"Eloquence is deep thought expressed in clear words. With Mr. Obama the deep thought part is missing."

Peggy Noonan — herself a writer of great speeches — doesn't think much of the text of Obama's speeches:

[H]e doesn't dig down to explain how to become a greater nation, what specific path to take--more power to the state, for instance, or more power to the individual. He doesn't unpack his thoughts, as they say. He asserts and keeps on walking.

The man has attained the greatest heights through speechmaking, but to the speechwriter, what he really needs is a speechwriter.