political speech analyst and communication coach
Political speech analyst and communication coach who covered the 1996, 2000 and 2004 Republican and Democratic National Conventions; co-author of Words that Shook the World: 100 Years of Unforgettable Speeches and Events
What's Next for the Presidential Campaigns? John McCain had a high bar to reach last night with his acceptance speech at the GOP convention in St Paul. Not only was he following Barack Obama's historical performance in front of 80,000 Democrats the week before, he was also following the highly effective speech delivered the night before by his running mate Sarah Palin. McCain brought the party faithful to their feet with a mixture of his emotional personal story and a rousing promise to do battle with the powers-that-be in Washington. But can he resurrect the maverick persona with a voting record that's supported the current administration? We look at what's next for the campaign. Can both candidates to be the agents of change the country needs? Will Palin lead the charge in a sequel to the culture wars of the past? Should Obama fight back or take the high road?
Obama's Speech, McCain's VP, from Denver to the Twin Cities In front of a crowd of 80,000 in a Denver football stadium, plus millions watching on TV, the country's first African American presidential nominee mixed soaring rhetoric and down-to-earth detail in an effort to give new momentum to his campaign. It was an historic moment, coming on the 45th anniversary of Martin Luther King's ' I Have a Dream ' speech. Polls have showed Barack Obama losing ground, but last night he showed a more combative side. He did the obligatory nod to John McCain 's service and then launched into the most scathing attack against him and the Bush Administration we've heard so far. This morning, McCain and his just-announced running mate , Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin, are gearing up for next week's GOP convention with rallies in three battleground states. Did Obama accomplish what he needed to? What impact will Palin have on McCain's campaign?
Trump's new look at civil rights and global warming President Trump is reportedly ready to pull the US out of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. We look at the possible consequences. On the second half of the program, we hear about cuts in Obama-Era civil rights programs called for by the Trump Administration's first budget plan.
White House budget proposal slashes and burns President Trump's first budget request is considered dead on arrival in Congress — a familiar development in Capitol Hill. We hear what it reveals about the priorities of the new administration. What's likely to die… and what might survive?
How was the trip? President Trump's travels got less fun as he went from the Middle East to Europe.
Terrorism and tweets, hate speech and murder Just days before an election, Britain is coping with a rash of deadly terrorism, and Prime Minister Theresa May is on the defensive. And again today, President Trump has tweeted criticism of the Mayor of London. Later, a double murder in Portland, Oregon has revealed the ugly past of a supposedly “progressive” city. One immediate question: is “hate speech” protected by the First Amendment?