President Obama
 

I didn't have to be at work today until after the inauguration, so the wife and I spent the morning watching it. Then on the way into work, I turned on talk radio to see what they had to say. The complaints were already starting. In Obama's speech, he said that:

"The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works - whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified."

Of course the way the host (Dennis Prager) and the callers talked about this statement, the word "help" was completely dropped from consideration, and the message apparently morphed into "the government will find and provide all of your jobs, and pay for everyone's health care". From there, the complaints flowed freely about how it's hypocritical of Obama to speak about personal responsibility, but then say that government will do everything for us (even though that's not what he said).

And beyond that, there was stunning bewilderment at Obama's statement that "we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age." Apparently, none of Obama's detractors had any idea what he may have meant by this statement. I guess they were hoping for a detailed policy outline or something.

Luckily, they're just spouting this stuff out into a vacuum right now, so it's nothing more than an interesting opinion to hear about. And frankly, I'm in too good a mood right now about Obama being our President to be bothered by any of it.

Re: President Obama
 

I stopped listening to talk radio a while back - no good for my blood pressure.

Having said that, there's still the internet. :o

The current line from right-wing cretins is that Obama is not really President because he didn't read the words of the oath in the correct order, therefore he's illegitimate.

Umm, riight. Good luck with that.

Oh, and btw... Obama IN, Bush OUT, no sign of Palin, and Cheney in a wheelchair...
YYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! what a day! :D:D:D

(I don't normally cheer at people in wheelchairs, honest... )

Re: President Obama
 

I'm in DC right now and was at the reflecting pool in front of the capitol building when it all went down. First thing, Obama had the biggest pimp walk when he initially came out of the hall. Bush got the finger from thousands around us when he went into Marine One and was given one last tour of the Mall.

Obama's speech was good, not uplifting like I had hoped but real and rooted in history. There were no frowns in the crowd, though, and the whole time I've been here, the massive waves of people have been incredibly courteous and cheerful. Been a great trip so far...

Re: President Obama
 

I only listen to very select shows. Dennis Prager is one of them, because while I disagree with a lot of what he says, he's generally respectful and has put thought into his positions. But not always....

I guess they didn't catch that Obama was actually the President before he was even sworn in. CNN broadcast a little text window that President-elects legally become the acting President at noon on January 20, whether they've been sworn in or not.

It is kind of funny that he hurt his back moving boxes into his new home...

Re: President Obama
 

I never knew that. Good to know.

Funnier still hearing the names Dr Strangelove and Mr Potter banded around.

Cured, I envy you - must have been a great feeling to be there.

Re: President Obama
 

From what I've read over many accounts, Chief Justice Roberts initiated the train wreck of the swearing in, and screwed up the lines.

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2...mnly-swear/?hp

Jason

Re: President Obama
 

man - what a day ! off to work after taking the family to the event, the only thing more immense than the crowd was the vibe - it was electric happiness.

president obama - that sounds so perfect :)

Re: President Obama
 

See if you can spot yourself in amongst the all-seeing eye ;)

inauguration day from space

Re: President Obama
 

I missed all this - power went off at our place about 7am - when the broadcast was starting - so I went for a run - then was in the garden, and mucking about the house.

I missed history. Dammit.

I watched the Daily Show coverage though - does that count?

I watched election night live - and in an odd way that was more inspirational - that was the "Yes! OMG! they did it!!" moment. I understand the need to party - but it would be nice to get on the long road and start doing the work.

Re: President Obama
 

As my hubby said when he heard of this: "Cheney really needs to look out for those stress positions!" :D :p

Re: President Obama
 

President Obama re-took the oath office today. A daily occurance now I suppose.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/0..._n_159854.html

--Jason

Re: President Obama
 

Here are some pics I shot from my time in DC. A pic or two didn't turn out the way i wanted but, in those cases, I was under a real time constraint.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/9913354...7612972827689/

Re: President Obama
 

Lunesta's addictive. Calm down a bit.

Re: President Obama
 

Guys, if you see Michelle around, give me a heads up. No Obama jokes, too soon. She's P.O.'d!

You have not seen me and do not know where I am.

AND IT WAS A JOKE.

Re: President Obama
 

Obama is tired of your motherfucking shit

:D

Re: President Obama
 

LOL!!

Re: President Obama
 

Re. Dreams from my father, I highly recommend the audiobook to anyone who was perhaps thinking of reading the written one. Not just for the 'motherfucking' and impersonating (though that's entertaining enough), but he seems to have just the right voice to draw you in to the story.

Re: President Obama
 

I know it's from the book, but I choose to think that these sound clips came from a mythical conversation between President Obama and Governor Palin.

Jason

Re: President Obama
 

i'm shocked those clips didn't make the rounds among the dittoheads during the election with a fabricated backstory. something about how it proved that obama is a racist, jew-hating socialist whose sole aim is to bring america down.

my in-laws would have believed it.

Re: President Obama
 

It's all good.

But let's talk about Michelle's dress: http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/02/...hea/index.html


I'm soooo sober now. Let us twist.

Re: President Obama
 

Oh god, you're 'in season' again.

Re: President Obama
 

What are you on about? Never went out. Just the mechanical side(which I has no control over) got shut down.

Re: President Obama
 

http://swampland.blogs.time.com/2009...e-comes-chaos/

(IS IT ILLEGAL TO BE POSTING NEWS ARTICLE LINKS LIKE THIS???, NOT THAT i HAVE ANYTHING TO BE SUED OVER, BUT, YA KNOW, i WANT TO BE A LAW ABIDING CITIZEN AN ALL, AND i REALLY AM NOW. i HAVEN'T EVEN BEEN ABLE TO GROW MY OWN SHIT FOR THE PAST 3 YEARS AND THERE'S THIS BIG BROTHER DADDY ZARC KEEPING ME IN CHECK. THINK. WHATEVER THE CASE I'M DOING FOR ME, MYSELF AND I ANYWAYS)

But really, is this illegal? And, if so, can I blame the moderators for not doing their job? Maybe du(m)bman will get sued.

uuum, #2. I'm not shocked. :D

Re: President Obama
 

I don't think it's illegal, no. Unless there is something specific on the Time site that precludes people linking to their page.

When you think about it, what it is doing is to direct more traffic to their website. More hits = happy advertisers = beaucoup $$$ :D

Re: President Obama
 

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29504880/

Sir, speak for yourselves.

And on a side note, Russian gays are like everyone else. Sexy too.


AAAAND, do not even get me started on Putin's blue-boy magazine tryout! He was the pin-up boy of the week on many computer wallpapers. Then we said, "Next."

Re: President Obama
 

HEY!!! ME TOO!!!!

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/03/...ist/index.html

I swear we could be the best of friends, but, I think, he's worried I'll corrupt Michelle. Really, I'd just leave him at home babysitting while Michelle & I took on the party scene. Oh well.

Re: President Obama
 

http://www.time.com/time/politics/ar...886290,00.html

Man, I wish I could shit talk as eloquently as this man.

OOOOh to dream. The response to the first question needs to be written in history books.

I need to stop saying "shit" too. That's gonna be my biggest hurdle EVER.

Re: Nigga Please!
 

I love how the other day he reminded us that he is Irish too. His great great great great grandmother came from Ireland.

I hate how Americans can't just be content with being American. They got to be African-American, or Latino-American, or Irish-American, or Chinese-American or how about Shut-The-Fuck-Up-You-Were-Born-In-America-American.

EDIT: I am more African-American then 95% of all the 'African-Americans' because I have actually be living in Africa for the past 3 years!

Re: President Obama
 

you're an american-african, surely?!

Re: Nigga Please!
 

On the upside, the hyphenations are a good reminder to the ever-shrinking white majority that there are other ethnic groups with their own, significant needs in our society. And given the fact that the US is founded more on immigration than most countries out there, I personally think it's legitimate to vocally affirm your heritage and the history behind how your group came to be citizens here.

Re: President Obama
 

What did we think of his decision to do Leno last night?

I'm undecided. Fear it could backfire and be used against him for a long time to come ("we were facing our worst financial crisis, and you were busy doing the celebrity circuit" kind of thing).

And that Iran move - I wasn't expecting that. Be interesting to see what kind of response it gets.

Re: President Obama
 

I suppose anything President Obama says these days could backfire given the political climate between Democrats and Republicans. I was pleasantly surprised that Jay Leno asked some decent questions regarding AIG, TARP and Geitner. There wasn't that many softballs like I thought.

Just my two pennies.
--Jason

Re: President Obama
 

Does anyone know if he does anything artisically?

I noticed a few weeks ago he's left-handed and there has always been that myth of lefties being more artiscally inclined. From personal observations of others, I tend to agree.

And, no, basketball doesn't fraking count.

Re: President Obama
 

Not that I'm aware of he's not. And on the leftie thing - I've heard that too, but I don't buy it. The vast majority of my friends and co-workers are artists, and the overwhelming majority of them are right-handed, just like any other segment of society.

Re: President Obama
 

I never said right-handers were not artistic.

Re: President Obama
 

Yeah, I know that. All I said is that I've never seen evidence to support the idea that lefties are "more artistically inclined". I would assume that if they were, you'd see more lefties around the art world than you do in other walks of life, and that hasn't been my experience.

Re: President Obama
 

O.K. WETF.

You seem know everything else, find out if he does any painting. I bet he doodles his mind out on his briefing notes...

Re: President Obama
 

1929–1933 - Herbert Hoover................Left-handed
1933–1945 - Franklin D. Roosevelt.....................Right-handed
1945–1953 - Harry S. Truman...............Left-handed (ambidextrous)
1953–1961 - Dwight D. Eisenhower......................Right-handed
1961–1963 - John F. Kennedy...........................Right-handed
1963–1969 - Lyndon B. Johnson.........................Right-handed
1969–1974 - Richard Nixon.............................Right-handed
1974–1977 - Gerald Ford...................Left-handed
1977–1981 - Jimmy Carter..............................Right-handed
1981–1989 - Ronald Reagan.............................Right-handed or ambidextrous
1989–1993 - George H. W. Bush.............Left-handed
1993–2001 - Bill Clinton..................Left-handed
2001–2009 - George W. Bush............................Right-handed
2009–???? - Barack Obama..................Left-handed

</geek>

Re: President Obama
 

And, other than Clinton, were not all the lefties above painters of some sort?

Obama does have a knack with writing and speech performances, but I was thinking more on the visual side. He's no Michael Jackson in the dancing dept. from what I've seen.


Really, I have no idea if any were painters. I'm just bored.

Deckard, are you calling me a geek? [how do you do that arrow thing pointing down? Imagine that's what's in these brackets pointing towards Deckard's response] I was joking.

Re: President Obama
 

No. That would be me.