# Inauguration Day follow-along thread -- Woo-hoo! Cue the brass bands & fireworks! **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [January 20, 2021, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inauguration-day-follow-along-thread-woo-hoo-cue-the-brass-bands-fireworks/930958 "2021-01-20T13:10:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 16
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2021, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inauguration-day-follow-along-thread-woo-hoo-cue-the-brass-bands-fireworks/930958/301 "2021-01-20T21:38:29Z")
Gosh, just like in that Blues Brothers movie! šŸ˜ƒ > [@Deeg](#): > > Amanda Gormanā€™s reading was hit and miss but wow the hits were grand slams. What a credit she is to the younger generation. Never heard of her, but she gave me goose pimples. She was great. I made a simultaneous translation in my head (professional habitude here) and she was so good, she was feasible, which is not always the case for poetry. There were some mighty images there, cooly delivered. Enough pathos but not kitsch or soapy. I loved the balance. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2021, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inauguration-day-follow-along-thread-woo-hoo-cue-the-brass-bands-fireworks/930958/302 "2021-01-20T21:44:50Z")
The White House looks cleaner and brighter already. Shining nicely in the low afternoon sunshine. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2021, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inauguration-day-follow-along-thread-woo-hoo-cue-the-brass-bands-fireworks/930958/303 "2021-01-20T21:50:03Z")
> [@solost](#): > > o Andrews AF base where heā€™ll have a little sendoff. That his last act as President was avoiding unpleasantness, a classic, almost childlike sign of weakness, summed him up entirely. Itā€™s the single most defining feature he has; he is weak. ---
**Author:** ![ShadowFacts](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shadowfacts/32/2934_2.png) [@ShadowFacts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowFacts)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2021, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inauguration-day-follow-along-thread-woo-hoo-cue-the-brass-bands-fireworks/930958/304 "2021-01-20T21:52:33Z")
> [@HMS\_Irruncible](#): > > I donā€™t think this bodes well for those of us who want to see accountability for the past 4 years of callow lawlessness. I want every one of the Trump lackeys who enabled and coddled him stuck on an island and forced to fend for themselves. At the same time, I am realistic that many will escape any real accountability (as the rich and connected almost always do). This is the society we live in and Biden canā€™t change that himself. But I do think that _some_ will face some judgment, and Bidenā€™s speech - wrapped in a comfy blanket of unity - did have a few steel barbs under the surface that indicate he is no naif. Itā€™s clear that he has an aggressive agenda to wipe Trumpā€™s follies away as fast as he can, and thatā€™s a balm to me. I donā€™t need fire-breathing Joe calling down retribution on his enemies. I need competent and action-oriented Joe making shit happen to make our lives better. Let others breathe fire. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2021, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inauguration-day-follow-along-thread-woo-hoo-cue-the-brass-bands-fireworks/930958/305 "2021-01-20T21:53:57Z")
> [@solost](#): > > The reviews Iā€™ve heard have been positive so far: > > **Presidential Historian Michael Beschloss:** > ā€œIt was a terrific speechā€ I donā€™t doubt this guy knows his history, but a few hours after a speech might not be the best time to judge it, especially when anything more than grunting, racist tirades and a placement of an order for a hamberder would have seemed great after the last guy. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2021, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inauguration-day-follow-along-thread-woo-hoo-cue-the-brass-bands-fireworks/930958/306 "2021-01-20T21:54:27Z")
And the Democrats now have a Senate majority (with Harrisā€™s vote) with the signing in of the two new Georgia Senatorā€™s and Harrisā€™s replacement Padilla She got a laugh when she mentioned that Padillaā€™s appointment was due to the ā€œresignation of Kamala Harris.ā€ ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2021, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inauguration-day-follow-along-thread-woo-hoo-cue-the-brass-bands-fireworks/930958/307 "2021-01-20T21:55:35Z")
Patrick leahy is now 3rd in line. Harris, pelosi, leahy. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2021, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inauguration-day-follow-along-thread-woo-hoo-cue-the-brass-bands-fireworks/930958/308 "2021-01-20T21:57:40Z")
A commentator on CNN just remarked, ā€œIt sounds like the start of a joke. A Black, a Latino, and a Jewish guy walk into the Senateā€¦ā€ ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2021, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inauguration-day-follow-along-thread-woo-hoo-cue-the-brass-bands-fireworks/930958/309 "2021-01-20T22:20:37Z")
> [@HMS\_Irruncible](#): > > I donā€™t know how Biden could have played any other card besides healing and unity. But knowing that Republicans in the past 2 weeks have been relentlessly on-message about ā€œaccountability ruins healing and unityā€, this seems like kind of a clueless and tone-deaf trap to walk into. > > I donā€™t think this bodes well for those of us who want to see accountability for the past 4 years of callow lawlessness. We need to be unified in demanding accountability. šŸ˜› ā€“ what Biden needs to manage to pull off is the trick, which is going to be really difficult but which may have actually been made a bit easier by the illustration of the attack on the Capitol, of pulling the reasonably sane portion of the population together against the forces trying to tear the country down. ETA: watching the parade now, somewhat belatedly; I expect itā€™s at least mostly already happened, but yes the PBS video could be started up from the beginning. ---
**Author:** ![SingleMalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/singlemalt/32/3961_2.png) [@SingleMalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SingleMalt)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2021, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inauguration-day-follow-along-thread-woo-hoo-cue-the-brass-bands-fireworks/930958/310 "2021-01-20T22:26:53Z")
The joke I heard went, ā€œA Black, a Latino, and a Jewish guy walk into a bar. The bartender says, ā€˜Good afternoon, Senators.ā€™ā€ ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2021, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inauguration-day-follow-along-thread-woo-hoo-cue-the-brass-bands-fireworks/930958/311 "2021-01-20T22:31:10Z")
Biden can let doj, senate, and house deal with the insurgency fallout. He can stay above it. There are good people in leadership to deal with the nitty gritty of following the darkness. That was quite the stack of exec orders on the resolute desk. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2021, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inauguration-day-follow-along-thread-woo-hoo-cue-the-brass-bands-fireworks/930958/312 "2021-01-20T22:37:10Z")
I think his speech was great and whoever helped write did a great job. It hit on the virus, the division, the lies, the _everything_ going on today. I pray that people look at who Biden really is and give him a chance to re-unite this country. If Biden can do it, itā€™d make him an all time great. I was surprised how great his speech was. So impressive. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2021, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inauguration-day-follow-along-thread-woo-hoo-cue-the-brass-bands-fireworks/930958/313 "2021-01-20T22:42:40Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > watching the parade now, somewhat belatedly; I expect itā€™s at least mostly already happened Iā€™ve discovered an advantage to doing it that way: when people start running, or somebody shouts in the background, I know itā€™s not anything I need to worry about. (PBS isnā€™t giving any commentary, at least along with this video. I have sort of mixed feelings about that.) > [@SingleMalt](#): > > The joke I heard went The version I saw was: A Black man and a Jew walk into a bar in Georgia. The bartender says, ā€œWhatā€™ll you have, Senators?ā€ ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2021, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inauguration-day-follow-along-thread-woo-hoo-cue-the-brass-bands-fireworks/930958/314 "2021-01-20T23:14:32Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > > [@Grrr](#): > > > > Weather lifting just as President Biden speaks. Beautiful. > > [Reddit - Dive into anything](https://i.redd.it/h628nhssbjc61.jpg) Thatā€™s a beautifully symbolic pic, thanks for posting. šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2021, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inauguration-day-follow-along-thread-woo-hoo-cue-the-brass-bands-fireworks/930958/315 "2021-01-20T23:16:50Z")
> [@HMS\_Irruncible](#): > > I donā€™t think this bodes well for those of us who want to see accountability for the past 4 years of callow lawlessness. I expect what Biden means by unity does not match what Republicans mean by unity. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2021, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inauguration-day-follow-along-thread-woo-hoo-cue-the-brass-bands-fireworks/930958/316 "2021-01-20T23:29:18Z")
Virtual swearing in. Finally the White House is catching up with how hiring has been going in the covid world. ---
**Author:** ![Boycott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boycott/32/6741_2.png) [@Boycott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boycott)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2021, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inauguration-day-follow-along-thread-woo-hoo-cue-the-brass-bands-fireworks/930958/317 "2021-01-20T23:30:58Z")
Biden gave a great speech. Obviously unity was the underlining theme but usually these speeches are less about particulars and more about generalities\* but Biden did delve into some particulars. It explains why his speech in terms of number of words is the longest since Ronald Reagan in 1985 and before that you have to go back to Herbert Hoover. \*Trump also dealt in particulars but only because his speech was more of a campaign riff. In terms of words it was the shortest speech since Jimmy Carter in 1977 but in terms of time duration he paused an awful lot between sentences for crowd applause so it ran for almost 20 minutes. ---
**Author:** ![Deeg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deeg/32/2955_2.png) [@Deeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deeg)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2021, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inauguration-day-follow-along-thread-woo-hoo-cue-the-brass-bands-fireworks/930958/318 "2021-01-20T23:55:56Z")
I feel the same way. Let someone else be the bulldog who bites the GOP and doesnā€™t let go. Biden has other things to do. On a different note, the above-the-fold [foxnews.com](http://foxnews.com) was fairly celebratory today which was nice to see. I had to scroll down to the Hannity/Carlson cesspool in the basement to find an unflattering article about Biden or Democrats. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2021, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inauguration-day-follow-along-thread-woo-hoo-cue-the-brass-bands-fireworks/930958/319 "2021-01-21T00:09:35Z")
Current headlines (CNN): ā€œJust hours into the job, Biden signed orders to rejoin the Paris climate accord, mandate masks in federal buildings and rescind the Keystone pipeline permitā€ ā€œHarris swears in 3 new senators, flipping control of the Senateā€ I can only hope that a whole bunch of MAGAts are having apoplectic fits right now, or possibly exploding-head syndrome. But then thereā€™s this: ā€œCanadaā€™s Trudeau says heā€™s ā€˜disappointedā€™ by Bidenā€™s Keystone XL decisionā€ You know what, Trudeau? Shut up and stop pandering to the wingnuts in Alberta. They hate you anyway. Itā€™s about time this country moved into the 21st century, and away from having a major economic sector based on getting energy from burning shit. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2021, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inauguration-day-follow-along-thread-woo-hoo-cue-the-brass-bands-fireworks/930958/320 "2021-01-21T00:12:28Z")
> [@peedin](#): > > The sweetest words Iā€™ve ever heard: **former president Trump.** I refuse to capitalize the p in president. He doesnā€™t deserve it. Iā€™m sorry, thatā€™s not correct. The accepted usage is ā€œ_disgraced_ former President (or ā€˜presidentā€™) Trump.ā€ \ > [@wolfpup](#): > > **2:25 p.m. ET:** Biden and Harris visit the Tomb of the Unknown Solider at the Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. Notable that at that ceremony, within a few yards, stood **the winners of every popular Presidential vote since 1992** (with the sole exception of the 2000 winner, who had sent a video to celebrate the dayā€“see below). . (my bolding in first quote) > **[Al Gore on Biden inauguration: 'Our republic lives' and 'democracy will...](https://www.nbcnews.com/video/al-gore-speaks-about-biden-inauguration-presiding-over-2000-election-vote-certification-99726405580)** > > Former Vice President Al Gore spoke about how the inauguration of Joe Biden shows that the United States is peacefully transitioning power between administrations. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inauguration-day-follow-along-thread-woo-hoo-cue-the-brass-bands-fireworks/930958.md?page=15) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inauguration-day-follow-along-thread-woo-hoo-cue-the-brass-bands-fireworks/930958.md?page=17)