I hope you watched Obama's acceptance speech tonight.  It was powerful.  Here's a transcript.  I'll try to remember to add a video link too, sometime tomorrow.

Josh Marshall gave us this by way of initial reaction:

Initial Thoughts

from Talking Points Memo: by Joshua Micah Marshall by Josh Marshall

I thought this was a very strong speech. About exactly what was needed. It was a strong speech. He made the case for himself; he laid out clear policy goals; and he aggressively set forth the stakes of the campaign. He made the case against John McCain while not attacking his character -- which makes a clear contrast with McCain's aggressively personal, denigrating campaign strategy.

I've heard a few people say that he seemed to hold back from giving the soaring speech he might have given. But I suspect that was intentional and I think a good decision. Meta-themes and tonality form the deeper structure of political communication. And the aim of this speech was not eloquence but strength.

...

And Kevin Drum had this reaction:

Obama's Speech

from Kevin Drum - Mother Jones

OBAMA'S SPEECH....That was a helluva speech, wasn't it? Damn. Here were my two favorite parts. First this:

It's not because John McCain doesn't care. It's because John McCain doesn't get it.

For over two decades, he's subscribed to that old, discredited Republican philosophy — give more and more to those with the most and hope that prosperity trickles down to everyone else. In Washington, they call this the Ownership Society, but what it really means is — you're on your own. Out of work? Tough luck. No health care? The market will fix it. Born into poverty? Pull yourself up by your own bootstraps — even if you don't have boots. You're on your own.

Well it's time for them to own their failure. It's time for us to change America.

Yes, yes, yes. Thank you. Don't just tie McCain to George Bush, tie him to Republican policies. And then explain, in direct, simple terms, why those policies have been failures. More like this, please.

...

Here's Ezra Klein:

OBAMA.

This has been the most aggressive speech of the week. And the most substantive I've seen Obama give. It's not a thematic address: It's not about hope or values or the universality of the American experience of the illusory obstacles that divide us. It's concrete. It's about the failure of the Republican Party, and the promises of the Democratic Party. Internet is spotty and the speech is ongoing, so for now, this is an open thread on his speech. More later, of course.