rather than a Republican? I know there are some, but isn’t the contrast one of good versus evil? Too much? Not for me.
Poor Kevin does not look amused at being so badly outclassed by the guy who kept getting more votes than him.
RE: "How can any decent American not be a democrat rather than a Republican?"
Oregonians can simply look within the state's border to see what 3 decades of D rule have done to Oregon.
Other states are thriving, while Oregon seems stuck. Higher cost to run the state on a per capita basis. School outcomes putting students near the bottom.
Perpetual quest for even more tax revenue.
I lived in Oregon for most of my adult life, and am thankful for Oregon's contributions to my success.
Unfortunately, I could not stand to see my tax dollars wasted on local and state government bloat.
Do we have problems here in Florida? Of course, but for me and for my new neighbors who've escaped Wash State, Oregon, and California, we are much happier now in our sunset years.
There is so much Oregon could learn from other states, both D and R.
Obama wannabe?
That's right, Mr. Anonymous, Jeffries is a person of color. I guess that makes him uppity instead of smart.
The look on Qevin McQarthys face during Leader Jeffries speech alone is worth the price of admission.
I maintain McCarthy will be gone from Congress before Christmas 2023, that even his lack of self awareness and overfeeding will not keep him in the Office of the Speaker if the House.
Ah the modern Democrat speech loaded with platitudes and jabs. The only thing that could make it more Democrat is if 5 or 6 others used their time to give the exact same speech. This way they get free sound bites in their district and C-Span somehow becomes even more boring.
Peter, the esoteric job of the modern legislative is to find ways around the constitution, and liberalism at its core is the very definition of finding ways around the constitution. When a liberal politician mentions the C-word he immediately becomes a liar. The constitution is an impediment to them and we all know it.
He's perfect for your party.
Konservatives really hate being shown up for the Seditionist Dictatorship lovers they are.
Publish or not, Peter, it's your blog but I'm sick of crap written by people like Brian1 going unanswered.
Why in the world would Brian1 say that when a political liberal mentions the C-word, by which I presume he means the Constitution, he immediately becomes a liar.
I publish it because it is the sort of thing said by Trump supporters--and possibly this is Curt, assuming an alias. The net effect is that it makes about 60% of the population realize that they are unfit to govern. That doesn't make them totally unfit. They are excellent at appealing to a subset of Americans who are nourished by the "troll the libs" entertainment system. The more outrageous and over-the-top the better in that arena. Surely Brian1 could have written something negative about the speech by Jefferies. It was not persuasive. It was cheerleading. It was like a parlor trick. That kind of comment would have advanced a anti-liberal cause. The more general audience Brian1 gets, the more that language turns people off. People with "F--- Joe Biden" flags on their pickup trucks get attention. Some people, no doubt, wave in appreciation. Most of the attention, though, is negative.
What rational human beings may not be aware of is that alleged leaders like McCarthy, who don’t believe Trump’s bullshit for a minute, have gleefully spread it out of political expediency and Republicans have swallowed it whole because they’re too ignorant to know any better – by choice. They believe what they want to believe. That’s why red states like Florida are wallowing in anti-woke, anti-gay sanctimony instead of addressing serious issues like climate change.
Hakeem Jeffries’ alphabet speech has been viewed millions of times. They say imitation is the highest form of flattery, but above attempt shows that it’s hard to beat the original.
@Ed to be fair, Peter doesn't owe me anything. He's asked that we not nitpick at each other in his comments, and I've respected that. He states he has the skin to handle the flak, and I think I've only ever had one comment not published by him. He is an academic, thus I expect him to have a bit of disdain for the low-effort troll posting, but I wasn't trolling. I'm genuinely waiting to see the party I left over a decade ago stop looking down on everyone. It wasn't there in this video, and I loathe the cheerleading for yet more single-party rule.
@Peter: I'm not Curt, I'm an uneducated deplorable with no notoriety in the valley other than a public facing job, hence why I don't come right out with the url link. You already know that nuance of voters crossing party lines regardless of affiliation. I've voted D plenty of times when strategic or otherwise expedient.
This speech by Jeffries is not inclusive, it's the haught couture de la fete, telling everyone in simple terms how much better their group is. It throws out the one word stereotypes like anything against The Correct Party is backwards, possibly savage and in need of rein, muster, or cull. For their own good of course. Can you imagine why over 1/3rd of the country is acting a little put out?
I'm not even a Trumper, if anything I hope something happens that prevents him from running in 2024. What bugs me is I have access to some local elites, some even liberal, who admit there were certain policy advancements by Trump which were useful and advancing. They just didn't like the drama around him. That's at least honest. Hell even if I voted for him, the drama puts me off to where I don't think I would again.
Peter you say Democrats can do better all the time. Jeffries can do better than this divisive crap which does nothing but show an attempt to tell a highly significant metric of Americans that they aren't welcome in their own country. Yay he doesn't like Trump! Wow very inspiring! Can't wait for him to have more power! That's turning into a weaker sell every year.
Pelosi literally handed out impeachment swag claiming how somber their decision was.
Finally, this part is just my suggestion as it is entirely your choice, as it is your comment thread, but don't pigeonhole your contrarians. There are more than one of us. You also like music:
* ..but glittering prizes and endless compromises, shatter the illusion of integrity
I expected Rick to be all over me as well. I'll do better next time.
Jeffrey's speech end was not good. It was, as I said, a parlor trick.
Zelenskyy's speech repeating the word HERE, making the point that the Ukraine leadership was staying and risking their lives along with their countrymen--that was a good speech. His New Year's speech was a good one, repeating that the country was unified.
Great speeches can move opinion. The West Wing was fiction but communication matters in fiction, and Trump cheerleading that the U.S. economy was in carnage when he was innaugerated and it was wonderful three months later under his leadership was ridiculous, dishonest and very effective, all three.
I have criticized Biden repeatedly for being unable to move the country with an effectively delivered message. Jeffries did not do it either. But the speech by Jeffries was a defiant bit of cleverness and as I wrote, people should see it. Do so not to see a great speech--I cited Zelenskyy for that on New Years. See the speech by Jeffries to be culturally competent. If other people make allusion to something--that speech, the movie Jaws, the TV show The West Wing, to Mary and Joseph, to Mount Rushmore--to be culturally competent one needs to know what is being talked about.
Kudos to Brian1 for a cohesive comment.
It's telling when some of the comments lack content, instead offering only criticism.
Speeches span the map, from very good to very bad.
Actions speak louder than words.
I'm a different Mike, but don't want to be mistaken for the other Mikes who frequent this blog. Let's see how well the D's and R's handle the next 2 years.
The Other Mike
I find it always enlightening to revisit your posts, and the comments appended thereto.
My objection to Brian's comment was, and is based on his broad brush approach labeling any Liberal mentioning the Constitution as a Liar.
That remark is more fitting for some body like Gymshorts Jordan, soon to be House Judiciary Committee Chair, and won't that be entertaining.
That said, I otherwise appreciated Brian's remarks.
Huzzah!
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