The Obama Administration thread

[Bandita]

The amount of people there was insane, watched it this morning on CBS then on the Hulu feed when I was at school. It's amazing how many people were there.

About the 'ticket holders' -- were they just random people that the Obama administration gave out to their electoral college voters, friends, family -- that kind of thing?

I know here in NY it was random.  They had a sort of lottery for the tickets.

I believe the tickets were held by the senators and then given out.

[Jdog0830]

today im stuck in school it sucks concidering my little bro gets off makes it worse i wanted to see the inaug and skipin schools just a bonus

[Axl4Prez2004]

What a great day for our nation...for the entire world too!   

[cotis]

The amount of people there was insane, watched it this morning on CBS then on the Hulu feed when I was at school. It's amazing how many people were there.

About the 'ticket holders' -- were they just random people that the Obama administration gave out to their electoral college voters, friends, family -- that kind of thing?

I know here in NY it was random.  They had a sort of lottery for the tickets.

I believe the tickets were held by the senators and then given out.

Heard that on the news this morning on CBS, didn't know if that's how it went in other states too...

[freedom78]

Phew.

[SLCPUNK]

Obama officially becomes President today..... What will some of you you ever talk about tomorrow once Bush is gone?

Moving our country forward....for starters.

[Drew]

What was up with the poem that was read? It absolutely made no sense whatsoever!

And for the guy who said the prayer, is he still living in the 1960's? Where does any person have to sit in the back seat in this country?

[Axl4Prez2004]

What was up with the poem that was read? It absolutely made no sense whatsoever!

And for the guy who said the prayer, is he still living in the 1960's? Where does any person have to sit in the back seat in this country?

Drew, I'll agree on the poem...not my style.

the prayer, are you referring to the conservative voice of Rick Warren?  I thought he was quite good, and that's coming from someone a little left of center.  I must say I did laugh a little when he mentioned God's love for ALL his creation...I guess that doesn't mean gays though.    Seriously though, he was surprisingly good.  I really liked the black pastor though.  He brought some humor to a very solemn occasion.  Nice stuff.

[Drew]

Drew, I'll agree on the poem...not my style.

the prayer, are you referring to the conservative voice of Rick Warren?  I thought he was quite good, and that's coming from someone a little left of center.  I must say I did laugh a little when he mentioned God's love for ALL his creation...I guess that doesn't mean gays though.    Seriously though, he was surprisingly good.  I really liked the black pastor though.  He brought some humor to a very solemn occasion.  Nice stuff.

No. I think the guys name was Lowery or something. Can't remember exactly, but how ignorant that prayer was!

[freedom78]

Drew, I'll agree on the poem...not my style.

the prayer, are you referring to the conservative voice of Rick Warren?  I thought he was quite good, and that's coming from someone a little left of center.  I must say I did laugh a little when he mentioned God's love for ALL his creation...I guess that doesn't mean gays though.    Seriously though, he was surprisingly good.  I really liked the black pastor though.  He brought some humor to a very solemn occasion.  Nice stuff.

No. I think the guys name was Lowery or something. Can't remember exactly, but how ignorant that prayer was!

Here's teh transcript:

God of our weary years, God of our silent tears, thou who has brought us thus far along the way, thou who has by thy might led us into the light, keep us forever in the path, we pray, lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met thee, lest our hearts, drunk with the wine of the world, we forget thee. Shadowed beneath thy hand may we forever stand -- true to thee, O God, and true to our native land.

We truly give thanks for the glorious experience we've shared this day. We pray now, O Lord, for your blessing upon thy servant, Barack Obama, the 44th president of these United States, his family and his administration. He has come to this high office at a low moment in the national and, indeed, the global fiscal climate. But because we know you got the whole world in your hand, we pray for not only our nation, but for the community of nations. Our faith does not shrink, though pressed by the flood of mortal ills.

For we know that, Lord, you're able and you're willing to work through faithful leadership to restore stability, mend our brokenness, heal our wounds and deliver us from the exploitation of the poor or the least of these and from favoritism toward the rich, the elite of these.

We thank you for the empowering of thy servant, our 44th president, to inspire our nation to believe that, yes, we can work together to achieve a more perfect union. And while we have sown the seeds of greed -- the wind of greed and corruption, and even as we reap the whirlwind of social and economic disruption, we seek forgiveness and we come in a spirit of unity and solidarity to commit our support to our president by our willingness to make sacrifices, to respect your creation, to turn to each other and not on each other.

And now, Lord, in the complex arena of human relations, help us to make choices on the side of love, not hate; on the side of inclusion, not exclusion; tolerance, not intolerance.

And as we leave this mountaintop, help us to hold on to the spirit of fellowship and the oneness of our family. Let us take that power back to our homes, our workplaces, our churches, our temples, our mosques, or wherever we seek your will.

Bless President Barack, First Lady Michelle. Look over our little, angelic Sasha and Malia.

We go now to walk together, children, pledging that we won't get weary in the difficult days ahead. We know you will not leave us alone, with your hands of power and your heart of love.

Help us then, now, Lord, to work for that day when nation shall not lift up sword against nation, when tanks will be beaten into tractors, when every man and every woman shall sit under his or her own vine and fig tree, and none shall be afraid; when justice will roll down like waters and righteousness as a mighty stream.

Lord, in the memory of all the saints who from their labors rest, and in the joy of a new beginning, we ask you to help us work for that day when black will not be asked to get back, when brown can stick around -- (laughter) -- when yellow will be mellow -- (laughter) -- when the red man can get ahead, man -- (laughter) -- and when white will embrace what is right.

Let all those who do justice and love mercy say amen.

AUDIENCE: Amen!

REV. LOWERY: Say amen --

AUDIENCE: Amen!

REV. LOWERY: -- and amen.

AUDIENCE: Amen! (Cheers, applause.)

[Dr. Blutarsky]

 -- and when white will embrace what is right.

This is an ignorant statement, Give me a break 

[SLCPUNK]

What's the matter? Democracy got ya down?

[y2marmar]

I'm not American, but I was highly impressed with his speech today. It was so inspiring, so well written

[Dr. Blutarsky]

Time for Obama to roll up his sleeves and get to the business of running the country & addressing the big task ahead.... I hope he does but It is not a given.

The honeymoon is over....it's gonna take more than a speech now.

So far I am pleasantly surprised with him.

[Bandita]

Drew, I'll agree on the poem...not my style.

the prayer, are you referring to the conservative voice of Rick Warren?  I thought he was quite good, and that's coming from someone a little left of center.  I must say I did laugh a little when he mentioned God's love for ALL his creation...I guess that doesn't mean gays though.    Seriously though, he was surprisingly good.  I really liked the black pastor though.  He brought some humor to a very solemn occasion.  Nice stuff.

No. I think the guys name was Lowery or something. Can't remember exactly, but how ignorant that prayer was!

He is a relic from the civil rights era.  Either way, a lot of it still rings true today. 

[Drew]

He is a relic from the civil rights era.  Either way, a lot of it still rings true today. 

It's sad to see that he's still living in the 1960's. A black President was just elected to the U.S. and he's still talking about black people having to sit in the back seat! Completely ignorant!!

[Dr. Blutarsky]

What's the matter? Democracy got ya down?

No............ I feel the same way as Drew & Bandita regarding Lowery's speech.

[Izzy]

To hear an American President talk about social responsibility, leading through honour and not sacrificing values for security

Powerfull stuff

We have such a chance now to make things right - we, as in the entire population of the world

Dont let this chance get away

[D]

What was with the race poem?

i didn't get to hear all of it, I was in class and only caught bits and pieces.

Did he really say when whites see the light?


Are u serious?


when will black people see the light and stop holding each other down, stop killing one another, stop selling drugs to their own and start contributing positively to their communities?

I am sick of everything being the "white' guys fault.  give me a break.

It was the "white Man" who elected a black President. IF that isn't sign that we've seen the light, what the hell is?


Anywho,  I think Obama will do a terrific job and I feel a sense of optimism that has been missing for a very long time.


The line about reaching out our hand and hoping the world doesn't meet it with a clench fist or whatever it was, was a very powerful line.

[Bandita]

He is a relic from the civil rights era.  Either way, a lot of it still rings true today. 

It's sad to see that he's still living in the 1960's. A black President was just elected to the U.S. and he's still talking about black people having to sit in the back seat! Completely ignorant!!

Not for nothing though- it would be like telling Jews to "get over" the Holocaust.  It was only what, 40 or 50 years ago and some places not even that long ago when these words rang terribly true.  These people's ancestors were packed onto a ship and dragged into this country into slavery starting back when, in the 1600's?  They were still fighting not to have to sit in the back of the bus, when, in the 1950's?  300 and some odd years to finally feel some equality can take it's toll, ya know.