Most Memorable?
By Graham Davies

Now is the time when newspaper and TV commentators, weary after weeks of festive wining and dining, opt for the easiest method of column-filling: a list of the most memorable events of 2008. Many of them say it was Obama's victory speech. You may agree.

If you're curious, try this test. Cast your mind back to that night. Remember the huge crowd and the anticipation and the excitement, and the feeling that something great was about to happen. Recall the joyous adrenalin surge as the man walked out on the stage. Picture once again his poise, his dignity and his sheer style as he used the autocue so brilliantly that most TV viewers didn't even realise it was there.

All sorted and firmly fixed in your mind. Now take a piece of paper and write down your best recollection of what he actually said. Do not read my next paragraph until you have done so.

Here is what you can remember:

"We will buy a puppy".

"Yes we can".

There are good speeches, and there are brilliant speeches. How did Obama fare? Well, a good speech tells the audience something useful that they didn't already know, so he half met the criteria: people didn't know he needed to buy a puppy.

However, the information wasn't useful.

A truly brilliant speech tells the audience something very significant that they will never forget. Again, Obama half met the criteria: people won't forget the puppy. But he didn't offer one specific step that he was going to take that would make a difference to the lives of the audience. What he did offer was a hostage to fortune.

You see, in years to come, if he's failed on every political front, smart-aleck commentators will be tempted to turn round and say "but at least the kids got the puppy". This canine stuff is not going to sustain him in office.

After all, a presidency is for four years, not just for Christmas.