board77

Dawnnamira wrote:

Plugging "Chief Justice Oath Flubs" returns a page of insta-articles about Roberts' gaffe.

Still looking...well, and then it's on to Palin and Bush flubbing stuff up, so I can't find anything about another Chief Justice doing it.

But we have only had televised stuff for only so many Presidents...I bet there are some flubs out there we don't know about simply because media changes.

Margaret my friend said Arethas hat looked like the Statue of Liberty's crown. I don't know what she did to that song, but I think she forgot the words or something.

In the mini-series John Adams, George Washington barely whispered his oath of office, I am wondering if this is true? That would be a scary position to be in.

Coverage from around the world: A friend of mine is in Bangladesh right now, and she reports that all TVs were tuned in on the event, and that people were cheering and dancing in the streets. So Obama seems to be welcomed there (too).

The only good thing about the Robert gaffe was the instant recognition by Obama that Roberts screwed up.

I still hate the Franklin hat. The one worn by Bush Sr. gets no award either. I thought he was auditioning for DUMB AND DUMBER III. Loved the gloves Michelles mother had on.

I thought it was tremendously classy of Michelle to bring a present to Laura Bush as they arrived at the White House this morning.

I loved the way Aretha sang the song! LOVED it! Was it perfect? Nope. But you know what? Big deal!

A momentous occasion, indeed.

It's nice to see most people put aside their bitterness for a short time. It's nice to have some common ground.

I will say this much for the press, I think we were on NBC at this point. When Pres. Bush was introduced there was some booing that could be heard. They either turned off those mics or removed the sound through technology. Either way if you cannot respect the man, then respect the office he holds.

I did ask Lali if she thought any of Bush's cabinet took any letters off the keyboards as their predecessors did to them.

freddy

Feredir wrote:

I will say this much for the press, I think we were on NBC at this point. When Pres. Bush was introduced there was some booing that could be heard. They either turned off those mics or removed the sound through technology. Either way if you cannot respect the man, then respect the office he holds.

I did ask Lali if she thought any of Bush's cabinet took any letters off the keyboards as their predecessors did to them.

freddy

urban legend?

Bush deserved to be booed. He disgraced his office. It was the man they were booing, the only chance any of those people will ever have. I hope his ears were burning with shame. But I bet they weren't.

I dunno, I even can be nice to George W. Bush today, after all, he is now part of the past and it is the present and the future that I am focusing on.

If nothing else, I think President Obama can at least rally the American people in ways that have not been seen for decades, even if one does not agree with him personally. And the outpouring of respect and joy around the world is heartening, and makes me also proud once again to say I am American. It is odd how much that makes me so happy. I guess one never knows what has been lost until they find it once again.

What's this about removing letters from keyboards? I've never heard of this before.

An abortive Clinton scandal.

Reportedly (and apparently debunked) the exiting Clinton administration trashed the White House as they left, including rewiring phones and removing the "w" from many of the keyboards, as well as putting pornography in the printers and jimmying the locks on the doors.

You can imagine given how Bush is known by his middle initial how removing that letter from keyboards would complicate things.

The BBC even ended up commentating when the American National Anthem was played. That was simply ridiculous.

Glad I watched it in CNN in the end. I usually prefer the BBC for news, but they really really do love to hear themselves talk. Since I didn't want to hear them, but rather take in the moment... well, CNN stopping gushing and let the audience sit and listen in the end, and that was great.

I watched on CSPAN, same as the debates. No commentary at all.

I'm glad the Yanks in the UK realise the Beeb while capable of excellence is also capable of dumb crud too. Sorry about that. At least they didn't intrude on Obama's speech as I feared.
That was the first time I saw Rick Warren. He started out giving a prayer and everyone dutifully closed their eyes and at some point it turned into a sermon. People kept opening one eye as if to say, 'has he finished yet?' Not really my sort of parson but I can see why Obama included him. The old Civil Rights guy who gave the benediction was a bit strange too but in a good way. I was struck by how much religion intruded on the inauguration, given the American concern about religion and state being separate, but it's clearly a part of the tradition you are comfortable with.

I liked the tradition of Inauguration poetry and how people were paying attention to it. We could do with something like that in our civic life. Is there always some newly commissioned music? The John Williams piece was enchanting when I could finally hear it ( ) played under what must have been horrible conditions with grace and lightness and the feel of it was just right. American tradition via the Shakers and Copland and no easy triumphalism.
Obama's speech was sober rather than transcendent. He has a good cadence to his voice together with dynamic range and rhythm.

I look forward to the unfolding news of his early actions.

vison wrote:

Bush deserved to be booed. He disgraced his office. It was the man they were booing, the only chance any of those people will ever have. I hope his ears were burning with shame. But I bet they weren't.

Sorry, I disagree with you on all counts on this. I have no respect for Clinton and never will due to his lack of respect for his "position." However, I never have disrespected him due to the office he held. Booing was in extremely poor taste and childish behavior.

The Watcher wrote:

If nothing else, I think President Obama can at least rally the American people in ways that have not been seen for decades, even if one does not agree with him personally. And the outpouring of respect (emphasis freddy's) and joy around the world is heartening, and makes me also proud once again to say I am American. It is odd how much that makes me so happy. I guess one never knows what has been lost until they find it once again.

Other than being President of the United States, what has he done to deserve the outpouring of respect..... Oh wait, that's my point above.


freddy

ToshoftheWuffingas wrote:

I was struck by how much religion intruded on the inauguration, given the American concern about religion and state being separate, but it's clearly a part of the tradition you are comfortable with.

Not all of us are comfortable with it. It bugged me. Bigger fish to fry at the moment, though.

It's probably worth pointing out again, that the constitution of the US does not have anything to say about separation of church and state. It merely states that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof . . . ."

So, there is no reason religion can't or shouldn't play a major role in Obama's swearing is as President.

Feredir wrote:

Other than being President of the United States, what has he done to deserve the outpouring of respect..... Oh wait, that's my point above.

We've had this discussion before. Some of us believe you earn respect, and don't have it conferred upon you in a ceremony.

Yes, Obama has earned our respect. Not by his office, but by how he obtained it.

Bush deserves none. He disgraced the office.

how did he disgrace the office?

It was nice, mostly to see Bush go.

ToshoftheWuffingas wrote:

I'm glad the Yanks in the UK realise the Beeb while capable of excellence is also capable of dumb crud too.

There's plenty of crap on the Beeb! But plenty of wonderful stuff too.

Quote:

That was the first time I saw Rick Warren. He started out giving a prayer and everyone dutifully closed their eyes and at some point it turned into a sermon. People kept opening one eye as if to say, 'has he finished yet?'

Hmmm, yes. Did seem overly long and I personally felt hypocritical at times given what I've heard about his beliefs, especially in regards to gay rights.

Quote:

The old Civil Rights guy who gave the benediction was a bit strange too but in a good way.

Overly long as well, but at least the bit where he got chuckles out of people made up for that a bit.

Quote:

I was struck by how much religion intruded on the inauguration, given the American concern about religion and state being separate, but it's clearly a part of the tradition you are comfortable with.

I'm not comfortable with it in the least. I feel religion has no place at state ceremonies given there is no national religion and there is such religious diversity in the US. It ostracises those who are not Christian. Personally I very much like how religion isn't injected into UK policitcs and people don't shake their heads with disapproval if a politician doesn't end a speech with "God Bless Great Britain."

Quote:

I liked the tradition of Inauguration poetry and how people were paying attention to it.

I always have a hard time getting poetry and felt the same regarding that reading. The cadence of her speech kinda bugged me. I'd rather have Maya Angelou as it's always lovely to hear her read her poetry but I suppose she does loads of these sorts of events and it's best to have some different people.

Feredir wrote:

vison wrote:

Bush deserved to be booed. He disgraced his office. It was the man they were booing, the only chance any of those people will ever have. I hope his ears were burning with shame. But I bet they weren't.

Sorry, I disagree with you on all counts on this. I have no respect for Clinton and never will due to his lack of respect for his "position." However, I never have disrespected him due to the office he held. Booing was in extremely poor taste and childish behavior.

The Watcher wrote:

If nothing else, I think President Obama can at least rally the American people in ways that have not been seen for decades, even if one does not agree with him personally. And the outpouring of respect (emphasis freddy's) and joy around the world is heartening, and makes me also proud once again to say I am American. It is odd how much that makes me so happy. I guess one never knows what has been lost until they find it once again.

Other than being President of the United States, what has he done to deserve the outpouring of respect..... Oh wait, that's my point above.


freddy

Well, you of course might disagree, but I find Obama to be a very effective public speaker, a true uniter (at least to date) and someone who has inspired confidence in America once again around the world. I have never ever witnessed an inauguration so attended by so many, not only in DC itself, but around the world. Sorry, but this time it IS different. No offense meant and none taken.