Barack Obama and the Rule of Three

As the Barack Obama bandwagon rolls inexorably on towards Super Tuesday, the next stage of the US presidential melee, more and more observers are acknowledging the man's considerable rhetorical skills.

Radio Four's Today programme turned its analytical attention to his speeches early this week, pointing out a technique by which he frequently says two things in order to cap them with a third.

This, incidentally, came as a blinding glimpse of the obvious to many writers, particularly those in the comedy field, who rely on the trusty 'Rule Of Three' to turn a weak gag into a woofer.

But the pundits seem less inclined to analyse the actual content of Obama's speeches, which is not that surprising because there doesn't seem to be much. Most of the man's admittedly vivid sentences seem to include the word 'change', but one is

left wondering what exactly he wants to change, and to what?

After some study, the best answer would seem to be that what he wants to change is 'the old' and what he wants to change it to is 'the new'. Not very illuminating.

It is perhaps this central vacuity to Obama's oratory that reminds people irresistibly of the late President John F Kennedy. (It might also explain the public and quite possibly damaging endorsement of the candidate on Monday by that seedy old freak Teddy Kennedy.)

Mort Sahl, the celebrated political comedian of the Kennedy years, put his finger on it when he complained that JFK's speeches constantly exhorted him to do something for his country, but never told him exactly what.

On a visit to Britain, Sahl claimed he actually tackled Kennedy on the question. He said he positioned himself carefully at a presidential public appearance, caught the Big Man's eye, and bellowed: "What do you want us to DO?"

Back, couched in those evocative New England vowels, came the answer: "Even more!"