[TheEnglishman]

I've been watching the inauguration of Obama on TV and I can only say one thing.
I wish he was British.

[Blue]

Couldn't be bothered.

[Ironsight]

All of the teachers here are broadcasting it to their classes.
Disgusting.

[TheEnglishman]

It's a historical moment, whatever your opinion of Obama is.

[Saturos S.]

I thought he was a bit of a hypocrite.

[Golden Legacy]

It was fairly decent, had the appropriate weight of a historic moment. Unnecessarily extravagant. I was actually fairly surprised at all the different parts to the inauguration, including the invocation by the Reverend Rick Warren. Christian values remain paramount it seems in defining America and its traditions, much as I would like it to finally be secular.

The speech itself was fairly typical of Obama, hardly anything new. Reaching out to the Muslim world is a good step, but I wish he was more like Ron Paul in his foreign policy. Too imperialistic/militaristic as always for America.

I did not like the overall condescending tone that came from the inauguration itself - the person who introduced everyone (Senator Diane Feinstein?) made a remark that America is showing the world how to use the "ballot, not bullet" in their political systems.

It felt like the same old American self-centered attribute of "we're on top, everyone wants to be like us".


tl;dr - decent, not great.

[Ironsight]

Golden Legacy, on Jan 20 2009, 12:23 PM, said:

It felt like the same old American self-centered attribute of "we're on top, everyone wants to be like us".

There's no such thing as a humble country. It's called nationalism; everyone does it.

[Golden Legacy]

I'm aware. I just felt that it was a little excessive, as if the subtle implication was the rest of the world solves its problems with bullets and blood only.

I suppose it was a rare ceremony and all.

[TheEnglishman]

I guess I'm the only one who enjoys the flashiness.
I think the problem is, all the important points (the problems around the world, the fact that Obama is the first African-American President) have already been made and that there wasn't much more to add.

[Aquamarine]

*****ing vomits*

[Mallick]

Best part was the composition by John Williams

[Sea of Time]

I agree completely, and the last reverend's speech with "I hope now black won't have to get back.." etc. It made me laugh and realize the weight of what was happening at the same time. =D

[Gio]

TheEnglishman, on Jan 20 2009, 01:08 PM, said:

It's a historical moment, whatever your opinion of Obama is.

I agree with you there, but like GL said. It was unnecessarily extravagant.
Needless to say I did not watch the entire thing seeing as I got bored and left.

[Golden Legacy]

They had a viewing ceremony at my college, and I conveniently had it between two of my classes (both of which are political science classes ironically). I managed to catch the Rick Warren invocation through the Williams' composition and through part of the speech, it was all fairly short.

Keep in mind this is largely the same set up the inauguration ceremony has had in the USA for a while now, only different people present, and perhaps the largest crowd to date.

[Laharl]

an INDIGNAYSHUN ceremony would have been much better

[David]

Almost everyone in my school watched it from one place in the school or another. It was a very historical event, and we saw it as such. Like Englishman, I enjoyed the ceremony itself. I also enjoyed the piece by John Williams; I hadn't seen Yo Yo Ma in a long time (probably because I don't have a tv at school, since the cable doesn't go to our dorm rooms). The Reverend's Benediction was great, as well. I can't say I cared much for the poem...she read it like a robot, which killed the few good points of the piece. But oh well. You can't win them all.

[Blue]

Laharl, on Jan 20 2009, 06:39 PM, said:

an INDIGNAYSHUN ceremony would have been much better

Sounds painful.
It probably would have been better. xD

[Toasty]

I completely missed it. Heard there was some stuttering in there.


But I seriously don't get why everyone's practically crying tears of awe over the whole inauguration thing. I mean, seriously. We we're going to get a black president one day. It's not too surprising to me.

I don't care what party/ethnic background he's from. I'll only praise him if he does a good job leading the country.

[Saturos S.]

TheEnglishman, on Jan 20 2009, 08:08 PM, said:

It's a historical moment, whatever your opinion of Obama is.

The speech itself was just 1 of the 44 others. Didn't find it epic, nor bad.

Golden Legacy, on Jan 20 2009, 09:23 PM, said:

Christian values remain paramount it seems in defining America and its traditions, much as I would like it to finally be secular.

YES!

I agree, the only country who probably thanks god more in their inaguration (or any equivalent of it) is probably the Vatican.

[Ironsight]

Toasty, on Jan 20 2009, 10:02 PM, said:

I completely missed it. Heard there was some stuttering in there.

Yeah, apparently he screwed up speaking the oath.

[Nosferatu]

Quoted from the best guy ever:

Burnie Burns, on Jan 20 2009, said:

When I was watching the Oath of Office today, I was mortified that Obama flubbed the lines. I hate to see people embarrassed, and this was especially bad considering the gravity of the moment. I read some blog comments where people were defending Barack, saying that Justice Roberts mixed up the oath and all I could think was "man, Obama die hards will go to any length to defend him". I mean I really like the guy, but a mistake is a mistake.

But, I played back the moment tonight and looked up the oath and I was amazed -- it really wasn't Obama's fault. Justice Roberts left out a word, which is where Obama stopped. The oath is as follows:

Quote

"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

For some reason, Roberts moved or omitted the word "faithfully" from the oath when he initially read it and when Obama got to that place in the oath, he paused. Roberts said it again, correcting his mistake on the next pass.

I call a do-over. Everyone go back tomorrow and let's try this again.

[Ironsight]

Well, I can't argue against Burnie.

[I'm Always BROKE]

I haven't seen it... Wish I did though. Damn worthless supermarket job. >_<

[TheEnglishman]

If he didn't say the oath correctly, doesn't that mean he's not actually President yet?

[Legolastom]

I thought he could have said execute a little less.

[Sea of Time]

It's because John Roberts is a giant ****wad and will be the reason the death penalty is reinstituted.

[Ironsight]

Sea of Time, on Jan 21 2009, 09:43 AM, said:

It's because John Roberts is a giant ****wad and will be the reason the death penalty is reinstituted.

Why would that be bad?

[Saturos S.]

Because most people decided it was better to keep criminals locked up and perform some kind of work that will benefit the community than kill them.

... that was about in the 17th century.

... and when justice screws up, they don't screw up less badly.

[Golden Legacy]

TheEnglishman, on Jan 21 2009, 12:30 PM, said:

If he didn't say the oath correctly, doesn't that mean he's not actually President yet?

The transfer of power takes place at 12:00 local time exactly. The oath is done in tradition but is technically optional. Obama was already president, and Bush's term was done, at noon and that was before the oath.

And yes, it was confirmed by political analysts that Obama corrected Chief Justice Roberts during the oath.

[TheEnglishman]

Oh ok, just wasn't sure of all the technicalities.

[Saturos S.]

It would have been quite of fun to have another money-wasting election campaign a few months after the last one.

O yeah, and pissed off Americans and such.

[TheEnglishman]

I kinda liked the election and all that funky jazz. I guess it's because British politics is so dull. Let's make a comparison:
http://www.treehugger.com/barack-obama-for-president.jpg
Barack Obama
http://www.gastronomydomine.com/uploaded_images/gordon_brown_fat-749381.jpg
Gordon Brown
Now perhaps you can understand why it is more interesting to follow the actions of American politics than British ones.

[Saturos S.]

Well, you did pick quite a flattering picture of Brown.

... and that Boris Johnson over in London guy looks... pretty down to earth, if you know what I mean.

[TheEnglishman]

There aren't any flattering pictures of Gordon Brown. A picture of him being grumpy is much better than a picture of him looking cheerful.
And Boris is very... unique.

[Nosferatu]

That, and one is brown and one isn't.

Stating the obvious so that nobody else has to.

[Ironsight]

Saturos Striker, on Jan 21 2009, 01:28 PM, said:

It would have been quite of fun to have another money-wasting election campaign a few months after the last one.

O yeah, and pissed off Americans and such.

Hahaha, have you heard how much he spent on the Inauguration?

[Saturos S.]

Miley Cyrus, on Jan 22 2009, 07:12 AM, said:

Hahaha, have you heard how much he spent on the Inauguration?

Nope, googled it and then thought "Holy shi-"

But, Obama failed. A black guy + $150 million dollar party should have been a lot better.

[Nosferatu]

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=MdIU29wUCKw

There. Everyone shut up and watch it. And listen to GL.
Eat your ****in' vegetables too you dumb ****s.

[Laharl]

Saturos Striker, on Jan 21 2009, 09:42 PM, said:

... and that Boris Johnson over in London guy looks... pretty down to earth, if you know what I mean.

Boris is a living legend!

best politician ever.

[Eugine]

I honestly regret watching the inauguration.

TheEnglishman, on Jan 21 2009, 05:35 PM, said:

I guess it's because British politics is so dull.

It can be very interesting when parliament is in session. I remember watching a session last year where everyone was shouting at each other, and everyone looked so sweaty. Funny stuff. It was amazing to see Gordon Brown yelling and looking all sweaty.
Btw, I actually like David Cameron. I think he's the Barack Obama of UK =]
When is election in UK anyway?

Btw, this was the funniest parliament fight ever:
http://www.youtube.c...h?v=cD0XZlxKuig
And to think, these are the well respected people of beautiful Ukraine.

Oh,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sY5GjYrclgM...feature=related
Democracy in the Middle East baby!

[TheEnglishman]

Eugine likes sweaty men in suits. :)
The election is when Gordon Brown decides to call one I believe. Though he only has so long before he has to call one.

[Legolastom]

Eugine, on Jan 30 2009, 05:06 AM, said:

I honestly regret watching the inauguration.
It can be very interesting when parliament is in session. I remember watching a session last year where everyone was shouting at each other, and everyone looked so sweaty. Funny stuff. It was amazing to see Gordon Brown yelling and looking all sweaty.
Btw, I actually like David Cameron. I think he's the Barack Obama of UK =]
When is election in UK anyway?

Btw, this was the funniest parliament fight ever:
http://www.youtube.c...h?v=cD0XZlxKuig
And to think, these are the well respected people of beautiful Ukraine.

Oh,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sY5GjYrclgM...feature=related
Democracy in the Middle East baby!

Because conservatives are not bastards amirite? (Talking about the party BTW).