Are you watching?

[PrincessFiona]

Historic....truly.....

I have to leave right now to pick up Aidan from preschool. Darnit...I'm going to miss the most historic thing that will probably happen in my lifetime sitting in the car to do a pick-up. It's so...fitting.

Kris

[Tenacious_D]

Re: Are you watching?

Watching gladly with the whole fam

[Momo]

Re: Are you watching?

NPR

what a bummer...I have the DVR set.

[SuzySunshine]

Re: Are you watching?

I have been recording it since 7am, I was out of the house from 8:45-11:30 so I'll be watching it once Adele goes down for her nap.

[moonlight]

Re: Are you watching?

I've been Glued to the TV since 9am CST on abc then PBS for the oath. I thought it went great and I'm very happy today!!

[GreyhoundsRUs]

Re: Are you watching?

We took a break from the school day to let the girls watch, too. 10:30-12:30 central time, TV was on! It's especially great for them to watch since most of them are minorities.

I am so impressed! This really is an exciting time for the country!

[ladymoreta]

Re: Are you watching?

Bleh, I was stuck practicing for tomorrow's demo of our software. Not sure if we remembered to set up TiVo, but I'm sure I'll get to see it on the news or online tonight. I heard it was great!

[GrayMatterWife]

Re: Are you watching?

Michelle looked gorgeous. Obama sounded hopeful, positive, and relaxed. Embodied dignity and poise. Looked very presidential.

It was expensive. Ironic, given the Dem's criticism of Bush having a much less expensive inauguration last time. But, hey, if it's your guy that wins, I guess that cost doesn't matter. I am glad that the Republicans are not making a stink about this and not begrudging them this important moment. It would just look petty.

Chief Justice Roberts flubbed the oath. Seriously...did you not have a cheat sheet?

Oration was amazing. Content-wise, it was as sweeping and vague as usual and substantively vectorless. Change, unity--changing what? Changing how? In what direction? United with whom? Do we really want to just be united with everyone? What about differences that aren't reconcilable and that actually matter? But, if you don't think too hard about the lack of specifics, it sounded really deep. And to the Obama faithful, I am sure it was nearly a religious experience. And least, that's what I could gather from the hysterical being breathlessly interviewed.

I thought the remark about it being the time to "pick ourselves up and dust ourselves off" was disrespectful. It suggested that we have been left kicked in the gut, face in the dirt, by the last administration. Even if you feel that way, was this really the time to say so? And I disagree with that premise anyhow; I thought it was a cheap shot--well-delivered in a prosaic package that will be critically unassailed by the media. In addition, his reference to the New Testament passage was odd; contextually, that's not at all what was meant by "putting away childish things." But I guess yo can hijack Scripture for effect...it did sound really pretty.

I really like the line (and I found it from a printed copy of the speech online, so I know I'm getting it right!): "To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect. To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society's ills on the West — know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy." Tonally, that seems exactly right. The "mutually" I believe is important. We shouldn't respect someone or something that has no respect for us. And the idea that we aren't to blame for their problems is a good starting point.

The prayer by Rick Warren was non-offensive to the point of being nearly a non-statement, and he was received with tepidness and barely polite applause. So that went well, all things considered. The other guy who gave a prayer was very race-focused in his remarks. But thank goodness we've beyond race now.

A hint of irony floated through everything, I thought. People are over-the-top excited because he's the first black President. I get it for people of my parents' generation and older. They honestly never imagined a black President in their lifetime, and this is an important statement about the potential of America. But, people of my generation claiming that? Really? You're 30 and you never imagined a black President? Why not? I have always been able to envision a black President. Why on earth not? . . . What they really mean is that they never imagined having "their kind" of black President--a black liberal Democrat. If Condi or JC Watts or Michael Steele had won, there would be no similar hysteria. No one would be weeping tears of joy. It made me think of how shabbily Sarah Palin was treated by the liberal women's groups. She didn't deserve their support because she wasn't "their" type of woman. Obama-mania reminds me of that working in reverse. It's never about unity of gender or race. It's about unity of politics. ** I am sure lots of people won't agree with me on this. Not looking to start an argument. Just noting that this is my perception--not that it is everyone's experience.**

[Flynn]

Re: Are you watching?

I watched and thought the whole experience was nothing short of amazing.

[Cumberland]

Re: Are you watching?

I thought the remark about it being the time to "pick ourselves up and dust ourselves off" was disrespectful. It suggested that we have been left kicked in the gut, face in the dirt, by the last administration. Even if you feel that way, was this really the time to say so? And I disagree with that premise anyhow; I thought it was a cheap shot--well-delivered in a prosaic package that will be critically unassailed by the media. In addition, his reference to the New Testament passage was odd; contextually, that's not at all what was meant by "putting away childish things." But I guess yo can hijack Scripture for effect...it did sound really pretty.

I think he was referring to the current recession and economic crisis and the need for us to take responsibility for our actions.

[alison]

Re: Are you watching?

I just turned it on again after a break of a few hours. He just got out of his car and walked a little bit. WOW! This guy has got charisma. WOW WOW WOW.

[GrayMatterWife]

Re: Are you watching?

I thought the remark about it being the time to "pick ourselves up and dust ourselves off" was disrespectful. It suggested that we have been left kicked in the gut, face in the dirt, by the last administration. Even if you feel that way, was this really the time to say so? And I disagree with that premise anyhow; I thought it was a cheap shot--well-delivered in a prosaic package that will be critically unassailed by the media. In addition, his reference to the New Testament passage was odd; contextually, that's not at all what was meant by "putting away childish things." But I guess yo can hijack Scripture for effect...it did sound really pretty.

I think he was referring to the current recession and economic crisis and the need for us to take responsibility for our actions.

He was. It just seemed odd to me to suggest that we are currently in the dirt. But, in the end, I don't think it mattered. He could have recited "The Cat and the Hat." The people who are already inspired by him would have thought it was an insightful commentary on what our country needs; the people who think he's a lot of gloss and little substance (or, even more so, a lot of the wrong substance hidden behind feel-good notions and vague phrases) would have thought that it was a fabulous reading of Dr. Suess.

But regardless of where we are on the political spectrum, I think we are all pulling for him to be successful for the country. It's just that, once the honeymoon is over, the differences about what constitutes success and "the right track" will emerge, and he'll have to be more than show and charisma.

[TulipsAndSunscreen]

Re: Are you watching?

I am cautiously optimistic and I understand the excitement everyone feels. I do not, however, believe that this near hysterical excitement should carry over into unrealistic expectations. I know he will be given broad leeway (he's got both houses of Congress on his side) and some time to get things in motion but he promised a LOT in his political speeches and I think people have very high expectations. It's interesting because I think most people understand campaign promises to be very optimistic but I think in Obama's case, people are expecting him to deliver on every single one.

I don't envy him having to prioritize all those promises.

Re: Are you watching?

Chief Justice Roberts flubbed the oath. Seriously...did you not have a cheat sheet?

So that is what happened. I was listening to it on the radio and didn't quite follow but there was definitely a stumble in there. How embarrassing!

I watched with friends, most of whom are ardent Obama supporters. I don't fall into that group. They are genuinely excited and it was fun to watch them. I guess I am one of the cynics he referred to. I don't think he will accomplish all those goals. So when/if it doesn't work out, you can blame me.

[GrayMatterWife]

Re: Are you watching?

Chief Justice Roberts flubbed the oath. Seriously...did you not have a cheat sheet?

So that is what happened. I was listening to it on the radio and didn't quite follow but there was definitely a stumble in there. How embarrassing!

I just came from having beers with some federal judges and their clerks. Everyone was completely mortified for Chief Justice Roberts. Poor guy. It seemed like he and Obama had not "coordinated" where the breaks in the recitation would be, and it caused the swearing-in to get choppy...

But, it was effective none the less. As they say in my line of work: at the end of the day, it's always better to be sworn-in than sworn-at.