I just watched the swearing in and inaugural speech of Barack Obama and I decided to quickly post on my initial reaction while it was still fresh.
There was a bit of stumbling at first during the swearing in but it was smoothed out quickly enough. Makes me wonder how many will take up on that as a bad omen. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if some actually did as sad as it sounds.
Anyway…
It was a hell of a speech that threw a hell of a lot of responsibility on the government’s shoulders—and a lot of responsibility on the shoulders of the American people as well and that’s the way it should be. When it comes to running a country nothing is ever one sided…ever.
For too long now “we the people” have been complacent with our lot in life and this year most decidedly woke us right up now didn’t it? And now we have a brand new, just sworn in, [already] history making President in the White House and he’s going to have one hell of a busy term starting tomorrow. I hope he appreciates his 47 years ‘cos he’s going to need all the energy he can get.
If there was just one major point he got across in his speech it was that the only way we’re ever going to be able to tackle these obstacles and conundrums that we face on our own soil and abroad is to work together, people and government, to make it happen and for the first time in my adult life I feel that we actually have a chance to do this. On the other side of the coin I also realize that we equally have a chance to screw things up royally, both people and government.
I have no idea if we’ll be able to take care of all the things that were mentioned during that speech especially in the light that these situations Obama ticked off are very true indeed, there’s no denying their existence. He has one huge job to do…
…and so do we.
I wonder if this country, President, Government and People, can actually pull this off.
I’ll just leave it at that for now. I need lunch, my blood sugar is getting low.
Actually he didn’t stumble on the line, Justice John Roberts said it incorrectly.
As specified in the US Constitution, the word “faithfully” precedes the phrase “execute the office,” but the chief justice, in his first presidential inauguration, read that part of the oath incorrectly.
Obama paused, apparently realizing something was wrong, and after an awkward moment Roberts repeated himself, but the chief justice stumbled again. Obama eventually recited the line as Roberts originally said it.
Huge crowds watching the historic proceedings one mile (kilometer) down the National Mall on a jumbo TV screen groaned loudly after Roberts’ gaffe.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gjsHIaP5ocNngrXI6fKjEGcJLLKQ
Thanks for the correction, Elaine. My finely tuned, amazingly acute hearing did me wrong on that one. I actually found out shortly before your comment came through while reading the news but I did want to get my initial reaction to the proceedings written down and published before my feelings became dulled. I changed the text a bit to take away any specific blame.
Now let’s see how things go shall we? Ought to be a very interesting first year.
I thought it was a stumble too, putting it down to nerves not that I’d blame him. That speech was fantastic, it’s a breath of fresh air, something worth listening to. My favorite bit was his stating the irony that not so long ago his grandfather would’ve been kicked out of a restaurant etc… a seriously encouraging thought.
I had the ‘Lord of the Dance’ stuck in my head all day though
Hi K8,
I especially appreciate that he didn’t get specific on any one issue but kept it general. I can respect that since he’s going to have to do a hell of a lot of improvising from day one.
And having “Lord of the Dance” playing in your head for a day isn’t near as bad as having Michael Flatley (and his rather huge ego) prancing around with it.
It’s too bad the inauguration had to happen as the world’s banking system seems to be even closer to the edge of oblivion. He’s gonna have a lot of work this week with a lot of people fearful about a lot of banks with a lot of counterparty risk.
JC,
Welcome to the blog.
I think the new president is going to have a lot of work over the next four years let alone just this week. Of course you can never plan when these kind of things happen.