Analyzing Obama's Speech

Jay Cost has determined the template for pretty much every Obama policy speech:

Not only was Obama’s speech on Wednesday political, it was completely rote, by-the-book Obama politics. He couldn’t even bring out an interesting twist to his stock partisan speech. Here’s how it always goes, with Wednesday being no exception:
I. Introduction of some grand narrative of American history.

II. Introduction of the policy problem, making clear that Obama had nothing to do with it.

III. Argument that the proposal of Obama’s opponents is inconsistent with that grand narrative.

IV. Argument that Obama’s proposal is consistent with that grand narrative.

V. Conclusion that Obama’s proposal is the only “American” solution to the policy problem.

Cost has a great analysis of the whole speech. Read it here.