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Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Inauguration Day

Regardless of who you voted for, you have to admit that today is a historic day. Our nation's first African-American president is taking the oath of office as the 44th president of the United States. I think it is fitting that the inauguration bumped up against Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday.

If you are anything like me, you've watched many of the festivities on the television, so I will not be recapping those for you. Instead, I am going to make some random observations and thoughts.

  1. Michelle Obama is much taller than Laura Bush. I think she's got her by a foot!
  2. There sure are a lot of celebrities at the inauguration. How on earth did they all get tickets?
  3. President Washington was supposed to be buried in the capitol building. That's a piece of trivia that is news to me!
  4. If you add the net worth of all the dignitaries and celebrities at the inauguration, I bet it totals more than the GNP of some small countries.
  5. Wasn't it cute how former President Bush and Barbara Bush had matching purple scarves on?
  6. I did not really need that mental image of Barak Obama's underwear. Thanks Katie Couric.
  7. I cannot imagine the immense pressure on the Obama girls. But how thrilling, too!
  8. Whoever that lady is who dropped her purse, I can't believe she kept walking even though it was obvious that she knew she dropped it. The man in uniform saved the day by handing it to her!
  9. I wouldn't want my mother-in-law living in my house (or my mother for that matter). It is a good thing the White House is so big!
  10. The overhead camera shots of the crowds are really impressive.
  11. Michelle Obama's outfit for the inauguration is much better than her choice for the victory speech.
  12. I find it interesting that Obama compares himself to Lincoln. Wasn't Lincoln a republican?
  13. Interesting that the vice presidential oath is longer than the presidential oath!
  14. I feel bad for Dick Cheney that he is having to spend the day in the wheelchair due to the strained muscles from moving.
  15. I hope the seats that Biden and Obama were sitting in where heated! Brr!
  16. Only Arethra Franklin can pull off a hat like that and make it look good.
  17. Biden is the first Catholic Vice President.
  18. Yo-Yo Ma is so great. He looked happy the entire time he performed with his group. Isn't it just like John Williams to write music for a historical event as this?!
  19. Bush's term ended at noon. Since Biden was sworn in before noon and Obama wasn't sworn in until 12:05, Biden was president for a brief time there. I think he did a GREAT job! I mean, he didn't get any policies passed, or do much of anything, but he didn't mess up anything either!
  20. I think the Obama family got a kick out of the stools for the girls to stand on during the presidential oath.
  21. I wonder if Obama had a hard time repeating during his marital vows? Of course, this is a much bigger stage, and I would be nervous and not able to pull it off seamlessly myself.
  22. Obama's scripture quote, "It is time to put away childish things" is from I Corinthians 13.
  23. I'm curious as to why there are no cameras on the military men and women overseas watching the inauguration. There are cameras on them during the Superbowl.
  24. I think 150 million is a bit excessive to spend on this ceremony (and all the festivities surrounding it), but that's just me. Don't get me started on the national debt!
  25. Did anyone else hear the whispering during the poem reading and again during the prayer?!
  26. I echo some of my friends' facebook statuses: the benediction was more poetic than the poet.
  27. I really liked how the out-going president got to hear Hail to the Chief for the last time while arriving and the new president got to hear it for the first time after being sworn in.
So, those observations were not all reverent, but they were the thoughts that went through my head!

6 comments:

Jennie said...

Yeah, the matching Bush scarves caught me off guard and made me feel very uncomfortable. I'm not sure why. I def agree that Michelle's Victory Party dress was hideous. The green garb today was a step up. But it's not like I want the DNC to spend $$$ on her wardrobe, though, so I keep my *humble* opinions on the DL ;)
Was it Sasha with the digital camera? I totally want to be her facebook friend to see those shots. ;)
Aretha ROCKED that hat and yes, we spent waaaaaayyy too much money on the festivities. Plus, how is a zillion car motorcade good for the planet? couldn't we have carpooled?!?

And yeah. The benediction was pure poetry. I also loved the Air on Simple Gifts. John Williams still rocks.

Allyson Kellner said...

Actually there was a shot of Camp Victory, Iraq for a few seconds. Ditto on almost all your observations!

Christy said...

Can someone please tell me what was said? I was listening, but I still don't have a clue. Oh, if you need me I'll be stitching something or darning my uniform.

Anonymous said...

He said he was the 44th man to take that oath, but he was only the 43rd. I wonder how much time the media and comedians would have given that if Bush made the same mistake.

At least he seemed to be uncomfortable during the racist rants of that so-called preacher.

And, lastly, how much NEA money did that nitwit "poet" get? She's lucky we've got a socialist in charge, because she sure can't survive on talent.

Anonymous said...

Actually, the constitution states that the president elect becomes president at noon regardless of whether or not he has said the oath of office. And the chief justice admitted that he was the one that screwed up the oath. And that much money would have been spent anyway, we are only more conscious of it now.

Mandie said...

They (the news) did say this was way more money spent on any other inauguration in the history of inaugurations in the US. I don't remember the exact figure, but it was at least double as I recall.