Obama takes office, appeals for 'hope over fear'

[onehandle]

Source: AP



WASHINGTON – Stepping into history, Barack Hussein Obama grasped the reins of power as America's first black president on Tuesday, saying the nation must choose "hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord" to overcome the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.

In frigid temperatures, an exuberant crowd of more than a million packed the National Mall and parade route to celebrate Obama's inauguration in a high-noon ceremony. They filled the National Mall, stretching from the inaugural platform at the U.S. Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial in the distance.

With 11 million Americans out of work and trillions of dollars lost in the stock market's tumble, Obama emphasized that his biggest challenge is to repair the tattered economy left behind by outgoing President George W. Bush.

"Our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions — that time has surely passed," Obama said in an undisguised shot at Bush administration policies. "Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off and begin the work of remaking America."

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/inauguration_rdp

---

Was posted as "Barack Hussein Obama sworn in as 44th American President" as we watched the moment.

Thank you, America.

[GodlessBiker]

1. Roberts fucked up.

[Virginia Dare]

5. The freepers will probably say he wasn't really sworn in properly..

the words were transposed or something...:eyes:

[DumpDavisHogg]

20. They're already saying it (n/t)

[vaberella]

28. No would could ever say, those dolts don't catch things to hate on. n/t

[clspector]

26. yes, they are

but it's so much fun to go over there and see them unspooling. Seriously, it's hysterical.

[Deep13]

9. Stage fright. This is his first inauguration as chief justice. nt

[janedum]

10. WHAT did Roberts do? nt

[Deep13]

16. He jumbled some of the words.

He finally got them right. though.

[Soylent Brice]

19. AGREED

people at work think i'm nuts now for screaming at the top of my lungs at him.

[jimshoes]

2. It is done

Bye chimpy

[Virginia Dare]

3. 21 gun salute..awesome..n/t

[walkaway]

4. I think Roberts tried to screw him up

[ohtransplant]

6. These things are usually rehearsed.

I think Roberts changed how the oath was segmented and threw Obama off.

[Politicalboi]

14. I think so too

And I thought maybe Cheney was faking so he wouldn't have to stand for President Obama.

[calimary]

41. That's what I think, too. Son-of-a-bitch wouldn't ever have lowered himself to do

such menial labor as lifting boxes at his new house. That kind of thing is what "the help" is for.

Fucker. I figured at first that he thought he could get one more freebie off the American taxpayer and didn't feel like having to walk. Besides, there's the ever-reliable "HEY! Look at ME!!!" effort to distract. But I think your guess is the best one, BecauseBushSaysSo. Just considering the world-class weasel we're talking about. Not wanting to have to stand for the new President. Or maybe... for THIS new President. I don't know. But I immediately went into my automatic default mode about this bunch - suspicion. Can't help it. I always suspect the worst of a guy like dick.

On edit - 11:02 am pacific time - there goes bush in what used to be Air Force One (for him anyway) - headed back to Midland, TX. Adios, Asshole.

[jennied]

17. It's not a big deal...

[Dumak]

25. We'll see..

If Roberts issues an apology (as any decent person would do), then I would accept it as stage fright. If not, then it was intentional. It's amazing that we would have to even consider that it was intentional, but that's the state of the Republican party these days.

[Patchuli]

42. I think Roberts apologized on the spot

and told Barack "My fault!" per Cherlie Gibson...

[meow2u3]

48. In what respect, Charlie?

:evilgrin:

[Patchuli]

53. No, 'Cherlie!'

Did I really just see the Wasilia Marching Band in the parade??!!

[Scurrilous]

7. K & R

:thumbsup:

[bobd0]

8. Congratulations President Obama

Lead well.

K&R

[Deep13]

11. Is this really true?

After twenty years of supporting the party of losers, am I really hearing a Black, Democratic president who rode a wave of public insistence into office? Are we actually the majority party? Is the nation squarely behind a liberal president?

It just doesn't seem possible. I just can't believe we finally did it.

[gizmonic]

12. It true -- I saw it on the internets

Today is a glorious day!:party: :toast: :patriot:

[defendandprotect]

24. Maybe Democrats weren't "losers" . . .

Maybe we've had election steals going on since they passed "The Voting Rights Act" . . . ??

http://www.constitution.org/vote/votescam__.htm

I'm rethinking Humphrey vs Nixon --!!

[Laelth]

33. I still can't believe the Republican Party is voluntarily giving up power.

Seriously. I still can't quite believe it.

:dem:

-Laelth

[acmavm]

40. Wasn't voluntary. We threw 'em out by a margin that they could

not fight against.

[Laelth]

46. Yes, but.

I thought they might engineer another 9-11 as an excuse to declare martial law and then insist that, for the security of the nation, the election and the inauguration be "postponed." For that matter, I feared they might use the current financial crisis as an excuse.

I am glad they decided to let it go, but make no mistake. They made a conscious decision to release the reigns of power.

:dem:

-Laelth

[superconnected]

39. Barack is one heck of a politician, and it helped that bush was one heck of a f-up.

My racist brother watched the inauguration and kept saying he believes in Barack and Barack better not get killed.

This country has changed.

[sofa king]

13. Woooooooooo!

I cannot believe I've lived to see this day. It's the greatest day of my life.

Best wishes to all of you, all of us, and even all of them. Now it's time to roll up the sleeves and get to work.

[jennied]

15. President Obama

[OhioChick]

18. Tears fill my eyes, for I now have hope. n/t

[Callalily]

21. This is truly a great day!

Once again, I am proud to be an American.

Yeah to President Obama!

:patriot:

[no_hypocrisy]

22. Take that, Rudy.

* and other neocons/PNAC-ers. Ruling by fear-mongering is no longer part of governing this country.

We will meet terror with confidence and bravery. We are not victims needing a "leader" who will protect us.

[graywarrior]

23. We all helped do this.

I am so proud.

[Kolesar]

27. He mentioned climate protection and natural resources

yay

[drm604]

29. Yes we did!

Now let the damned duck go. :D

[TomClash]

30. On a gagne

We have won and we are one.

[Left Coast2020]

31. THE WORLD IS SMILING AT US AND SAYING, WOW!!!!!

AMAZING!

:woohoo:

[TomClash]

35. It is a new dawn! nt

[mistertrickster]

32. Look at the book Obama has his hand on. It's not a Quran!

But . . . but . . . but . . . I thought Obama the Muslim would be sworn in on a Quran?

Maybe the reich-wing Swifties will issue an apology for baseless rumor mongering.

Yeah, sure . . .

[flvegan]

34. The whole world is watching.

[Kind of Blue]

36. So many well placed slams on Bush. I loved that.

[road2000]

37. Dance, dance, wherever you may be. n/t

[tclambert]

50. Ah, you heard the Lord of the Dance version in Church, dintcha?

And I love that version. But the original Shaker version is lovely, too:

'Tis the gift to be simple,
'tis the gift to be free,
'tis the gift to come down where you ought to be,
And when we find ourselves in the place just right,
It will be in the valley of love and delight.

Refrain:

When true simplicity is gained,
To bow and to bend we shan't be ashamed.
To turn, turn will be our delight,
'Til by turning, turning we come round right

'Tis the gift to be loved and that love to return,
'Tis the gift to be taught and a richer gift to learn,
And when we expect of others what we try to live each day,
Then we'll all live together and we'll all learn to say,

Refrain:

'Tis the gift to have friends and a true friend to be,
'Tis the gift to think of others not to only think of "me",
And when we hear what others really think and really feel,
Then we'll all live together with a love that is real.

Refrain:

[road2000]

56. Yep.

It was a favorite at St. Mary's in Mobile, Alabama, and then Michael Flatley did the whole stage thing. It also appeared in the wonderful PBS short series, "Oliver's Travels." So I really was not familiar with the original version until today. Thanks for the lyrics.

[Jefferson23]

38. Dear Mr. President Obama, OMG, how I love that fact!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A day I will never ever forget, you have my support and my very best wishes good sir. Fantastic speech, absolutely emotional and spot on!

[katty]

43. Finally!! Hello Mister President!

[WoodyD]

44. May the FSM bless you, President Obama

Wow. I love the way he repudiated so many things from the Dubya years. Here are the keys to the country, sir. Sorry the previous tenant trashed the place.

[road2000]

45. Question:

What did the President say just before he took the oath of office? It was something humorous, but I didn't catch it.

Geez, that feels good. I can type "the President" without feeling queasy.

The President The President The President The President The President The President The President The President The President

Ahhhhh!

[cloudbase]

47. Here's a little something

from a Moto Guzzi board I'm on. This guy is in Norway.

"How different. For the first time in years no 'us against them'...
It went down well here. If he keeps talking like that he is going to put the country back into world leadership.
Welcome back America. You have been missed."

Not much I can add to that.

[Diclotican]

54. cloudbase

cloudbase

He is Not ALONE in Norway, to say that word my friend... I would also say that.. Welcome America, you have been missed for the last 8 year..Now you can rise again, and show your true collour..

And just thingking about it, an Black President in the United States.. Amazing just amazing, the US are indeed a country where everyone can be the next president... Or a least try to be the next president... I had never belived that I would se an black president in the US in my lifetime.. I would have problems beliving US shoose a White anglo saxon Female as the next president of the United States... And 4 of November, you not just woted out the white man, you shoose the black dude too.. And today you have an Black as your next president.. Thank you, amazing as it was, it was indeed a historic day for everyone who was seeing it;).

Thank you all you in the US for the joy, the foundness, the happyness I feel tonight, as I have been seing the next President of the United States be sworen in, and that the scumbag who have occupied the White House are soon, or back in Crawford Texas to be forgotten and hated. And I really hope the Obama Administration would prosecute the criminals from the last administration, and get the TRUTH out there..If not it can be 20 or so year before the criminal behavour of mr Bush are there to be known for the most american... Get the truth out, and prosecute and put the criminals where they belong - in prison for a long as they natural life are doing to them..

Welcome back US.. We on the outside have missed you, and wil help you back - if you want it then

Diclotican

Sorry my bad english, not my native language.

[happygoluckytoyou]

49. Bush "he only got a bigger turnout than me did because i got all those people out of work"

[tclambert]

51. My favorite part was when the FBI agents slapped the handcuffs on Bush and Cheney

and pushed them into the back of a black van. Justice returns to America!

[tclambert]

52. Please don't tell me that part was just a dream.

Noooooooooo!

[onehandle]

55. Kick. nt