President Obama's 2nd Oval Office Speech: End of Iraq War Combat

After avoiding the Oval Office address for 15 months, President Obama is now giving his second such speech in two months. In June, he discussed the BP oil spill from that historic setting. Tonight, the subject is the end of combat operation in the seven year Iraq war. Here is an interesting take on whether Obama should even deliver this as a high profile rhetoric event. I would agree that the President's political focus should be on the economy. On the other hand, it also takes the spotlight, for one night anyway, away from the jobs numbers and shines it on a fulfilled campaign promise. The topic also allows Obama to transcend the nasty street fighting of the midterm campaign and appear presidential and serious, which, despite the silliness of much political rhetoric and commentary these days, is something many Americans still crave in their elected leaders.

A Rhetorical Tribute to John Murtha

Rep. John Murtha (D-PN) died today at the age of 77. A powerful congressman and respected military hawk, Murtha's sudden and dramatic call for a troop withdrawal from Iraq in 2005 stunned the political establishment. Although Murtha's coziness with defense contractors often raised ethical questions, his Iraq address was a lightning bolt strike against the war's legitimacy. He memorably described Iraq as a "flawed policy wrapped in illusion." The full text of that speech can be found in this earlier post from November of 2005.