David Frum
Why inaugural speeches mostly fail
Why do inaugural addresses fail?
They fail for two reasons: One subject to the speaker’s control; the other, not.
They fail, first, because the grandeur of the occasion inspires new presidents and their teams to overblown rhetoric, even as their political advisers steer them away from too specific commitments. Grand language wrapped around a thin message produces only vapid blather…
But there’s another source of failure, one not so easily corrected. Inaugural addresses can fail even when the ideas are clear, even when the writing is fine, if the addresses make commitments that the ensuing presidency cannot deliver.
Blowback
Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.
Trackbacks/Pings
Trackback URL
Comments
People like David Frum write them.
DavidW on January 21, 2013 at 12:14 PM
As true as it is funny…
Drained Brain on January 21, 2013 at 12:19 PM
zZzZZzzZZzZZzzZzzZZzzZzzZz
Jeddite on January 21, 2013 at 12:20 PM
Why I couldn’t give a d@mn.
Dusty on January 21, 2013 at 12:22 PM
Because they lack the butter that my articles have.
-David Frum
Gatsu on January 21, 2013 at 12:23 PM
None of that makes any difference to 0bama’s faithful cultists.
To wit:
UltimateBob on January 21, 2013 at 12:47 PM
Ohhh . . . the stupid, it burns my eyes!!
I’d missed the initial comment UltimateBob. Thanks for making sure it got exposure.
SoRight on January 21, 2013 at 12:54 PM