# Obama Inauguration Speech Predictions? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 19, 2009, 9:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-inauguration-speech-predictions/481967 "2009-01-19T09:01:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 9:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-inauguration-speech-predictions/481967/1 "2009-01-19T09:01:29Z")
Say what you will, Obama can give a damned good speech. I have read Obama has been preparing this since mid-November, has read every Inaugural speech in history and has worked on and tweaked every word. In addition, he is also very aware this is the anniversary of the famous Martin Luther King speech. My prediction: His best, most inspiring speech to date; one that will rank high in history books. I am eager to hear it and will be glued to the television screen. Maybe my expectations are too high, but I will be surprised if his speech is anything less than spectacular. So what are your predictions for his Inaugural speech? ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-inauguration-speech-predictions/481967/2 "2009-01-19T13:15:25Z")
I know he has studied Lincoln’s second inauguration address, which is generally considered the best. If he’s setting the bar that high, his work’s cut out for him. I think he can do it. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-inauguration-speech-predictions/481967/3 "2009-01-19T15:12:17Z")
Okay, my fucking cable is out (thanks, cocksuckers!!!) and they can’t send a dude to fix it til Wednesday!!! I’m going to miss the greatest speech of my lifetime. I’m calling them back to cop a plea. I expect nothing short of a weeping-between-standing-up-and-cheering kind of event. ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-inauguration-speech-predictions/481967/4 "2009-01-19T15:15:02Z")
Expectations are high. It was one of the major points of discussion yesterday when I was out in the pub yesterday with my Da and his mates. I’m really looking forward to it. ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-inauguration-speech-predictions/481967/5 "2009-01-19T15:34:13Z")
“Excuse me while I whip this out…” ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-inauguration-speech-predictions/481967/6 "2009-01-19T15:43:55Z")
> [@Mach Tuck](#): > > “Excuse me while I whip this out…” I would love him forever if he did that or “Where the white women at?” Never happen in a million years but it would be so fantastic 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-inauguration-speech-predictions/481967/7 "2009-01-19T15:49:11Z")
What I ask my fellow dopers on the eve of this historic event is, How can we turn the Inauguration Speech into a Proper Drinking Game? Anyone? ---
**Author:** ![Alienhand](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8edcca/32.png) [@Alienhand](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alienhand)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-inauguration-speech-predictions/481967/8 "2009-01-19T16:16:36Z")
> [@Shirley\_Ujest](#): > > What I ask my fellow dopers on the eve of this historic event is, How can we turn the Inauguration Speech into a Proper Drinking Game? > > Anyone? It’s not a proper drinking game but the easiest is when he pauses for cheers take a drink. For press conferences or interviews, every time he says “uhh” take a swig. Do NOT take a shot every time, you’ll pass out in 5 minutes. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-inauguration-speech-predictions/481967/9 "2009-01-19T16:30:02Z")
Stupid question: when will the speech be televised? ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-inauguration-speech-predictions/481967/10 "2009-01-19T16:49:50Z")
> [@RandMcnally](#): > > Stupid question: when will the speech be televised? About two seconds after he is sworn in, which is tomorrow at noon EST (or 9:00 AM for us on the west coast). ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-inauguration-speech-predictions/481967/11 "2009-01-19T17:07:13Z")
> [@DMark](#): > > About two seconds after he is sworn in, which is tomorrow at noon EST (or 9:00 AM for us on the west coast). What’s the best place to watch it online? I’ll be at work then. ---
**Author:** ![Alienhand](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8edcca/32.png) [@Alienhand](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alienhand)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-inauguration-speech-predictions/481967/12 "2009-01-19T17:20:31Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > What’s the best place to watch it online? I’ll be at work then. I just want to see the speech without the talking heads so I’m using [c-span’s feeds](http://www.c-span.org/politics/c-span-inauguration-hub.aspx) and my company’s filter/firewall doesn’t block it. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-inauguration-speech-predictions/481967/13 "2009-01-19T17:21:21Z")
> [@DMark](#): > > In addition, he is also very aware this is the anniversary of the famous Martin Luther King speech. The “I Have A Dream” speech was given on August 28, 1963. Its anniversary was actually the day that Obama accepted the Democratic nomination. The inauguration speech will shown live online on every major, and many minor news outlet Web sites. I’m only concerned that many of them will crash because of the enormous number of people who will be watching from work. One thing I’m planning to do that I wish I’d done on election night is to set up a tape to capture the events while they are being broadcast (either on CNN or NBC), so that I can watch them later, and also have a personal record. I don’t know about the speech itself, except that it will be almost impossible for it to meet the expectations that have been set. Obama has said that his daughter Malia told him, “First African-American president – it had better be good.” ---
**Author:** ![Invisible\_Chimp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f05b48/32.png) [@Invisible\_Chimp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Invisible_Chimp)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-inauguration-speech-predictions/481967/14 "2009-01-19T17:27:06Z")
I’m going to miss watching it live. I will be at work and unlike many of y’all, I don’t work in an office, so I won’t have access to a TV or PC. I’ll have to wait until I get home and watch it online or one of the million replays on TV. I am sorely disappointed. While Obama can give great speeches, I expect to be disappointed on that front too. It’s once in a generation that one of these speeches contains something memorable. The last one was probably Reagan, so maybe we’re due. If anyone can give a speech history will remember it will be Obama, but I am keeping my expectations low, just in case. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-inauguration-speech-predictions/481967/15 "2009-01-19T17:44:36Z")
I’ve heard that he will purposefully avoid echoing the addresses of JFK, FDR, and Lincoln, and will really try and make it his own. He’s written most of it himself and it will touch on a lot of the themes he’s been talking about since the beginning of the election. Basically, Old Obama w/ New Rhetoric. ---
**Author:** ![groo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecd19e/32.png) [@groo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/groo)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-inauguration-speech-predictions/481967/16 "2009-01-19T17:46:40Z")
I predict: [ul][li]I will be in tears at several points during the speech.[/li]He will repeatedly say that he cannot solve these problems, but that we all have to work very hard. (I’d wager that the word “together” might be the most-repeated word in the speech). [li]He will explicitly compliment some of the people who most opposed him during the election (from both sides of the aisle).[/li][li]He will acknowledge the historic nature of his election, but I’m not sure he’ll admit that he’s African American. I’d use the word “black,” but he typically uses AA.[/li][li]He will acknowledge that there are countries in the world that like us, and countries in the world that hate us, though I don’t think he’ll use the word “hate.”[/li]He will mention the USAir pilot and flight crew as the camera pans over to them. Sully will be looking stoic and embarrassed to be getting this attention. I will be weeping.[/ul] ---
**Author:** ![xanthous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/53a042/32.png) [@xanthous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xanthous)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-inauguration-speech-predictions/481967/17 "2009-01-19T17:51:09Z")
> [@groo](#): > > He will explicitly compliment some of the people who most opposed him during the election (from both sides of the aisle). He will not, however, utter the word ‘Palin’ ---
**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 19, 2009, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-inauguration-speech-predictions/481967/18 "2009-01-19T19:06:36Z")
> [@Kalhoun](#): > > Okay, my fucking cable is out (thanks, cocksuckers!!!) and they can’t send a dude to fix it til Wednesday!!! I’m going to miss the greatest speech of my lifetime. I’m calling them back to cop a plea. > > I expect nothing short of a weeping-between-standing-up-and-cheering kind of event. check your local newspaper, many places are having inaug. parties. many restaurants are having 10am to 2pm specials. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-inauguration-speech-predictions/481967/19 "2009-01-19T23:35:01Z")
> [@rocking\_chair](#): > > check your local newspaper, many places are having inaug. parties. many restaurants are having 10am to 2pm specials. That’s a good idea. Probably not much happening in this republican 'hood, but I’ll check around. I can’t believe my near-problem-free service had to take a shit on me NOW! ---
**Author:** ![fifty-six](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@fifty-six](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fifty-six)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-inauguration-speech-predictions/481967/20 "2009-01-19T23:55:47Z")
[ul] [li]Kleenex stock could skyrocket.[/li][li]I am sure more great new news network gizmos like the Hologram Technology to beam people in 3-D and interactive election day (year) coverage maps will debut.[/li]I can’t wait for the great Inauguration Day coverage graphics from the news channels. They are gonna be awesome. [li]I think this could be the most watched television event of all time. [/li][/ul] [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-inauguration-speech-predictions/481967.md?page=2)