On a night where President George W. Bush should have taken the spotlight in the news for his State of the Union address; pundits and viewers alike were searching for something more. Bush’s address this year had around nine or ten parts of his oratory that were recycled soundbites of past addresses. One of the only things he mentioned that seemed new was his plea to stop earmarks in congress (something his republican congress was largely guilty of). The current President’s State of the Union tonight illustrated the juxtaposition from which this new wave towards of a new type of politics, or a politics of hope rather than fear can be expounded.

Ted Kennedy, in his own address to students at American University earlier today, presented a contrasting message that delineated the political future of the country with its past; harmoniously drawing allegory of the time of 1960 with the present.

“I know what America can achieve; I’ve seen it, I’ve lived it, with Barack Obama we can do it again! And I know – I know he is ready to be President on day one. And when he raises his hand on inauguration day; that very moment, we will lift up the spirit in our nation…and begin to restore our standing in the world…”

Senator Kennedy also delivered, from his perch of unequivocal experience, an outright defense of Obama’s record. He covered all bases from Obama’s call to end the Iraq War, ethics reform, work on the education systems, and praised his help in forging a bi-partisan immigration reform bill. Kennedy even proclaimed Senator Obama a champion of justice for the people. Ted artfully colored his elocution with comparisons of Obama to the likes of his brothers John and Robert, as well as FDR. It was clear form his endorsement, and the endorsement of all of his other family members that they are trying to bring about a change of the guard by instilling the vision that Obama represents what the Democratic party used to be – the party of optimism, hope, and ideals.

With this endorsement in his pocket, Barack Obama was able use the State of the Union event as a forum to paint his candidacy as the sunset on the ways of the past and the current administration – being sunrise on a new day. With all of this momentum going into Super Tuesday, the only question is who will Al Gore give his support to? If you thought the Ted and Caroline news was big, wait and see what will happen if Al Gore endorses Obama…

Kennedy’s Endorsement Speech: