A Speech Does Not Policy Make, Nevertheless It Was Magnificent

President Obama just finished delivering his address on health care to Congress and to the nation.

No one will have heard everything they wanted to hear. But there was much to be inspired by, particularly the tribute to the late Senator Kennedy that morphed into a tribute to the best America has to offer, or the recognition that good ideas, including one proposed during the campaign by Sen. McCain. It was nice to see two politicians who fought each other so fiercely, so recently, smile warmly at each other.

To be sure, not even a magnificent speech can be certain to automatically translate into tangible results. But it will make it much harder for opponents and for those who were sitting on the fence to defend the indefensible status quo.

There are no certainties, but hope is alive.