Kerry's "Theme": Take #7, or "The Vision Thing"

The :WSJ reports today that:

"Mr. Kerry remains reluctant to show his own feelings. As a result, he often doesn't bring enough emotion himself, and needs the energy of crowds -- as in Portland -- to provide a lift.

'You have to talk about the things that have moved you and touched you,' he says. 'I think people want to connect to that feeling. They want to know that you get it, that you know what their life struggle is about, and that you share the same values, hopes, aspirations.'

'I've only had seven weeks really to be the 'nominee,' ' he says, and much of that time has been consumed with fund-raising. 'Now I'm able to take the time to refine the lessons I've learned and peoples' stories ... and convey it in a very simple straightforward way. And I think it is coming together.'

"After boarding his plane in Topeka, he spoke proudly of shaping the last line of his speech: 'For America to be America for any of us, America must be America for all of us.' That evening -- feeding on the energy of the cheering Portland crowd -- he pointed to a huge American flag and compressed his life and the challenge ahead for the nation into the single image of all being in 'the same boat.'

'We were Americans and we were literally in the same boat,' he said, recalling his Navy crew in Vietnam. 'We're all in the same boat here in America, and we need to come together now to lift this country up, not tear it down. ... We are the can-do people, we are the can-do country, and we need to get the job done.'"

'For America to be America for any of us, America must be America for all of us.' That would get a "C-" in any secondary school with standards. This makes Bush's speeches appear content-full by contrast. Not inspiring.