January 20, 2009--Inauguration Day

The friendliest place on the web for anyone that follows U2.
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
It was fought to gain American independence of dictatorship-like monarchy and establish a democracy. Last I checked, Obama was still elected by the people, his term is still finite, and there are still checks and balances in place.

I made a mistake and should have referred to the Constitutional Convention, not the Revolutionary War (although that still has something to do with it)

The President was intended to be seen as merely a man of the people who had a job to do. The Presidency, while necessarily holding some authoritative power, was not supposed to be viewed as the be-all-end-all of power in the United States (as a King would be), and should not be outwardly displaying said power in an attempt to impress the people (as a King would do). George Washington jumped in a carriage and drove to Federal Hall and immediately started working after swearing the oath. John Adams did the same. Thomas Jefferson walked from his house to the White House with his family and stopped to chat with the people along the way. This whole week-long festival with bands (from Ireland!) and parades and massive pompous ceremonies is exactly NOT what the Framers intended when they created the office. This whole thing smacks of a coronation.

Be happy the guy won, sure. Maybe have a party (the inaugurational ball). But this is excessive.

ETA: And this is all before even mentioning the deification of Obama himself.
 
Rahm waves good-bye to Cheney.

ri1.jpg
 
If there's ever a day to be optimistic. It's today.

Let's hope this sparks this rather mediocre decade into one of the very best.
 
I made a mistake and should have referred to the Constitutional Convention, not the Revolutionary War (although that still has something to do with it)

The President was intended to be seen as merely a man of the people who had a job to do. The Presidency, while necessarily holding some authoritative power, was not supposed to be viewed as the be-all-end-all of power in the United States (as a King would be), and should not be outwardly displaying said power in an attempt to impress the people (as a King would do). George Washington jumped in a carriage and drove to Federal Hall and immediately started working after swearing the oath. John Adams did the same. Thomas Jefferson walked from his house to the White House with his family and stopped to chat with the people along the way. This whole week-long festival with bands (from Ireland!) and parades and massive pompous ceremonies is exactly NOT what the Framers intended when they created the office. This whole thing smacks of a coronation.

Be happy the guy won, sure. Maybe have a party (the inaugurational ball). But this is excessive.

ETA: And this is all before even mentioning the deification of Obama himself.

I understand your point, but the President the framers knew went out the window in 1933.

You're also missing a key point that has created all the hype...it's not a matter of power or coronation, it's the fact that we are part of/witnessing history. We have gone from a slave nation (my ancestors owned slaves) to a nation with an African-American President. That is why there is all the seemingly excessive pomp and circumstance, because we have come SO far as a nation, and we can continue to go far.

But you're right, the presidency is not what the framers intended, but it is also a very different world that we live in.
 
George Washington jumped in a carriage and drove to Federal Hall and immediately started working after swearing the oath. John Adams did the same. Thomas Jefferson walked from his house to the White House with his family and stopped to chat with the people along the way. This whole week-long festival with bands (from Ireland!) and parades and massive pompous ceremonies is exactly NOT what the Framers intended when they created the office.


Be happy the guy won, sure. Maybe have a party (the inaugurational ball). But this is excessive.

I'm pretty sure the Rolling Stones played Brown Sugar at Jefferson's inauguration. :wink:

Can we get 2 million people into that inaugural ball? :hmm:
 
I made a mistake and should have referred to the Constitutional Convention, not the Revolutionary War (although that still has something to do with it)

The President was intended to be seen as merely a man of the people who had a job to do. The Presidency, while necessarily holding some authoritative power, was not supposed to be viewed as the be-all-end-all of power in the United States (as a King would be), and should not be outwardly displaying said power in an attempt to impress the people (as a King would do). George Washington jumped in a carriage and drove to Federal Hall and immediately started working after swearing the oath. John Adams did the same. Thomas Jefferson walked from his house to the White House with his family and stopped to chat with the people along the way. This whole week-long festival with bands (from Ireland!) and parades and massive pompous ceremonies is exactly NOT what the Framers intended when they created the office. This whole thing smacks of a coronation.

Be happy the guy won, sure. Maybe have a party (the inaugurational ball). But this is excessive.

ETA: And this is all before even mentioning the deification of Obama himself.


Did these celebrations somehow give him more executive power?

What the hell am I missing?
 
DaveC, this inaguration would not be such a spectacle if millions of people didn't show up. No one was forced to go, heck you didn't even need a ticket. This was for the people, by the people. What exactly would you liked to have seen? Police baracades not letting anyone but a few elite people into the crowd?
 
It was an incredible and incredibly moving speech. :heart:

I saw a screen message while watching the news this morning that it was written by Jon Favreau...from Swingers to Iron Man to words of history???? :lol:

So yeah, different guy lol.
 
Come on, Dave. Yes, it's a bit much, but like other posters have said, all the concerts and balls and pomp isn't going to give him any more executive power than any other president. Look at the parties back in the 80's when Reagan was in power - that era was the definition of excess. This is a historic moment, that some people have been waiting their entire lives to witness. Give us a break. :)
 
I saw a screen message while watching the news this morning that it was written by Jon Favreau...from Swingers to Iron Man to words of history???? :lol:

So yeah, different guy lol.

Ha! I heard that name, too. I figured it HAD to be someone other than "You're so money" Jon Favreau.
 
CNN confirms it was Kennedy; paramedics were called at 2:35 EST.

Edit: Huh, and also possibly Byrd.
 
Ok, I'm confused. If Senator Byrd had a medical emergency, what was the reason for the Ted Kennedy shout-out by Obama right now?


CNN is reporting that Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass. collapsed at the Congressional luncheon. There are no more details at this moment.
Cameras have been allowed back into the luncheon.

not to be upstaged,
Byrd got in the action, too.
 
Back
Top Bottom