January 20, 2009

Hail to the chief! Who's watching the inauguration right now? If you don't already know, CNN has live streaming video. Here is the transcript of Obama's inauguration speech.

And hooray, no more Bush!

posted by tracicle 15 years ago
  • That was awesome. Surprising, and awesome, was the line "We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus - and non-believers" who normally, at best, don't get a look-in, or all-too-often get counted as non-people. Encouraging references to science and the environment and taking global responsibility. Beautifully eloquent and intelligent. Hooray. Congratulations, America!
  • The benediction pwned the holy living hell out of Rick "Cap'n Grandstand" Warren.
  • mct nailed it with his comment over on PoliticalFilter: PLAY BALL.
  • Oh, it was beautiful. All of it. Warren was merely dull -- hard to get too worked up about him after Obama and Lowery. Yo-Yo Ma and Co., Aretha in that bodacious hat... I'm full of the happy dance today. Only Rush Limbaugh could not have come away from that ceremony sure that brighter days are ahead. I'm just sorry Jack's still too young to care about anything on TV that doesn't involve Big Bird.
  • That was quite lovely. Yo-Yo Ma and Itzhak were sharing the broadest grins during the John Williams arrangement of "Simple Gifts".
  • (and really, who but John Williams could set this moment to music?)
  • (and really, who but John Williams could set this moment to music?)
  • (and really... oh shit)
  • Can't forgive him for bragging about the defeat of communism :p I thought the poem went badly, not just because the poet wasn't the best reader, but you had what came over as feel-good word salad after the speech. cast the preceding (which I thought was fine) in the same light. But then I'm a cynic.
  • I appreciated the ceremony, but it made me feel the exact opposite that "brighter days are ahead." At least in the short run, it felt like we were going to get a talking to about some sacrifices and compromises we will be asked to accept, in order to pull out of this mess farther down the road.
  • The poem was a huge misstep, yeah, but redeemed by the benediction afterward. Mostly I felt sorry for the poet, having to follow that speech. If I'd been in her shoes I'd have been tempted to say "Sorry, everyone, I can't top that, let's just let the old dude thank Jesus and then we can make with the drinking and screwing." At least in the short run, it felt like we were going to get a talking to about some sacrifices and compromises we will be asked to accept, in order to pull out of this mess farther down the road. Shot of reality. He's a no-bullshit kind of guy, and isn't going to tell us pretty things like "just go shopping and we'll beat the terrorists." We are indeed going to have to roll up our sleeves, make compromises, and play our part. Ask not what your country &c.
  • I didn't stick around for the poem (they actually showed it on the big screen in a conference room at our workplace, I think to try and lessen the bandwidth hit from everybody streaming the video)--was it the *reading* that went badly, or did the poem suck, or what?
  • So frustrating trying to watch the streaming video....I was one of how many million trying to watch it at work? A good day for all of us. I've particularly enjoyed watching the rest of the world's reaction.
  • Mostly the former, the latter is up to debate. It was a flat reading.
  • The inauguration was at 6am our time so I missed the whole thing and switched on just in time for Bush's departure via helicopter -- which was nice. They're showing highlights of the speech, but that's about it.
  • I guarantee you it'll be all over bittorrent in about five minutes, if it's not already.
  • Missed all but the start of that benediction as the connection crapped out; sounds like I'll have to have a look on YouTube.
  • I was actually out downtown with my American chums to watch this, CNN on big screen, but got bored and came home to my dog. This is the role I play in history.
  • Mission Accomplished! Now get to work.
  • Ted Kennedy collapsed at the luncheon? Is that just happening or am I watching delayed coverage?
  • What a wonderful, refreshing thing to have a first-class ORATOR in charge! Much throwing of confetti, ecstating whooping and hollering... today is a wonderful, wonderful day. For one superb moment, I can truly feel proud of my country. Mission Accomplished, indeed.
  • Kennedy evidently had a seizure and is en route to the hospital. Evidently Moses got to see the promised land. Robert Byrd evidently had trouble too. Not sure what metaphor to employ there.
  • Kennedy was wheelchaired out and is responding to medication, according to some Congressman being interviewed on MSNBC.
  • And the new presidential limo is a TANK.
  • Of VODKA.
  • Well, right, Vin Ethyl -- but I think the overarching message is, "Enough with the floundering -- I'm in charge now, we can do this, it's still going to suck for awhile, but let's get to it." As opposed to sitting around weeping into our 401K statements. That makes me feel very optimistic -- not that I'm going to recover my 50 percent losses and world peace will be achieved by next week, but that we've at least got someone who'll lead us in the right direction now.
  • I thought it was interesting that he made the common mistake in his speech of saying of the USA that "we remain a young nation", when if you take into consideration continuous political and organisational continuity, the USA is arguably one of the oldest nations on earth.
  • Poem transcipt here. I like it better on the page, but I tend to think most poetry suffers from being read aloud. :)
  • Pallas:(and really, who but John Williams could set this moment to music?) Weeeell... a whole list of people, actually. Dude's notorious for ripping off other composers. In fact, having now watched that bit of the inauguration -- that there's a whole lotta Dvorak. Mad props for yo-yo ma and itzhak perlman, though. And to the fact that Obama turned around to watch them, instead of ignoring the whole thing.
  • All that money on a car and it can't do more than five mile an hour?
  • Ted Kennedy collapsed and died at the luncheon. There is an agreement to announce his death tomorrow and claim that he died tomorrow so that there will be no attention diverted from the inauguration day.
  • coriolisdave, I think that today's piece was essentially an arrangement/adaptation of the "Simple Gifts" movement of Copland's Appalachian Spring.
  • bernockle, source?
  • bernockle, source?
  • Kennedy now conscious and alert in hospital Quoted as saying "I don't want to go on the cart"
  • I'm sure it would have lowered the tone, but when Bush left, I wish someone would have had that extra shoe.... Very well-delivered speech with some wonderful sentiments. Sounded like he did his homework and memorized what he needed to say at the swearing in, also. I'm with Vin, there was a lot about the average Joe needing to pull up their socks. The average Joe is who this kleptocracy has screwed over. We need a house-cleanin. And we need to start from the top.
  • I broke down and bought the Alex Ross t-shirt to celebrate.
  • I want this t-shirt
  • ninja, I'd get you one, but it's tricky.
  • ninja, I'd get you one, but it's tricky. You're my new favorite person.
  • The Obama merch is the first part of the economic stimulus.
  • mct, I will gladly share a mic with you anytime!
  • I was surprised to find myself starting to get teary watching the ceremony, until the minister appeared. At that point I was just floored by the incongruity of bringing religion into the picture. So I was delighted to discover this today.
  • fish tick: That is perfect!
  • The Obama merch is the first part of the economic stimulus. Particularly the first item pictured.
  • POTUS throwing the hammer down!! Whooo!
  • We are usually a day behind, or even a week behind The Daily Show but last night's was the inauguration special. Jon cut me real deep comparing Bush to Obama. Still, there's a level of conviction and understanding there that Bush never had. I've been mildly concerned about all the religious stuff, too. Are there usually that many prayers and references to God in an inauguration?
  • Jon cut me real deep comparing Bush to Obama. To be fair, he compared speeches, not actions or men. Bush also called himself a "moderate" and a proponent of "compassionate conservatism." He said the US should not be in the business of nation building. He said our country should conduct itself with "humility." He claimed that the environment should be a high priority for the country. How much of that came through in his administration? Bush's failures were legion, and one of the largest categories he failed in was "delivering on your words." We'll see what Obama does, but I can't imagine that he'd do worse or even as badly.
  • Are there usually that many prayers and references to God in an inauguration? Not that I remember past ones in detail, but yeah, pretty much. That's just mainstream politics here. Obama's version was actually pretty moderate and inclusive, I thought.
  • Relatively speaking, I mean.
  • Also, Kennedy's been released from the hospital, so apparently is not dead.
  • Not that there's anything wrong with that.
  • I thought his speech placed too much blame on ordinary American people for the economic fuck-up, which was a bad if not unexpected sign imo.
  • Why?
  • All that "We must shoulder the responsibility;" I took it as a coded warning of austerity for you, business as usual for those who have. Point and laugh in a few years if I'm wrong.
  • Will do. :) I didn't take it that way at all, though (see above).
  • Can't forgive him for bragging about the defeat of communism :p You're not the only one.
  • Saw that. The thing about dissent would have been even closer to home, but as people here are saying, anyone who could have actually understand the words if they'd just broadcast it has read far more subversive stuff themselves anyway. Crazy censors.
  • I loved the 21-shoe salute for Bush! What? There wasn't one. Damn.
  • To be fair, he compared speeches, not actions or men. This is true, but aw man, I was just all NOOOO! You cannot be being mean to my good buddy Obama! Meanie.
  • Let's hope he offers up some people for war crimes trials.
  • So today he was re-sworn to make up for yesterday's (minor) blunder, has sworn Hilary Clinton in as Secretary of State, and the Governor of Arkansas as head of Homeland Security. But more importantly he's already introduced rules about lobbying and salary restrictions in the White House, which are both promising.
  • Hallelujah Hank Mabuse!
  • YES I ROOL
  • I'm just hoping that the hard work towards fixing the economy includes some tough regulations for Wall Street. Don't put too much on taxpayers' shoulders -- it's the lack of regulations (thanks to the Bush administration) on debt trading that caused the bulk of this mess.
  • and the Governor of Arkansas as head of Homeland Security Heh. No, we've still got our gov. here, for better or worse. Arizona's is the new DHS chief.
  • Thanks, H Mabuse. I read it here first.
  • Argh, I was thinking Arizona as I typed Arkansas, sorry hbs. Stupid evil hands.
  • Some wonderful photos at the Big Picture.
  • Awesome pics Islander, thx.
  • Between Clinton and Huckabee, I think I can safely say not a single person in this country wants to see another Arkansas governor on the national stage anytime soon. :)
  • Why Obama Now "An animated short about the big choice in 2012's presidential election - by Simpsons / Family Guy animator Lucas Gray."
  • I saw this earlier. It's one of the best short summaries I've seen so far (albeit biased) and makes more sense than Seth McFarland does.
  • Yeah, that animation is the best thing to come out of the campaign so far, imo. Although this is kind of brilliant too, in its own special way.
  • I heard the him thanking campaign workers in Virginia on a radio show this morning... His voice seems to have gone up an octave. Rather like Daniel Day Lewis's as President Lincoln.
  • That was supposed to be the preview button I hit.
  • we have a preview button?!
  • But can he match the integrity of those who didn't accept dirty money? He most certainly couldn't hack it last time, but hope springs eternal. More importantly, can it bear fruit this one term?
  • In the California results, Libertarian Johnson got 98,890 (1%), Green Stein 57,786 (.6%) and Roseanne was fifth with 36,975 (.4%), NONE of whom ever worked on her TV show. Considering the state was never in play (Romney got under 40%), it should've been a great place to 'waste your vote'.
  • Johnson?