Rural Thoughts

Kristi and I watched Obama's speech from Afghanistan and about the longer term agreement between Afghanistan and the U.S. I have no idea whether such an agreement can last how many ever years it says - but things seem pretty, um, can I say, fluid over there.

But the fact is that speech making is Obama's strength. He speaks incredibly well - with sincerity, convincingly, and with well chosen words. I guess my big picture view is that Obama came off as a president that doesn't like war. That's a good thing. But because of things he's done that are hawkish, he can't be said to be weak in that regard. In a way, I admire him for making decisions that have gotten him to that place politically. On the other hand, he's had to do things, like kill people in drone strikes that probably aren't guilty, to get himself to that point. That isn't a good thing.

When Obama talks about war, like tonight, I get the feeling that he is aware of those kind of compromises he has made and wants everyone to know how tough it is and how he does it thinking it is for the good of everyone and not necessarily because it fits his moral compass like a glove.

I honestly don't know how to take it. But I definitely believe that Obama is more likely to keep us out of a dragged out military action than a republican. I might be being taken. But I don't think so. We'll see as time goes on. But Romney cannot out public speak Obama - and Romney is going to have to deal with that eventually. I think he will have a very difficult time competing with Obama's public speaking skills.