By vick

January 23, 2009 10:05 AM | Link to this

Thanks, everybody, for all the constructive, thoughtful input…

By lmj

January 22, 2009 5:52 PM | Link to this

Amen, Lea, Amen.

By Lea

January 22, 2009 1:20 PM | Link to this

It was pretty good… I didn’t vote for him, but he won, so he now has my support. Am I the only person (I know better here) that has noticed the continual hype about him being black? Come on, first of all he’s a mutt just like most of the rest of us and second of all he bleeds the same color I do. I don’t care if he’s PURPLE as long as he works FOR my country. GOD BLESS AMERICA!

By Alice

January 22, 2009 12:54 PM | Link to this

It was a great speech. I liked how he had individual messages to those who oppose us, poorer countries who look to us for leadership, etc… I also liked the line about extending a hand if they unclench their fists. Regarding the Lowry prayer, I didn’t think it was necessarily “racist” and I think I can understand his intentions with the lines but I did think it was inappropriate for the day. Obama’s campaign was so much about inclusion I think it was simply a poor word choice. On the other hand, and as someone who opposed prop 8 and believes in marriage equality (and all equality), I was satisfied by Obama’s choice of Warren and was extremely happy with his prayer. He couldn’t have been more inclusive. Being able to pray to the same God with someone I don’t agree with on many levels is a reflection of the type of man Obama is and why I supported him in the first place. The last eight years, whether you think it’s all Bush’s fault or not, have been divisive to our politics and our country from the start of the 2000 election. The only time the country did come together was after a terrorist attack. Is that what it takes for us to realize that we are all Americans and that we all essentially have the same love and hopes for our country? That we don’t have to demonize those that oppose us to accomplish something? Isn’t that why we’re in Iraq in the first place?

By vick

January 22, 2009 11:52 AM | Link to this

It’s all white by me I guess? It went white over my head I suppose?

By TRS

January 22, 2009 11:45 AM | Link to this

Vic - of the whole prayer, the “white gets right” line bugged me a bit. Over the last number of years, it seems to me “white” has tried to get right and as Irishguy notes with Obama’s election, much has changed; yet, for the old guard civil rights leaders such thinking still seems to prevail. I don’t particularly view it as racist, simply dated. Rev Lowry has been a warrior for alot of good things. If he sincerely believes his prayer was pleasing to the hearing to the one it was intended, then who am I to quibble?

By vick

January 22, 2009 11:09 AM | Link to this

“When white gets it right” sounds like a rather positive statement to me, an affirmation, a prayer. The man is a preacher.

By irishguy

January 22, 2009 10:16 AM | Link to this

Vick, speaking of ratings, I saw the TV ratings for this inauguration were second only to Reagan’s 1st one. This Obama fellow must be pretty popular! BTW, I’ve heard rumblings about Rev. Lowery’s speech being a bit racist. A line about “when white gets it right” I think. I haven’t seen or read it so I can’t say if I felt it was racist or not. I think the fact that a black man was elected President should put alot of that to rest.

By shirley

January 22, 2009 5:57 AM | Link to this

Actions speak louder than words. We will see.

By nullJames

January 22, 2009 5:46 AM | Link to this

OK I’ll give him a chance….The chance is over. I am a capitalist and proud of it and proud of our United States Constution. Reading WHAT he says…. ot listening to HOW he sez it ! I pray the damage he can do to ou way of living and m our liberty is in question with Comrade Obama…I believe his far left views are dangerous and nothing to celebrate…

By ecartman

January 21, 2009 10:39 PM | Link to this

A great speech has tag lines that everyone remembers…”I have a dream” “Ask not what you can do for your country” “The only thing we have to fear…” Can anyone remember a single line from this speech, just one day later? As in all his speeches, there was no substance; only style.

By vick

January 21, 2009 4:42 PM | Link to this

Totie, what was racist about the reverend’s remarks? I have not heard a single complaint about his speech until now. What exactly was offensive to you? I’m dying to know…

By Raoul

January 21, 2009 3:47 PM | Link to this

It was a darn good speech. I was curious if it would pay homage to our wonderful way of transitioning the power from one administration to another. It did, and for that I am very grateful to President Obama. He has a chance for greatness, but so did Bush. I am glad also that the gushing and fawning is now over and reality will set in. God bless our new President and our Republic.

By Totie

January 21, 2009 3:40 PM | Link to this

I was neither impressed or unimpressed by the speech, It was another speech. Am I the only one that was appalled by Rev. Lowrey’s racist remarks. That would have been the news if the same thing would have happened with a republican president Amother example of liberal media bias

By lmj

January 21, 2009 12:41 PM | Link to this

Two more comments: I really appreciated President Obama voicing it isn’t whether government is too large or if government is too small but rather does the government work. Amen! Secondly, Rachel Maddow was giddy showing a clip of Pat Buchanan quoting from the inaugural speech and proclaiming his admiration for the speech. Now, if all of us will just listen and communicate with one another rather than casting aspersions on one another.

By vick

January 21, 2009 11:45 AM | Link to this

So Madge, are you excited about January, 2013 because you think that Barack Obama will be giving his next inaugural address then? Just kidding, Madge. But, in all seriousness now, I’m curious about your comment that ‘Lincoln was shot.” What point are you trying to make, Madge? Most Americans would agree that Abe Lincoln, the first Republican president was also our greatest president. His death was a tragedy, Madge. Reagan was shot. Garfield was shot. McKinley was shot. All good Republicans, Madge. All but Reagan died from those wounds. Are you fantasizing Madge? If so, that is a sickening, hateful fantasy Madge. You should be ashamed of yourself for thinking it and for speaking it. It’s still a free country Madge but opinions like yours are abhorrent to the majority of Americans.

By irishguy

January 21, 2009 11:33 AM | Link to this

Vick, didn’t hear the speech (working). Can’t say I’m surprised that a Yellow Springs crowd loved it. I read it, it was very presidential, I thought. Peggy Noonan, who knows a bit about speeches, seemed to like it. I hope he serious about “you cannot outlast us, we will defeat you” part. All in all, a good job.

By madge

January 21, 2009 11:22 AM | Link to this

Please hurry Jan 20, 2013 and bring an end to this Barack ODrama hype. It won’t take too long for people to see who he reallly is. Are you ready for socialism? He wants to be compared to Lincoln; Lincoln was shot

By TRS

January 21, 2009 11:20 AM | Link to this

Vic - it is a good sign. Certainly there will be things I will disagree with; but, he has struck a good tone - he even said some things that conservatives can agree with regarding personal responsibility and recognizing the private sector as vital. In truth, at this point I am less concerned about the President and more concerned about Congress. Where power and money reside corruption is not far behind and the kind of one party power Congress now has with the the money they plan on spending is a bit scary. While President Obama has transitioned well, Pelosi, Reed and some of the other Senators and Congressmen do not inspire confidence.

By vick

January 21, 2009 10:56 AM | Link to this

So most commenters liked it? Some of you were underwhelmed but on the whole nobody hated it so far..Where are the haters? This is a good sign, right?

By prose

January 20, 2009 9:14 PM | Link to this

The best is yet to come. No way ANYBODY could have lived up to the expectations and hype. This wasn’t the sermon on the Mount, and to have tried would have been ridiculous. It was a good speech. It was a great moment.

By TRS

January 20, 2009 8:43 PM | Link to this

Good speech, but that is to be expected from Pres Obama - in that area he is gifted. Rick Warren’s prayer was good as was Rev Lowry. Each had a different flavor of Christianity. Prayers are not offered to satisfy some particular ethic group or political perspectives - they were raised to God above and I would assume he was pleased with both.

By Mary

January 20, 2009 8:21 PM | Link to this

I thought it was fine. I liked the “humility” part. (Anybody remember an old movie about an emperor. The movie opened with a discussion of a chariot rider who would whisper into the emperor’s ear that all power is fleeting). I think Obama might be a little embarrassed by some of the Obamamania. I honestly think a lot of the enthusisam is because so many are so glad to see the Bush and Cheney years over.

By Ethel S.

January 20, 2009 6:29 PM | Link to this

The exchange of power in our Nation is an awesome event. The speech was flat, but the hype was great. It was far too expensive given that our commander in chief says we have a dire economic crisis. President Obama tried to paraphrase the words of other Presidents, but he just should have given his own vision and plans for our country. It is too bad, he still had to bash the last 8 years, because this would have been a good time to put the festering anger and hatred before us. Nevertheless, it is a new era. Godspeed to our new President, the other leaders, and our country!

By ohio ex patriate

January 20, 2009 5:47 PM | Link to this

Well…compared to his speech at the Lincoln Memorial…I have to admit I was underwhelmed. Don’t get me wrong, I’m looking forward to the next four years, but, I think there might have been a bit of Obama-OD these past weeks and everyone, including BO himself needs a rest.

By vick

January 20, 2009 5:18 PM | Link to this

From my vantage point in the Emporium in downtown Yellow Springs I watched the speech with about 100 other people. About half the room seemed to think Obama’s speech was a grand slam. Most of the rest of the room seemed to respond like it was a bases loaded triple. Then there were a few stragglers on the street who spurned the whole thing. They acted like Obama had stolen their Republican base; North Carolina, Virginia, Florida. My conclusion: Dick Nixon’s Silent Majority is no longer silent. It’s not even his majority. The Southern Strategy that has kept the GOP together is in tatters. Back to the drawing board…

By Mark from St Paul

January 20, 2009 3:07 PM | Link to this

Everything said today paled in comparison with the Rev. Lowry’s wonderful prayer. Too bad the inauguration was marred by the Affirmative Action inclusion of Pastor Warren and his Christianist agenda (most “Christian” prayer ever given at an inauguration). Yes, I guess we should do away with affirmative action. I just hope my fellow white guys can keep their yaps shut when they don’t automatically get the jobs they applied for because there are millions of Americans of color who’ve been routinely shafted in the job place, not to mention gays, women and Muslims. It’s been a race/gender/creed war most of my life, but now it’s just a class war and an educated black man is a slam dunk to get promoted over an uneducated white man. Ties, I think, still reliably go to the white guy. (Thank God Obama-McCain didn’t go to the wire like Franken-Coleman here in MN!)

By lmj

January 20, 2009 2:58 PM | Link to this

I thought it was good, but not great. I didn’t feel, from hearing it that there were sound bites which would make it memorable. It was appropriate for the day and the times. It was the perfect length. I look forward to reading the speech which will give me a better perspective (being a visual learner rather than an auditory one).

By Fed Up

January 20, 2009 1:40 PM | Link to this

I thought his speech was great, good for the times we are in. I remember Dr. King’s comment about how he wishes for the day when people will not be judged by the color of thier skin, but on the content of thier charactor. Barack can live up to that statement by abolishing Affirmative Action. Will he do it?