The historic presidential inauguration of the 44th President of the United States of America, Barack Obama, is imminent. Personally, I couldn't possibly be more happier about it! 
What do the rest of you think about Obama's upcoming inauguration?
What do the rest of you think about Obama's upcoming inauguration?
Recalling how media personalities complained endlessly about Bush's $50,000,000 inauguration in 2004 but aren't making a single peep about Obama's $150,000,000 inauguration.
But in all seriousness...welcome to the job President Obama. If you have any ideas that are good for America, then may you succeed at implementing them.
Otherwise, I hope you fail.
Amy says (16:39):
you watching bbc 1?
Susan says (16:40):
no
Amy says (16:40):
the american comentator has a blocked nose
its the cerimony for barack obama
Susan says (16:40):
oright that
I am being a party pooper
and thinking everyone's going a bit over the top over it
Susan says (16:41):
OH MY GOD OBAMA HAVE MY BABIES
Amy says (16:41):
lmao!
hes coooool
Susan says (16:41):
he is
but he's not jesus O_O
Amy says (16:41):
hes how i imagen jesus if he was real
he is rarther jesusy
Susan says (16:42):
lol
Amy says (16:42):
oh yes!
Susan says (16:42):
oh no!
This MSN convo between me and my sister pretty much sums my thoughts
I just hope some prat doesn't do a Kennedy on him D:
I'm expecting this thread to explode with activity in about 2-3 hours.
We can has presidents now. And I couldn't be happier.
Ultra, you shut your jinxing pie hole. Just because your last guy failed doesn't mean the new guy has to fail as bad. As for the money bit, I honestly didn't care for Bush's expense, nor do I care for Obama's. Honestly, I had no idea on either.
Otherwise, I hope you fail.
"By golly, I want to see my nation suffer because of my parochial perspective!"
Ultra, I'd say don't ever change, but saying such to a conservative is like asking water to stay wet.
Big O has his work cut out for him. Good luck, man; good luck.
What do the rest of you think about Obama's upcoming inauguration?
Recalling how media personalities complained endlessly about Bush's $50,000,000 inauguration in 2004 but aren't making a single peep about Obama's $150,000,000 inauguration.
But in all seriousness...welcome to the job President Obama. If you have any ideas that are good for America, then may you succeed at implementing them.
Otherwise, I hope you fail.
Obama could do nothing for the next 4/8 years but fill bags with kittens at beat them with a stick n' nail and be less fail. Also maybe the inaugurations costs more because of lol security because of amercain hate (blow up every other country, piss nations off etc) or the racists 
Otherwise, I hope you fail.
Worse than W? Or not as much as him?
In all seriousness, Good luck Barack Obama. You'll need it.
I wouldn't expect anyone who disagreed with Bush on issues of prime importance to want him to succeed on those issues, would I?
I disagree with President Obama on so many issues of prime importance that it would be self-defeating to ask for a compromise. And not on little things, but major ones. For the things Bush did wrong, he's done some things right. Barack's record gives me no comfort, and his character is far from sterling.
If he proves me wrong, I will admit it.
But given that he's apparently aiming to overturn the Mexico City policy almost immediately (which prohibits US funding for abortions overseas with regards to family planning initiatives worldwide)...well, you'll forgive for being less than optimistic.
Asking him to succeed means asking him to achieve his objectives. And I cannot abide by that.
So I hope he fails to implement his goals as stated throughout the campaign and as shown through his record.
If he changes for the better, more power to him.
Yep, this will be one for the history books, but Mr. Obama has indeed inherited quite a mess. Saying good luck should probably be an understatement given the state of the economy and such.
Regardless of which, godspeed, Mr. President.
Also, stop spewing all that negativeness, Ultra. You're messing up my happy place. I'm not saying perk up and be happy, but there's no need to sound so bitter. 
I missed the inaguration. Is there a recording of it online anywhere?
Hulu probably has it up.
<strong class="quote-title"
B Vulpix wrote:
I missed the inaguration. Is there a recording of it online anywhere?
Yeah, there's some footage of it on Youtube (where else? lol).
I honestly don't care either way. He's just some guy who's president now, s'no big deal.
I have my inauguration shirt on. Some users look like they wanna gripe about it, but they don't. o.o
~Rico
Otherwise, I hope you fail.
Yeah that's definitely not childish. >_>
At least Ultra came out of the bunker.
~Rico
Amy says (16:39):
you watching bbc 1?
Susan says (16:40):
no
Amy says (16:40):
the american comentator has a blocked nose
its the cerimony for barack obama
Susan says (16:40):
oright that
I am being a party pooper
and thinking everyone's going a bit over the top over it
Susan says (16:41):
OH MY GOD OBAMA HAVE MY BABIES
Amy says (16:41):
lmao!
hes coooool
Susan says (16:41):
he is
but he's not jesus O_O
Amy says (16:41):
hes how i imagen jesus if he was real
he is rarther jesusy
Susan says (16:42):
lol
Amy says (16:42):
oh yes!
Susan says (16:42):
oh no!
This MSN convo between me and my sister pretty much sums my thoughts
I just hope some prat doesn't do a Kennedy on him D:
Totally agree with you on both accounts Susan. I'm personally sick of those that act like he's the second coming of christ...
and dear god help us if he gets assassinated =(... I don't wish that on anybody, but especially him. I might not agree with all of his policies, but I'm not some nutjob who wants nothing more than to see him dead. It is scary to imagine the riots that would occur if he were to get killed =(
I can't remember if Bill got this kind of uproar when he was installed. I was probably too little to really remember it. I wouldn't say Obama is Jesus-ish, but he IS rather Kennedy-ish with the response he's getting from not only this country but others. Even if his policies and platform are mediocre, his presence is what seems to be helping this country the most. A lot of people are impressed that the USA was able to elect someone that wasn't a white christian male.
~Rico
At least Ultra came out of the bunker.
For me it is a dilemma. I can understand and grasp the historical nature of this moment; I get that.
However, I am fundamentally opposed to the philosophy he has articulated prior to the present time. I believe, if implemented, his core beliefs expressed would cause far more damage than good and lead the nation into a path of degradation. Just because Obama and his advisers say something is good doesn't make it so. I don't mean to sound political here, but rather one who is an adherent to the country our ancestors have handed down to us.
In short, I do not have a lot of trust in Obama. And that lack of trust stems from his biographical past experiences, his hidden history, his campaign rhetoric, his associates and associations, and some of his current advisers. I want success, yes - for the nation, not a personality.
Well, I for one find today to be pretty great. When Obama got out of the car people started chanting his name! Not only that, but there's apparently about 1.8 million people watching him proceed to the white house. He's with out a doubt, the most well received president in the history of our country. Whether Obama's policies run this country in the ground or not, I can only see his inauguration as a good thing. McCain would have doomed us anyhow, and I somehow doubt we'd be able to properly rally around Hillary, so right now, he's whats best for us. And for Obama to ruin our country would be more difficult than for him to save it, honestly. So I guess I'm quite pleased with our new president.
Ultra's last post seems around how I feel. For the good of the country, I hope Obama does our country right, and I will welcome any improvements that he can make. However, I'm not gonna hold my breath. I will say this, as a human he seems like he's a decent guy, and despite what Obama has said, I, a Hannity fan, wouldn't mind drinking a beer with him, that is if I actually drank alcohol but meh. As, far as the best well received President, considering he was elected twice unanimously, I say Washington would get that honor.
But think about it:
"Otherwise, I hope you fail."
Why would Ultra want to put the country in jeopardy just because he doesn't agree with Obama's views?
Is it Republican backlash? Or just plain stupidity?
SonicV2 wrote:
But think about it:
"Otherwise, I hope you fail."
Why would Ultra want to put the country in jeopardy just because he doesn't agree with Obama's views?
Is it Republican backlash? Or just plain stupidity?
My point is that I believe his policies, as expressed, would jeopardize the country. Failure on Obama's part to implement his currently-stated policies = Less chance of Jeopardy: America-sized. That was my point.
I don't agree with his views. I also happen to think that a successful implementation of them would be...well, harmful for America. That's all.
Also, on a side note, what was up with the benediction?
I may not be happy that Obama is now President, but I will support him and hope and pray that whatever he does is for the good of America and her people.
That said, I, like Ray and Ultra, have my doubts, but I'd love to see Obama prove me wrong.
People are celebrating the end of an error. I managed to in 8 years only use the word president in conjunction with Diet Hitler once or twice. I don't put much weight in the title of president, as it's just a job and politicians don't deserve special honor, but that usurper doesn't deserve the title of village idiot.
Susan says (16:40):
oright that
I am being a party pooper
and thinking everyone's going a bit over the top over it
Susan says (16:41):
OH MY GOD OBAMA HAVE MY BABIES
Amy says (16:41):
lmao!
hes coooool
Susan says (16:41):
he is
but he's not jesus O_O
"Contrary to popular belief, I wasn't born in a manger." Obama said. "I was sent here from the planet Krypton by my father Jor-El, to save the planet Earth."
Ever see the end of Star Wars after the death star blew up with the emperor? Yeah, it's like that. That is why people are partying. Also, they managed to elect a guy who is highly intelligent, the polar opposite of Bush in just about every way, and even kind of a nerd. This is no minor business considering how much the world needs a polar opposite of Bush to promote and protect human rights, science, and the environment. It is not an exaggeration to say that humanity and millions of other species were put at risk by him.
People are celebrating the end of an error. I managed to in 8 years only use the word president in conjunction with Diet Hitler once or twice. I don't put much weight in the title of president, as it's just a job and politicians don't deserve special honor, but that usurper doesn't deserve the title of village idiot.
I think you're going a bit overboard there; the policies weren't just those of Bush himself but of other members of his administration as well, and who knows how things would have turned out with someone else as president? Also, wouldn't the majority of the public share some of the blame, having voted for Bush in 2004 after seeing 4 years of him in power?
I think you're going a bit overboard there; the policies weren't just those of Bush himself but of other members of his administration as
well, and who knows how things would have turned out with someone else as president? Also, wouldn't the majority of the public share some of the blame,
having voted for Bush in 2004 after seeing 4 years of him in power?
Yes. Yes they do.
The best story about this inauguration is:
When the train arrives at the Pentagon station, there are huge lines to get up the escalators toward the shuttle buses they have waiting outside. So someone gets the bright idea to begin walking up the down escalator ... and dozens of people start following him. Before long, there are two think columns of people -- black, white, the young, the old, the healthy, the frail -- marching up the down escalator, as couple a police officer looks on haplessly and helplessly. And the people are chanting, quite naturally, "Yes we can!".
It's about a lot more than just Obama. This is a victory for many who worked hard to save the country and learned some things about the nature of themselves and others.
However, I am fundamentally opposed to the philosophy he has articulated prior to the present time. I believe, if implemented, his core beliefs expressed would cause far more damage than good and lead the nation into a path of degradation.
How so? o.o
Anyway, I think "some of the blame" is a bit of an understatement; after years of him being in office people voted him back in; I'd think they had reason to know what they were getting, though granted, I don't know much about the differences between his first-term and second-term policies...
But anyway, what about the point about it being partly his general administration? What about the question of who's to say how things would have worked out with someone else in power?
But in all seriousness...welcome to the job President *insert whoever here*. If you have any ideas that are good for America, then may you succeed at implementing them.
Otherwise, I hope you fail.
Just paraphrasing in order to say people could apply it to every president.
Quite honestly, though, wishing ill on the man whose been elected president, perhaps despite everything, is extreme sour-grape behavior. I mean, seriously. At least wait until he's actually done something before saying he fails, like with Bush. The man is not an Antichrist that eats babies and puppies and farts sulfur and brimstone. Give the man some credit. He's barely been in office a day.
Nor was Bush. Bush was just an idiot who was a pushover, and we have about eight years worth of things to prove it with. Basically, partly a patsy (though the fact he takes the Nixon stance of "if the president does it it's not illegal" doesn't exactly make up for it) and partly being a moron.
And Obama just got started and already he's doing good by limiting the power on those bastards we call lobbyists
I saw a part of the inauguration and it kinda scared me at how extreme they made it. I hope the guy does well, but I'm not praising him for anything, nor would I do the same if McCain had made it. It's not in his power to change the economy guys, it's in OUR power. Government has some pull, but we have the final say. It doesn't matter who is president, it matters how we let him run the country. Seriously, just like Bush, he's pretty much the nations mascot, and we're the one paying him to lift our spirits. The only thing he can change is what we allow him to change, along with the senate. This is why this whole presidential thing is really a moot point, for deciding on one leader to look up to is more like a monarchy or even an empire than anything. Not that that's a bad thing, but eventually those forms of government have revolutions.
See Ultra, that kinda talk worries me. Gonna make this short.
As Fexus just stated before me, It's going to take all of us in order to fix the huuuge messes we are in. Yeah, we all aren't going to agree, and I assume that's why you wish for his policies to fail Ultra-because you feel they'll hamper America. But yeah, he hasn't been in here long enough to get his stuff all laid out. He has a lot to do-and he even said its not going to be a quick fix-its going to take time.
He can get the ball rolling because he's the "mascot" of America, a "mascot" that more than enough people actually believe in, momentous occasion or not. Hell, other countries believe in his message of change.
I guess what I'm saying is that due to what you said I see you-Ultra-as not being part of the solution by already spouting off something like that.
It sounds like you wouldn't even try to help/be a part of the change. I'm not saying that you wouldn't. I'm saying it SOUNDS that way, and if we don't get everyone's help, then **%+# gonna stay the same -.-
Note: I'm not praising the man, calling him a messiah or something. But I would finally like to believe that the country I'm living in isn't governed by complete incompetence -.-
I watched it on the news at work, and then at home. We opened at 10 AM (EST) and were very busy for a while, then things died down around 11:30. We were all in the lobby, eyes glued to the local news on HDTV. We got two calls while Aretha was singing >( , then took the phones off the hook and set them down so no one could call in. =D
It was very exciting, awesome, and surreal to see my favorite city on TV, swarmed with 2 million people and freaking jumbotrons on the Mall, with the whole world watching. =O
I've only seen three things that Obama's done since he started campaigning that worries me (the inclusion of Rick Warren, the appointment of Hillary Clinton - whose majority of foreign policy experience comes from standing next to her husband and who I don't think deserves an inch after what she did on campaign - and continuing the seemingly all-American pursuit of shoving his head up Israel's rear end; both of which're whole other debates, especially with Georse Mitchell now in the mix), so I'm perfectly willing to give the guy a chance. It might all be smoke and mirrors due to charisma and oratory skills, but we'll see - and in any case, he can't be worse than the last guy unless he presses the nuclear button as far as I'm concerned.
He's made some positive, decisive actions so far - Guantanamo, pay freezes, saying that he'll slap down lobbyists...
What worries me is that he's been left with two terms of crap from the most unpopular president in history, and some people seem to be expecting him to part the Potomac in thirty seconds. It'll take possibly more than one term to sort out this mess - years, not months - and whilst his place in history's assured because of who he is and what he represents, I'd hate to see the poor guy unfairly castigated for failure to reinvent the wheel, so to speak.
Anyone who actively hopes Obama fails is a complete ass. An America-hating party-idolater who would rather have America fail under the banner of the other party than have America flourish.
Just because one party has a few policies that people disagree with is no reason to hope that they outright fail and collapse...'cause in that case, America would be in a worse state than it is now, and if that happened, nobody would capable of fixing it with just a few 'band-aid fix' solutions
Honestly, I've never heard a country complain SO loudly at its own people and the Right to vote how they want.
Just remember that at least YOU have one, Some countries don't...it's utterly ridiculous, given how things are in the US right now.
Right now, NOBODY in office would have an easy time...Obama's come in at one of the most financially unbalanced and unsound times.
He will NOT be the man to fix everything...he'll be the inter-rim guy trying to at least start to make it straight enough so that the next few presidents can really get America back on track again.
And if it makes ANYONE cry that the 'wrong' man is in the white house...too bad, because the people have spoken and decided that this was the better choice. Now, for the next few years, you'll just have to Live with it!
Obama's decision to close down the Guantanamo Bay detention camp within a year is a decision I strongly agree with... because, let's be honest, what REALLY goes on in there other than torture?
Hillary Clinton - whose majority of foreign policy experience comes from standing next to her husband
Um, she has been serving in the Armed Services Committee of the Senate for several years now, which gives her at least more experience than our current Commander in Chief. You're aware she has had a political career of her own before these elections, right?
Hey, uh, can I point something out before you go back to selective quoting?
"If you have any ideas that are good for America, then may you succeed at implementing them.
Otherwise, I hope you fail. "
"I hope any policies that are good for the country succeed. I hope any ideas that are bad for America fail." How is that a bad thing, really? At least read the rest of the post, instead of just skipping to the "juicy" bits that you think you can tear apart alone.
As for hte topic, Obama worries me. I won't go into why, (because really, who actually gets swayed by internet arguments?) But what also worries me is that many people who don't like Obama seem certain that he'll absolutely wreck the country in a matter of days.. Especially in things like the economy, perception can become so real that it *does* become real - Just look in a history book for a good list of examples of how many times unfounded economic panic developed from nothing but public fears. I don't agree with his policies, but I think our own fear and paranoia is a bigger danger to ourselves than Obama is.
Hey, uh, can I point something out before you go back to selective quoting?
"If you have any ideas that are good for America, then may you succeed at implementing them.
Otherwise, I hope you fail. "
"I hope any policies that are good for the country succeed. I hope any ideas that are bad for America fail." How is that a bad thing, really? At least read the rest of the post, instead of just skipping to the "juicy" bits that you think you can tear apart alone.
I understood what Ultra was getting at all along, but honestly, I could never wish Obama ill. Dude's got that thing, y'know. 
You're aware she has had a political career of her own before these elections, right?
I know that I'm not American, but please give me some credit. You know that I try to keep abreast of US politics and I find that comment patronising. The fact was rather hard to avoid.
I'm not saying that I agree with them (new senators and politicians in general have to come from somewhere), but I wonder how many people ragging on Caroline Kennedy for having no more qualification to a random Senate seat than relation to a former president were Hillary supporters.
I'd say it's not wishing Obama ill as much as it is wishing harmful policies ill. Which is what most of the country did to the last president, so I don't really see why it's suddenly a big deal.
It's how it was phrased...
If you have any ideas that are good for America, then may you succeed at implementing them.
Otherwise, I hope *you* fail.
It didn't say 'your policies' though, it was directly stating 'I hope YOU fail' - which essentially can be misinterpreted as a direct wish for him to fail.
That's pretty much what people are up in arms about!
I'd say it's not wishing Obama ill as much as it is wishing harmful policies ill. Which is what most of the country did to the last president, so I don't really see why it's suddenly a big deal.
Except with Bush, we were well into his second term.
Let's not forget that everyone was behind him during 9/11.
It's when he started screwing up that people thought he was foolish. And rightfully so.
Obama is not through the first week of Presidency. Obviously, we should longer before we make a judgement.
Ultra, you shut your jinxing pie hole. Just because your last guy failed...
...saying such to a conservative is like asking water to stay wet...
Obama could do nothing for the next 4/8 years but fill bags with kittens at beat them with a stick n' nail and be less fail...
Worse than W? Or not as much as him?
McCain would have doomed us...
Is it Republican backlash? Or just plain stupidity?
...People are celebrating the end of an error...
...Diet Hitler...
...that usurper doesn't deserve the title of village idiot....
Ever see the end of Star Wars after the death star blew up with the emperor? Yeah, it's like that...
...highly intelligent, the polar opposite of Bush...
It is not an exaggeration to say that humanity and millions of other species were put at risk by him...
Bush was just an idiot who was a pushover...
...being a moron...
...finally like to believe that the country I'm living in isn't governed by complete incompetence...
...two terms of crap...
(Excluding any quotes that seem to me to be any more thought-out than mindless bashing, and cutting them down to the minimum amount of text needed to make the point 'cause it just took up too much space to include every full quote.)
Do I really even need to say it? I don't really agree with how Ultra put it, but it seems to me like the people whining about him are straying pretty close to hypocrisy.
Just look back up at it, and ask yourself, "Really?" There're a lot of politicians, Obama included, I don't or didn't agree with, but I don't go blathering on about it in internet forums endlessly for no apparent reason other than indignant anger at the fact that not everyone agrees with me.
SX, might I just inquire what relevance my quotation has to your point? The "water to stay wet" is about conservatives being resistant to sweeping change. It had positively nothing to do with lambasting Bush, a la the rest of that litany. That reaction you so tirelessly catalogued will happen when a conservative decries liberal ideology at least twice in a room full of lefties.
...People are celebrating the end of an error...
...Diet Hitler...
...that usurper doesn't deserve the title of village idiot....
Ever see the end of Star Wars after the death star blew up with the emperor? Yeah, it's like that...
...highly intelligent, the polar opposite of Bush...
It is not an exaggeration to say that humanity and millions of other species were put at risk by him...(Excluding any quotes that seem to me to be any more thought-out than mindless bashing, and cutting them down to the minimum amount of text needed to make the
point 'cause it just took up too much space to include every full quote.)Do I really even need to say it? I don't really agree with how Ultra put it, but it seems to me like the people whining about him are straying pretty close
to hypocrisy.Just look back up at it, and ask yourself, "Really?" There're a lot of politicians, Obama included, I don't or didn't agree with, but I
don't go blathering on about it in internet forums endlessly for no apparent reason other than indignant anger at the fact that not everyone agrees with
me.
Not me. I've got no problem whatsoever with Ultra wanting him to fail at things he disagrees with, other than the usual "conservatives are wrong," because I wanted Bush to fail. It's hypocrisy but also I think many people who are saying that didn't read everything he said and are just reacting at his wording, which isn't much better, and I was considering speaking up against the backlash myself. And some of them probably consider it absurd to want a president to fail before he starts, even Bush, but I disagree.
Not that opposition to Bush is much of an analogue, because it's not mindless bashing but a mercifully short summary instead of listing the literally hundreds of crimes against humanity and the human intellect. The most the opposition can come up with against Obama is that he knew some guy, which is continually hilarious to me. I'm shocked that he managed to work his way up Chicago without associating with anybody who was more objectionable than Tony Rezko. Even Ultra says that Bush is, at least, "treasonous."
As for continually talking about it on the internet, believe it or not that was once rebellious and the growing outcry did a lot to torpedo Bush. 9/11 literally scared many people out of their wits, with only those of us who correctly mistrusted Bush, ESPECIALLY in a crisis, as an opposition virtually unrepresented in government or the media. While many were terrified of terrorism that morning, what I heard said was "this is the end of our liberties in this country." I knew what Bush was before he was elected, and EVERY DAMN THING I said was proven true. I knew he would embark on a campaign against science, that his philosophy was a celebration of ignorance as a virtue, that his press secretaries, who made the Iraqi information minister sound credible, merely reflected his trust of political belief over facts, that he used freedom as a slogan while having not the slightest respect or understanding of it, that without his rich family he wouldn't be able to keep a job as a janitor, and that the war was not about terrorism or oil but that he and his backers were so stupid and such propaganda-driven true believers that they actually believed democracy was a panacea that would turn Iraq into Japan.
The news networks are ratings whores and without the mass backlash they could very well still be supporting the guy and the country could be continuing to spiral under his policies.
Oh, and I was referring to his incompetence, not his virtue, by calling him Diet Hitler. At least Hitler wasn't trying to exterminate EVERY race by making Earth uninhabitable.
So yeah I am very proud of my complaints about him and that many people would dismiss my opinion because I was continually correct about Bush is a sign of the absurdity of the superficial balance in political culture.
I know that I'm not American, but please give me some credit. You know that I try to keep abreast of US politics and I find that comment patronising. The fact was rather hard to avoid.
I believe she also refers to her political career before Bill Clinton was elected. Not that I disagree with Hillary not deserving anything after an election in which she campaigned like a republican.
It was a snide and probably unneccessary snipe. So were the rest. It was, or at least I read it as, against republicans/conservatives/Bush/etc. So were the rest. Why doesn't it fit, exactly?
EDIT: Ack, Vec ninja'd me.
I'm really not gonna debate what you say, as it's clear to me neither one of us is gonna convince the other of much of anything. You're still gonna believe that Bush tried to blow up the world, and I'm still gonna believe that you're absolutely silly. I'm just curious about why you debated speaking up about the backlash and misquoting, but decided to join the bandwagon instead.
Because I'm not criticizing Ultra for wanting Obama to fail, even if I do disagree with his reasons. While I compare Bush to Hitler I know that in his opinion abortion is another holocaust and I think the right to dissent to a president is important.
