And so…it begins.
11:23: With wind chill, it’s 14 degrees. This is ridiculous. Enough with tradition. Move elections to March and have the inauguration to May. Everyone has to be freezing their áššëš off because 200 years ago George Washington didn’t feel the cold?
11:26: Shots of the outgoing First family, walking away while trucks load up their stuff. May I say on behalf of everyone: Don’t let the door hit you on the way out.
Rest of comments below the cut line.
11:28: Well, at least people aren’t booing Laura Bush or Lynn Cheney.
11:31: Michelle looks a bit underdressed for 14 degrees. I hope she doesn’t regret not wearing a heavier coat.
11:32: They’re running 16 minutes late, according to NBC. So since Bush’s term expires at noon, that could mean that for 16 minutes, from 12 to 12:16…what? Nancy Pelosi is in charge?
11:35: “Hail to the chief, he’s the one we all say hail to.”
11:36: Has Ðìçk Cheney ever looked more like an evil mastermind than when he’s being pushed in a wheelchair? He just needs to be stroking a white cat.
11:37: Kathleen says that if people are booing, he can be told that they’re actually just cheering, “Boooosh!”
11:41: Want to have an idea what the crowd looked like the last night of “The Adventurers Club?” Check out the crowd on TV. I don’t envy them.
11:39: I like the thumbs up from Biden. Maybe we can call him “Joe the Thumber.”
11:41: I like all the introductions. I keep waiting for him to say stuff like, “…and the Rockettes. The Muppets. The Nelson Riddle Orchestra.”
11:43: Barack H. Obama. I was wondering how they were going to finesse that.
11:46: I wonder how many people are actually there on the National Mall. Anyone have a count?
11:48: Oh definitely let us pray.
11:49: Separation of church and state. Don’t make me laugh.
11:53: The song’s name is “America.” Sheesh. Love the hat, though. Only Aretha could make that hat work. Well, her and Eddie Izzard.
11:56: Freedom’s ringing. Could somebody answer it, please? I’m watching this thing.
11:57: It’d be interesting if, out of reflex, the supreme court tried to put Bush in just out of habit.
11:58: So he used Biden’s middle name. Let’s see if he says “Barack Hussein Obama.”
11:59: It’d be cool if he kicked Cheney out of the wheelchair.
12:00: The Freedom Clock just started counting upwards. I wasn’t expecting that for some reason.
12:01: Of course Yo Yo Ma is playing. He played on “The West Wing.”
12:05: He said his middle name. Good.
12:06: I think Obama got distracted by the ambulance for a moment.
12:07: Woo hoo! Party at the Obamas tonight!
12:07: They’re shooting! Quick! Get him–oh It was planned. Never mind.
12:07: I wonder if he’s got a teleprompter or if he’s memorized it.
12:08: We’re at war with FX?
12:10: “Sapping of confidence.” That’s as apt a description I’ve heard of the last eight years.
12:11: I’d love to see them cut to Bush when Obama is talking about how out of whack our priorities have been.
12:13: We have to pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and start all over again? There’s a song lyric to live by, from the film “Swing Time.” Perhaps we should also consider making our national anthem a silly old ant because we have High Hopes.
12:16: The country cannot prosper long when it only favors the prosperous. Good line.
12:17: even better, the line about not tossing aside our morals as a country in the interests of safety. I was waiting for him to quote Ben Franklin.
12:19: Which is an eloquent way of saying, “Osama bin Laden, you can suck it.”
12:20: “Know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not on what you can destroy.” Well, they haven’t so far, but it would be a nice change of pace.
12:23: That’s the first TV angle I’ve seen where you can clearly see the bullet proof glass around him.
12:24: “The knowledge that God calls upon us to shape an uncertain destiny.” Nice.
12:24: “A man whose father, sixty years ago, might not have been served in local restaurants can now take this oath.” So true. And let us also remember that sixty years ago in many states his father would not have been allowed to marry his mother. Thank God such unreasoning restrictions against marriage don’t exist in…what? Two states? Three?
12:26: Good speech. Not too long. Hit some high points. Nothing that was “Ask not what your country can do for you,” but then JFK did set a pretty high bar.
12:33: This guy is…interesting.
12:35: I wonder if anyone on the dais–the politicians, poets, ministers, anyone–are tempted to say something to the effect of, “We live in dangerous, uncertain times, and it’s THAT GUY’S FAULT RIGHT THERE! BUSH! HE SCREWED IT UP!”
12:40: Play ball!
In the words of the greatest president ever: Okay, what’s next?
PAD
• 
At this moment, I keep seeing John Adams in 1776 saying “It’s done,” right after the vote for Independence. Keeping his voice measured, but still barely able to contain his excitement.
And yes, they cut to Bush when Obama talked about giving up our ideals for expedience. There you go, PAD.
“Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus … and nonbelievers.”
Hëll YEAH!
Now he’s talking to those who would “silence dissent”. He might as well have added, “And that means you, Hannity!”
From Dubya stating that atheists can’t be full citizens, to Obama specifially mentioning “non-believers” in his “we are a nation of…” statement. Very nice.
(Yes, I know I got Bush’s quote wrong. What was it, exactly?)
Oh, Hannity’s all about dissent. Now.
“Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus … and nonbelievers.”
Is this it? Are we finally achieving that IDIC ideal – infinite diversity in infinite combinations? Majel lived to see the election, but how I wish Gene had lived to see this day.
“11:23: With wind chill, it’s 14 degrees. This is ridiculous. Enough with tradition. Move elections to March and have the inauguration to May”
And if it had been this year we could have had all these extra months worth of Bush …
And … scene.
In Washington’s time, the inauguration was in March, not January.
From Dubya stating that atheists can’t be full citizens
Are you thinking of his father’s quote on atheists? George H.W. Bush said, “I don’t know that atheists should be considered as citizens, nor should they be considered patriots. This is one nation under God.”
Huh. The actual NHK reporter on the scene is at the far end of the mall….
Let the war-crime trials begin.
I can’t remember when the last time I saw MSNBC without there scroll going by, that was a smart choice.
R-
Nothing that was “Ask not what your country can do for you,” but then JFK did set a pretty high bar.
In the words of Jed Bartlett, “JFK really screwed it up for the rest of us, didn’t he?”
Oh god, who the hëll asked this guy to speak? I mean really……rhymes?
Okay, off to lunch and some meetings, alas. Fun times, all. I’m almost literally breathless.
Amen!!!
~8?)
Rob: Yes, I know I got Bush’s quote wrong. What was it, exactly?
Actually, Rob, it was Dubya’s father who reportedly stated that atheists should not be considered citizens or patriots. Dubya, much to my own surprise, once made a statement inclusive of atheists in America. I can’t seem to find it or remember the exact incident, though.
You have no sense of fun, Luigi.
Please accept the best wishes of one of your Northern neighbours for the future. While generally skeptical of the power of oratory (having used it myself on more than one occasion), even I was moved by your new President’s speech. Perhaps there is indeed hope for historic change for the better.
(Now if we could only get rid of our own Bush clone – except he doesn’t even have the personality).
The Reverend Mr. Black
I just wrote up a couple of paragraphs about Bush’s respect or lack of it for other peoples. Then I erased it. I’m sick of talking about Bush, at least for now.
I hear that Obama is personally feeding everyone at the National Mall with just five loaves and two fishes.
11:53: The song’s name is “America.” Sheesh. Love the hat, though. Only Aretha could make that hat work. Well, her and Eddie Izzard.
So was she the fat lady singing to advise Bush his time was up?
I was considering having the Freedom Clock at 0:07, but didn’t want to scare you guys.
I’m sick of talking about Bush, at least for now.
It’s ok, we can just shroud him now. 🙂
Not that we’ll be seeing much of him or Cheney in public anyways.
11:36: Has Ðìçk Cheney ever looked more like an evil mastermind than when he’s being pushed in a wheelchair? He just needs to be stroking a white cat.
He also look a lot like Mr. Potter from IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE. I hope he gets the same treatment a la SNL’s lost ending sketch.
Watching the Obamas and the Bushes on the steps. Michelle Obama is holding her husband’s hand, Laura Bush has her husband’s arm like a proper Southern woman. Somehow that seems symbolic of the differences between the old and the new.
Ironic that they just showed Bush’s helicopter, while focusing on the escape hatch.
To paraphrase Spock VS. Q, Luigi has fun at regularly scheduled intervals.
Thanks for this space, Peter.
Apparently the Chief Justice got the oath wrong. Watch someone try to file suit to have Obama put out of office on that basis.
PAD
I heard the Chief Justice say it two ways… the first time he said ‘faithfully’ at the end… whe he repeated it, he said faithfully at the beginning… Obama repeated it the way the CJ spoke the first time…
Correct way…
“I, NAME, do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.”
Apparently the Chief Justice got the oath wrong. Watch someone try to file suit to have Obama put out of office on that basis.
Somebody not becoming President because of a single Supreme Court Justice going one way or the other? That’s just crazy talk.
Great liveblog, Peter! Glad I wasn’t the only one thinking, as the Anthem ended, “Okay. PLAY BALL!”
“To paraphrase Spock VS. Q, Luigi has fun at regularly scheduled intervals.”
10 points for the Alien Voices ref.
Can I start breathing? Can I open my eyes? Did Cheney try any last minute fuzzy bunny sacrifices? Did Bill O’Reilly explode into little bits?
Glad I wasn’t the only one thinking, as the Anthem ended, “Okay. PLAY BALL!”
Actually, at the beginning, when the announcer started in about the inauguration of the 44th President, it not only sounded like a massive sports event, but all that went through my head was “Are you ready to Rumbllllle…. We are ringside for the Battle of the Presidents. Today’s match pits the outgoing ‘W’ Bush against the wildly popular Barack O-bama. Which one wants it more…”
“Apparently the Chief Justice got the oath wrong. Watch someone try to file suit to have Obama put out of office on that basis.
PAD”
I thought the very same thing.
I didn’t get to see the Inaugural, but I did record it for later viewing. I was in my vehicle, listening to the radio, and heard the mistake.
I also later went to the largest radio station in the Detroit area to hear how they were covering the event. After hearing commercials, what I heard was Rush spewing his hatred by saying there was nothing of note in Obama’s speech, but praising the speech of the guy Luigi mentions (Oh god, who the hëll asked this guy to speak? I mean really……rhymes?)…again, praising that speech as being more memorable than Obama’s speech, and one that will be remembered through the ages.
Rush is such a putz, and this gives us a look at how the next 8 years will be–a constant degrading of everything Obama does.
“Rush is such a putz, and this gives us a look at how the next 8 years will be–a constant degrading of everything Obama does.”
And that is different than the past 8 years?
I prefer Seven of Nine’s instructions to the children in Ashes to Ashes:
“Fun will now commence.”
While it is true that George Washington didn’t feel the cold 200 years ago, that is probably because he had been dead for nearly 10 years. When he was inaugurated in 1789, the weather was probably OK on that April 16.
Who else besides me happy-cried a couple of times?
May I say on behalf of everyone: Don’t let the door hit you on the way out.
YOU DEFINITLY do not speak for everyone.
PAD said, “Apparently the Chief Justice got the oath wrong.”
He did, but Obama got it right. He corrected the Chief Justice’s phraseology.
As to Obama being president as of Noon, even though he wasn’t sworn in until a few minutes later (about five, not as much as 16 minutes), Biden was sworn in as vice president just before Noon, so technically, I suppose Biden was in charge for those few minutes.
The vice president is always sworn in first, by the way.
Rick
and so… it begins.
Nice. Bab5 reference. President Sheridan?
May I say on behalf of everyone: Don’t let the door hit you on the way out.
YOU DEFINITLY do not speak for everyone.
Okay, then … 78% of everyone. I can live with that.
President Sheridan?
Kosh.
11:23: With wind chill, it’s 14 degrees. This is ridiculous. Enough with tradition. Move elections to March and have the inauguration to May. Everyone has to be freezing their áššëš off because 200 years ago George Washington didn’t feel the cold?
I’m pretty sure it was even colder at Nixon’s second inaugural when a crowd estimated variously at fifty to a hundred thousand (including me) showed up to explain just how wrong he was…
Alright! I fell all HopeNChangey already!
I’m gonna love the next 4 years!
RLR
Okay, I looked up what the Constitution actually says.
Amendment 20: 1. The terms of the President and Vice President shall end at noon on the 20th day of January, and the terms of Senators and Representatives at noon on the 3d day of January, of the years in which such terms would have ended if this article had not been ratified; and the terms of their successors shall then begin.
So it’s pretty straightforward. At noon precisely, Bush stopped being President and Obama started being President. Oaths aren’t a required part of the process.
As for what I said earlier about needing to take the oath to be the President, I thought that was true for non-Inaugural successions (President dies and VP takes over), but there doesn’t appear to be anything like that. The 25th Amendment says, “In case of the removal of the President from office or of his death or resignation, the Vice President shall become President,” but that’s it. It doesn’t mention an oath at all.
Even the part of the Constitution that mentions the oath isn’t entirely clear about the importance of the oath. It could be interpreted as him not being President until he says the oath, or simply that he is supposed to take it before doing anything else. Either way, the 20th Amendment seems to override that and say that it’s noon with no ambiguity, so that seems to mean the oath has no legal significance at all anymore.
The 20th Amendment also says that if the President Elect is dead at searing in time, then the VP Elect gets the job. So they’d probably been thinking about all the same loopholes everyone else thinks about during the Inaugurations.
In the words of the greatest president ever: Okay, what’s next?
Amen to that.