Inaugural Address Hit All the Right Notes, Says Rhetoric Expert

President Barack Obama's inaugural address hit all the right notes for an excellent speech, says Emory debate and rhetoric expert Melissa Maxcy Wade.

"President Obama was able to set the tone and expectations for the next four years, and capture where America is now, where we are in this moment in time," Wade says. "The speech flowed and the structure was excellent."

The opening immediately addressed the problems and challenges the nation faces, Wade says. The second element of the speech outlined "how we will meet those challenges: with big, bold plans to remake America." Third element and closing was a charge for a new era of service and responsibility with action to deliver on those plans. "Overall, it was surprisingly brief for an inaugural address with little repetition."

It remains to be seen, however, whether or not Obama's address will go down in the annals as one of the best on par with Presidents Roosevelt, Kennedy and Reagan.

"As far as laying out a vision and plan of action, I would give him a solid 'A.' However, it will be judged by what happens next and if it delivered on its promise," Wade says.

Wade is executive director of forensics at Emory and a watcher of numerous presidential speeches. She is one of only three university debate coaches in the United States who has served on the National Associated Press Presidential Debate Evaluation Panel for every U.S. presidential election since 1976.

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Barr to Speak Wednesday, Oct. 29, at Kennesaw State University

Libertarian Party Presidential Nominee Bob Barr will be speaking Wednesday, Oct. 29, at Kennesaw State University. The title of Barr's address is "America's Leadership Vacuum - Sound Bite Policies in a Challenging and Dangerous World."

Wednesday, Oct. 29, at 3:30 p.m.

Burruss Building, Room #151, Kennesaw State University

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Challenges and Opportunities for McCain, says Emory Scientist Black

The Republican National Convention – back on track after Hurricane Gustav and revelations about the personal family life of vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin – provides an essential opportunity for the McCain campaign to make its case to the American public, says Emory University political scientist Merle Black.

"Palin's first impression in Ohio was terrific. She has definitely brought a lot of energy to the campaign," Black says. The disclosures about Palin's family issues "seem to have produced a rallying of the conservative base around her," he says. However, "these revelations have hurt her and McCain among independents and Democrats."

Wednesday and Thursday will be make-or-break-nights for Gov. Palin and Sen. John McCain: "They both need to have really strong speeches," says Black. "Palin is now under great pressure to show strong leadership, to take a beating and keep on trucking. That is part of McCain's appeal as well, and if they can display that strength, they will make a good impression on Republicans and independent voters."

Black, Emory's Asa G. Candler Professor of Politics and Government, is a renowned expert on national politics and the foremost authority on politics in the South. One the nation's most incisive commentators, Black is coauthor of “Divided America: The Ferocious Power Struggle in American Politics.” The groundbreaking work details, for the first time, the country's distinct regional differences to assess the driving forces of partisanship in national politics.

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