So much fanfare and praise to start. It's nice, but it doesn't feel presidential. But it's just the start, and I have little to write about yet. - Ben Parr

Sharp tongue with the first attack against Bush. Not bad. - Ben Parr

I actually really like the start to his speech - "Enough" is a good line, period. But I don't fall for the "McCain would be just like Bush". No, he wouldn't be. I also like the set. - Ben Parr

Voting with Bush 90% of the time - half of those were probably roll call votes. I mean, I want to know what Obama's % of voting agreement is based on those same numbers. But it's still a good line. - Ben Parr

"I just don't think he knows." "He just doesn't get it" Ow. The stadium seems like a good choice of venue, but I don't know how the general population reacts to it. - Ben Parr

Overall so far, Obama's had great lines and soundbytes, but I do want to hear some more specific proposals. You know McCain will make some specific proposals, and if Obama doesn't have some to match that, it's going to minimalize Obama's speech. - Ben Parr

Ben MSNBC said it is a long speech becuase he will get to the part where he discusses when I am president, I will do XYZ - Ruth Ferguson

Took a swipe at the celebrity bit that has been waged by McCain against Obama. Smart. He needs to define himself as a man of substance as well as a great orator - Ben Parr

@Ruth - It's supposed to be at least 50 minutes with applause. So he has plenty of time to talk about specifics. He's laying the groundwork now. And so far it's damn good, but not in the realm of great. Quite yet. - Ben Parr

Nobody can promise freedom from dependence of oil. Especially in 10 years. I don't want empty promises. - Ben Parr

Okay, glad to hear about Nuclear power. I'm very much in favor of an array of power sources, nuclear included. - Ben Parr

See, here's where he starts to get into the meat. A specific number for investments in new energy. Now he's on education, but I want to know where the money to pay the higher salaries and improve the schools come from. And for college education. Maybe I'm just a bit of a skeptic, but there's limited resources to do some of these things. Too lofty of promises and you're bound to disappoint. Politics is just like that. - Ben Parr

As an aside, I already prefer "Live" FriendFeeding to live blogging - Faster discussions, better platform for short thoughts, and able to react to people's thoughts. - Ben Parr

There we go! How to pay for all of your proposals. And efficiency by cutting bureaucracy! I'm always in favor of cutting the fat. - Ben Parr

Yeah, this is good stuff. I'm not sure why anyone thinks this guy isn't the genuine article. - Alex Scoble

Now we enter the war portion. I want to see if he says anything about the surge. Both sides have been right and wrong and very wrong on the issue. And not a bad line about McCain and the cave, but it's not McCain's job to follow him. It's Bush's job... - Ben Parr

@Alex I don't think a lot of people question his honesty or that he's the genuine article. I think people question whether he can be "presidential" and handle the job. So far he's laid out a good case. I'm of the firm belief this election's going to be decided by the three debates. But this is a good way to start. Wonder if McCain's VP announcement will do anything to blunt the upswing Obama will get. - Ben Parr

David Risley just posted on Twitter that Obama is a Marxist with good speaking skills. Heh. - Alex Scoble

GOOD counterpoint to say they're the party of Kennedy, of Truman, that will defend the country. Now he has to show he can command the troops. - Ben Parr

@Alex Obama may be quite liberal, but haha at Marxist - Ben Parr

Obama shouldn't have to defend that he's patriotic. But he has to. And damn, he brought back the 2004 lines in a sharp and clear voice. - Ben Parr

Yeah and to call him a marxist is irrelevant. You can't make this country marxist anymore than you can make it into a peach. - Alex Scoble

@Jason - The economy always survives, it knows how to manage itself, but the deficit angers me though. That deficit is something he should be harping on more. Now he's jumping into guns. I still would like more specific proposals. - Ben Parr

I don't know if some Americans will enjoy having lesbians and gays being called their brothers and sisters. And that's too bad. - Ben Parr

Most of what he wants to do will be difficult to do, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't darn well try. - Alex Scoble

@Alex - Compared to a lot of countries, the two parties aren't that far off on the issues. We agree on almost all the basic tenants. Free speech, constituionality, democratic rule, economics... - Ben Parr

"I'm not the typical candidate" That will be a soundbyte. - Ben Parr

"Not about me.. it's about you"... - Johnny Worthington

I want to apologize to those of you who keep seeing my livefeed pop up due to friend of a friend. But I hope you're getting something out of this! - Ben Parr

So we're close to the end it seems. Still was hoping for more specific proposals, but good enough for now. This campaign has not been enough about their platforms and ideas and plans of actions. - Ben Parr

Trying to still Live FriendFeed, but I was fixated for just a moment with the Martin Luther King portion of the speech - Ben Parr

Fiance voiced an interesting thought. Obama wouldn't be this close to the presidency if the last 8 years hadn't been so bad. We would have gotten another "I'm not a Republican" democrat. - Alex Scoble

Hell, the themes of "we cannot turn back" and "we have work to do" would be great themes for his campaign. Change we can believe in may not hold up to November. - Ben Parr

@Alex - I just don't think the electorate is going to equate McCain with Bush. If Obama and his campaign keeps on harping on them being connecting, theyt're going to lose focus on his message. - Ben Parr

Well thank you all for joining me for this Live FriendFeed of the Obama speech. I'd love to debate or chat about your impressions of the speech. Ooh, fireworks! - Ben Parr

@Jason The Prediction markets are heavily in favor of Pawlenty right now. If McCain picked Lieberman, I feel like the basis for Obama's campaign (it's about change) would come crumbling. So would the Republican base. Mitt is too, well, upper class to survive as McCain's VP I think. - Ben Parr

It's like a curtain call...I also don't know how much I like the music. - Ben Parr

Benediction: end this prayer the way YOU would end this prayer. Amen. ^Z - Karim

I disagree. I think they need to keep tying McCain to Bush. Do it and do it some more and keep doing it until the American people see them as the same...then it's game over. I honestly believe that people don't want another 4 years of GW and enough will swing to see that it doesn't happen. - Alex Scoble

Too much pandering... It's like he went down a to-do list of groups he had to pacify and make happy. I was yawning midway through when he started with the tired "McCain = another 4 yrs of Bush". Very little original thoughts here... Mostly an opportunity to address his perceived failings. He could have done much better. I give it a 6 (maybe) out of 10. - Alberto Lopez

Ben, I think he said "oil from the Middle East" specifically :-) which was kind of interesting. feasible? [scribbles on back of envelope] let's see, if we build about two dozen more nuclear power plants, and everyone switches to electric cars... carry the two... - Karim