I talked with (as a podcast) the good professor, Jeffrey Sikkenga, about Obama’s first big speech as president. This was a fine conversation that I wish you would listen to; Jeff thinks it was a very serious speech, and he seems to be developing a view about Obama’s purposes and capacities: that there is something entirely new in his thought. Worth 27 minutes of your time. Thanks, Jeff.
But Joe Knippenberg thinks there was not much new in it.
Sturdy common-sense stuff, Joe, deftly delivered. And you are right to shame your students.
As for Jeff's podcast, my appreciation/critique is in the Hayward thread above.
I hope Jeff will take some time and write up the argument he's developing here and do it soon. He's got some important insights, I think.