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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Taking to the world's biggest bully pulpit | Taking to the world's biggest bully pulpit |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Article written by Mark Mardell North America editor | Article written by Mark Mardell North America editor |
| The US president rounded off his second and last inauguration day with the troops, at the commander-in-chief's ball. | The US president rounded off his second and last inauguration day with the troops, at the commander-in-chief's ball. |
| Even here, speaking down a link to soldiers in Afghanistan, his mind was on the home front - assuring them they would be looked after when they came home, given a heroes' welcome. | Even here, speaking down a link to soldiers in Afghanistan, his mind was on the home front - assuring them they would be looked after when they came home, given a heroes' welcome. |
| He does not want any new foreign wars, but he has signalled he is ready for a series of monumental fights at home. | He does not want any new foreign wars, but he has signalled he is ready for a series of monumental fights at home. |
| He has used the biggest bully pulpit he will ever get to punch home a feisty message that contained not an ounce of compromise. | He has used the biggest bully pulpit he will ever get to punch home a feisty message that contained not an ounce of compromise. |
| When Teddy Roosevelt, who was president from 1901-09, spoke of the White House "bully pulpit" he didn't mean "bully" as in "pushing people around", but simply the old-fashioned sense of "fantastic", enormous" and "unbeatable". | |
| President Barack Obama seems to agree this ability to preach to a nation is the source of his power, really his biggest weapon. | President Barack Obama seems to agree this ability to preach to a nation is the source of his power, really his biggest weapon. |
| Fire in the belly | Fire in the belly |
| His speech has delighted most supporters, linking their philosophy - liberal, progressive, call it what you like - with America's most cherished values. | His speech has delighted most supporters, linking their philosophy - liberal, progressive, call it what you like - with America's most cherished values. |
| The framework of the speech was the argument that the ringing words of the founding fathers find real expression in his values. | The framework of the speech was the argument that the ringing words of the founding fathers find real expression in his values. |
| But it was more than abstract argument. For anyone who has missed it so far, his re-election has put fire in the president's belly. | But it was more than abstract argument. For anyone who has missed it so far, his re-election has put fire in the president's belly. |
| Gone were the aspirations of 2009 for a new, harmonious, purple politics where men and women put aside partisan politics and seek common ground. | Gone were the aspirations of 2009 for a new, harmonious, purple politics where men and women put aside partisan politics and seek common ground. |
| Once more he punched home his priorities: immigration reform, protecting the elderly and the sick, investing in schools and roads and gun control. | |
| His shout out for "gay brothers and sisters" has enraged conservatives. | His shout out for "gay brothers and sisters" has enraged conservatives. |
| Adding climate change to his already long "to do" list shows this man does not expect a quiet life. | Adding climate change to his already long "to do" list shows this man does not expect a quiet life. |
| As he sat down, supporters were getting emails urging them to join a new campaign, not this time to win an election, but to fulfil its promise. | As he sat down, supporters were getting emails urging them to join a new campaign, not this time to win an election, but to fulfil its promise. |
| It is not easy to see how even the most enthusiastic support of Democrats earns him Republican votes in the House - perhaps by dividing moderates off from the rest in the face of public opinion; perhaps it's about the mid-terms in 2014. | |
| But this president is loving the bully pulpit and he is not about to climb down. | But this president is loving the bully pulpit and he is not about to climb down. |