I consider myself a speech snob.

 

I am fascinated by public speaking.  Have been ever since I took it as a class in 10th grade taught by Bud Jensen at Edina High School.  Easily one of the best classes I've taken at any level.

 

But the class kinda ruined me.  Ever since I have a hard time listening to speeches, no matter the context, if the speaker's delivery is not great and/or the content is blah.  Going into the convention today I am practically giddy about the number of great speakers I'll get to hear.  Obama's speech on Thursday promises to be amazing, me thinks.  Up until that final speech of the convention, though, I hope to get my fill of fantastic speeches. 

 

I'm fortunate to have seen a few great speakers in my life.  One who always impresses is John Sexton, former Dean of NYU School of Law when I was a student there and now President of NYU.  He's an amazing orator.  Another is Bryan Stevenson, founder of the Equal Justice Iniative of Alabama and one of the capital defense attorneys in the country.  A saint living among us if there ever was one.  I also saw Julian Bond speak once.  Brilliant how he wove the days events and the context of the event in with his remarks on justice. 

 

In the realm of political speech I've seen a few good ones live.  One of my favorites was when I saw Obama at the Target Center early this year.  I also remember vividly Al Sharpton's speech at the 2004 DNC.  I missed it on TV, but caught it on the internet later in the week.  Wow.  Watch it here:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SBFREiCkf8.  He really gets going around 12 minutes. 

 

And of course there is Hubert Humphrey's speech to the 1948 DNC.  I missed that one by about 26 years but have seen it on video. 

 

So who will be this year's best speaker?   

 Read all DNC blogs