Obama in Berlin

Visit this link for a full transcript and video of Barack Obama's speech in Berlin, Germany.

This speech was attended by nearly 200,000 people--by far the largest crowd that Barack Obama has ever seen. The fact that so many people went to hear him speak in a foreign country is amazing to me. According to reports, Berliners apparently loved his speech.

Admittedly, there is nothing in this speech that would qualify it as "policy" or "platform" rich; however, it certainly seems that Obama has something intangible--he has a leadership style that can inspire people, and it could even improve relations with our allies and foes world-wide. Certainly, voting for somebody based solely on charisma and charm can lead to disaster and disappointment. However, one thing that Barack Obama has going for him is the ability to get people excited about government and politics. In a time when the image of the US is suffering abroad, his open leadership style could be a boon for future American foreign relations. Regardless of whether or not you agree with his policies, this is admittedly a huge strength.