The Significance Of President Obama's "I'll Never See This Again" Moment

[PennsylvaniaMatt]

As Rachel Maddow pointed out on her show just now, the few seconds where President Barack Obama turned around and looked at the crowd to take it all in for one last moment, as others simply passed him, was significant because it shows who Barack Obama the man really is, behind the pageantry of the Presidency.

This is a man who has worked on behalf of the people for his entire political career, and now that he has just been sworn in as President for a second term, displayed remarkable gratitude toward his fellow Americans who came to see their President.

Remarkable for a man who, just 9 years ago, was virtually unknown outside of Chicago, and now he is a two-term President.

[MichiganVote]

1. He was sad today. He knows he'll never accomplish all he wants to.

[sheshe2]

13. Sad, not really.

I think he was in awe, of the crowd, that they are fired up and ready to go. That we have been energized and are ready to fight back.

Minutes after the swearing in,I received this email:

I just renewed my oath of office to serve as your president for four more years.

Thank you for making this possible. It's an honor to be your president.

Now it's time to finish what we started -- let's get going.

Barack

P.S. -- Organizing for Action is the next step in our grassroots movement and will be crucial to finishing what we started. If you haven't already, say you'll be part of it.

Go to White House site for info.

He is laying the ground work for the next four years. At the same time he is building the future for the next Democatic President.

We can do this, Michigan, together We Can!

sheshe

[Hekate]

23. I got the same email. I signed up.

It's going to be very interesting to see what the OFA can accomplish to make sure 2014 is a Democratic-dominated election, unlike 2010!

[sheshe2]

26. What a great day for us!

I signed up too. We can do this,I know we can do this. The tide has turned. I can feel it.

It's our time, Hekate.

she

[malaise]

2. The irony is that no one else will see this again either

2 million in 2009 and one million today - those numbers aren't likely to be repeated.

[nc4bo]

3. Were those the official numbers malaise?

OMG! Wow.

[malaise]

6. Heard that on the Ed show

The largest crowd for anything ever was in 2009

Ask Newt Gingrich if people don't have role models

[lobodons]

25. 10 million

But But what about Glenn Becks 10 million peeps at his DC rally? Wasn't there even a few palm trees in the background.

[bettyellen]

9. 1.8 million and est 800K to 1 million today

[nc4bo]

10. Very impressive, very!!! nt

[malaise]

36. Heard on on Way Too Early this morning as well

one million

[MightyMopar]

4. First woman president, first Hispanic president, first gay president, hopefully all Democrats

[PennsylvaniaMatt]

7. Right - Really anyone who inspires the American people like Pres. Obama

No matter if they female, Hispanic, gay, etc...

[malaise]

8. Hopefully

[abelenkpe]

18. Something to look forward

Something well hopefully all live to see

[littlemissmartypants]

32. Love it. eom

[Cha]

12. That's what I just wrote

about in an another thread..

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1102&pid=7439

malaise

[tarheelsunc]

16. It's far too early to say that.

No one outside of Chicago knew who Obama was in 2003. There will most likely be another politician even within our lifetimes who can have a transcendental effect such as President Obama has had, even if they have yet to rise to a level of national awareness.

[Whisp]

24. there will never be another like Obama

and never was.

we are witnessing something truly remarkable.

[ReRe]

29. Probably...

...one of those beautiful Castro kids from Texas...

[wickerwoman]

20. Not just to welcome Obama in 2009 but to say farewell to Bush.

Hopefully we will never see those numbers again because we will never have to endure another 8 years like 2000-2008.

[malaise]

37. LOL but most folks went to see Obama

[Blue4Texas]

5. Love :)

[MyOwnPeace]

11. So great...

to see this posting.

I only watched the events for about an hour, making sure I saw the swearing in part, but kept the TV on for a bit more and did see OUR PRESIDENT leave the grandstands. As he was entering the building, he did stop and turn around, telling "someone" that he wanted to take a look - and proceeded to stand and scan the horizon - the throngs of people that were there to honor this wonderful man that was re-elected to lead our country.

It was a thrilling moment in so many ways.

God bless you, Mr. President.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

14. I was at work...... so thank you for this post

It just kind of summarized the moment for me.

I second what you said.

[MsPithy]

15. Wait a minute...

I'm sure if Sasha or Malia are elected President of the United States, they would invite him to be on the stage with them.

[tarheelsunc]

17. What about Michelle?

If these next 4 years go according to plan, Michelle would have a great chance, either in 2016 or later. She's crafted a great image for herself.

[FailureToCommunicate]

21. She'd have my vote for sure!

It was her speech at Villanova during the first campaign that made me see her as a very possible POTUS.

[Amonester]

22. +100000

And Joe Biden also!

A really great team!

[MsPithy]

28. Nope.

I think Michelle has ZERO, less than zero, desire to be POTUS. Politics has too much posturing and puffery, not enough getting things done. Bet that drives her crazy.

[littlemissmartypants]

33. No doubt she is unstoppable whatever she should choose to do.

I would love to work on that campaign. Talk to me about equal pay for equal work. Madam President.

[treestar]

19. He is just a damn likable person!

How really cool that he appreciates this kind of thing. I bet Bushie barely noticed and Mittwit would not have - just unwashed masses to them.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

27. Obama is human

Obama is sincere

[lonestarnot]

30. I watched that moment and love him for it.

[Raine]

35. Me too, it really shows the heart and soul of him. His sensitivity

and introspection really touched me and gave me so much insight into what a good man he is. I'm so proud and happy to have him as my President.

[judesedit]

31. Unless he's an exceptional president and we write him in and demand he stay. Of course it would be

up to him and frankly, I don't think he'd want to. Get rid of the electoral college. Set term limits on all Congresspeople. They can go by the same rules. Whatever they vote applies to the Presidency also. See how they vote if they are presented with that little piece of legislation.

[ReRe]

34. I think what he meant...

K&R

... by "I'll never see this again," is that this was his last Inaugural. Because he can't run anymore. And that perhaps he will never see such a crowd again like that to come out for anyone. He could be wrong on that last one.

It was a beautiful day and an Inaugural Ceremony that went off without one glitch.

And an Inaugural speech that may have signified the turning point that our country has been so desperately looking for from President Obama. I hate to make predictions, since his first term seemed to be devoted to the banksters on Wall Street. But I have a hunch, hunch, that this term might be for The People, who he talked about so much today.
At one point he said "The People, united," and I finished it with "will never be defeated!"

[MAD Dave]

38. Even as a Canadian, I was touched by that moment.

Obama is an exceptional man.