Comments on: Swearing-In

By: Eugene

Eugene — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 02:24:35 +0000

Speech 7/10 (calibrated with the Race Speech at 10, and the NH speech at 8.5). A sagging middle where he starts checking off a laundry-list sounds as though as he still campaigning.

I thought his nod to Justice Roberts after the latter farked up was very amusing.

By: Michael Bacon

Michael Bacon — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 01:32:21 +0000

So many challenges to try and meet in a single speech. I never thought I would see this in my lifetime. Wasn’t it wonderful that he mentioned atheists — even if with the softer label “non-believers.” BTW, he became President automatically by virtue of the Constitution at noon, notwithstanding that the oath had not yet been administered. So no lawsuits on that score thank goodness. Going forward, let’s not quibble with the man; let’s support his choices wherever we can. This is the moment and and chance we’ve been hoping for. I wouldn’t want to have to sort out the problems with which he’s faced.

By: graviton383

graviton383 — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 21:34:12 +0000

Aretha WAS great…totally tearful in the best way…but I guess I couldn’t appreciate Alexander’s poem.

By: sirhcton

sirhcton — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 19:54:12 +0000

I suspect that the same gentleman who keeps filing suits claiming Obama is not really eligible to be president will now say that, since Roberts flubbed the oath, Obama is not really the president.

By: Elliot Tarabour

Elliot Tarabour — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 19:36:03 +0000

I thought overall it was great and proud moment for America. But Elizabeth Alexander’s poem?! was just awful in my opinion. Aretha was the high point for me.

I am a bit surprised he did not refer to MLK speaking way down at the other end of the Mall during the speech.

I’m relieved that GWB is no longer the most powerful man in the world and that Cheney is no longer a heartbeat away.

Let’s hope….

By: Thor

Thor — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 19:17:13 +0000

two…one…:

YES!!! WE HAVE A WINNER

FOX NEWS JUST DID IT!

By: Cormac O' Raifeartaigh

Cormac O' Raifeartaigh — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 19:14:21 +0000

It is creating a great stir here in ireland because he reminds us all of Kennedy

By: Sili

Sili — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 18:54:26 +0000

Countdown to someone claiming the Obama is not really the president because there was a bit of fumbling with the words in ten, nine, eight, …

Pleeeeeeeaaaaaaaase, don’t screw this up.

By: Neil B

Neil B — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 18:43:51 +0000

Heh, there’s a great comment from the wonderful and influential left blog Washington Monthly about Robert’s goofing the lines because he didn’t bring notes (which Obama tries to parry as best he can, BHO clearly tried to memorize the Oath anyway.):

I think Justice Roberts f______ up the oath is a perfect symbol of the transfer of power. Roberts deciding to “wing-it W-style” didn’t use notes and ended up fucking up a very historic event. Obama, in contrast, was left trying to fix the half cocked mess. What a wonderful symbol for what Bush is handing off and the different approaches of the two administrations.
Posted by: palinoscopy on January 20, 2009 at 1:29 PM

Well, how about Barack Obama’s speech? I think it was fundamentally good and stirring. He made many cogent and zingy points. I wish he’d addressed the festering Israel/Palestine issue directly, insisting that both sides talk and stop their destructive ways (terrorism, settlements and oppression.) We can’t give up on that, it hurts and costs us too much.

BTW, buh-bye, incurious and insolent George! It feels like a suffocating, forboding mass is lifted off me and the whole country.

By: graviton383

graviton383 — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 18:16:11 +0000

He also mentioned restoring Science to its rightful place…Wow!