Inauguration thoughts we should all be able to agree on

[earendel]

I am shaking my head sadly as I read through this thread. I simply cannot understand why so many people seem to have their pointy sticks out on a day that should be one of celebration. Whether one voted for Obama or McCain (or one of the other candidates whose name may have been on the ballot), today is a day to reflect on yet another peaceful transition of political power. Considering how elections go in other countries, surely we can be happy about this at the very least.

[peacock2121]

I am shaking my head sadly as I read through this thread. I simply cannot understand why so many people seem to have their pointy sticks out on a day that should be one of celebration. Whether one voted for Obama or McCain (or one of the other candidates whose name may have been on the ballot), today is a day to reflect on yet another peaceful transition of political power. Considering how elections go in other countries, surely we can be happy about this at the very least.

so many?

really?

[silverscreenselect]

Everyone who went out from Podunkville would not be deterred, not by the speech you would have had President Obama make, not by anything.

Here's what would have deterred them.

A simple swearing in ceremony in the White House or the Capitol, followed by a televised speech to the nation.

No parade. No concert to end all concerts. No train ride to Washington. No inaugural balls.

Would more people than normal have shown up? Yes. Would it have been anything like what we had? No.

A lot of people did work for Obama. A lot of people work for every Presidential campaign. The vast majority of the people showing up for this did nothing more than vote for Obama or put a bumper sticker or yard sign up. Obama fanned the flames about this being a part of history far more than it needed to be, especially in these economic times.

Two years ago, my company threw a lavish Christmas party to congratulate everyone who worked hard during the past year. Last year, people worked just as hard and the company was just as grateful, but there was no party. People are more concerned about having jobs than having a few free drinks one night in December.

[Tocqueville3]

Oh...I see. They were owed a big party.

What would you have proposed to keep joyous people who wanted to celebrate this day from going to DC of their own accord? Martial law?

A more subdued party.

Sprots was the one who said they were owed this.

[peacock2121]

Oh...I see. They were owed a big party.

What would you have proposed to keep joyous people who wanted to celebrate this day from going to DC of their own accord? Martial law?

A more subdued party.

Sprots was the one who said they were owed this.

I think not.

You said that is what she said.

She did not say that.

[mellytu74]

I am shaking my head sadly as I read through this thread. I simply cannot understand why so many people seem to have their pointy sticks out on a day that should be one of celebration. Whether one voted for Obama or McCain (or one of the other candidates whose name may have been on the ballot), today is a day to reflect on yet another peaceful transition of political power. Considering how elections go in other countries, surely we can be happy about this at the very least.

Thank you, ear.

I believe this is a joyous day -- every inauguration day is -- because it celebrates our democracy.

I believe that two million people went to DC to celebrate (and that's on the Mall alone) is a powerful statement. Allow them their joy.

Allow them their celebration. Even if you cannot celebrate with them.

[Tocqueville3]

All of that so called "mayhem" could have been avoided if Obama had just said "Look, times are tough. I don't want you all to spend your hard earned money on plane tickets and bus tickets and gasoline and lodging and food and all the other travel expenses that go along with the trip to DC for my inauguration. Stay at home and gather with your friends and watch me get inaugurated from home. Our country needs to learn how to practice some fiscal self control and I want to start by setting the example. Instead of having the normal festivities that accompany an inaguration this time we are going to be more subdued. Give me a chance to turn this economy around and hopefully if I am elected again in another 4 years then we can have an inaugural celebration like no other. But for now it would be in poor taste for me to expect you to make that sort of sacrifice for me."

I think Les Miles should give the same speech next year - until everyone in LA can easily afford their utility bills it is silly that some spend money to travel and cheer on their Tigers when they could stay home and watch it on TV.

Actually, I agree with that assessment.

Until peeps can get their finances in order they should not be running around tailgating and having a big fun time.

[Tocqueville3]

What would you have proposed to keep joyous people who wanted to celebrate this day from going to DC of their own accord? Martial law?

A more subdued party.

Sprots was the one who said they were owed this.

I think not.

You said that is what she said.

She did not say that.

Okay, I said it.

I should not put words in other people's mouths. I'm sorry.

[BackInTex]

bit:

So Obama will easily achieve my expectation that we suffer another major terriost action on home soil.

Foreign or domestic? Since any American with a pulse can own lethal weapons, I worry more about domestic terrorism.

Either. When the bomb goes off, the dead and their relatives don't really care which side of the border it originated.

Bush did a great job preventing both.

[peacock2121]

bit:

So Obama will easily achieve my expectation that we suffer another major terriost action on home soil.

Foreign or domestic? Since any American with a pulse can own lethal weapons, I worry more about domestic terrorism.

Either. When the bomb goes off, the dead and their relatives don't really care which side of the border it originated.

Bush did a great job preventing both.

He did.

[ne1410s]

Let us never forget that this thread is all Frank's fault.











The direction it took: well, that was fun wasn't it?

[Tocqueville3]

Meaning giving little thought to sprot's point of view or the point of view of the people for whom, this inauguration, is a culmination of their hard work and a celebration of a vision they had and it came true.

And how is her failure to see other points of view a surprise?

Tribe, it must have made you feel really good to type this.

[Bob Juch]

bit:

So Obama will easily achieve my expectation that we suffer another major terriost action on home soil.

Foreign or domestic? Since any American with a pulse can own lethal weapons, I worry more about domestic terrorism.

Either. When the bomb goes off, the dead and their relatives don't really care which side of the border it originated.

Bush did a great job preventing both.

He kept the elephants away too.

[ne1410s]

bit:

When the bomb goes off, the dead and their relatives don't really care which side of the border it originated.

Bush did a great job preventing both.

Did the news of 9/11 not get to you? He prevented nothing.

[peacock2121]

Let us never forget that this thread is all Frank's fault.











The direction it took: well, that was fun wasn't it?

Did you enjoy your coke and popcorn?

[danielh41]

Let us never forget that this thread is all Frank's fault.











The direction it took: well, that was fun wasn't it?

You mean it wasn't Rexer's fault?

[BackInTex]

He kept the elephants away too.

Meaning you don't think there were any attempts or plans to attack beyond the 9/11 attack?

Or that the donkeys won the election?

One make you funny, the other, an idiot. And not necessarily in that order.

[BackInTex]

bit:

When the bomb goes off, the dead and their relatives don't really care which side of the border it originated.

Bush did a great job preventing both.

Did the news of 9/11 not get to you? He prevented nothing.

See choice #2 in my response to Mr. Juch.

[Bob Juch]

He kept the elephants away too.

Meaning you don't think there were any attempts or plans to attack beyond the 9/11 attack?

Or that the donkeys won the election?

One make you funny, the other, an idiot. And not necessarily in that order.

Look how many tons of cocaine and heroin are brought into the country each year.

Do you seriously think that if a terrorist attack had been planned that it wouldn't have succeeded?

[BackInTex]

He kept the elephants away too.

Meaning you don't think there were any attempts or plans to attack beyond the 9/11 attack?

Or that the donkeys won the election?

One make you funny, the other, an idiot. And not necessarily in that order.

Look how many tons of cocaine and heroin are brought into the country each year.

Do you seriously think that if a terrorist attack had been planned that it wouldn't have succeeded?

So Osama's attack was a one-time thing? We didn't need to worry anymore? No one wants to do us harm? Aren't you one who says our actions in Iraq makes us more unsafe? How so, if they could have just come across the border. Apparently no one wants to do us harm anymore if you are correct.

Of course, you are not.

[Bob78164]

All he had to do was set the tone and he could have avoided the look of hypocrisy that accompanies him spending 150 million taxpayer dollars on a bunch of big show.

I don't believe that most of the money was taxpayer dollars. I think most, if not all, of the money was privately raised. I certainly received my share of e-mails from the Presidential Inaugural Committee asking for money. --Bob

[Bob Juch]

Meaning you don't think there were any attempts or plans to attack beyond the 9/11 attack?

Or that the donkeys won the election?

One make you funny, the other, an idiot. And not necessarily in that order.

Look how many tons of cocaine and heroin are brought into the country each year.

Do you seriously think that if a terrorist attack had been planned that it wouldn't have succeeded?

So Osama's attack was a one-time thing? We didn't need to worry anymore? No one wants to do us harm? Aren't you one who says our actions in Iraq makes us more unsafe? How so, if they could have just come across the border. Apparently no one wants to do us harm anymore if you are correct.

Of course, you are not.

I'm saying that the reason there haven't been any further attacks is because no one's tried despite well-publicised weaknesses. If tons of drugs can be brought into the country, why not tons of explosives?

[Bob78164]

I'm saying that the reason there haven't been any further attacks is because no one's tried despite well-publicised weaknesses. If tons of drugs can be brought into the country, why not tons of explosives?

Because Jack Bauer doesn't care about drug smugglers. He cares very much about explosives. --Bob

[Estonut]

I'm saying that the reason there haven't been any further attacks is because no one's tried despite well-publicised weaknesses. If tons of drugs can be brought into the country, why not tons of explosives?

This is getting ridiculous. Why would any terrorist or terrorist group risk smuggling in tons of explosives, when everything they need is readily available here already? Did the bastards smuggle in their own commercial airliners on 9/11? They didn't use explosives at all.

[clem21]

Okay, heads up because I'm going to post something serious here which as you know I very rarely do. You must cherish these moments of seriosity because they come around about as often as A-Rod getting a clutch hit. Here goes:

I was in Times Square today because I wanted to be where other people were when this historical event happened. The entire area was packed to the brim despite it being 20 degrees out and there being no sound from the TV's. People just stood and watched the closed captioning with rapt attention. The Naked Cowboy was there, staring up at the screen like everyone else, seemingly oblivious to the cold. The Subway Steel Drum Guy came out of the subway and plays his steel drums along with the applause. I stood next to an older African-American man with a transistor radio. When the oath was being administered he started crying but he had a brilliant smile throughout. After the oath, cars started honking and a chant between complete strangers came up even though we were nowhere near Washington. The amount of Hope among this group of people was palpable. In my short life, I have never seen any group of people come together like they did for a short time today in the cold at 42nd Street. It was like the Giants had won the Super Bowl again except that this time everyone in New York was a rabid Giants fan. So if you want to fight and argue today then that's fine. If you want to debate the monies spent and the reverence given you do that.

As for me, I'm just going to do what everyone at Times Square did today. I'm going to smile and hope.