Inauguration

[Guest]

I've never seen anything like this. A million people are expected and the event has taken on the atmosphere of a spiritual revival. This goes way beyond a good-riddance-to-Bush party. I know people in their 50's and 60's --sensible people with good, responsible jobs -- who have loaded up their cars and are driving to DC with no place to stay, no idea of what they're going to do when they get there, just to be there. It's like a second Woodstock festival.

Just what's going on here?

Hope... that is what is going on... Hope

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Obama is faced with a Borkum Riff moment. In 1890-something 100 or so Brits defeated maybe 30,000 Zulus at a little shithole called Borkum Riff. They made a movie of it and the Queen had to melt down a pile of gold to make enough Victoria Crosses for the lads.

Obama's problem is that he has Hillary and her crew backing him up. Dont be surprised if she hasnt already made a separate peace with Osama and the others.

 

[Guest]

So you think it's just because he's the first black president? Or you think it's something more than that?

He is hope for everyone...

There was a political cartoon that I love....

It is a teacher asking who wants to be president to a group of students... and every single hand is raised and every single one of them is a different race

he is hope for the world... hope that there is a peace.... there is a forward movement.... that we finally got it... what so many people have said before... we have finally got it

It is so many things for so many people.. it does not mean any one thing to everyone... if you ask over and over... no one will give you the same answer becaue that is the type of feeling and reaction that he has created

 

[Guest]

I think the biggest part of it is that today is the first day in a long, long time that people are proud to be American.

It's a day that I'll be able to tell my grandchildren I saw. Racism isn't eradicated in this country yet, but this is a helluva step in that direction.

I think it's wonderful.

I agree.

I will tell my daughter... and help her understand what it means today... so that she can explain to her children.....

 

[oggbashan]

Obama is faced with a Borkum Riff moment. In 1890-something 100 or so Brits defeated maybe 30,000 Zulus at a little shithole called Borkum Riff. They made a movie of it and the Queen had to melt down a pile of gold to make enough Victoria Crosses for the lads.

Obama's problem is that he has Hillary and her crew backing him up. Dont be surprised if she hasnt already made a separate peace with Osama and the others.

The Defence of Rourke's Drift made into a film as ZULU, starring Michael Caine. It came immediately after a British Army had been massacred as Iswandulana - through British incompetence and mismanagement. So the comparison with what Obama faces may well be valid, but he has far more backing than the few soldiers who defended Rourke's Drift.

(Victoria Crosses are made from bronze from cannon captured from the Russians during the Crimean War.)

President Obama has much good will from inside and outside the United States. If he can work with those who didn't necessarily vote for him, as well as those who did, what the United States could achieve for itself and for the world is almost unlimited. Obama can't do it alone. With all those who want the US and the world to change - it can be done.

Og

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

OG

Youre correct! Borkum Riff is a pipe tobacco I used to smoke, Rourke's Drift is the shithole in Africa. Duh!

I recall how popular Lyndon Johnson was in 1964, then the Lefties villified him inspite of his heroic efforts in Civil Rights, Poverty, Education, etc. Most of the social welfare programs America has were created by Johnson. Johnson made civil rights happen.

But by 1968 the Usual Suspects were crawling up his ass.

I dont think Obama has a chance in the present circumstances.

 

[trysail]

All Americans ( or their ancestors* ) came here in the hope of getting rich. Far too many were eventually persuaded and discovered that it was easier to get money by selling their vote rather than through individual enterprise. For those, government has been marketed and sold as the preferred method for stealing other people's money.

_________________
*The blacks, of course, are an exception— though, given a choice, precious few have any interest in returning to the place of their origin. "Aboriginals" may protest, yet it is a fact that their ancestors were also immigrants in search of greener pastures.

 

[impressive]

Buh bye, Dick!

 

[trysail]

"Every election is a sort of advance auction sale of stolen goods."

-H. L. Mencken

 

[3113]

The argument that it's a "placebo" or anything else cynical implies that it was something else in times past.

All pomp and celebrations like these, making renewal or change, are times when people put aside their doubts and give into faith, excitement, and yes, hope. And that has happened with every Inauguration since Washington, there have always been those who voted for and adored the elected one and assumed that this elected one would be a savior. Whether such feelings are misplaced or not is not the issue. Any great faith in anyone is bound to disappoint somewhere along the line. Not unless they are Superman or the Messiah. Yet we do give into that childish desire for Superman, for a Messiah, for someone to magically restore to us a golden age.

There are moments when the tune on the human record strikes that cord in all of us. That's what's happened here. It's what he represents and symbolizes--a possibility. There are those here who are bitter because it's happened with a man they don't like. But for most of us, we are grateful, extremely grateful that it's happened with a man we do like. More, with an intelligent, calm, youthful and focused man who seems to want the best for us all. And seems to intend to make sure that he does all in his power to achieve that best for us all.

The moment he finished that oath, I breathed a sigh of relief. There may be a good many in that huge crowd who are being unrealistic, like kids who hope that Superman is here to save us all. But what matters to me is that this man is being realistic. And realistically, not trying to be Superman or think that he's Superman, will do all he can to make the U.S. a better nation. An adult nation.

 

[Vermilion]

Um - did he memorise that speech?

Also, on the BBC coverage they said that the minister who spoke at the beginning was chosen by Obama and that he was a prominent anti-everything minister. Does that signify anything, that he spoke at this event?

 

[CharleyH]

I've never seen anything like this. A million people are expected and the event has taken on the atmosphere of a spiritual revival. This goes way beyond a good-riddance-to-Bush party. I know people in their 50's and 60's --sensible people with good, responsible jobs -- who have loaded up their cars and are driving to DC with no place to stay, no idea of what they're going to do when they get there, just to be there. It's like a second Woodstock festival.

Just what's going on here?

Ya Know, I was saying practically the same thing to Lauren when we turned on the news at lunch. I was in disbelief, not only by the numbers of people physically turning out to the inauguration, but the news coverage. I mean seriously, Sky News (out of Britain) is covering it like CNN covered the OJ trial and even the big news station in Portugal (RTP) is covering the WHOLE event.

Here's my theory, Doc: 1) it is a significant thing to have a black President. 2) I think Obama might also be one of the youngest presidents? So that is also historically significant 3) these days, people watch a lot of reality TV. In 30 years? Where do you want to say you were on January 20, 2009?

 

[3113]

Um - did he memorise that speech?

Also, on the BBC coverage they said that the minister who spoke at the beginning was chosen by Obama and that he was a prominent anti-everything minister. Does that signify anything, that he spoke at this event?

There's been a lot of anger over the decision to let Warren, the minister, perform the invocation and, thus, bring him to national attention. Warren's church held a debate between McCain and Obama, and that's how Obama knows him, but Warren's church is very and deliberately bigoted against women and gays. Obama's intent in choosing Warren was, most believe, to emphasize that he's being inclusive. That even the extreme right-wing has a place at the table, that he'll listen if not agree with them, and he's willing to be respectful of the opposing side.

Inclusiveness has been one of his most common messages. Rightfully so. The divisiveness between right and left has been so extreme and so bitter over the last 8 years that it has been hard to get things done. And the leadership of this country has done nothing to mitigate it--in fact, for the last 8 years they've encouraged it. Obama's saying that he won't play that game any longer. Nevertheless, there are valid arguments that letting Warren give the invocation was (1) pointless, as most of those who are evangelically against Obama are not going to be appeased but only suspicious of such a gesture and (2) he pissed off with this guy some very loyal supporters (gays most particularly). He lost their trust.

I certainly think that the decision of using Warren was a mistake. But maybe he had deeper intentions that I'm not seeing.

And yes, I think he did memorize the speech.

 

[dr_mabeuse]

Doc,

I think that it's a combination of factors. Yes, it's fundamentally historic that America elected a black man to our highest office and no doubt all by itself that would have triggered a vast celebration. But Obama is also a post-Boomer and I sense that the country is hoping to finally set aside the acrimony and distrust that hardened in the national psyche during the 1960s and early 1970s. Finally, because we're in such deep trouble as a nation on nearly every front, the people are hoping that he can make a difference. So far his transition has signaled that his team is competent, resourceful, transparent, and responsive to the American people.

It all adds up to what we're seeing today.

That's what I think too.

I also think that Obama is really the first president of the 21st Century.

This is like when Kennedy was elected. I was just in high school, but I remember it. It didn't matter what kind of president Kennedy was (not that great, it turned out), but the energy and spirit he brought to the office and to Washington just swept over the nation and ushered in the spirit of the 60's, washing away the Eisenhower 50's. It was the dawn on a whole new era.

I think we're seeing something like that.

 

[jomar]

Ya Know, I was saying practically the same thing to Lauren when we turned on the news at lunch. I was in disbelief, not only by the numbers of people physically turning out to the inauguration, but the news coverage. I mean seriously, Sky News (out of Britain) is covering it like CNN covered the OJ trial and even the big news station in Portugal (RTP) is covering the WHOLE event.

Here's my theory, Doc: 1) it is a significant thing to have a black President. 2) I think Obama might also be one of the youngest presidents? So that is also historically significant 3) these days, people watch a lot of reality TV. In 30 years? Where do you want to say you were on January 20, 2009?

"Where were you granddaddy? You know, when Obama was in...in..."

"Inaugurated. Heh, heh. Well, I had just posted on Literotica's Naked Party Thread and was about to post on the 'name your dream fuck' thread when I paused to watch him take the oath. It was special."

"Who was your dream fuck granddaddy?

 

[rgraham666]

This is the quote that keeps appearing in my mind today.

Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning. - Winston Churchill.

 

[CharleyH]

Sarah posted this in another thread:

I'm so damned excited about tomorrow!

I've been talking this up with my students, telling them how important this event truly is.

I told them that in twenty years, kids their age would be forced to study it and would be tested over it in their social studies classes. They were shocked.

I also told them that fifty years from now they'd be grandparents and would be reminiscing to their grandkids how they remembered the day that the first black president was sworn in.

I told them I hoped that their grandkids would not be impressed. That they would say, "So what? We've had a bunch of black presidents since then! Who cares?"

When it is commonplace, it will be grand.

I've been smiling since November. Can't wait.

I doubt her post was overlooked, but I read it, loved it and wanted to share it with y'all ... just in case you missed it.

 

[Liar]

Did the guy who swore in Obama actually forget the words?

Sure sounded like it to me, and the O looked a bit flummoxed there for a second or two.

 

[tickledkitty]

Did the guy who swore in Obama actually forget the words?

Sure sounded like it to me, and the O looked a bit flummoxed there for a second or two.

I thought Obama was the one who messed up.

 

[3113]

I thought Obama was the one who messed up.

I think what happened was that Obama had memorized everything, knew exactly what was supposed to happen and be said, and Roberts messed up which threw him. Could be wrong there.

 

[tickledkitty]

I think what happened was that Obama had memorized everything, knew exactly what was supposed to happen and be said, and Roberts messed up which threw him. Could be wrong there.

Ah. Could be. I admit I wasn't paying very close attention just then.

 

[AllardChardon]

I applaud President Obama's courage to lead America in this most troubled time. After 8 years with a major fearmonger, we are ready and willing to embrace hope. I can honestly say I am proud to be an American, again, after a decade of embarassment.

 

[Liar]

I thought Obama was the one who messed up.

I've heard the proper wording, something came out differently from the judge.

Either way, I don't mind. Took some of the oh-so-serious out of the whole shaboom.

 

[3113]

Ah. Could be. I admit I wasn't paying very close attention just then.

Well, Obama jumped in even before Roberts had finished the first line I don't think any president-elect has been more prepped and ready to say that oath.

 

[CharleyH]

"Where were you granddaddy? You know, when Obama was in...in..."

"Inaugurated. Heh, heh. Well, I had just posted on Literotica's Naked Party Thread and was about to post on the 'name your dream fuck' thread when I paused to watch him take the oath. It was special."

"Who was your dream fuck granddaddy?

My personal one?