and what reached out and grabbed me was the sight of man - overmatched, overworked, overanalyzed. . . telling us what was in his heart.
Where other President's try to present an all-knowing facade, this President admits he doesn't have all the answers.
Where some try to pretend that the criticism doesn't hurt (or is not even heard), this President tells us that he is not immune to all the barbs thrown his way.
In a culture where admitting mistakes is frowned upon, President Obama willingly steps to the mic to admit in real time the errors made by the government and accepts HIS responsibility for the failures.
What I saw was a man who is happiest when he is working towards a solution, not just pontificating about the problem.
A man who has taken the hopes of the world on his shoulders, knowing that he is an imperfect vessel for such a burden, but willing to do what he can anyway.
I saw a real man in the real world being real with the American people.
And I just wanted to say thanks for trying.
Thanks for not being afraid to fail.
Thanks for accepting the responsibility, the scorn, the heartache.
Thanks for being willing to listen to our complaints . . . thanks for telling us what you really think and not just what we want to hear.
It may not be change everyone believes in . . . but it is the change we need.
UPDATE: Thanks for the rec list and your comments . . . I'm leaving home but if I find video or transcript of the speech I will add.
UPDATE 2: Hat tip to sandnsea from comments for finding this video link (haven't watched so hope it's okay! lol)
UPDATE 3: Hat tip to hyper from the comments for link to LA Times article about the speech:
http://www.latimes.com/...
UPDATE 4: Transcript of speech now available:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/...
UPDATE 5: I've gotten a few comments about my use of the word "overmatched". I mean this in the sense that the President is overmatched by the problems the nation faces, not that he is unable to rise to these challenges. I believe that the President can and will meet these challenges, but he can't do it alone.