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
H., Childish Things, and Eleanor Roosevelt
Barack Obama is now the 44th President of the United States. I wanted to share poignant images and sounds of his swearing-in ceremony: Before the speech: 1) Introduced as Barack H. Obama but took the oath of office with his middle name. 2) Rick Warren's prayer was good but was way too long. 3) The John Williams arrangement, "Air and Simple Gifts", was "Appalachian … [Read more...] about H., Childish Things, and Eleanor Roosevelt
Most Americans Want The New President To Succeed
With some exceptions -- including this notable (and predictable) one. … [Read more...] about Most Americans Want The New President To Succeed
Selected Inauguration Day Headlines from Around the World – January 20, 2009
As the 44th President of the United States takes up the reigns of power, the people of this project will be working around the clock to bring you front pages and reactions from newspapers around the world. These are some of the first headlines for this day posted on WORLDMEETS.US: Here are some more examples: … [Read more...] about Selected Inauguration Day Headlines from Around the World – January 20, 2009
The Official Text of Barack H. Obama’s Inaugural Address
Here's the full text of President Barack Obama's inaugural address as run on the Los Angeles Times: My fellow citizens: I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors. I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown … [Read more...] about The Official Text of Barack H. Obama’s Inaugural Address
President Barack Obama
Bob Englehart, The Hartford Courant … [Read more...] about President Barack Obama
How Did They Flub That ?? (UPDATED)
The United States Of America becomes the first major nation to inagurate an African American as it's leader and the moment is incredibly historic. Amazingly though somehow both the President and The Chief Justice managed to flub their lines a little (Obama starting early, Roberts and Obama getting some of the language wrong). I know its a moment of nerves, but the most … [Read more...] about How Did They Flub That ?? (UPDATED)
Inaugural Address Confidence Game
The very word cuts both ways--meaning true trust and also deception, as in "confidence game." But the added layer of irony for Barack Obama's Inaugural Address is that, in an environment of potential panic, confidence is a key to getting America back on track. Whatever he says after taking the oath today will in itself be as crucial, as real in its impact, as the stimulus … [Read more...] about Inaugural Address Confidence Game
Bugle Call
I can't forget the scene in the aftermath of Sept. 11 where President Bush learned the second plane had hit the World Trade Center. He was on television, seated in a classroom, speaking to very young schoolchildren. An advisor entered the picture and whispered the news in the President's ear. He looked stunned. After a second, he turned back to the children and continued … [Read more...] about Bugle Call