[mtvesuvius]

I figured we need a thread to discuss thoughts about Obama's speech and Obama's Inauguration... Figures to be amazing...

When I posted, Biden was president b/c Bush's term expired at noon EST, and Obama was not yet sworn in.

[Winstonm]

I feel sorry for Obama - there is no way he can match the hype and expectations. He is, after all, a politician.

[mtvesuvius]

Winstonm, on Jan 20 2009, 12:24 PM, said:

I feel sorry for Obama - there is no way he can match the hype and expectations. He is, after all, a politician.

Obama gave a powerful speech, but did you notice the absence of applause? Yes though, all politicians can try, but they will never live up to their promises. (See David Letterman on Bush's failed promises)

[Walddk]

I think the speech was powerful and articulate, with a great deal of substance. Obama reached out for every peace loving individual in the world.

Congratulations to America on having a president who rates to be great, not only inside the American borders, but also globally.

Roland

[Lobowolf]

Winstonm, on Jan 20 2009, 12:24 PM, said:

I feel sorry for Obama - there is no way he can match the hype and expectations. He is, after all, a politician.

He'll be fine. He's replacing an extremely unpopular president; he'll get the credit for almost everything that goes right, and Bush will get the blame for almost everything that goes wrong.

[jtfanclub]

Walddk, on Jan 20 2009, 12:49 PM, said:

I think the speech was powerful and articulate, with a great deal of substance. Obama reached out for every peace loving individual in the world.

Congratulations to America on having a president who rates to be great, not only inside the American borders, but also globally.

Roland

He also didn't make any promises, except of the "We're going to have hard times. And we're going to face them, and succeed" variety (whatever that means).

[PassedOut]

Walddk, on Jan 20 2009, 12:49 PM, said:

I think the speech was powerful and articulate, with a great deal of substance. Obama reached out for every peace loving individual in the world.

Congratulations to America on having a president who rates to be great, not only inside the American borders, but also globally.

Roland

I too thought the speech was just right, both in eloquence and substance. We face huge tasks, but we need to work together with the rest of the world to accomplish them.

It's a wonderful new day!

[kenberg]

Walddk, on Jan 20 2009, 12:49 PM, said:

I think the speech was powerful and articulate, with a great deal of substance. Obama reached out for every peace loving individual in the world.

Congratulations to America on having a president who rates to be great, not only inside the American borders, but also globally.

Roland

Thank you so much.

[sireenb]

It was a great and powerful speech. The rest of the world is not used to receiving such inspiring messages from the US. Obama commands respect and there is a ray of hope for a better world despite the tremendous challenges ahead.

Sireen

[ASkolnick]

I'm sorry, but no matter what Obama said, he is going to be fine.

Obama is equivalent to the backup goalie in hockey who gets put into the game after the first goalie stinks it up.

Everyone is always cheering for him since he can't do any worse than the goalie who was just in the game.

I'm sure he will do a fine job, but an inaugural speech is hardly meaningful.

[mtvesuvius]

sireenb, on Jan 20 2009, 01:57 PM, said:

It was a great and powerful speech. The rest of the world is not used to receiving such inspiring messages from the US. Obama commands respect and there is a ray of hope for a better world despite the tremendous challenges ahead.

Sireen

...and this is exactly what the US needs now to rebuild the world''s confidence in us, and our worldwide image. I know many people who have travelled in Europe with backpacks and suitcases with a Canadian flag, or some other flag, this is sad, but the world views us as idiots.

[kenberg]

First response: Whoopee!

I thought the speech was very very good. One message that particularly struck me was from his reference to, I guess, the Letters to the Corinthians: When I was a child.... Some call for responsibility from all is very welcome.

Newscasters kept speaking of the expectations we all have of President Obama. . I prefer to say hope. I have no idea if he can deliver. I hope so.

My best wishes to George and Laura Bush in retirement.

Watching and hearing Aretha Franklin was very moving. I swear I first heard her voice some fifty years ago, although the Wik gives her birth date as 1942. A feeling of continuity there.

The piece played just before the swearing in was great.

Good luck to us all.

Added: It was fun seeing people walking on the frozen surface of the reflecting pool. I have skated on that pool. I'm not sure if it was legal but no one stopped me. It's been a while since we have had the weather for it. Maybe I'll take the grandkids

[Walddk]

mtvesuvius, on Jan 20 2009, 09:06 PM, said:

... but the world views us as idiots.

This is, generally speaking, not true. The world has learned and will still learn a lot from USA, but the biggest mistake the Americans have made is that too many have failed to realise that they can also learn a lot from the world.

I appreciate that this can be difficult to get used to when you are so much bigger than the rest of us. A change of mentality is what's called for in this context, but it is not an impossible task.

Roland

[TimG]

ASkolnick, on Jan 20 2009, 02:05 PM, said:

Everyone is always cheering for him since he can't do any worse than the goalie who was just in the game.

I seem to recall that there was a goalie pulled a few weeks ago. His replacement did even worse and the starting goalie was sent back in. Maybe I imagined it, though.

[Rain]

I've never felt the recent presidents of USA (from 80s till now) lived up to the premise of their office. Nobody inspired the respect that one has for a decent human being till Obama. The inspiration factor was missing.

There's a lot to do apart from just proclaiming ideals, but...inspiration is powerful, and a rare quality among these politicians. Maybe that's what the presidency is all about, and what had been lacking before.

<3 Obama

[Gerben42]

Incredible ceremony - something like this would be unthinkable here... But maybe we'll see something similar at the coronation of the Dutch crown prince? Or in England?

Anyway, more like a king than like a president, if you ask me

[Lobowolf]

Rain, on Jan 20 2009, 02:49 PM, said:

There's a lot to do apart from just proclaiming ideals, but...inspiration is powerful, and a rare quality among these politicians. Maybe that's what the presidency is all about, and what had been lacking before.

<3 Obama

I hope it's about a lot more than that, and I hope we'll get a lot more than that.

[mtvesuvius]

Rain, on Jan 20 2009, 02:49 PM, said:

I've never felt the recent presidents of USA (from 80s till now) lived up to the premise of their office. Nobody inspired the respect that one has for a decent human being till Obama. The inspiration factor was missing.

There's a lot to do apart from just proclaiming ideals, but...inspiration is powerful, and a rare quality among these politicians. Maybe that's what the presidency is all about, and what had been lacking before.

<3 Obama

JFK was the last president that was inspirational like this... (From what I have heard...) However I agree that most campaign promises are usually forgotten, I have high hopes that this will not happen here. Congrats to Obama on a great start though...

[Al_U_Card]

He made it....phew!

The smoothness and organization of his transition team augurs well for the future. I don't expect too many "I don't recalls" out of this group.

[mtvesuvius]

Al_U_Card, on Jan 20 2009, 03:57 PM, said:

I don't expect too many "I don't recalls" out of this group.

LOL