...my thoughts are very similar to those which I expressed on November 4th. The historian and political scientist in me is drawn to the wonderful splendor of any Inauguration. It is a beautiful American moment.
Furthermore, setting all partisanship aside, Barack Obama's unique tale is a magnificent one. May he serve his country well.
9:30 am update: rumor has it, 44 gives a pretty good speech now and then.
Posted by Eric Earling at January 20, 2009 09:04 AM | Email This'He crowned thy good, yes he did, in a brotherhood,
From sea to shining sea.
You know, I wish I had somebody to help me sing this
(America, America, God shed his grace on thee)
America, I love you America, you see,
My God he done shed his grace on thee,
And you oughta love him for it,
Cause he, he, he, he, crowned thy good,
He told me he would, with brotherhood,
(From sea to shining sea).
Oh Lord, oh Lord, I thank you Lord
(Shining sea). '
One can imagine the liberal media outrage at such a extravagant inauguration if a Republican was doing this.
Posted by: Mark on January 20, 2009 09:11 AMThe historian and political scientist in ME is pushed away by the garish and purely symbolic nonsense that is nearly any Inauguration (there are a few exceptions, like Washington's first and Lincoln's first, because of the context). I also don't care for birthdays, New Year's, or any type of awards show.
I stopped caring about presidential inaugurations at Clinton's second. To quote Bob Dylan last night, quoting Shakespeare: sound and fury, signifying nothing. Bush's weren't any better. I won't even watch this one. I'll catch his speech later.
Furthermore, setting all partisanship aside, Barack Obama's unique tale is a magnificent one.
Every person's tale is unique and magnificent. I find his to be un-exceptional in comparison to McCain's or Bush's or Clinton's or Reagan's or Carter's or Ford's or Nixon's ...
I am no cynic. I am not putting down Obama. I am just saying I don't see him or his story as significantly better than anyone else, or theirs.
"America is a horrible place right now"
"We are going to regulate"
"We're going to spend
"We're going to tax"
(Beyond that, compared to most of the rest of the world for the last 250 years, distastful rhetoric notwithstanding, the peaceful transition of power in this country is utterly amazing and one of the most American of values.)
Posted by: mykela on January 20, 2009 09:24 AMThe media have overblown this event to the point it has become more of a religious revival meeting, rather than a change in political administrations.
The time for empty talk and campaign slogans has now passed. And I, for one, will be waiting for what the Obama administration has to offer in the way of policy and governance, rather than buying into any "hope" and "change" rhetoric.
Posted by: Saltherring on January 20, 2009 09:27 AMThe other was he said that now there is promise for folks that they now can make it in America. What you couldn't for 200+ years? What the hell did he do then? Buy his way in?
I did like how he said that people have to work hard to make it in life....but not that once you are prosperous you have to take care of those that aren't or didn't put in the hard work.
But hey. Maybe I can get me one of those spiffy plates.
/sarc
Posted by: jimg on January 20, 2009 09:52 AMWhen was the last government office closed for doing a bad job.
Posted by: Medic/Vet on January 20, 2009 10:09 AMI thought his speech was decent, and mostly positive. Some of it was over the top in rhetoric though. And I didn't like how several parts seemed to rip Bush by saying we're going to do X "once more". You'll see what I mean if there's a transcript of it up online.
Posted by: Palouse on January 20, 2009 10:25 AMThis is historic if you are a racist and believe the color of one's skin matters.
Here's what I am reflecting on:
I am better off than I was 8 years ago.
I am better off than I was 16 years ago.
I will be more prosperous 4 and 8 years from now than I am today.
I have and continue to improve my own lot in life in spite of who runs Olympia or DC. More government is seldom a good thing and this is why I tend to vote Republican.
The rich will get richer because they choose to. The poor will stay poor mostly because they choose to. American exceptionalism will endure for those who choose to in spite of who is DC in any given year.
If you have more hope today than you did yesterday, I pity your reliance on government to fix your lot in life.
Posted by: Andy on January 20, 2009 10:29 AMActually, Chief Justice Roberts flubbed it; Obama's job was to repeat Roberts's words. I guess without a spell-checker, you're jsut another dunce.
Posted by: Bruce on January 20, 2009 10:29 AM...what ever...??? What??
At least nothing will go wrong in the Matrix Media for the next four years.
If MLK meant what he said then no one would have perverted it to mean what they say. But what he said was not a challenge for us to collectively throw off the demons that promote the differences in our heads and hearts but was nothing more than a call to revenge via a hollow challenge that even when its terms and conditions are met are then changed so that even two generations later on what could be a great day of unity the whites that elected him get slammed.
Can we rise up and collectively acknowledge we are in need of a savior, repent and end it for real???
Posted by: Col. Hogan on January 20, 2009 10:35 AMAs one who is a retired DOD civilian, I can safely state that numerous military bases have been closed over the past 15 years or so. Some because of redundancy, some because they were no longer needed, some for political reasons, but some because of ongoing inefficiency and incompetence.
I await the day when this is the case for Commerce, Labor, Education, Justice, Treasury, etc.
Posted by: Saltherring on January 20, 2009 10:35 AMYour words have more meaning that you understand! LOL
Posted by: Medic/Vet on January 20, 2009 10:35 AMSo far, Obama is headed in a direction of failure by design. We will see what happens, but if he does what he says, then he's not going to be successful.
Posted by: Jeff B. on January 20, 2009 10:38 AM1) According to Senator Feinstein, it appears we are inaugurating an African American, whereas it is my belief we are inaugurating a President.
2) Leave it to the incoming President to be the only one (in his speech, nonetheless) to divide the country along partisan lines on this date. I guess I would be one of the cynics that he says is in the half that doesn't believe he brings hope.
Posted by: Doug on January 20, 2009 10:39 AMGreat quote.
Posted by: pudge on January 20, 2009 10:40 AMI understand what you mean and I think you got my part. Say something like the dept of ED or Energy.
Even if Obama wanted to, it takes congress to close them, not him.
For a guy who is said to be so smart. He sure makes many small mistakes.
Your comment makes no sense. Are you saying that the president of the most powerful nation on earth has no impact on the future? That we cannot expect a good president to make the world somewhat better? Or even to hope for that?
No one is saying that the president is the only thing that matters. Indeed, right near the beginning of his speech, Obama said, "At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because We the People have remained faithful to the ideals of our forbearers, and true to our founding documents."
I know you will find evidence in his speech to support your fears, and it's pointless to rebut such paranoia. But here you are actually denying the actual words he said, and expecting no one to call you on it. Consider yourself called.
Posted by: Bruce on January 20, 2009 10:54 AMChange we can believe in. Good grief, what a nightmare.
Posted by: Mark on January 20, 2009 11:12 AMOMG, at this rate the Dow will be negative 2,906,000 by the end of Obama's first term! Proof he will destroy our country!
Posted by: Bruce on January 20, 2009 11:18 AMEnjoy the next 100 days bud!
Posted by: Medic/Vet on January 20, 2009 11:22 AMBruce: Your comment makes no sense. Are you saying that the president of the most powerful nation on earth has no impact on the future?
His comment makes perfect sense. He is saying that MOST of what happens in your life is YOUR responsibility.
No one is saying that the president is the only thing that matters.
They are acting like it is the most important thing.
Indeed, right near the beginning of his speech, Obama said, "At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because We the People have remained faithful to the ideals of our forbearers, and true to our founding documents."
... says the guy who ignores the Second and Tenth Amendments. Coming from him that signifies nothing. Oh, he believes in the individual right to keep and bear arms, you say? Then why does he support total gun bans for law-abiding citizens in big cities? Because, in proven fact, Obama DOES NOT BELIEVE in staying true to our founding documents.
But here you are actually denying the actual words he said ...
Obama himself denies those words. That's what you don't get.
Get over yourself.
Posted by: jimg on January 20, 2009 11:43 AMLess than a minute into his presidency, Barack Obama committed his first gaffe.
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/story.aspx?guid=%7B27812E79%2D35E7%2D411A%2DA7BF%2D60ED4D585CD0%7D&siteid=djm_HAMWRSSCommH
Two errors in less than a minute. Good grief.
To the tune of Happy Days are Here Again:
HIGH TAX DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN,
THE SKIES ABOVE LOOK CLEAR AGAIN,
LETS TAX THEM ALL AND SNEER AT THEM
HIGH TAX DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN.
And from Funny Girl:
DO FOR ME,
BUY FOR ME,
LIFT ME,
CARRY ME!
FINALLY FOT A GUY TO BURY...(er Barry!) ME!
