OT: Obama's Presidential Inaugural Address

But rather the switch that got flipped by the same people who would have touted, "dissent is patriotic" for the past 8 years now say was must "unite" today or you are a "cynic".

The last president had almost universal support and good will following 9/11. The country was more united than any other time in recent history. Something or someone squandered all that good will. Hopefully, the new president will be accorded the same degree of good will....the difficulty of our times is no less than it was after 9/11 given two active wars and an economic crisis not seen since the great depression...and hopefully he won't repeat the mistakes of the previous administration and squander the good will.

john_dozer wrote:......... There's a hint of a cultist undercurrent with the whole day.

I wish I could remember which local politician said during last year's campaign season, "If you agree with me on 9 out of 12 points, please vote for me. If you agree with me on 12 out of 12 points, see a psychiatrist."

There is quite some irrationality about Obama's following that can make him dangerous. I would prefer to see a nation clinging to the Constitution and vigilantly overseeing government officials.

Good point John.

Regards,

I voted for Mike Gravel in the primaries (although Obama wasn't on our ballot, even if he was, I would have stuck with Gravel). I think he would have made the best president. I did vote for Obama in the general election and I felt fine about doing it, and it was very exciting that night when he won, but I had started to feel nervous even before then. It's that cultist undertone you mentioned, although I think it's WAY more than just a hint or undercurrent.

Just before the election I went to an Obama rally downtown in the city I live in. I was struck by how enamored people were with this guy. It was almost as though they were high on drugs or drunk. And I know some of these people, most of them older and moderate people... and it's like they were different people in this context. You just see their eyes glaze over when talking about Obama. Yeah, it definitely made me nervous. I thought it was way over the top for a politician/politics. I was unable to really get into the rally because of it.

I've also seen this same type of cultish behavior in people online, on YT videos and such, and yesterday in the crowds and in people in my life around me. It's just weird. Thankfully it does seem as though Obama is a good person at his core, and I sure hope that ends up being true because people are just too star struck with him, they'd probably drink the poisoned koolaid or kill their neighbors if he asked. I was watching the inauguration just waiting for a golden halo to pop over his head.

john_dozer wrote:The person who I wanted to see get the job was knocked out early on (and no it wasn't Ron Paul) but their policies wouldn't likely have been the same as Obama. So I will wait and see how it goes.

What iks me isn't that I didn't get the president I was hoping for. But rather the switch that got flipped by the same people who would have touted, "dissent is patriotic" for the past 8 years now say was must "unite" today or you are a "cynic".

I even heard a local radio host angry because conservative radio pundits weren't as enraptured with the whole thing as he was. There's a hint of a cultist undercurrent with the whole day.

rooster wrote:

john_dozer wrote:......... There's a hint of a cultist undercurrent with the whole day.

I wish I could remember which local politician said during last year's campaign season, "If you agree with me on 9 out of 12 points, please vote for me. If you agree with me on 12 out of 12 points, see a psychiatrist."

There is quite some irrationality about Obama's following that can make him dangerous. I would prefer to see a nation clinging to the Constitution and vigilantly overseeing government officials.

Good point John.

Regards,

I've been thinking along these lines for a long time---well said. Love the quote by the politician, too!

Pam

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rooster wrote:There is quite some irrationality about Obama's following that can make him dangerous. I would prefer to see a nation clinging to the Constitution and vigilantly overseeing government officials.

This is true of every president -- there are parts of their "following" who are loony. We've just spent the last 8 years with a president so insulated from reality by is cronies that he thought it was okay to circumvent the Constitution. I believe that we will see a return to following both the letter and the intent of the Constitution under this president. I welcome this change.

I'm a hopeless optimist! I find Obama inspiring and hope that he can live up to even a fraction of what he said. He also had a good point that it will take *all* of us working together to make a go of it - that's the part I am concerned about. Can you imagine what we, as a people and country, could accomplish if we would all pull in the same direction?

To a high degree I see the President as a symbol - he certainly can't govern by himself - it takes a team. I've always thought that the team is the measure of the man and the President needs to be an outstanding team leader and people motivator. Only time will tell.

Mindy

mindy wrote:I'm a hopeless optimist! I find Obama inspiring and hope that he can live up to even a fraction of what he said. He also had a good point that it will take *all* of us working together to make a go of it - that's the part I am concerned about. Can you imagine what we, as a people and country, could accomplish if we would all pull in the same direction?

To a high degree I see the President as a symbol - he certainly can't govern by himself - it takes a team. I've always thought that the team is the measure of the man and the President needs to be an outstanding team leader and people motivator. Only time will tell.
Mindy

Yea... Give him three and a half years. Don't they have elections every four years? Will he be re-elected or will he re-elect himself?

Will all his fans adore him as much in under four years? Right now it seems the majority are mesmorized by his charisma. It almost feels weird to see so many people seemingly choosing their president with their emotions rather than with researching everything about the man first. This is not to say that many people who voted for him did so by emotions alone, but some did because of the party or they agree with what they have learned about him and feel he is the best man for the job.

It just brings to my mind other leaders who mesmerized their people with their proclaimed idealogies and their charisma and the power they gained over the people. We all know the result of those leaders.

Hopefully President Obama will be, and stay concientious of the needs of the people of his nation and will seek wisdom in all his decisions. Then if he is re-elected it will be because he has proven himself worthy.

My feeling toward him is that I want to believe he wants to do all this good he is proclaiming. I hope he will be able to do much good and I hope he will not let power go to his head. In the mean time I still believe we need to pray that he will do well and not let power go to his head.

Just some of my thoughts....which I may even see differently in time. As you say, Mindy... Time will tell.

Anne

At this point I am just sick of all of it and ready to listen to something else on the news besides the adulation of a man that hasn't earned it yet. He may earn it in the next four years and I hope he does, in fact I am praying for it.
I didn't vote for him and wouldn't today but he is there now and I will back him.
I have to say I didn't watch the inaugeration because I didn't want to, but of course I couldn't avoid some of it and constant news flashes etc etc. and I have to say.....that hat that Aretha wore was not my idea of pretty.

all i can (or will)say is that our founding fathers are rolling in thier graves sayying " that's not what we wrote or meant. where did they come up with that crap"

there is no honor in lying and that's all i hear from (supposedly) our government

dieselgal wrote:........and I have to say.....that hat that Aretha wore was not my idea of pretty.

Watch your mouth, DG!


Down here the hens are just loving it and they are making old Rooster happy because they have become, shall I say, more productive.


Farmer Brown's hired help have become enamored with it also.


Even the forum's own Fuzzy had to have one.

Rooster, you're too funny.

I had my 2nd grade/ bilingual class watching the ceremony and when Aretha was being presented, I explained that she was one of America's most famous singers. But when they saw that hat, they broke out giggling. It was hard to keep my mouth closed.

Thomas Jefferson went to a tavern to eat after his swearing in and had to stand in line to get a place to sit. We've come a long way.

Hey you guys, I am very proud of this group - several pages of posts and it all remained fairly civilized and didn't turn mean spirited and ugly (with the exception of that god awful bow).

Obama is just a guy. Smart guy, interesting upbringing,hot wife, good grammer, bad dancer, nice smile, funny ears. What counts is if can use his talents and those of the folks around him effectively to do the most good for the most people (both here and around the world) rather than advance the interests of a few. If he can, it'll be a nice change. If not, it won't be entirely surprising.

The fact that he went to McCain's tribute dinner and spoke the night before the inauguration to me is the most amazing thing and speaks volumes about his ability to strategerize.

And now at least , those of us who live in the DC area can get back to the routine.

SeaPappy wrote:Something that concerns me deeply, and is probably overlooked by most, is the predominance of the color RED,the flag color of the Bloods in the attire and accessories of all surrounding Obama. .

For me, it's Chartreuse and Aquamarine. They really get my gander up.

*If this is for real, then I envy you. I wait for the day I have so little to do the overuse of the color red concerned me deeply.

SeaPappy wrote:Something that concerns me deeply, and is probably overlooked by most, is the predominance of the color RED,the flag color of the Bloods in the attire and accessories of all surrounding Obama. .

Hmmm .... should I be concerned about my blood being red?

My skin color seems to be ok.