Obama's inauguration speech

[mckitterick]

The New York Times provides a fantastic analysis of Obama's speech, which I felt was exactly the right speech given at the right time to a nation - and world - that needed to hear exactly this. It wasn't given to "flights of poetry," as some Democratic speech-writer-hack dude said he thought it should have been, and it didn't have lines that popped out to make easy sound-bytes, and it didn't tell us that everything would be better tomorrow and everything's okay.

Instead, Obama went point-by-point through the errors we as a nation made that led us to where we are today, and just about every point was a criticism of the smirking jerk sitting behind him who led our nation along the path to near-destruction, the man who said, "Stop throwing the Constitution in my face. It's just a goddamned piece of paper!"

But even more important, Obama did now dwell on each critique, instead pointing a light to show the path out of this hell we're in today. He said it won't be easy, and we'll all have to work together to fix things and create change, but if we do, we can live in a bright future.

(Full text here.)

I have to admit that I wasn't sure of this man during the early primary race. I didn't know anything about him. But what I've learned since gives me such hope, and his oratory skills provide such opportunity for people to hear and understand, that I now believe the worst he can do is better than the best Bush ever managed.

We can all be proud that we've put Obama into this position, and we can stop feeling apologetic about our nation's leadership and actions.

For the first time in as long as I can remember, I'm proud of our President.

Chris

Comments

[camillealexa.livejournal.com]

I watched the speech last night at an inauguration party at a local tavern, and cried all into my pizza and gin.*

*Not in the same glass, these.

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

! I, too, watched it a local club-turned-Obama-party-headquarters, and with several hundred others laughed and teared up and felt inspired.

[hlmt.livejournal.com]

We even went late to a job interview, we were so enthralled. Not having television (and not liking internet video), this was the first speech I'd heard by the man, and I was simply mesmerized. With a few choice, clear words and relatively unobfuscated oratory (heh ;), he put to shame so much of what has preceded him in the last 20 years or so. He is magnificent. And I agree--this is perhaps the first time in my life I might admit to a stranger that I'm an American.

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

Yes, yes!

[fireguarder.livejournal.com]

I completely agree with you, except the part about the "smirking jerk" The Jerk sat there looking sort of like he'd been slapped, as indeed he verbally had. Perhaps it will finally dawn on him just how extremely wrong he has been. But probably not.

We watched the Inauguration live at work, and my boss didn't stop watching until the Jerk was on the helicopter and it had lifted off, because she wanted to be sure he was really gone.

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

Oh, true; I didn't mean he was smirking during the ceremony. In fact, did you see his shifty-eyed nervousness on the way out to the stands? He looked as if he was worried there'd be a
Jitterbug Perfume King Alobar moment.

That's great about waiting for the liftoff. As important as the inauguration.

[geekmom.livejournal.com]

I cried. It was exactly what I needed to hear, and exactly what I expected of him.

I knew he'd be president when I saw him speak in 2004. However, I kinda though he was destined to be the president in 2012 or 2016. This thing all happening now is so surreal.

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

Surreal and wonderful. I just feel sorry that he'll have to deal with all the shit of now. On the other hand, I'd rather have an Obama right now over anyone else.