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Subscribe to RSSAll inaugural addresses are not created equal, but through the course of the nation’s history, presidents have used the occasion to sketch their visions on topics as old as the republic itself – unity, sacrifice and the proper role of government.
By the time Barack Obama delivered his first inaugural address on Jan. 20, 2009, he had already become famous as an orator with his smashing debut at the 2004 Democratic National Convention and his Iowa caucus victory speech in January 2008.
“There is not a liberal America and conservative America – there is the United States of America,” he declared in the 2004 speech.
A star was born that night and his exhilarating speech on the night he won the Iowa caucuses in 2008 proved to his fans that his rhetorical skill could carry him to the presidency.
He claimed victory in Iowa over those who "said this country was too divided, too disillusioned, to ever come together around a common purpose. But on this January night, at this defining moment in history, you have done what the cynics said we couldn't do.”
By the time Obama stood up to take his oath of office at the Capitol, the improbable had become reality. The “cynics” had long since been vanquished.
A huge team has been working overtime on the inaugural weekend plans leading up to President Barack Obama taking the oath of office. Stephanie Cutter, chair of the Presidential Inaugural Committee Board, discusses.
Like other presidents in their inaugural addresses, Obama in 2009 faced the familiar tasks of sounding a call for national renewal and proclaiming a faith in ordinary Americans.
As Bill Clinton had said in his first inaugural in 1993, “There is nothing wrong with America that cannot be cured by what is right with America.” Many inaugural speeches – from Thomas Jefferson’s in 1801 to Ronald Reagan’s in 1981 to Obama’s in 2009 -- are elaborations of the upbeat theme that Clinton sounded in 1993.
Since an inauguration – especially a first one – is a fresh start, the newly sworn-in president naturally will proclaim that voters have brought about long-overdue change. “You have changed the face of Congress, the presidency and the political process itself.” That wasn’t Obama speaking in 2009; it was Bill Clinton in his 1993 inaugural address.
Washington, D.C. is gridlocked, waiting for Monday's inaugural pageantry. Pleasantly, temperatures in the capital hover around 60 degrees – far balmier than four years ago. NBC's Kelly O'Donnell reports.
Moral improvement
Obama’s first inaugural seems at certain points remarkably personal. In it he did not mention his mother, whom he had often evoked in his 2008 campaign speeches, but he did twice mention his father – whom he never saw after he was 10 years old.
His own life story and the nation’s history were uniquely intertwined, Obama implied, alluding at one point to all the people around the globe watching him taking the oath, including the people in “the small village where my father was born” in Kenya.
He said America’s ability to reform itself was “why a man whose father less than 60 years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath.”
Obama offered a strikingly optimistic view of every nation’s ability to become more like America at its best: capable of moral improvement, tolerant, and committed to unifying and noble ideals, without regard to a person’s ethnicity or skin color.
“Because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself,” he said.
His defeat of John McCain in the November election and of Hillary Clinton and other rivals in the Democratic primaries was a victory of ideals: “We have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.”
Like Clinton in 1993, Obama said that voters had changed the American political system itself: “On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn-out dogmas that for far too long have strangled our politics.”
As for just one of the specific promises Obama made in that speech: “We will wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality and lower its cost.”
He did sign into law a landmark health care overhaul but whether its provisions will lower the cost of medical care has yet to be determined.
Role of government
Obama used his inaugural to join the long-running debate with small government conservatives – a debate that Clinton had joined in his second inaugural address in 1997.
Abraham Lincoln swore the oath in front of an incomplete Capitol dome. Lyndon B. Johnson became president on Air Force One next to a dazed Jacqueline Kennedy. A collection of photographs from past presidential inaugurations.
Reagan had said in 1981, “In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem.”
In his 1997 inaugural, Clinton rebutted Reagan, or at least tried to redefine the debate: “We have resolved for our time a great debate over the role of government. Today we can declare: government is not the problem, and government is not the solution. We – the American people – we are the solution.”
Obama, once again assailing unnamed “cynics” as he did in his Iowa speech, said in his inaugural address that his election allowed Americans to move beyond old arguments about the size of the federal government.
“What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them; that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply,” he declared. “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. Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end.”
So far, that last promise has not yet been kept: Obama has significantly expanded the federal role in health care but hasn’t yet ended any major federal program.
What makes an inaugural speech one for the history books is a president’s eloquence at a moment of national crisis. Very few inaugural addresses are, like Lincoln’s immortal and remarkably short (701 words) second inaugural, carved in their entirety in granite on the National Mall or anywhere else, but on some rare occasions a president’s words do seem to define an era.
Franklin Roosevelt did that in 1933, at the depth of the gravest economic crisis of modern times, attacking what he called “the unscrupulous money changers” whose practices “stand indicted in the court of public opinion, rejected by the hearts and minds of men.”
He said, “The money changers have fled from their high seats in the temple of our civilization.”
That scalding attack on Wall Street is less well remembered today than FDR’s serene confidence in a dark hour: “This great nation will endure as it has endured, will revive and will prosper. So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”
Related stories:
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Public lowers expectations heading into Obama's 2nd term
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People actually made notes on his speech???? Its the same simple-minded party pandering to the child like masses his party is known for. Not that the other party is any better in todays world. Instead of reading the same tripe I would suggest any citizen with two remaining brain cells functioning read "After America" by Mark Steyn and demand a real change because what is happening today in the Republic has not worked for any nation on the planet in recorded history and will not work for any nation in the future.
Thanks Dennis, You have piqued my curiousity.
"After America", by Mark Steyn, hmmmm.
“There is not a liberal America and conservative America – there is the
UnitedDIVIDED States of America,” he declared in the 2004 speech.Thanks Barry
And you wife and mother are whores Dennis, but people make notes on what you say; and use it to keep white trash from breeding.
Wow Brenda you must be an expert whore to have come to your conclusion based on what Dennis wrote.
The American Dream is for all, President Obama is truly inspirational.
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Congratulations, Mr. President....
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Yes We Can.............
Fired up in Delaware! YES, WE CAN!!!!
Unfortunately, not with this president.
In his first inaugural, President Obama warned us that
...but some Republicans did exactly the childish things in many key votes. Obama and some other Democrats are the only adults in the room. Some Republicans have constantly thrown their tea potty tantrum.
United and Pigotry....Yes we Can? Can WHAT? Actually, NO, he CAN'T. Or, "Oh NO, he di'nt.is a better fit.
It is amazing that people only voted him into office because he was able to make a speech. but The GOP had one who got tougue tied.. Not being neither a Democrat or a republican,but A voter who votes for a person I can reaspect. it is to bad that none of the persons running in November of 2012 had that>>>
John Kennedy's inauguration was curious indeed.
Kennedy had invited reknowned but aged poet Robert Frost to read a poem during the inauguration.
It was actually Jackie Kennedy's idea, the Vassar educated wife of JFK, to have Robert Frost be the bearer of a cultural votive candle.
The dreams, fantasy, glamour and downright bull@!$%# that surrounded the Kennedy Camelot mystique inspired our nation to be postive about it's bright future.
The other side of John Kennedy was the calculating politician who entangled himself with the powerful Lyndon Baines Johnson. This was Texan Johnson, the prodigious urinator, who, if Knighted, would have been dubbed "LBJ The Crass".
Inauguration Day was preceded by a heavy snowfall, thus Washington was all aglow with sunlight glaring off the white coating.
Inspired for the Kennedys Frost had penned a new poem especially for the occasion. But Frost dared anger the gods. Instead of keeping his place as Erudite Poet Frost assumed to himself the role of Royal Oracle.
As Robert Frost began to read his aged eyes were struck blind by the sun glaring off the fresh snow.
The poem he had written was supposed to conclude in this proud way:
"It makes the prophet in us all presage
The glory of a next Augustan age
Of a power leading from its strength and pride,
Of young amibition eager to be tried,
Firm in our free beliefs without dismay,
In any game the nations want to play.
A golden age of poetry and power
Of which this noonday's the beginning hour."
The gods had heard Robert Frost and blinding him with white light forced him to recite from memory a DIFFERENT poem.
Yes, Frost could not continue. Instead he receited his older well known poem entitled "A Gift Outright".
Two sets of ears were at the podium with the poet-oracle. One, the dwellers of Camelot, and the other, waiting for power, the cowpunchers of Texas.
The gods granted the poet his moment as prophet and the poem, instead of telling about a country entering "A golden age of poetry and power", concluded this way:
"But still unstoried, artless, unenhanced,
Such as she was, such as she would become."
4 more years.....prosperity will be here...
things are already better. When Obama took over in January 2009, the DOW was below 8,000 (blame Bush?); but now it's 13,650 (a 5 year high - definitely to Obama's credit!).
Pigotry
is right. Our economy is slowing coming back and each day it returns to growth. My 401k has NEVER been better. If the conservatives would stop focusing on BLAMING Obama, maybe we could recover even faster
You have point Pigotry and Its about time....maybe we should have blamed the DEMOCRATIC Congress for the DOW in '09, and not Bush, and now credit the REPUBLICAN Congress for the upturn, and not Obama.
Dennis,
Is right. We are going the way of Rome.
My GOP friends, reality check, please
give American voters credit... We the Voters voted overwhelmingly for Obama twice.
You Republicans have a chance in November 2016. Good luck, although I still think another Democrat will take the White House then.
Romeny was right. Jeeps are going to be built in China.
'He claimed victory in Iowa over those who "said this country was too divided, too disillusioned, to ever come together around a common purpose. But on this January night, at this defining moment in history, you have done what the cynics said we couldn't do.” '
Yes, he proved them right.
We now have the most divided and disillusioned and discouraged Country in generations.
By the way - Why did Obama win? Simple - He increased the number of people on Food Stamps by about 17 million, and then his campaign told them that "If you vote for Romney, he'll take away your Food Stamps"
He won by less than 5 million votes.
Brilliant strategy, but I'm not sure it's such a great idea for the Country to dramatically increase the number of people 'dependent on the government'.
Pigotry, you are so full of s#$t I can smell you from here. You actually spew crap out of your mouth as if you are some sort of scholar. Try working for a living
Obama's Legacy - When historians look back on the huge Debt problems that we have in another 4 years - When the National Debt is approaching $25 Trillion, and the Interest alone on the Debt gobbles up 34% of all tax revenues instead of less than 10% in 2008 (crowding out massive amounts of social/entitlement spending), I doubt that they will 'blame the Republicans' for trying to curtail the massive increase in spending/debt.
Hey Pig o TRY - A 51% to 49% win is not a landslide.
Regardless of which party I support, there was not an "overwhelming" election this year.
This has nothing to do with being a "sore loser" as 5 people will undoubtedly respond.
Your an agendist.
I can prove it...Who do we hold accountable for the doubled deficit since Obama took office? Logically now...
The danger to America is not Barack Obama, but a citizenry capable of entrusting a man like him with the Presidency. It will be far easier to limit and undo the follies of an Obama presidency than to restore the necessary common sense and good judgment to a depraved electorate willing to have such a man for their president. The problem is much deeper and far more serious than Mr. Obama, who is a mere symptom of what ails America . Blaming the prince of the fools should not blind anyone to the vast confederacy of fools that made him their prince. The Republic can survive a Barack Obama, who is, after all, 'merely a fool'. It is far less likely to survive a multitude of fools, such as those who made him their President.
Obama won re-election. It's the Republicans that continue to divide the country, and make it clear they won't compromise or do what's in America's best interest.
Most of these posts are sour grapes. Republicans, your base is shrinking, continue as you are and you'll lose the house in 2014.
gringo, you do realize that is exactly what the other half of the country would say about someone like George Bush?
And try to use your own words next time.
You are absolutely correct gringo-3955109.
2Porkchops wrote:
The election result was actually ...
51.1% Obama to 47.2% Romney. That's a 3.9% margin of victory, nearly twice the margin you contend in your post. Facts actually matter, right?
And "Landslide" is in the eye of the beholder. It all depends on which statistics you choose to use to support your premise; as evidenced by the false election percentages you posted.
We actually elect our US Presidents in The United States Electoral College, where the result of the 2012 election was:
61.7% Obama to 38.3% Romney (332 electoral votes for Obama to 206 electoral votes for Romney).
A 23.4% margin in the US Electoral College would be considered a "landslide" in the perception and vocabulary of most people.
President Obama is also the first US President in 56 years (since Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956) to be elected twice by more than 51% of the popular vote.
President Obama won reelection by nearly 5,000,000 (5 million) more popular votes than Gov. Romney received.
A question for you:
Given that Gov. George W. Bush actually lost the American popular vote by more than 500,000 (a half million) votes to Vice President Al Gore in the 2000 election, and considering that Gov. Bush's election in 2000 was effectively by virtue of a 5 to 4 split vote of the US Supreme court which stopped the vote recount in Florida, rather than by the vote of the American people ... how did you feel about Gov. Bush's "mandate" from the American people, to govern?
Who in their right mind cares what Obama says? He's just a windup doll that knows how to read a speech written by a group of writers and presented on a teleprompter. I for one am going to enjoy a holiday with my family without thinking about this guy.
yes but Al gore was cooking the books in Florida, why else would he keep going back to the same county to recount the votes, almost like he knew beforehand how many votes were supposed to come out of that county, and then they found out that a bunch of dead people were voting democratic...huh?
the handout entitlement crowd and the clueless put obummer back in office. now its spend spend spend, raise taxes and blame bush. incredible. listen up folks, THERE IS NO MORE MONEY! those of us that work cannot keep supporting those that do not choose to work, and receive a free check from uncle sam
if all of those on welfare that could work but choose not suddenly got a job and supported themselves. the democratic party would cease to exist. THAT is their voting base. i will make sure you get your free sh@t if you vote for me. at least the republicans are gonna help you make money, which is what we all need to be doing instead of sitting on your worthless ass waiting for a free check.
'Kilroy 63', your shameless ignorance knows no bounds. You parrot silly catch-phrases and Right-wing soundbites as if they have some substance in truth, but they are in fact baseless. You display the common characteristic of many on Newsvine who let others do your thinking for you, and then you repeat their mantras.
"Kilroy was here", ..but he left his brain at FoxNews channel.
The President will call for bipartisanship.
Yes, We Can...be bipartisan.
Yes, Republi-CAN, too.
Recent news about GOP willingness to raise the debt limit is one such positive sign.
I really like this competitive 2 party system, and see you Republicans in 2014 and 2016, although I still think the Democrats will have the upper hand in both 2014 and 2016.
News flash-
Susan Rice will be Obama's National Security Adviser, whose appointment requires no senate confirmation, but whose importance is as great as that of the secretary of state. She will have a significant role in Pres. Obama's 2nd term foreign policy agenda, to the disappointment of many Senate Republicans.
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This has been a breaking news update by PNN (Pigotry News Network), a nun-partisan news network - We are always pro-nuns, always respect pronouns.
so robert ya think? do you have anything better to do than rant? and what makes you think i get my news from fox, you do not even know me and there you are making up assumptions with no facts. No one does my thinking for me, not even you , the things you should be thinking about are pushed aside. the very idea that the left has all the answers and is truly the good guy here is laughable .....its ok you can say whatever you want, i am bulletproof when it comes to words. i am neither a republican either i have had with every politician . they all need to be fired and start over with those than can do the job. starting with el number one o supremo in the white house.....obummer is a disgrace.
kilroy 63
"Disgrace"? Ah, well, according to the old adage, ...you would certainly know one.
( PS. On that same note, ...if my 12-year-old nephew still used juvenile schoolyard insults like "obummer", we would encourage him to behave in a more mature manner so that people wouldn't perceive him as a child. Fortunately, at age 12, he has already grown out of that behavior. Food for thought. )
A dream come true, best wishes to the President !
Robert in Oregon Fla =29 electoral votes ( Obama won by 20k) Ohio 24 elevtoral votes( Obama won by 80k) Virgina 19 electoral votes (Obama won by 70k) that is 72 electoral votes he won by a total of appr 200k. That would make this one of the cloest election ever. What he did was win the battle ground states.Theres alot of people who would rather have less government than bigger government. Keep in mind americans also reelected Bush and we see how that turned out. How about Romnesia is that school yard or what? Well we can now say Obama has Obamanesia becaue he was against rasing the debt ceiling before he was in favor of it.
Here are the "target words/phrases" Mr. Obama will repeat during HIS "speech":
And by golly, I will get these done if it takes Executive Orders.
@Eric I don't think continued debt and increased spending is what's best for America.
It sad how people think a President that keeps people on Welfare & Food Stamps is a great man. What I do not understand is that you think every body else should pay for it. Would you Love this man if only Liberals taxes were going to pay for his Obamacare, Welfare & Foodstamps?
What about us that are neither nor? Why do y'all refuse to give us a say?
PERFECT reason to get out of the democrat/republican party
robert my friend. i refer to obama as obummer for a reason.........its a nice way of referring to him when i can think of some really vile names to call him but dont, because that will not help. obummer is a reference to how annoyed i am with his performance. disgrace? absolutely...........when you say outright that circumnavigating the voting process to impose your will on the people (aka i know whats best for you so we don't need a vote) is grounds for impeachment. was not nixon impeached for basically the same reason no matter how good he felt his intentions were? yes the man is a disgrace, and should be impeached .
note: obummer has no intention of stepping down in four years. he is working diligently on that . scary. whats worse is the amount of lemmings that think thats a good idea. you gonna jump over the cliff when the time comes???????????????????????
its not just obama, he cant do nothing if all congress wants to do is block him, Jesus im so freaking tired of the people in congress.
Help me stop this BS, sign my petition on the whitehouses website, its to set up term limits for congress.
https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/create-term-limits-members-congress/hD8b8j6z
we do need to fire every single one of them (both parties) and start over
And later on on Obama's Inauguration daym GOP elite met over steak dinner and plotted ways to obstruct every initiative the new president was to propose.
At a time of crisis, with the country’s entire financial system near collapse, with the economy collapsing, with the stock market collapsing, with unemployment skyrocketing, with people losing their jobs and retirement money, the GOP announced that THEIR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY was to assure that Pres. Obama was a 1 term president---- even BEFORE he was sworn in!!!
They abandoned their duty to the American people for the sake of sabotaging a new president taking office in the midst of the greatest crisis since 1929.--- for the sake of political gain! I don’t know if that fit’s the legal definition of treason, but it sure smells like it and is at the very least, un-American and unpatriotic. Never before have I seen a political party abandon it’s country in time of crisis! NEVER! They gave Joe America the finger.
So, while Pres. Obama outlined his agenda, the GOP plotted partisan political games. And we are where we are.
http://www.thomhartmann.com/forum/2012/09/robert-draper-book-gops-anti-obama-campaign-started-night-inauguration
The Conspiracy to Commit Legislative Constipation | Vanity Fair
http://www.vanityfair.com/online/wolcott/2012/03/The-Conspiracy-to-Commit-Legislative-Constipation
You have got to be kidding me! While THIS president held both houses he spent trillions and never tried to fix a thing (and neither did Bush). Medicare and Social Security are screwed, IE BROKE, and what does the O Wise ONE give us, another program bigger than both to help push us over the cliff. The country is more divided now than ever with a daily poke from the Imperial President on rights ranging from religious to second amendment, and in many ways the first with the diatribes calling disagreement with his policies racist. This is NOT a good president.
"Never before have I seen a political party abandon it’s country in time of crisis! NEVER! They gave Joe America the finger."
You mean like during the Iraq war.....or Vietnam? Korea? Maybe when the Imperial President just sends troops into sovereign nations without Congressional approval----LIBYA----it is A OK with DRONES like you, just a tad anti-Constitutional though.
By the way, what is so good about an article printed in Vanity Fair to you----is it the 12 things to be a better lover with your spouse or how to get those great glutes like Michelle?
Grow a brain!
Brutaltruth; here is one your a piece of human crap. Your mother should be arrested for spreading cockroaches.
Yes We Can...
.
FORWARD....
Ahhh nothing like enjoying your freedom of speach while safely sitting at your computer not worrying about getting your nose broke for disrespecting others.
Brutal: I think you need to do a LOT more reading. There is a very good reason why Obama was re-elected so handily and why the GOP lost 10 House Seats and 2 Senate seats. Americans are TIRED of the GOP BS! And frankly, most Americans simply dont believe you guys anymore! So the worst is yet to come.
Brutaltruth, while I may totally disagree with you, this is an open forum for people to expess their opinions, to rage against the machine, to possibly call each other idiot. But I have already reported Brenda-1255880 for her totally inflammatory remarks.
As I said I disagree with you and really will call you a fool at times. But that type of attack cannot, and will not, be tolerated, at least by myself.
I call upon all others on the 'Vine to report Brenda-whomever, who I suspect is a male with no balls, for use of too personal attacks, of vile language, of being a total buttcheek.
“There is nothing wrong with America that cannot be cured by what is right with America.”
........................................Bill Clinton in his first inaugural in 1993
Well Tom, who wouldn't win when you get 108% of the vote, or more ballots cast ballots than are eligible or registered voters in the district, and the same or similar poll numbers in places in Ohio, Pa, Fla. and no doubt many more? When Republican Poll Watchers were denied entry and some even physically tossed out by the Democratic Poll Watchers. Can't go back for seconds or sign a dead man's name under the opposition's noses.
GOP hoped he'd be a one term President because they could see that his agenda was not to improve America or maintain our democratic republic, hold to our Constitutional Rights, but to take her down. Drive wedges between every demographic of her people. Divide and conquer. Bit by bit by bit. They saw through his sugar coated lies. Transparency for ONE. "Free" healthcare for another.
Good argument Brenda-very inspired. I can simply feel the intelligence radiating off of your undoubtedly cat hair covered shoulders.
I would be willing to bet your food stamps that during a presidental debate you hear, "Mr. President you're a doo doo head" Presidents Response "I'm a doo doo head huh? Well you're a jerk face".
You then chear outloud while posting on your facebook page (that says you are a 23 year old super model) "You go Mr. President! Mom can I have more chocolate milk?"
I would remind haters, that it's not Obama that has stepped away from the 4 trillion dollar deficit deal. It's been Boehner, twice in a row.
Republican obstruction is not Obama's fault.
Just be happy Boehner did step away. Obama's "deals" were more pork and more spending than anything else. One deal Boehner did accept, was about to put up for a vote, and at the 11th hour Obama wanted more money than was agreed upon. Old bait and switch. Obama WANTS Congress to look like the bad guys. That's the way he orchestrates what happens and manipulates the sheep to blame everything on Congress. He is a master in the art of conning. Cut his teeth on it in Chicago with the best cons in politics.
Pigotry,re#2.7, Bill Clinton meant to say," That the 'wrong' in America can only be fixed by The Right"!
Obama's deal wasn't all pork it was cuts. Serious cuts.
At the 11th hour, Obama didn't want more money. Boehner couldn't get together the votes to pass it.
No bait and switch, except for Boehner.
Congress wants Obama to look like the bad guy.
Boehner is as manipulative as any other politician.
Pigotry Well 4 more years of more people on food stamps, more people on unemployment, more people on disability (because their unemployment checks ran out), more people that will give up looking for work. Are we better off today with gas twice the price, wages stagnet, Stimulas Trillions going to the wealthy Obama friends, while causing prices to triple. Yes things are looking up. Of couse with the hole liberials dug us in it is the only direction we can look at. Yes Obama's ability to incrase things like the deficet are truely amazing. He is inspiring. I just wish he would do all those great thing for another country, hopefully on another planet, in aother galaxy.
Barack, you have earned the disdain of America. You are a bully that, time and time again, has received a "pass" from the American press. Why? No one will say it, but the answer is obvious.
So, on this inglorious day, one in which we must endure four more years of your reign, please make the speech as short as possible. Many of us get sick to our stomachs at the sight of you, let alone having to listen to your drivel. A more unfit human being has not occupied the White House since Jimmy Carter.
Noting is free. Everything comes at a cost. Your healthcare WILL be rationed under govt. control. Wait and see. It is coming this year.
Actually Kevin, healthcare has always been rationalized, but not by the government, by the insurance companies. They are the ones that ration your care, get cancer, can't afford insurance or it's going to cost to much to the insurance companies, oh well you have 2 choices, get the treatment to hopefully save your life, plus thousand or hundred of thousands of bills, or die.
Speaking of hipocrisy look at what Al Gore has done in the last month.
jon bon jovi said, Al gore is the most intelligent man i have ever met! i thought,hmmmmmmm bon jovt must have not met too many intelligent people.
Don't miss any of the pre-inauguration ceremonies this weekend!
Which one? The private or public. THAT is how grand this mess of a president is. He needs 2 ceremonies. Great waste of tax payer money there Barry!
Shut up Moron! Conservatives treat losing the election similarly to their home team losing a sporting event. Talk about lunacy! That mentality and approach is both childish and dumb. This is a great nation after all and a legacy from us for those who'll come after. So far, you've said nothing of any value and I've tried hard to look past your trivial posts but I can help it no longer. The people have spoken...AGAIN. No more old, rich, self serving, white, racist, religious fanatics. Hook up or shut up!
Liberals act as if stupidity is a virtue.
Still no answer from points made by geek Doug, just name calling and foolishness on the left.
Obama's cabinet seems filled with rich white guys. Ever notice that? How about the Senate-----ooops, one black guy and he isn't a democrat. Maybe we should look to the senate----hmmmm pretty white except for a wise latina that sees no problems with the border and murder and or kidnapping rates around there, but look....a black guy....and he isn't a democrat. Very perplexing. How about black unemployment in America right now......hmmmmm....very very perplexing.
Al Gore is worth more than Mitt Romney after selling his station to Aljazerra.
Religious fanatics----ummmmm, global warming? How about black liberation theology, about as cultish as Mormonism. Got Kool-aide?
I have not gone on and on about loosing the election, our area did just fine voting wise, yet we suffer under the policies. 2 businesses have closed down in the past 2 months that employed about 40 people all together and I haven't gotten a raise in 4 years, yet I have not bemoaned "our" side loosing the election. Just know that the harder you swing left the harder right it swings the next time. You care to have an adult conversation about 4 trillion dollars in 8 years under Bush or almost 6 trillion in 4 under Obama? Unpatriotic is Bush, so what is Obama? Treasonous? You haven't read a thing. Try Locke or Montesquieu, or some Levin who puts it quite nicely. Have read Obama's writings and am certain we all know who Frank is....as in Frank Marshall Davis, and Chomsky is good for balance although a bit off his rocker with Clinton's bombing of a chemical weapons factory that happened to make aspirin as well as being as bad as 9/11. Nope, never read anything.....and the bachelors of science I have is also spent in with double minors in sociology (who's father is of course good ol Karl Marx) and Psychology......hence I find YOUR post pretty, well....lack luster. Poopy head! Thpt!
If you haven't ordered your Obama victory coins yet, you may be s.o.l. There was a limited number struck.
Leroy, If i did buy a victory coin it would be to put in a wrist rocket to shoot back at obama that two faced piece of sh**
It had better not be an AWR (assault wrist rocket).
Well Presidaent obama will once again be at his best. Speaking. Putting words together so smoothly that is captures so many peoples minds to the point they miss the fact that he hasn't really said anything of substence. his little show the other day about gun control was nothing more than theatrics. What was in that speach that was new ? Same suggestions same end results we have had in place for many years but because he put together the production with children many were dooped into thinking he actually was going to accomplish something new....lol.. This inaugural speach will be nothing different than ANY of his speaches over the last 4 years. Eliquently written and spoken but nothiing being said. Millions will feel all fuzzy inside when he is done and be so happy not realizing that nothing has changed and this president is not capable of leadiing this country anywhere but deeper in debt. Of course he will blame the GOP for not giving him more money to spend and call that obstructionism. Of course he will call the GOP names and claim he is not responsible for the mess we are in. Of course he won't accept that the rise in gun violence and crime in general isn't because we are STLL in recession because he hasn't fixed anything. Of course he will not offer any new plans or any budgets because he has none just words that he does but they never appear.
I don't plan to listen to this re-election inaugural speach. I listened to his first as i did vote for him in 08. I didn't vote for him in the last election. After 4 years I am sure all I need to do if I were inclined to do so , is re-play his inaugural speach of 2009. It would probaly be the same and a waste of my time.
Why would anyone listen to President Headfake?
I saw the light over the last 4 years ,ROMNEY'S 1040 '' PLEASE '' !!! appearantly you have not. although I am not a republican I do relate to some of thier priciples If there is anything left to rebuild that is.
This speach may be a little different. The Pimp with a Limp helped write most of this one.
I find that amusing Romney, since my daughter who is only 15 and quite liberal, listened to President Obama's many many speeches, turned to me and said "Momma, why does he talk so much but never say anything?"
He did promise to listen to us most when we disagree.
I could not disagree more. Awful lot of wax Saul built up in there.
1SGFitzsWife4ID ahhhh-----from the mouths of babes. Truth can be something quite intriguing.
By the way, all the good things this president has done-----ummmm, free abortions? Free contraceptives? HUGE increase in welfare roles, national debt she owes (IE 51K!!!) and a nation divided into classes like some Marxist clap trap. Tell her she must listen to both sides and THEN make an informed decision. Be well and do good, keep an open mind and NEVER become sheeple.
We have the best President right now!!! And for those who think not? YOU think NOT!!!! Pull your conservaturd head out of the Fox's ass, breathe!
CONGRATULATIONS Mr. PRESIDENT!!!! Four more wonderful years!!!
Go ahead, you rotted brained idiots, start the @!$%# spewing from your mouths!!!
Go easy on the dumbass, deadbeat righties D, this inauguraion is like salt being rubbed in their wound of Obama being re-elected!
How so?
Tell me how this person is the "best"?
Another FOXaphobe. You prefer the PMSNBC koolaide.
We will all see in 4 or 5 more years just how screwed up this President left our country. When The affordable healthcare act is fully implemented and we each have to figure out how to survive because of the earthqake of financila damage it causes us all. From small businsesses closing or cutting jobs to individuals living paycheck to paycheck and forced to pay 5 or 10 grand more out of pocket each year on minimum wage we will see who has salt in their wounds. When our economy fully emploads because the debt has rizen another 5 or 10 trillion to pay for government control programs and entitlements. We will see how great this Presidnet is as time passes your right. In 20 years history books will show just how badly he screwed us all not just the few but ALL.
He is wonderful at breaking the country and putting us at risk for the next twenty years. Thanks Odumbo.
How much money that we don't have will this speech cost us.
7.62===== almost nothing. There is an Inauguration Committee that raises private funds to pay for the various functions. The only thing the government itself pays for is the Inauguration itself--as it has for 2 centuries!
Funny that Republicans are so worries about spending money we dont have!! If the last 3 GOP presidents had NOT signed TWENTY deficit riddled budgets AND saddled Obama with a $1.3T deficit ( responsible for the "Obama deficits") , we wouldnt HAVE A DEBT CRISIS!! The public record on that is VERY clear!
http://www.treasurydirect.gov/govt/reports/pd/histdebt/histdebt_histo4.htm
http://www.treasurydirect.gov/govt/reports/pd/histdebt/histdebt_histo5.htm
Can you show us the paperwork for your claim, Mr. Tom in NH? Somehow I doubt that the employees of the federal government are volunteering their time and that all of their salaries for this event are paid by that one committee.
Because IF they are, then the persons/members are extraordinarily wealthy. Which raises a slew of new questions for Americans - such as why they couldn't donate that amount directly to the reduction of debt. What's not to say that the money was not "reallocated" from our budget into that committee unlawfully? There are solid reasons that I do not trust the skill of those coming back into office. That is the most incredible understatement I have ever made.
Either way - committee or not - someone still foots the bill, correct?
LibTom, it will cost taxpayes an estimated $100M, not from private funds.
The passion amongst people, isnt what it was in 2009.. It was an historic moment then.. People had a lot of hopes from somebody who started amongst us and rose to the top. Now, people see an elitist Washington politician and failed promises..
The biggest one being the tax hike.. I make < 250k but my taxes on my 70k income went up by $62 on every paycheck. and it aint state taxes that went up.... Care to explain that, Mr President?
You said my premiums wont go up because of your plan.. But i'm paying $79 more every month.. I dont know the "deals", that my insurance provider and the government have but its me paying and i can very well use that extra money to do something i like.. Maybe a round or two of golf, Mr. President.
In 2009, You said you'll fix immigration. My neice is waiting in the line of "Legal Immigration" since 2006.. Still waiting.. While the perks for those who came here illegally keep on growing.. Any bill with something for "legals" gets shot down in the Senate because Harry Reid refuses to introduce it. Now, I dont come from a community which forms a big voting block (and the reason for your victory in 2012) so I se there is no incentive for you to help the legal immigrants but like your speech in 2004, we had high hopes from you..
You let us down, Mr. President.. You let us down..you might give a fantastic speech, but the words have lost their meaning..
This is a joke, right.
Obama an "orator"?
"Um...um...um...um...um...um...um...um...um...um..."
He's just a good reader.....take away the teleprompters and he would be lost. Every speech shows him looking left, then right, then left, then right just reading the teleprompters. He never looks straight ahead at the camera.
Bill Clinton in his 1st inaugural 1/20/1993
Yes, Pig, once again, your liberal puke is spewing. Remember JFK's immortal words, "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country..." I your sick mind, it's the opposite. This is now the land of entitlements, not of the free and brave.
Roy,
you are way too far on the right.
moderation in everything?
Well, you are proof you can't fix stupid, thanks for confirming.
Hey, Roy far on the Right
You say - 'stupid'? .. Call me 'stuPig'!
Clinton gave ICBM tech to China----yeah, great president there.
brutaltruth: Is your comment a type-o? Ronald Reagan gave icbm tech to the Chinese. Look it up!
For Obama its not an inauguration its a coronation. At least we only have to put with this slug for 4 more years.
Yes, 4 more years.
.
Going back 40 years, when a liberal thought the same thing about Nixon, actually that liberal got a nice surprise.
.
Obama has always been faithful to the law - so to conservatives, don't even think about it.
4 more years.....prosperity will be here...things are looking up. When Obama took over in January 2009, the DOW was below 8,000, now it's 13,650.
Faithful to what law, his? What about being faithful to the Constitution? Yes prosperity where there are now more people than ever on food stamps, in poverty. Yes, prosperity has a new definition in the 21st century.
Yes, Obama has always been faithful to the law, the highest law - the constitution included
Then why do Constitutional scholars still tell us that obamacare is unconstitutional? However pigsh!t, I will refrain from answering any longer. I don't care to converse with idiots.
The Supreme Court majority says Obamacare is constitutional. But scholars are entitled to their opinions.
In the US, the Supreme Court trumps scholars at least. In the case over Obamacare, the conservative Supreme Court chief justice John Roberts (- a Bush nominee) wrote the majority opinion endorsing Obamacare.
I realize that it upsets many of you that we have a black President.
Get over it.
The racist puke is really old, is this the best you can do? It upsets us that we have a socialist president.
Roy far on the Right,
in this post (#15.1), you went too 'far on the Wrong'
Harbinger - The racist card played out a long time ago. Get over it.
That's exactly what I said, Roy.
Conservatives just say "socialist" (or Muslim etc.) because they don't want to say "black".
But we all know what you mean.
Harbinger, One things for sure it just shows you an educated one is just as useless as a dumb one.
Obama is not a muslim. He is not a socialist, very centrist in fact. He was not born in Kenya. He IS, however, part black. Not hard to figure out what the birther, muslim and "socilaist" nonsense is really about.
Well guess what Harbinger, some of us aren't too fond of his white half either. Black green or purple with yellow polka dots I could give a crap what "color" he is.
More of the same tripe and praise for the President and what he might do in the next four years. Maybe he will once again even prevail over people who are actually deserving and steal another Nobel. Maybe Pigotry will find even better ways to worship him with Feisty than simply drooling over him here on Newsvine. I guess we will see.
I get it it now.
It's not that Obama is black, it's that he's black and more successful than you are!
Amazing going into the 5th year and people still have hope obama will do something. He didn't do ANYTHING in 4 years do ya think he could top obamacare? We are already paying dearly for that and it didn't even start. The NEW norm will be a 28 hour week in this country with NO hope of any retirement.
Successful - adj - turning out well: having the intended result
This is the real definition. So I don't have anything to envy. Things have not turned out well under this POTUS at all. And I work 84+ hours a week right now in the Middle East protecting idiots like you and Pigotry. Let me help you out with one more definition.
Idiot - noun - an offensive term in a now disused classification system for somebody with an IQ of about 25 or under and a mental age of less than 3 years (dated). See also Pigotry and Harbinger-2218646.
Do people truly believe all this drivel? How sad we have become. Four more years of not my fault. God help us all.
lol I have a sticker on my truck that says "don't blame me, I voted for Ron Paul" I have another one on order that says "To those who voted for President Obama, you owe the rest of us an apology."
Avenger, obama makes you feel like a cheap whore that has been cheated on a dozen times and still goes back for more abuse. WHEN the hell are the people going open there eyes to this LYING piece of crap.
Really only Democrats quoted in this written piece? Sure there isn't a bias in the mainstream media... REMEMBER NBC.. you were GIVEN the airwaves in 1952 with out having to pay for it... they can be taken back.....
What a pity, it was reported that this year obama will have only 2 official balls.
cost of inauguration....
does anyone know the cost? what a waste of tax payor money...no matter Democrat/Republican.
Wasn't referring to the inauguration.
Here is a good one people.Obama won in all states without voter ID and lost in all states with voterID.
"“There is not a liberal America and conservative America – there is the United States of America,” he declared in the 2004 speech."
This line is long gone. There is only one America...executive order American. Uber-liberal-socialist-big government era.
Frightening to think 'this guy' may try to seek 3rd term. (Maybe he can go south and replace Hugo-Chavez when he dies)
but
But what?
yeah...Butt what ?
It's a shame that the right-wing trolls have taken over this site.
Someone has to correct the liberial loonies on this site. Somethng like Fox does, Fair and Ballanced, or Paul Harvey, (the rest of the story).
Pig,
The American dream is for all who works for it. Dead beats should not get rewarded the same amount as successful people.
One million people expected at the inauguration and only two will have to call in late for work.
I doubt that Americans care about hearing another pretty speech from ANY politician.