I still can't really believe that Barack Obama is currently our President, but hopefully it will sink in soon! There is lots of work to be done, but it is nice to just savor the moment...
The South Korean papers are filled with congratulatory messages for the new President and some anxiousness about when he might start focusing on North Korea.
And did you know there was such a thing as bullet-resistant clothing? Random, I know, but Obama wore some yesterday.
I was insanely jealous of everyone who got to witness the Inauguration in person, or at least on a television. Watching the inauguration on a small computer screen, it was hard to take in the scope and magnitude of the event. And I have to say, MSNBC, your online stream sucked. It was fine up until right before 11am and then it shit the bed. Good thing I was able to find the BBC feed or I would have missed the most important parts! This explains why:
Keynote Systems Inc., which tracks Web site performance, said the Internet's top 40 sites slowed down by as much as 60 percent when the ceremony started at 11 a.m., and many news sites saw even sharper declines in performance.
The New York Times looks at how impossible it was for the media to accurately describe what was happening:
A unique, uncanny moment was framed by the most familiar and predictable kind of coverage and commentary: Anchors, compelled to say something, reached for trite metaphors and hyperbolic expressions of wonder (“Our secular version of a miracle,” according to one CNN commentator) that didn’t begin to match the reality unfolding live behind them. The best narration was wordless: the deafening squeals and screams that greeted Mr. Obama and his wife, Michelle, on the parade route when they got out of their limousine and walked, hand in hand, waving to the crowds.
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What did you think of the speech?
The New York Times editorial board had rave reviews for Obama's inaugural speech that "filled us with hope." And even the Wall Street Journal editorial board praised the speech, saying it "more than met the moment," and mentioned that they appreciated his focus on responsibility. On the other side, Kevin Drum thought it was not very memorable:
The somberness wasn't the problem. For the most part, that was appropriate. But with a few exceptions, it struck me as a little bit too utilitarian and themeless, sort of a stripped down State of the Union, or even a campaign stump speech. There was nothing badly wrong with it, but neither was it very memorable.
I don't agree. I thought it was very memorable and a good mix of inspiration and somberness that the times require. Drum also thought that Obama gave more "shout outs" to conservatives than he did to liberals during his speech. Sigh. Should we create a tally board? Then we could keep track of how many "shout outs" Obama gives to each side throughout his presidency. /Snark. I'm getting kind of sick of this way of keeping score. It is not constructive and doesn't really help us accomplish much at all.
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There was a lot of buzz yesterday about the oath, as you well know. Steve Benen thinks it is clear that Justice Roberts was the one who made the mistake and most people noticed:
CNN's Wolf Blitzer said, "John Roberts had one job to do today and he sort of screwed up." True. Roberts, I noticed, wasn't reading from a prepared text, apparently confident that he could just memorize the 35 words. Note to the Chief Justice: four years from today, bring notes.
Josh Marshall at TMP thinks it is no big deal. I agree with Josh. I'm sure both men were nervous and while it is unfortunate that it didn't go a little bit smoother, it's not the end of the world.
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Rebecca Traister was on the Mall and summed up the joy in the people she met:
It was the day that, for many Americans, this country became their own for the very first time. On Monday, Faye Walker, an African-American dancer and teacher in Washington, told me that she had been thrown out of schools for refusing to say the Pledge of Allegiance, because, for her, the words had never felt true. Tuesday, she said, would be the day she'd finally be able to put her hand over her heart.
I had several friends who were on the Mall and they also said it was wonderful. Like being part of a huge family taking part in a joyous celebration - even if it was a little cold.
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Leaders around the world reacted with hope and optimism while still underscoring the magnitude of the problems facing the new President, according to the Los Angeles Times:
World leaders impatient for a new direction for America greeted President Obama's arrival with exuberance Tuesday but sent telltale warnings of the challenges about to envelop the new chief executive and his administration.
The White House was flooded with leaders' best wishes, including those of Pope Benedict XVI, who urged Obama to be "the promoter of peace and cooperation between nations."
The editorial board of the Korean paper JoongAng wished Obama luck:
It is natural that Obama prioritizes U.S. interests. Therefore we may be disappointed sometimes. However, it is clear that the U.S. cannot do everything by itself. Obama must seek ways for both America and the world to prosper in peace. We truly hope Obama’s presidency will be blessed with success.
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The Saudi Gazette compiled reaction from people in Saudi Arabia - mostly positive and some negative:
“We want to see a real change in the world, which is possible when the unjust war on terror is stopped. Obama, please make it a priority to stop the so-called ‘war on terror.” – S. Mujeeb, Indian vegetable vendor.
“I expect Obama to bring peace to the world and hope that the misery of wars like Afghanistan and Iraq never happen again.” – Muhammad Irshad, transport industry worker, Jeddah
“He will be just like Bush.” – Nadim Ahmed, Indian sales manager
“First, he is black and his father is a Muslim – this is the new spirit of America. Second, he has to treat all people, anywhere in the world, equally without prejudice. Third, he must respect all religions. Without these, America will go down, as it nearly did under Bush.” – Najeeb A.R. Al-Zamil, social activist and writer
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I thought this was kind of interesting. Officer.com and Slate are both reporting that Obama wore "bullet-resistant clothing." I've never even heard of such a thing! We don't know what exact kind Obama wore, but Juliet Lapidos reports that there are some companies that make bullet-resistant polo shirts. Man, technology these days..
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Newsweek has some behind-the-scenes pictures (and I always like those kind the best)... We certainly have a gorgeous first family. And I loved the white, one-shoulder dress our new First Lady wore to the balls. Stunning!
So what's on your mind, this first full day of the Obama presidency? I wonder how they enjoyed their first night in the White House?