Congratulations and good luck with your brand new president…
“I’m Christian, dammit, let’s shut up about the secret Muslim stuff already!”
Remember that the gist of this speech’s points have to be understood by a wide swath of people, including many who don’t follow politics much at all. I thought given those constraints, Obama managed to make some good points (as well as quite a few trite ones, I admit) that addressed the messy situation we’re in and messy solutions they require. I liked his emphasis on responsibility, both on the individual and the 800-pound gorilla called America, and the necessity of taking a less confrontational tone, both in domestic politics and in international relations. It’s just words so far, but the world is watching, and hopefully they’ll take it as a good sign.
uncle joe just took some shots for malia. way too cute! you could see him say (during the beginning of the anthem) is it okay? when he handed her the camera.
I’m in a tiny village in the mountains of Mexico, where they get one TV channel (broadcast), and that just barely (lots of “snow” on the screen). I expected them to be showing the usual telenovelas and such, but I was happily surprised to see that they carried the whole speech live (with simultaneous dubbed translation into Spanish), as well as the music before and some commentary afterwards.
I doubt this is standard practice (would they interrupt US programming to carry the Mexican president’s inauguration?). In other words, as you might expect, the interest worldwide in this particular presidential transition is higher than usual.
Well I didn’t stay to hear the poetry, but let me just say that…
Holly crap! That’s our President?? He can speak coherently and inspirationally and truthfully . I had forgotten what that was like.
Has anyone else noticed that President Obama has gotten grayer over the past few months? He’s going to be completely silver by 2012 at this rate. The Presidency does seem to gray one.
Well, I stood here, alone, in my living room, with my hand over my heart, for the singing of the national anthem. I was too choked up to sing along, though.
Which, of course, was the point of Francis Scott Key’s original poem.
The campaign is a pretty graying event as well. Hell, I think I got a couple gray hairs from it.
My husband came home and I was kneeling on the floor. I’m not sure why, but there I was, crying.
Nitpicking the president: He said, “Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath.” Isn’t it actually 43, because of Grover Cleveland?
Thanks!
CNN Live: The Inauguration of Barack Obama is sponsored by…
Starbucks!
Nice. I thought it was sponsored by, oh I don’t know, the American voter.
In short, Lowery co-founded the SCLC with Rev King. Lowery deserved the position of giving the benediction, hands down.
ETA: gardentraveler beat me to the Wikipedia link.
Fox News is also pointing out that there was no mention of “evil”, “evildoers”, or “Osama bin Laden”. The commentator gave that a positive reaction.
Yes, but Taft counted as two, so it’s a wash.
Zing!
Is it just me or did Roberts say “faithfully execute the President” rather than “faithfully execute the office of the President”? 
It was broadcasted live on the two main channels, here (on the channel I was watching from the moment they left the white house). So, yes, higher level of interest.
Those must be blankets, not forgotten coats up in the stands?