It's over, at long last. Eight years of a disastrous presidency, one of the worst in history, an embarrassment to the United States, a country I love, with so much harm done both at home and abroad. I've thought about writing a post about it all, some sort of summation, but what more is there to say? What more can I add to what others have written? What more can I add to … [Read more...] about Goodbye, Mr. Bush, and Good Riddance
Video of Barack Obama’s Inaugural Address
We've posted other inaugural addresses here on TMV this week. In comments, how do you think this compares with some of the others? … [Read more...] about Video of Barack Obama’s Inaugural Address
For the New First Lady, Some Elements of Style
Since America's fashion pride appears to depend entirely on what Michelle Obama wears in the next few days, I thought I could do my bit by offering her some advice from maybe the best paragraphs on style ever written, by E.B. White in Chapter Five of "The Elements of Style." White's subject was writing style, of course, but it doesn't take too much paraphrasing to see that … [Read more...] about For the New First Lady, Some Elements of Style
To The President Of The United States
Regular readers of TMV will know that unlike some of my fellow bloggers I do not come to this day as an enthusiastic support of President Obama. This does not mean I am an opponent either, I simply remain on the fence with regard to as his ability to do what needs to be done as well as being concerned about how far to the left he may choose to govern. However today as I … [Read more...] about To The President Of The United States
Our Biracial President
A strange sort of tug of war has emerged between those who claim that Obama is not really black - because of his mother - and others who take pride in him as an African-American President. In American history, culture and, for a long time, law, a person of mixed race was considered black. That's not the custom in Brazil or other places in Latin America or the Caribbean. But … [Read more...] about Our Biracial President
A Day To Remember
For me, I did my job as a journalist. I watched Barack Obama's inaugural speech on television. I grasped the splendor of the occasion, a nation beaming with smiles and pride. I downloaded the new president's speech. I wrote the story. Just as in the old days on the newspaper. Today was special. It is not uncommon for tears to well in my eyes when I observe history. Today was … [Read more...] about A Day To Remember
Selected Inauguration Day Headlines from Around the World
Continuing our global coverage of President Obama's inauguration, here are some additional headlines and front pages from around the world posted on WORLDMEETS.US: The Telegraph, India: Sleeves Rolled Up, Obama Acts Out the Gandhi Ideal The Times of India, India: Good Morning, Mr. President The Vancouver Sun, Canada: If America is An Idea, its Future Lies in … [Read more...] about Selected Inauguration Day Headlines from Around the World
World Cartoonists Look At President Barack Obama
World cartoonists are now taking stock of President Barack Obama and his historical inauguration. Here's a cross section of their art: Tough Part: Cam Cardow, The Ottawa Citizen Expectation and Hope: Olle Johansson, Sweden … [Read more...] about World Cartoonists Look At President Barack Obama
What A Difference Time Makes
As I watched President Obama sitting in the limo for the ride down to the White House I could not help reflecting what a difference time makes. Just five years ago Obama was a relatively obscure state senator in Illinois thinking about running for the US Senate after losing a race for the US House. At the time the Senate race was seen as something of a long-shot, with Obama … [Read more...] about What A Difference Time Makes
Obama Offers Hope Over Fear
On the steps of our nation's capitol, built by slaves 200 years ago, Barack Hussein Obama was sworn in Tuesday as the 44th and first black president of the United States of America. As hundreds of millions watched throughout the world, Obama promised a new era of "hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord." The inaugural address was delivered forcibly and … [Read more...] about Obama Offers Hope Over Fear
Kennedy Collapses At Obama Luncheon
UPDATE: According to Senator Hatch (R-UT) Kennedy has been taken to the hospital but he was awake and gave him 'that old Irish grin' when he entered the ambulance. This could be a good sign ORIGINAL POST: Breaking news that Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA) has collapsed at the luncheon for President Obama. Paramedics have responded, but no word yet on his condition. Early … [Read more...] about Kennedy Collapses At Obama Luncheon
Obama’s Double-Edged Inaugural Message To Muslims
President Elect Barack Obama had a special message to Muslims in his inaugural speech -- a double-edged one: Embedded video from CNN Video In essence, stronger than ever, Obama was seeking to note differentiations in the Muslim world and not lump them altogether in one stereotypical brush. It's also smart international politics: it's an invitation to those who wouldn't … [Read more...] about Obama’s Double-Edged Inaugural Message To Muslims
Presidency 2.0
I didn't watch the Inauguration because my power went out at 11:55, so while I won't have an especially uplifting memory of the event, at least it'll be a unique one. I followed a link to WhiteHouse.gov that showed the civil rights page has more LGBT bulletpoints than racial or gender, but to me the most interesting thing was the White House Blog. The first post is timestamped … [Read more...] about Presidency 2.0
The Revolution Has Ended
While there are many dinners, balls and festivities to come, President Obama has been sworn into office and the White House Web page was quickly flipped over to the new administration's needs. So many others have commented on the specifics of the new president's speech and the surrounding activities that I will not dwell on it to excess. While Barack Obama wasn't my first … [Read more...] about The Revolution Has Ended
With a Hand on a Bible, American History Closes, and Opens
In California at this moment it is 9:50 a.m., but I feel like I have lived a whole day. America 2. America II. America 2.0. America Two. America Too. America at 9:50 is not the same America I woke up in this morning. That America has lived its whole day. In that day, as Barack Obama pointed out, his father could not get served at a café in that America. A sign on the … [Read more...] about With a Hand on a Bible, American History Closes, and Opens
A Magnificent Inaugural Address, A Most Sacred Oath of Office
What a day. What a thrill. What history! A couple of thousand miles away from the U.S. Capitol, I watched every image and listened to every word surrounding the inauguration of President Barack Obama. Senator Dianne Feinstein did an outstanding job of managing the "proceedings." Her welcoming remarks were short, sweet, and yet so right. The United States Marine Band … [Read more...] about A Magnificent Inaugural Address, A Most Sacred Oath of Office
Well Done, Mr. President, but Something was Missing
President Obama has delivered an inspiring and soaring inauguaral address to the people of the nation. Not since Ronald Reagan and John F. Kennedy have we had a commander in chief with similar gifts to deliver a speech and inspire a crowd. Indeed as I watched his remarks I was reminded of both Reagan in 1981 and Kennedy in 1961 with regard to language and theme. For … [Read more...] about Well Done, Mr. President, but Something was Missing
Moving Day at the White House
While we have been watching this extraordinary Presidential Inauguration, with over a million people crammed into the National Mall and many millions more watching and listening on televisions and radios (and computers and cell phones), something else amazing is happening at the White House itself. It's moving day: President Bush and his wife, Laura, will wake up at … [Read more...] about Moving Day at the White House
43, Not 44, Have Taken Oath of Office
President Obama said: "Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath." Actually, I think it's 43, since Grover Cleveland's non-consecutive terms resulted in him being counted as Presidents 22 and 24. Other than that: An excellent speech, as always. I further suspect the error in presidential counting will be forgiven and these will be the words most cited … [Read more...] about 43, Not 44, Have Taken Oath of Office
Lift Every Voice and Sing
Well, it has happened - what seemed only the stuff of movies has become reality: we have an African-American president. As President Obama said, it was only six decades ago that his father would not have been served at a DC restaurant, and today, his son took the oath of office and rose to the highest position in the land. It measures what kind of country we are that an … [Read more...] about Lift Every Voice and Sing