barack obama

[BlackFox898]

i watched the inauguration at school, my teacher let me out and the had it on all the tvs in the school in the halls on full blast, a lot of people were watching.

[VandalAres]

Whoever wrote his speech today is an idiot.

How so?

*wasn't really paying that much attention to his speech*

He red herring'd a lot of issues, especially using that diatribe about education. He did loads of circular logic and ad populum logic, as well as straw man'd a bit on the side. He alienated lots of groups by using words that carry stigma (e.g. non-believers as a 'group' opposing Hindus, Jews, Christians etc.), but I guess you don't care about who you piss off now that the elections are over. And, from my perspective, it was full of rhetoric with nothing very quotable or vivid that drew my attention, which is a huge failure if you're going with a vague and pretty speech instead of a concrete and substantial one.

I think you are over analyzing his speech just a bit. He did not alienate anyone in my opinion. He mentioned all the major religions and the non-believers(atheist,agnostcs, etc etc).
I also disagree with you in that there wasn't a memorable moment. There was a line in his speech that really stood out.

"We reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals"

This immediately signifies the change in ideology from his administration and the last administration. All the abrogation of constitutional rights in order to keep American "safe." Change.

[Barotix]

it was full of rhetoric with nothing very quotable or vivid that drew my attention, which is a huge failure if you're going with a vague and pretty speech instead of a concrete and substantial one.

idd.

This immediately signifies the change in ideology from his administration and the last administration. All the abrogation of constitutional rights in order to keep American "safe." Change.

His FISA vote says otherwise, but w/e.

[Pan_Raider(`_´)]

Obama is the one thing i am happy to have witnessed in my lifetime

my brother watched the speech... i missed it cos i was too deep in varsity stuff..
he mentioned that obama had torn the bush administration apart with 1 well formed sentence..

just cant get any vids of the speech though

[K a R e E m]

yay
gz gm-obama

[ThatBluePerson]

omg the asian dude is 馬友友. how can you not know that.
or was he? (Yo-Yo Ma)

[Kirkaldi]

I saw the inauguration at school. The school made us. I nearly feel asleep.

[SM-Count]

I think you are over analyzing his speech just a bit. He did not alienate anyone in my opinion. He mentioned all the major religions and the non-believers(atheist,agnostcs, etc etc).
I also disagree with you in that there wasn't a memorable moment. There was a line in his speech that really stood out.

"We reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals"

This immediately signifies the change in ideology from his administration and the last administration. All the abrogation of constitutional rights in order to keep American "safe." Change.

First, I don't believe I'm over analyzing. But then again, this is a gaming forum... Second, I believe individually naming each religion with a certain formality and respect while grouping together others is insulting, if not ostracizing them (us/whatever). It would be similar to grouping native americans, african americans, and asians together under the category: colored people, or others, or even miscellaneous. There is a certain stigma to "non-believers" when contrasted with a catalog of religions, as if we don't deserve more than one category, as if we are inferior. I am sure that his intension is not to offend, but nonetheless, which such time and planning put into the first speech, it is, from where I sat and listened, a flagrant mistake. And finally, lets analyze that line you pulled:

"We reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals"

He's saying we can not put safety over our 'ideals' or use safety to bully our 'ideals' away. This could mean anything! Is he referring to the patriot act and due process; maybe a profound remark about civil rights as 'safety'; maybe about Abu Ghraib and the Geneva Codes; maybe something else. The point is you don't know. You can formulate your own opinions about it, but it absolutely does not have to be connected to the constitution at all. Of course you're tempted to say all Americans know what their ideals are so his speech speaks for itself (may have attempted to be too clever there) but all it says definitely, is that change is coming... WE GET IT! You've been bombarding us with change is coming, vote for me to get change, I'm change etc. Give us something more, something specific or something inspirational, not the same message dressed up again.

Look at Roosevelt's address, or Kennedy's, or even Regan's, yes, a lot of it is wishy washy rhetoric, but 1) they have very quotable lines, and 2) they address specific problems and offer solutions, not rant on about how education will fix everything without providing a way to increase educational standards past: [together we can do it, together we can build a brighter future with education as the foundation] (it was much more eloquent, but that's the general idea)

He might as well have gotten on stage and said:
War; yes we can!
Education; yes we can!
Debt; yes we can!
Recession; yes we can!

with the same amount of substance.

(I will give him some credit here in that he did specifically address our 'problems' in that we need to better ourselves, not let government better us. (ripped off from Kennedy? of course not.) Although the old joke goes, Liberals tell us government will take care of everything, conservatives tell us government isn't working, get elected, and prove it, so I don't see him not expanding government.)

[rumpleKillskin]

It would have been ALOT different if it was McCain being inaugurated today. Its amazing to see the outcome of what has been going on for the past year. I mean come on, they are starting the count of how many people were there at two million people? That is amazing if you ask me. He can sure write and present a great speech too. Now lets see what happens from now on.

[brentonsbbe359]

My friend told me that when Obama became president, he was in San Fransisco and that the people there were coming out of their houses and crying on the side walk when he became president, and when he walked down the street there was a guy all painted red with 'obama' on his chest with white paint, and he had red devil horns on and painted white eyes, and he said that people were coming over and bowing down to this guy. Only question is, what was my friend smoking? O.o Seriously though, my friend wouldn't make something up like this. That is really creepy O.o

[Snoopy]

Just sounds to me like everyone/anyone wants to have a reason to hate Obama or put him down. He's the president for the next 4(?) years, deal with it. (unless ofc, some idiot assassinates him or he dies or blah blah).

[brentonsbbe359]

*buys a psg-1*
It's for hunting purposes.... i swear... o.o

[Barotix]

My friend told me that when Obama became president, he was in San Fransisco and that the people there were coming out of their houses and crying on the side walk when he became president, and when he walked down the street there was a guy all painted red with 'obama' on his chest with white paint, and he had red devil horns on and painted white eyes, and he said that people were coming over and bowing down to this guy. Only question is, what was my friend smoking? O.o Seriously though, my friend wouldn't make something up like this. That is really creepy O.o

A couple of clowns wrote a book in ancient times, and another group of clowns believe the book calls Obama the anti-christ; these clowns are happy that the end times are coming. All Obama needs to do is Veto unConstitutional bills, curb our military's reach, and privitize recently nationalized institutions. Then he should work on his egalitarian plans. I would recommend encouraging savings. Printing a medium of exchange will not stimulate an economy. Having people just work for the hell of it does not fix a damn thing.

[ShizKnight]

Whoever wrote his speech today is an idiot.

How so?

*wasn't really paying that much attention to his speech*

(e.g. non-believers as a 'group' opposing Hindus, Jews, Christians etc.)

This stuck out like a sore thumb to me. In a speech promoting unity in difficult times, it's contradictory to label someone as a "non-believer" when the word carries such a negative connotation.

[aznronin]

lol i watched the inauguration from my school, Brooklyn, New York
Brooklyn Tech FTW!

[Reise]

**** yeah Obama!

[Nader]

is now the 44th president of the united states of america!

its also my sisters 20th birthday...

she is 20 on the 20th and the new prez is obama! woot

[aznronin]

**** yeah Obama!

Holy crap!!!!!! lol something you don't see everyday, laughed my ass off

[BlackFox898]

did anyone notice that he screwed up when saying the 39 words(inauguration)?

[Qosta420]

I did feel bad for Bush though. Hardly anyone clapped for him. Sure he's made some mistakes but at least have enough respect for the office that you'll clap for him. Jerks.

are you kidding me? i would never clap for somone who used his political influence to illegaly try to take away american's civil liberties, or who made up bullshit reasons to send our troops to iraq so his buddies in the oil and millitary industries could make bank off the blood of americans and iraqis, somone who allowed corperations to partake in the same kind of retarrded business practices which brought on the great depression in the 1930s, somone who destroyed american credibility, and on top of that hes an asshole who was ridiculing half the country, half the time he spoke. bush did no good for the country and no good for the world, i hope his ass burns in hell and that its on national tv, so anyone else who thinks about using the presidency to make money off the american people and destroy the world, can think twice, or three times. yeah three times, thats a Farking charm.

but seriously FUUCK BUSH, ive been waiting for this day for 8 fuucking years, lets all get drunk.

[!G4!]

WOoT WOoT ^_~

[Sylar]

Baro, u should go get a job in the Politics =D

[XemnasXD]

Whoever wrote his speech today is an idiot.

How so?

*wasn't really paying that much attention to his speech*

He red herring'd a lot of issues, especially using that diatribe about education. He did loads of circular logic and ad populum logic, as well as straw man'd a bit on the side. He alienated lots of groups by using words that carry stigma (e.g. non-believers as a 'group' opposing Hindus, Jews, Christians etc.), but I guess you don't care about who you piss off now that the elections are over. And, from my perspective, it was full of rhetoric with nothing very quotable or vivid that drew my attention, which is a huge failure if you're going with a vague and pretty speech instead of a concrete and substantial one.

i disagree with almost everything you said especially the part about alienating groups. His speech was anything but alienating, why you seem to think "non-believers" carries a stigma or that his speech placed it in an opposing position to Hindus, jew and christians im not sure. If you came out of that speech pissed off then i don't really theres anything in the world that could possibly have made you happy. He's just a man at the end of the day, a man with a large responsibility nonetheless but still his speech embodied change, hope, and it put the plights facing the american people in clear perspective. Referring to his comments on education as "diatribe" leads me to believe that you took a completely cynical and pessimistic stance on anything he said and because only good things came out of his mouth, real things, possible things, it makes me think that you wouldn't have been happy no matter what he said.

That speech was heard worldwide and it marks a significant change in the direction the country is headed and it seems like most of the world recognizes and respects....

[VandalAres]

Couldn't have said it better myself.

[mitchellsrf]

if i could have voted i would have voted for mccain
i think obama sucks

[Barotix]

if i could have voted i would have voted for mccain
i think obama sucks

*cracks knuckles*
Because of his policies - or lack of good economic and social ones -, his vague message of change, and his ignorance of basic economics or is it because "he lacks the presidential experience all freshmen presidents lack, he's a democrat, and because fox said he's muslim?"

[.Banshee]

if i could have voted i would have voted for mccain
i think obama sucks

...and this proves my point. The Republicans are still bitter.

@SM-Count I don't really see what your point is. What more explanation on his plans do you need. He's been doing explanations throughout the whole campaign and everyday after. All he was simply saying was that times are tough WE,not only him, will meet the challenge and fix OUR country, because WE are also to blame for our countries state. That's all with a lot of sugar coating to inspire us to actually do something, instead of staying at home, doing nothing, and complaining about everything the new administration does. I and I'm sure you know how Americans are.
@Barotix same thing to you.

[Reise]

McCain would've had us at war with Iran by now.

'nuff said.

[SM-Count]

i disagree with almost everything you said especially the part about alienating groups. His speech was anything but alienating, why you seem to think "non-believers" carries a stigma or that his speech placed it in an opposing position to Hindus, jew and christians im not sure. If you came out of that speech pissed off then i don't really theres anything in the world that could possibly have made you happy. He's just a man at the end of the day, a man with a large responsibility nonetheless but still his speech embodied change, hope, and it put the plights facing the american people in clear perspective. Referring to his comments on education as "diatribe" leads me to believe that you took a completely cynical and pessimistic stance on anything he said and because only good things came out of his mouth, real things, possible things, it makes me think that you wouldn't have been happy no matter what he said.

That speech was heard worldwide and it marks a significant change in the direction the country is headed and it seems like most of the world recognizes and respects....

I don't see how you can disagree with facts since facts are objective, but ok... (When the transcript of his speech comes out I will be happy to point out where he used faulty logic(i.e. red herring, ad populum etc.) but I know you can find them yourself, because, you know, they're facts that can't be changed).

I acknowledge that to some 'non-believers' do not carry the same connotations to others as it might to me, however I believe it was shoving the nihilists (a legitimate philosophy/religion in some parts), atheists, agnostics etc. into one group is an insult. He could have at least gone with "whether you are religious or not", which would be career suicide in the U.S., but you're the president, you said we needed to put politics aside.

Your rebuttal proves the two problems I always see with blind Obama supporters. One, you said:

his speech embodied change, hope, and it put the plights facing the american people in clear perspective.

and

That speech was heard worldwide and it marks a significant change in the direction the country is headed and it seems like most of the world recognizes and respects....

That IS the problem. He addressed our plight, and, in my concession, I acknowledged his urge for the people to work, not expect government to end all problems, but how? He does NOT offer a way out. Instead he went on about how education systems are in trouble. Would've been great if he connected one of his few concrete points with substance like HOW to educate about racial equality, or how education, in such a large country, can be made to rival those of Finland or Japan. (FYI small countries...) No, he just says, [I ask for your help because the government can't do it alone] (paraphrased) There are ways (see past pres. speeches) to include specifics on how to get out of recession or wars without boring us with extensive policy matters, and I would have been very happy if he addressed it.

The second problem is all over both quotes, he says change is coming and that the direction the country is heading is changing. Ok. Um... where are we changing TO? He spends so much time speaking about what we're changing from he forgets that we need to change to something. He has no plan to get there (just look at the credentials of his eco team and you'll know what I mean), hell, he doesn't even know where 'there' is. He has spent so much time, money, and 30 minute infomercials(screw grammar) to convince us that anywhere but here is better that people just automatically assume when we change we suddenly become an utopia.

Yes, I know that's not realistic and I'm SURE you have a view on what Obama is going to do and where he's going to take us, and I KNOW that Obama has a goal (hopefully), but the inaugural speech would be a good place to, you know, share?! But, alas, no. We get fed the same ambiguous crap again so that we need to use our imaginations to think about where he's going to take the country.

Synopsis: You're the president now, it would be nice if you told us, in your first speech, where, specifically, you want to end up so that when you called everyone out on working together and getting educated, we actually know what goal you're trying to achieve. (i.e. Regan's war on drugs, or even Bush's war on terror; good concept, terrible execution)

If he simply did that I would not be posting in this thread at all and very content. Hell, I even acknowledge what he did well, so please, don't bullshit me with ad hominem about how I'm a pessimist and only hate his points because I hate Obama and can't ever like him.

@.Banshee
My question is simple, it is not 'what', for he has answered and explained more than sufficiently, it is 'how'.

(Please don't come back with 'he doesn't have to list everything on his agenda and how he's going to achieve them because policy will bore people to sleep', I've already answered this in my response)

[OTG]

I saw the inauguration at school. The school made us. I nearly fell asleep.

Fixed.

Maybe you should pay more attention in school.