I began by highlighting a line, then a para and pretty soon the whole darn article was marked up. Absolute gold, for two reasons - the analysis of the individual speeches and what really stood out with a clear reason (which figure of speech made it gold!) and of course the collation the videos and transcripts in one place with your discerning extracts of the best ones. You've earned as many days of sleep as you desire!
Actually, this was written in between two zoom calls and one edit, and it shows -- some transitions are forced, plus there are other errors of style that crept in.
I actually wanted to do this another way: Take one speech, and dissect it to showcase the tropes of good writing. Maybe another day.
I genuinely admire my fellow Americans who can endure watching these events, whether they're Democratic or GOP. I find myself too sensitive to tolerate such spectacles. I dislike having my intelligence undermined and feel disheartened seeing people eagerly giving their support and money to individuals whose ethical standards would make even Mephistopheles blush. Therefore, I avoid direct exposure to these disheartening and regrettable displays.
Ms. Harris may win, but it won't be because of the wonderful DNC speeches, and because Democrats told us how much she cares. It will be because she isn't Donald Trump.
I agree with your summary line -- and it says something about today's democracies that almost inevitably, the choice is not between good and bad, but between the lesser of two evils.
Thanks, Nupur. And that is not pro forma "thanks". Speeches -- well written and delivered ones -- are a kind of hobbyhorse of mine. I read, listen, make notes about various aspects of the writing, in the hope that some of it becomes part of my mental toolkit.
This Substack is meant to clarify -- for myself, first, and hopefully for readers -- my thoughts on issues of the day. During the week I was away, much happened that I could (probably should) have written about, but I chose to write about this, knowing it was personal indulgence and likely not what the reader was looking for.
Puzzled, in a good way, by the response -- both here, and on WhatsApp and in mail. So many people reached out with their thoughts. Startled me initially, because I thought this post wouldn't resonate. Your response, and that of others, makes me glad I "indulged myself".
Please continue to indulge yourself. While I admire and appreciate your perspective on what is happening (have shared links of your writing with others because it had the right words to explain things at various points), there are many whom I can refer to. But Substack is also a writers’ medium so any help on the craft will always find takers, myself included.
Like I said, this post seems to have resonated in ways I did not anticipate. Thanks again. To my surprise, there are three emails and one WA message all asking more or less the same thing: While this post looked at examples from multiple speeches, can I take ONE speech and break it down into its component parts to show how an argument is constructed.
Will try and do that this coming week, once I have shaken off both the fatigue of the trip and the pending to-do list that piled up while I was away.
I use examples from speechwriting a lot when doing narrative writing workshops, but I've never done that kind of a teardown before focussing on any one speech, so this could be a learning experience for me as well.
Prem I have been a fan of yours since rediff days and "India Abroad" (not sure if I got the name right)
It kind of gives away my age :).
I watched bits and pieces but I am not optimistic as you on a democratic win. There are still a lot of men in US who hold prejudicial views of a woman and a person of color. This is a robust economy and Biden/Harris have done a lot of good in last 4 years but still an uphill battle.
India Abroad is right, and your age doesn't betray you. :-) Thank you for the kind words.
As for the result -- I am never "optimistic", merely realistic. (As witness the Lok Sabha election when I was calling things phase by phase). As things stand today (those four words are heavily underscored), it is the Democrats' race to lose. The convention will give them another poll bump and widen the gap. But there is still some 75 days to go, and a lot can happen between now and then -- to both sides.
For instance, the debate -- if there is one -- can be a minefield. Trump will bumble, but his base doesn't care; Harris stumbling could be fatal.
For another, as of now the mainstream press is in possession of something extremely damaging to the Republicans, and unlike in 2016 when they happily ran with Russian propaganda, this time they are staking out a moral high ground and refusing to publish.
Fair enough -- but what are the odds that whoever fed them the stuff won't, in the face of this refusal, pass the stuff on to one or more of the YouTube influencers? Doesn't matter who, really -- pick someone who is hungry and desperate; he or she will go public, and once the cat is out of the bag, even the mainstream will run with it.
Another factor not reflecting yet in media coverage is the youth vote -- millions of new voters have come of age, and what I hear is that they are signing up in droves. Much will depend on where they are most plentiful, and which way they swing.
Point is, too many imponderables just now. But if the Democrats do what Walz and others have been exhorting them to -- work their butts off, that is -- this should be their election, as on date.
I agree that now this is Demacrats’ race to lose. Surely the enthusiasm generated by a fresh candidate is generating favourable polling for Ds. Harris hasn’t fumbled so far - which is good - but if we know politics, nothing is guaranteed. Enthusiasm from the base matters - the 2022 midterm is a case in point. I guess the short timeframe between the ascension of Harris as the candidate and the election day is actually a good thing, because it’s perhaps easier to sustain this momentum.
True about the shortened time frame benefitting Harris more than Trump. I think the outcome of this election is not going to be decided by the speeches on either side, or by the debates (assuming they happen) but by who has the better ground game. Getting out the vote is where this election will be decided -- at this point, the Trump lot seems dispirited and disengaged, while the other crowd is fired up and people are signing up to volunteer in their hundreds of thousands. Question is whether they can keep this enthusiasm up, and how -- a big problem with liberals (and that is true here as well) is that they might have strong opinions, but when it comes to doing the hard stuff, they'd rather chill at home with a bottle of wine. We'll see :-)
Nice review of the DNC, Prem. On Buttigieg: Black man checked. This time hopefully woman and black woman will be checked simultaneously. Looking forward to a gay being checked in the next cycle. Pete Buttigieg is super articulate and a conventional democrat, so one can hope! Enjoyed Obamas - see this for an interesting take: https://youtu.be/wEIc0mQ23AY?feature=shared
I've been following Buttigieg ever since he began appearing regularly in his role as Transportation Secretary. What struck me about him was his calmness even in the face of the stupid and the inane, his ability to speak cogently to the point impromptu, and a palpable sense of ease in his own skin. I agree -- he is a natural candidate for 2028; even more so if the Democrats give him a more robust assignment in the next administration, one where he can show off his administrative chops (assuming Harris/Walz win, which given the state of the race, they should).
As for that link -- ever since Desi Lydic, Ronnie Cheng et al started sharing hosting duties on The Daily Show, I make it a point to catch up. Trevor was good, but he was getting a bit tired towards the end, there. Desi is brilliant -- her team gives her great lines, and her delivery is impeccable in timing.
Brilliant, evocative writing, Prem. Thanks.
Thanks much, Darshak. Stay well
I began by highlighting a line, then a para and pretty soon the whole darn article was marked up. Absolute gold, for two reasons - the analysis of the individual speeches and what really stood out with a clear reason (which figure of speech made it gold!) and of course the collation the videos and transcripts in one place with your discerning extracts of the best ones. You've earned as many days of sleep as you desire!
Actually, this was written in between two zoom calls and one edit, and it shows -- some transitions are forced, plus there are other errors of style that crept in.
I actually wanted to do this another way: Take one speech, and dissect it to showcase the tropes of good writing. Maybe another day.
So thoroughly enjoyed reading this. Thank you much.
Sharing this piece in all the writer/translator groups I'm a part of. Thank you for writing this, Prem!
Thank you, Shivani -- it was written on a whim, and the response has been startling. Be well.
I genuinely admire my fellow Americans who can endure watching these events, whether they're Democratic or GOP. I find myself too sensitive to tolerate such spectacles. I dislike having my intelligence undermined and feel disheartened seeing people eagerly giving their support and money to individuals whose ethical standards would make even Mephistopheles blush. Therefore, I avoid direct exposure to these disheartening and regrettable displays.
Ms. Harris may win, but it won't be because of the wonderful DNC speeches, and because Democrats told us how much she cares. It will be because she isn't Donald Trump.
I agree with your summary line -- and it says something about today's democracies that almost inevitably, the choice is not between good and bad, but between the lesser of two evils.
As a writer, I’m bookmarking this piece, both, for your writing and for the writing examples you have earmarked.
I’ve been watching the DNC speeches too, and wondering why, since I have no stake in the American election or even a journalistic interest.
Now that I’ve read this, I understand. It’s for the writing, and yes, the Aaron Sorkin-esque brilliance.
Thanks, Nupur. And that is not pro forma "thanks". Speeches -- well written and delivered ones -- are a kind of hobbyhorse of mine. I read, listen, make notes about various aspects of the writing, in the hope that some of it becomes part of my mental toolkit.
This Substack is meant to clarify -- for myself, first, and hopefully for readers -- my thoughts on issues of the day. During the week I was away, much happened that I could (probably should) have written about, but I chose to write about this, knowing it was personal indulgence and likely not what the reader was looking for.
Puzzled, in a good way, by the response -- both here, and on WhatsApp and in mail. So many people reached out with their thoughts. Startled me initially, because I thought this post wouldn't resonate. Your response, and that of others, makes me glad I "indulged myself".
Thanks again, stay well.
Please continue to indulge yourself. While I admire and appreciate your perspective on what is happening (have shared links of your writing with others because it had the right words to explain things at various points), there are many whom I can refer to. But Substack is also a writers’ medium so any help on the craft will always find takers, myself included.
Like I said, this post seems to have resonated in ways I did not anticipate. Thanks again. To my surprise, there are three emails and one WA message all asking more or less the same thing: While this post looked at examples from multiple speeches, can I take ONE speech and break it down into its component parts to show how an argument is constructed.
Will try and do that this coming week, once I have shaken off both the fatigue of the trip and the pending to-do list that piled up while I was away.
I use examples from speechwriting a lot when doing narrative writing workshops, but I've never done that kind of a teardown before focussing on any one speech, so this could be a learning experience for me as well.
Take care, stay safe
Really look forward to it!
Follow up with masterclass 😀 I’d sign up!
Prem I have been a fan of yours since rediff days and "India Abroad" (not sure if I got the name right)
It kind of gives away my age :).
I watched bits and pieces but I am not optimistic as you on a democratic win. There are still a lot of men in US who hold prejudicial views of a woman and a person of color. This is a robust economy and Biden/Harris have done a lot of good in last 4 years but still an uphill battle.
India Abroad is right, and your age doesn't betray you. :-) Thank you for the kind words.
As for the result -- I am never "optimistic", merely realistic. (As witness the Lok Sabha election when I was calling things phase by phase). As things stand today (those four words are heavily underscored), it is the Democrats' race to lose. The convention will give them another poll bump and widen the gap. But there is still some 75 days to go, and a lot can happen between now and then -- to both sides.
For instance, the debate -- if there is one -- can be a minefield. Trump will bumble, but his base doesn't care; Harris stumbling could be fatal.
For another, as of now the mainstream press is in possession of something extremely damaging to the Republicans, and unlike in 2016 when they happily ran with Russian propaganda, this time they are staking out a moral high ground and refusing to publish.
Fair enough -- but what are the odds that whoever fed them the stuff won't, in the face of this refusal, pass the stuff on to one or more of the YouTube influencers? Doesn't matter who, really -- pick someone who is hungry and desperate; he or she will go public, and once the cat is out of the bag, even the mainstream will run with it.
Another factor not reflecting yet in media coverage is the youth vote -- millions of new voters have come of age, and what I hear is that they are signing up in droves. Much will depend on where they are most plentiful, and which way they swing.
Point is, too many imponderables just now. But if the Democrats do what Walz and others have been exhorting them to -- work their butts off, that is -- this should be their election, as on date.
I agree that now this is Demacrats’ race to lose. Surely the enthusiasm generated by a fresh candidate is generating favourable polling for Ds. Harris hasn’t fumbled so far - which is good - but if we know politics, nothing is guaranteed. Enthusiasm from the base matters - the 2022 midterm is a case in point. I guess the short timeframe between the ascension of Harris as the candidate and the election day is actually a good thing, because it’s perhaps easier to sustain this momentum.
True about the shortened time frame benefitting Harris more than Trump. I think the outcome of this election is not going to be decided by the speeches on either side, or by the debates (assuming they happen) but by who has the better ground game. Getting out the vote is where this election will be decided -- at this point, the Trump lot seems dispirited and disengaged, while the other crowd is fired up and people are signing up to volunteer in their hundreds of thousands. Question is whether they can keep this enthusiasm up, and how -- a big problem with liberals (and that is true here as well) is that they might have strong opinions, but when it comes to doing the hard stuff, they'd rather chill at home with a bottle of wine. We'll see :-)
LOL I think Trumps base is more beer than Wine ;)
Nice review of the DNC, Prem. On Buttigieg: Black man checked. This time hopefully woman and black woman will be checked simultaneously. Looking forward to a gay being checked in the next cycle. Pete Buttigieg is super articulate and a conventional democrat, so one can hope! Enjoyed Obamas - see this for an interesting take: https://youtu.be/wEIc0mQ23AY?feature=shared
I've been following Buttigieg ever since he began appearing regularly in his role as Transportation Secretary. What struck me about him was his calmness even in the face of the stupid and the inane, his ability to speak cogently to the point impromptu, and a palpable sense of ease in his own skin. I agree -- he is a natural candidate for 2028; even more so if the Democrats give him a more robust assignment in the next administration, one where he can show off his administrative chops (assuming Harris/Walz win, which given the state of the race, they should).
As for that link -- ever since Desi Lydic, Ronnie Cheng et al started sharing hosting duties on The Daily Show, I make it a point to catch up. Trevor was good, but he was getting a bit tired towards the end, there. Desi is brilliant -- her team gives her great lines, and her delivery is impeccable in timing.
I like all of them - Desi, Ronnie, Klepper, and Kosta. Brilliant writing of course.
Enjoyed every word and bit of analysis here, Prem. Thank you.
Glad you liked it, thanks much for reading. Stay well :-)