Expectations are a dangerous thing. I kept waiting for the JFK/FDR moment when he'd say something that truly resonated, that would give us a line or a concept that would take on a life of its own. Perhaps he purposefully kept the soaring oratory to a minimum, to squelch the naysayers who think he's all speechmaking and no substance?

And what was up with Chief Justice Roberts bungling the oath of office?! For heaven's sake, it's the most important sentence you'll ever read, and you move the adverb?

Yeah, I was a little disappointed with the speech to say the least. A man that is known for having a way with words should have been able to put together a speech that would have rocked the history books on hos inauguration day.

Jennifer
real estate exam

Very disappointing! Same old topic, very boring. World watched his harsh words about outgoing administration and it looked like US is almost broken. It didn't sound we are strong. Very Very disappointing, nothing new was inhis speech.

Regards
flat stomach
fat burning foods
ab muscles

I thought his speech went really well! I was impressed.
Google Sniper Review
How To MIG Weld
Training An Older Dog

http://hot...ured-glass
http://hot...wine-glass
http://hot...glass-jugs
http://hot...ass-makers
http://hot...sprinklers
http://hot...reen-glass
http://hot...ss-vessels
http://hot...glass-vase
http://hot...ured-glass
http://hot...ss-designs

Bookmarked this site and emailed it to a few friends, your post was that great, keep it UP
Venue Hire

I was in times square, everyone was shouting yes to everything he said - a repudiation of the past and a turn to the power of our idea and not our armies. I agree there was no catchy phrase - but we don't need catchy phrases, we need a call to work and shared sacrifices. I think he nailed it.

Splendid. It was a serious speech for serious times.

Verry right! Bravo Obama!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

I agree. The speech was appropriate for the context, and it was still powerful even though there wasn't really a "catchy phrase".

dog training books
dog barking

brochure logo design | Logo design service | custom logos

website logo design | stationary design

President Obama's inauguration speech was magnificent. He told us the truth--we have many challenges, reminding us all that we are in this together. I was inspired.

Disappointing, depressing. If America is such an awful place, why would he even want to be president? Where's the pride? Where's the optimism? This was supposed to be uplifting and elevating, instead it made me sullen. With all the world watching, we air our dirty laundry and tell the world what a dreadful place America is. What a disgrace! A beautiful opportunity was shamefully missed.

This criticism puzzles me -- comes completely out of left field. I thought the speech was your typical, rousing, "let's get through the tough times ahead" boilerplate. You interpreted the bits about "gathering clouds and raging storms" as somehow criticisms of America itself? (That seems a stretch, to put it charitably.) If so, did you hear the next sentence: "At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because We the People have remained faithful to the ideals of our forbearers, and true to our founding documents."

I don't mean to sound cynical, but is this perhaps a "meme" being floated by the far right -- that Obama is just a dour clone of President Carter?

We are facing a difficult set of challenges . . . which will require the best out of all of us. President Obama expressed optimism that we can do it. Recall the reminder of Washington's speech before crossing the Delaware and ultimately winning the Revolutionary War. Sorry you missed that - and all the other - expressions of optimism in the speech. I suggest you find the text online and re-read the speech, and hope you'll find the elements you missed "live".

http://ant...and-stools
http://ant...and-tables
http://ant...ible-boxes
http://ant...-ornaments
http://ant...y-cabinets
http://ant...of-drawers
http://ant...and-stools
http://ant...iod-chests
http://ant...lown-glass
http://ant...ssed-glass
http://ant...deco-glass

Hmm. "air our dirty laundry" is an interesting comment. The world has been airing it for several years, to the staunch denials of our, thankfully, past administration. Some of us who consider the defense of values to be important think it's about time that we as a country admitted publicly that we have gone down some dark pathways.
He made it VERY clear that he does not intend to roll over and play dead - but that he intends to respond to attacks LEGALLY and within the moral codes we supposedly adhere to.
A beautiful opportunity to tell the world that we will not continue to be a rogue state - taken.

Great post!! Thanks online games

From William Kristol's response:

"[Obama's] Inaugural Address ... suggests that he may have learned more from Reagan than he has sometimes let on. Obama’s speech was unabashedly pro-American and implicitly conservative. Obama appealed to the authority of “our forebears,” “our founding documents,” even — political correctness alert! — “our founding fathers.” He emphasized that “we will not apologize for our way of life nor will we waver in its defense.” He spoke almost not at all about rights (he had one mention of “the rights of man,” paired with “the rule of law” in the context of a discussion of the Constitution). He called for “a new era of responsibility.”

http://www...istol.html

I turned on Hulu's feed of FOX News right after Obama's inauguration address, and the random commenter they had on was disparaging the speech because it had no "catch phrases". This is this man's measure of a good speech, whether it had a marketing jingo and a easily remembered phrase. Saddening. I'm glad Obama's asking more of the nation than that.

Simply beautuful and moving. I now have hope.

I agree, it is hope for a new generation

Blah, blah, blah. Preachy, preachy, preachy. Too long, too negative-- he sounds like a pastor not a president.

To most, this may seem a fairly insignificant point. And I do agree that more critical issues were touched on in Obama's Acceptance Speech. Nevertheless, for this aging white woman who ran away from home at age 12 due to an abusive family; who marched from Selma to Montgomery with Martin Luther King and watched friends of color beaten before her eyes; who went to Washington DC to help bring about an end to the Vietnam War; and who feels deeply and acts in unison for the betterment and equality of ALL humankind, the one part of Obama's speech that touched me personally, was when he made mention of those who are NON-believers, like myself. This is the first time I can recall, having my atheist beliefs held up as just as valued and important as those of faith. I am grateful for every hope of promise that Obama raised, and hope that we will not only continue to grow to become a completely colorless and gender neutral world, but that we will also protect and secure the promise of people of faith and non-faith working and living together in peace. Obama's speech left me feeling JUST as essential, worthy and committed, as my most righteous brother or sister.
Sincerely,
Cherie Porter
Woodland, California

Yes! I cheered the acknowledgment of non-believers too! We seldom get a nod, much less respect.

Official Ed Hardy Store for all Clothing and Gear by Christian Audigier. The lifestyle brand is inspired by vintage tattoo art incorporating apparel Ed Hardy Clothing Ed Hardy Shoes
Ed Hardy Hoodies ED Hardy Long Sleeve Ed Hardy Handbags ED Hardy Sunglasses

As always, Barack Obama was articulate, eloquent and passionate. He spoke in an intelligent, intellectual way that was not condescending, but could be easily understood by all people. He was clear about what the call to action is, not just for the government but for the people. There were times when I felt like he was scolding me (and the American public) but I believe that was appropriate and needed. It was a very reasonable, no-nonsense inaugural address, absolutely fitting for the times, and...it still brought tears to my eyes and goose bumps to my skin!

I work at the Computer History Museum in Silicon Valley and we all gathered in the auditorium and put the event up on the big screen. Many staff and volunteers shared coffee and pastries and intently listened to the events unfold. I must admit that there were many tearful eyes and clapping when Obama was given his oath. This was a momentous occasion I will remember for the rest of my life.

According to his speech, he said that everyone is equal however there is still a lot unequal to some minorities in USA such as bi-national same sex couples cannot live in US together, AIDS, poorer etc.
We need Americans to eliminate this unequal as soon as possible

The speech was eloquent and to the point. It amazed me to hear our new president call on "humility," when all I heard in the last 8 years were words of righteousness and bullying. (It was interesting to note that cameras focused on George W. Bush at that very moment--a sort of message that it was meant for him.) I felt a sense of ease and hope as I listened to President Obama's speech.

In spite of the hopefulness, our new president made it clear: We have work to do. His election does not clear up everything for us. We must clean up our image in the world and rebuild ourselves to a place of honor, courage, and peaceful ways. Here's to having a leadership that will take us in this direction!

Very disappointing! Same old topic, very boring. World watched his harsh words about outgoing administration and it looked like US is almost broken. It didn't sound we are strong. Very Very disappointing, nothing new was inhis speech.

"because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace."

I don't know what planet you are from, but that's not boring. The harsh words about the outgoing administration were in the context of talking about the change he will be making. You may be one of those people who supports torture, who thinks that always acting like the big bully on the block will work to our betterment, who thinks that "hey, the destruction of our economny by greedy magical thinking is good... really. I saw a movie where they said 'greed is good'". But ya know, most of the people who were listening to him heard what we have been hoping for for 8 disasterous years.

I feel that that was the best speech I've ever heard from a modern day American. He did not resort to easy rhetoric or cliches. He laid it out for all to see. He laid out the goals, the challenges and the choices. This is the speech of a great leader with a world vision and the highest of values. He was speaking to the planet. I am saddened that voice of a critical pundit on the media carries more weight than all those who were moved to tears at the Mall and in homes and offices all across America. Thank you for giving me a chance to make an 'equal claim' that this was a magnificent speech and one of America's finest moments.

I think it struck a good balance of rhetoric to inspire and energize, and reminders that we have a hard slog ahead . . . .and that it will take our combined efforts to work through this.
I also thought his pluralistic/inclusive statements about our society - referring to Muslims, Hindus, Christians, Jews and non-believers - were good, as well as his promise to reach out to the Muslim world with respect.
I intend to re-read the text, and keep it handy to remind me of what I need to do.

Not since JFK's "ask not" has an inaugural address appealed to the American people to take responsibility and act as citizens instead of as clients of government.
His repudiation of the notion that the constitution is a convenience that can be tossed aside when circumstances make it less than efficient was a welcome relief.
True - this was not a Reaganesque speech - but these are serious times, met with serious words. I wish him well although I believe he has more challenges confronting him than any president since FDR.

I thought it was absolutely fantastic! I loved every bit of it except for Reverand Lowry's little rhyme about the different colors. Everything else was perfect!! I LOVED Obama's speech. LOVED IT!! I cried

Anonymous wrote "I loved every bit of it except for Reverand Lowry's little rhyme about the different colors."

That was a curious anachronism, wasn't it? I was glad the network feed broke away to Obama's subsequent chuckle to keep it from seeming seriously weird.

I found President Obama's word choice of "non-believers" to be quite interesting in the inaugural address. While I appreciate his desire to include atheists, it reminded me of how one chooses to self-identify vs. how one is identified by others, such as with the terms "pro-choice" vs. "anti-life".

Additionally, Aretha Franklin's performance of "My Country 'Tis of Thee" provided a very different interpretation for this patriotic tune, to hear an African American voice sing the line, "Land where my fathers died". The images conjured by this lyric, of how they died, under what circumstances, were quite different in this context. My deepest hopes are that every day we come one step closer to healing age old wounds, to putting America's racisms to rest, that every side can let go of the fear and mistrust of the other, and that each day, we all come closer to appreciating each other for whoever we may be, both as individuals and as part of various cultures that make up America's many races.

I was touched and impressed with our new president's address. What I found interesting was his call to action. In a speech by Ronald Reagan he also called Americans to a spirit of volunteerism all those years ago. Essentially what they are saying is the government cannot provide all the services that people need. We all need to take personal responsibility for each other and do what we can to make our communities better. If we know a single mom, offer to watch her kids once in awhile for free. If we know an elderly person with an overgrown yard, offer to clean it up for free. Work in a literacy program in a library for free. It all adds up to millions of dollars that the government doesn't have to spend but our people need desperately.