ENOUGH!

From the very first time I saw it, I was a huge fan of Aaron Sorkin and Rob Reiner's film The American President.

Tonight, as I watched Barack Obama deliver his acceptance speech — 45 years to the day when Dr. King told us about his "Dream," I couldn't help but think of that movie and the scene near the end of it when President Sheppard finally stands up to his "presumptive" Republican opponent.  In fact, it would appear Barack may have paraphrased a line from the movie when he said, "It's not because John McCain doesn't care. It's because John McCain doesn't get it." [the line from the movie goes — Bob's problem isn't that he doesn't get it. Bob's problem is that he can't sell it!]

If you missed Barack Obama's speech tonight — the speech that my generation will forever remember as the one when someone FINALLY stood up to George Bush and the Republicans and yelled — "ENOUGH!" – make the effort to see it.  A speech like this comes but once every 45 years…give or take. 

Anyone who is a reader of my Blog knows that while I have supported Barack since the end of the Primary season, I have longed for him to move me the way he has many people whom I know and respect.  I now consider myself…..MOVED!

And here are a few reason's why…

"Tonight, I say to the American people, to Democrats and Republicans and Independents across this great land — enough! This moment this election is our chance to keep, in the 21st century, the American promise alive. Because next week, in Minnesota, the same party that brought you two terms of George Bush and Dick Cheney will ask this country for a third. And we are here because we love this country too much to let the next four years look like the last eight. On November 4th, we must stand up and say: Eight is enough."

"For while Senator McCain was turning his sights to Iraq just days after 9/11, I stood up and opposed this war, knowing that it would distract us from the real threats we face. When John McCain said we could just "muddle through" in Afghanistan, I argued for more resources and more troops to finish the fight against the terrorists who actually attacked us on 9/11, and made clear that we must take out Osama bin Laden and his lieutenants if we have them in our sights. John McCain likes to say that he'll follow bin Laden to the Gates of Hell — but he won't even go to the cave where he lives."

"Individual responsibility and mutual responsibility — that's the essence of Americas promise."

"The men and women who serve in our battlefields may be Democrats and Republicans and Independents, but they have fought together and bled together and some died together under the same proud flag. They have not served a Red America or a Blue America — they have served the United States of America."