Obama's victory speech

Peggy Noonan writes today in the WSJ about how proud she felt as she watched Barack Obama's victory speech in Grant Park in Chicago Tuesday night, proud because Obama overcame race to become the next president of the U.S. She calls the speech "sterling." Nothing wrong with that but Obama's outdoor speeches in Berlin, Denver and now Chicago are becoming a little tiresome; and the one Tuesday night seemed especially pompous. Wouldn't a simple thank you to his supporters from a hotel ballroom have served just as well? What was the point of an outdoor speech, especially in Chicago in November? He had already made numerous speeches laying out his campaign's promises to supporters. Did he say anything new Tuesday night? Not much, which is why it seemed pompous -- an attempt to show how big a crowd he could draw, to grandstand.