Tuesday - January 20, 2009

The Inauguration

11:33 Eastern
I’m watching Michelle walk down the hall on her way to the big event. She looks annoyed. I can see her practicing smiling. She walks to the big door and starts down the stairs. All smiles. I guess it’s just nerves. I’d be nervous too.

I also checked the sky, looking for a new star in the east, or another sun about to ignite. So far, nothing.

11:40
Obama has found an American Flag pin to wear!
OMG, look at the crowds. There must be 2 million people out there, slowly freezing. Hundreds of thousands were out there all night, waiting. I wonder how many froze to death, and if that number will ever be reported?

11:42
“Ladies and gentlemen, the next President of The United States, Barack H. Obama!” You new they were NEVER going to say “Hussein” out loud. The crowd goes wild, chanting. “Imhotep! Imhotep!” “O ba ma! O ba ma!”

Diane Feinstein “This was the moment” when the message of the Lincoln Memorial finally reached the White House.
And I heard last night that the remaining Tuskegee airmen were brought up to DC to be part of things. Because this election is not about race at all you know. Even though the chaplain giving the prayer is talking about exactly that. “Give him the wisdom to lead us with humility.” Ok, let them have their moment. But Al Sharpton reminded us last night that, hey, just because a black man is now the most powerful human on the face of the planet, it doens’t mean that any sort of equality has been achieved, or that all the other black people aren’t still victims. Thanks Al. Have your cake and eat it too.

11:52
It’s Reetha!! Aretha Franklin sings “My Country Tis Of Thee” with full-on jazzy interpretation. Woo hoo, get your party on. I’m opening a beer. For breakfast. First time I’ve ever done that, but I feel the need somehow.

11:58 Joe Biden gets sworn in.

Noon
Yo-yo ma, Yitsak Perlman and others play us some classical air, a medley. A formal musical interlude. Hope their instruments aren’t harmed by playing outside in the cold.  The clarinet guy works a bit of “Tis a Gift To Be Simple” into the mix ... classic Americana. Very well done. Ok, now I’m feeling it, sniff sniiff, the national pride that’s bigger than anything Democrat centric. The Obama kids aren’t paying attention, they’re talking to each other. At least they aren’t text messaging.

12:05
The moment has come.
Chief Justice John G. Roberts to administer the oath. Obama can’t remember the words, Roberts has to repeat himself. “Preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States, so help me God.”
And thus it is done.

12:08
“we are in the midst of crisis. ... a tapping of confidence, a nagging fear that decline is inevitable. The challenges are real and many ... know this: they will be met. We have chosen Hope over Fear. The time has come to set aside childish things ... greatness is never a gift, it must be earned. It has been the risk takers ... who have carried us up the long rugged path. ... starting today we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin the work of rebuilding America.

... the ground has shifted beneath them. The question is not whether the government is too big or too small, but does it work? ... restore the vital trust between the people and their government.
Without a watched pot the market can spin out of control. ... a friend of every person who seeks peace and prosperity ... and we are ready to lead once more! ... we will not apologize for our way of life ... terrorists: you can not outlast us, and we will defeat you! ...

To the muslim world, we seek a new way forward, ...

... we will extend the hand if you are willing to unclench the fist ...

[nice speech. And I will give O some props; he’s a decent speaker. Much better than Bush, that’s for sure]

... a new era of responsibility ... duties we seize gladly ... this is the price and the promise of citizenship ... remember who we are and how far we have travelled ... with hope and virtue ... we carried forth that great gift of freedom ... “

A pretty good speech, and a pretty good delivery. I was expecting the crowd to react quite a bit stronger, but they’re probably about numb from the cold by now.

And now we get some poetry, by Elizabeth Alexander. “Praise song for the day. Each day we go about our business” Yek. She sucks. Utterly. Next.

......................

12:50
We see Bush, Obama, Biden, and Cheney, plus wives, meeting on the steps of the capital. Dick Cheney is in a wheelchair?? Press says he was moving boxes and he strained his back, doctor said to stay off his feet.

Handshakes and hugs are exchanged. George and Laura get into their very shiny helicopter for their last ride, flanked by a pair of Marines in full dress uniform. Don’t they look great? Best. Uniform. Ever. Damn, that helicopter is huge. It’s like a flying bus. And off they go, the helicopter circling several times for one long last look, then flying safely away.

.....................

On Fox News, Juan Williams is just overcome by the moment.

Posted by Drew458     on 01/20/2009 at 11:31 AM   
Filed Under: • Politics •  
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