I think Pruden’s “rant,” despite its embarrassing factual error, is right on the money. I especially agree with this part:

This will be a crucial test of the teleprompter. The usual platitudes, empty eloquence and a reworking of earlier great moments in presidential grandiloquence won’t cut it. Congress will be waiting for genuine specifics about how he expects to “reform” health care, and the public will be waiting with more than a little skepticism.

The speech to schoolchildren, while not overly objectionable or proselytizing, did sound to my ears like a campaign speech. The campaign has been won, Mr. Obama. Not it’s time for specifics!