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Post by Coast2CoastHoya on Jan 18, 2009 17:58:18 GMT -5
For thoughts, links, pics, vids, etc. from this weekend's festivities.
The concert on the Mall today was out of this world: the music, the mass of humanity, the speeches and historical reference, and a visit and pep talk from the soon-to-be President and Vice President. If that was only a few hundred thousand, a couple million is going to really be something to behold.
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Post by strummer8526 on Jan 18, 2009 19:33:58 GMT -5
This is one big national "Yo, check us out now." Very inspiring. Definitely a morale boost that we desperately need. Let's hope the administration can run with this, b/c we may never see another president get this kind of support ever again.
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Elvado
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Post by Elvado on Jan 19, 2009 10:54:25 GMT -5
It is amazing to see that after 222 years (1787) we are finally getting around to having an inauguration. This is, after all, the first one ever right? Or is it simply being covered as if it were?
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Post by StPetersburgHoya (Inactive) on Jan 19, 2009 11:25:36 GMT -5
Elvado's cynicism aside. I went to the concert yesterday - it was pretty fun despite the cold. As I've never been able to go to a concert with Garth Brooks, U2, or The Boss, I had a lot of fun. Some of the entertainment was a little strange - like the Tom Hanks overly-dramatic overly-long Lincoln reading and the bald eagles, a symbol of freedom, being tethered and not being able to fly. It was just powerful to be part of such a big group in one place.
Btw, today is a national day of service - as Catholics who believe in the power of good works, and others who believe that touching the lives of others is a great feeling. .I think that's something that we can all get behind. Even if you're at work - this particular even just requires 10-15 minutes of your time today:
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Post by strummer8526 on Jan 19, 2009 11:57:02 GMT -5
It is amazing to see that after 222 years (1787) we are finally getting around to having an inauguration. This is, after all, the first one ever right? Or is it simply being covered as if it were? No, but it's the first one after the world started to hate us, the economy took a turn to the bathroom, we've been embarrassed by scandal after scandal, and we've looked weak because of incompetent mismanagement at home and abroad (Katrina? Bin Laden?). This country can use a little morale boost. Admittedly, the show yesterday was close to over-the-top, but it's making people happy, and it's giving our President elect the capital he needs to do some tough work. There's no downside to this. |
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kchoya
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Post by kchoya on Jan 19, 2009 12:00:45 GMT -5
It is amazing to see that after 222 years (1787) we are finally getting around to having an inauguration. This is, after all, the first one ever right? Or is it simply being covered as if it were? No, but it's the first one after the world started to hate us, the economy took a turn to the bathroom, we've been embarrassed by scandal after scandal, and we've looked weak because of incompetent mismanagement at home and abroad (Katrina? Bin Laden?). This country can use a little morale boost. Admittedly, the show yesterday was close to over-the-top, but it's making people happy, and it's giving our President elect the capital he needs to do some tough work. There's no downside to this. I'm constantly amazed by the repeated references to a need for a "morale boost." I am afraid to say no one I know of has started taking Prozac or morphed into Debbie Downer because of geopolitical events over the past few years. |
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Elvado
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Post by Elvado on Jan 19, 2009 13:12:33 GMT -5
If it is a morale boost, it's a $170 million prescription. Hope it's covered under the new universal health care.
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Post by strummer8526 on Jan 19, 2009 13:40:36 GMT -5
No, but it's the first one after the world started to hate us, the economy took a turn to the bathroom, we've been embarrassed by scandal after scandal, and we've looked weak because of incompetent mismanagement at home and abroad (Katrina? Bin Laden?). This country can use a little morale boost. Admittedly, the show yesterday was close to over-the-top, but it's making people happy, and it's giving our President elect the capital he needs to do some tough work. There's no downside to this. I'm constantly amazed by the repeated references to a need for a "morale boost." I am afraid to say no one I know of has started taking Prozac or morphed into Debbie Downer because of geopolitical events over the past few years. Flaw 1: Just because individual components are healthy does not mean the collective body is. Flaw 2: If you don't know any "Debbie Downers," then you must not know anyone who lost their home in Texas or New Orleans, lost their son in Iraq, lost their governor because he enjoys young hookers, or lost their house some time in the last 6 months. Consider yourself lucky. |
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Post by kchoya on Jan 19, 2009 13:49:31 GMT -5
I'm constantly amazed by the repeated references to a need for a "morale boost." I am afraid to say no one I know of has started taking Prozac or morphed into Debbie Downer because of geopolitical events over the past few years. Flaw 1: Just because individual components are healthy does not mean the collective body is. Flaw 2: If you don't know any "Debbie Downers," then you must not know anyone who lost their home in Texas or New Orleans, lost their son in Iraq, lost their governor because he enjoys young hookers, or lost their house some time in the last 6 months. Consider yourself lucky. Wow, I didn't know all that stuff only happened in the last couple of years. I guess we've never had hurricanes, flooding, wildfires or tornadoes in the past. I guess we've never had a political scandal until now (I'm not sure how that would affect anyone). I suppose people have never been foreclosed upon in the past either? At least you're correct about Iraq - no one's ever had a child die overseas until the past few years. |
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Post by AustinHoya03 on Jan 19, 2009 13:58:13 GMT -5
It is amazing to see that after 222 years (1787) we are finally getting around to having an inauguration. This is, after all, the first one ever right? Or is it simply being covered as if it were? Ronald Reagan was the first US President to be sworn in on the National Mall. The hype surrounding Obama's inauguration can therefore only fairly be compared to four other inaugurations. |
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Elvado
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Post by Elvado on Jan 19, 2009 14:10:37 GMT -5
Irrespective of the location of the oath (Reagan moved to West side of Capitol), there is no fair comparison when it comes to hype for this Inauguration. Based upon the breathless anticipation of the mainstream media, anything less than the divine hand of God appearing out of the sky to touch Mr. Obama as he takes the oath will have to be considered a let down.
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Post by strummer8526 on Jan 19, 2009 14:46:14 GMT -5
Flaw 1: Just because individual components are healthy does not mean the collective body is. Flaw 2: If you don't know any "Debbie Downers," then you must not know anyone who lost their home in Texas or New Orleans, lost their son in Iraq, lost their governor because he enjoys young hookers, or lost their house some time in the last 6 months. Consider yourself lucky. Wow, I didn't know all that stuff only happened in the last couple of years. I guess we've never had hurricanes, flooding, wildfires or tornadoes in the past. I guess we've never had a political scandal until now (I'm not sure how that would affect anyone). I suppose people have never been foreclosed upon in the past either? At least you're correct about Iraq - no one's ever had a child die overseas until the past few years. When is the last time all of them happened to the same degree in a 4-year span? |
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TC
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Post by TC on Jan 19, 2009 15:44:52 GMT -5
Irrespective of the location of the oath (Reagan moved to West side of Capitol), there is no fair comparison when it comes to hype for this Inauguration. Based upon the breathless anticipation of the mainstream media, anything less than the divine hand of God appearing out of the sky to touch Mr. Obama as he takes the oath will have to be considered a let down. Blah blah blah messianic complaint blah blah blah. You're like a broken record. The only difference between this inauguration and the previous four is that more people are going. Clinton's inauguration had people giving overly dramatic readings (James Earl Jones), Bush and Clinton both had big concerts (Quincy Jones' event for Clinton and Bush's concert in 2005). |
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EasyEd
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Post by EasyEd on Jan 19, 2009 16:24:03 GMT -5
Obama is entitled to his day in the sun.
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Bando
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Post by Bando on Jan 19, 2009 17:44:53 GMT -5
Now this is ridiculous. Today's press release from the Americans for Tax Reform: Yes, because there are millions in DC this weekend to celebrate the 28th anniversary of Reagan's inauguration. Jeez! Conservatives who thought Obama supporters are cult-like should take a big step back and realize that they've turned Ronald Reagan into a demigod. |
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mchoya
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Post by mchoya on Jan 19, 2009 18:27:14 GMT -5
Now this is ridiculous. Today's press release from the Americans for Tax Reform: Yes, because there are millions in DC this weekend to celebrate the 28th anniversary of Reagan's inauguration. Jeez! Conservatives who thought Obama supporters are cult-like should take a big step back and realize that they've turned Ronald Reagan into a demigod. To be fair, though, Reagan has presidential accomplishments, while Obama has none to his credit as of January 19th, 2008. Not that this is an indictment of Obama, because it is impossible for him to have presidential accomplishments at this time, but I think the comparison is off-base (ATR isn't celebrating the 20th anniversary of George H.W. Bush or the 36th anniversary of Gerald Ford). |
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Post by Frank Black on Jan 19, 2009 18:54:12 GMT -5
I wish I could get excited for tomorrow. The last eight years have been fairly bad, to be sure, but being that I can't see anything in Obama that compensates for his unwillingness to defend the weakest members of society, its hard for me to feel anything other than sadness.
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Post by jerseyhoya34 on Jan 19, 2009 19:37:01 GMT -5
This long weekend in DC has started an urgent process of global renewal. Today, the Mall was abuzz not only with locals but groups from across the country and world. All share the sense of hope and respect for this vibrant nation, which was fortunately not sacrificed by the last 20 years of directionless American leadership after the Cold War.
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Post by AustinHoya03 on Jan 19, 2009 22:58:27 GMT -5
Frank Black: not sure who the "weakest members of society" that you reference are. I'm pretty sure Frank is referring to a group of rapidly dividing cells. |
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Boz
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Post by Boz on Jan 19, 2009 23:55:57 GMT -5
Obama IS entitled to his day in the sun. He has earned it and Inaugurations should be about celebrating, no matter who is elected (a fact I hope liberals will remember the next time a Republican is elected, rather than threatening to move to France).
I'll watch on TV, but I am not taking part in any of these activities, because it is a SNAFU of Biblical proportions (and trust me, that would be the case if we were electing Ronald Reagan AGAIN; I've been to one Inauguration and one is enough).
But I wish Obama well on his swearing in and his initial months in office. After that, we will have plenty of time to evaluate his performance. I know what I am expecting, of course, but time will tell.
Yes, the swoonery is a bit ridiculous in my eyes, but they (you) can swoon all they (you) want for now. Reality will set in and then we'll judge him how presidents should be judged.
Good luck to all who are attending. I wouldn't trade places with you for a Smiths reunion concert, staged just for me (well, maybe that).
If I may make one note, and this is not a partisan note (I don't think anyway). I think a lot of liberals may possibly agree. Can all of the celebrities who are pledging community service -- oh so publicly -- please just shut the hell up? Fine, I am glad that you are inspired. Good for you. Then just do it. You don't have to tell the world about it. Guess what? Millions of Americans volunteer every day and they don't need a President to inspire them and they don't need to broadcast it like it's something extraordinary. You should want to do it. Volunteering for the sake of someone who has asked you to do it, rather than for the intrinsic value of it, misses the point entirely (though it is still welcome, of course). Moreover, where the $#@& were you when George Bush's father asked America to volunteer?
Sorry, I had to get that off my chest. Please note: I am not criticizing Obama for his call to action. That is admirable. I am glad that people are inspired to community service. I just hate celebrities. Everything about them. I am reminded of the Simpsons episode when Lisa went to go clean up an oil spill. I guarantee that half of them don't do any follow up whatsoever after they've gotten the publicity bump.
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