Praising Obama was only a small part of the intention of the speech. His reminder that just as Democrats should not cede the moral high-ground, nor should the cede the high ground on patriotism and national service.

He was mostly giving his advice to fellow Democrats of a campaign strategy, partly based on recognition of his own mistakes campaigning. If he had done more of this kind of speech with this kind of attitude, he’d be President today.

Succinct, to the point, with hard-hiting yet fair, straight-up criticisms of McCain’s flip-flopping, completely aware of the irony.

Kerry’s speech was great — very substantive and very helpful to Canadians Against Canada’s Mini-Bush — Stephan Harper, the leader of the Conservative Party and current Prime Minster.

Highlights for me were
- Kerry’s fourth para — squandering of American power, ideology replacing strategy, extremism crowding out values
-sixth para — values as a weapon in the arsenal
-seventh — listening and leading by example
-nineteen — merchants of fear and division

These lines will stand the test of time. They should be repeated over and over again in the US and in the upcoming Canadian election.

Kerry’s salutes to Obama’s Uncle Charlie Payne, a liberator of Buchenwald, were very much appreciated.