The Note, 1/19/09: Past as Present — History Matters for Obama Inaugural
Email By RICK KLEIN The politicking and the policy-making can wait. This is about the pageantry. And in it rests the promise — and maybe the burdens — that Barack Obama brings with him to the presidency. Obama comes to the job with an acute sense of his own place in history — plus a sense that history brings lessons and possibilities for what he wants to get done. This is when words really do matter. Obama is looking back to look forward at this moment that belongs to him and his nation. The crowds who are snarling traffic and swelling subway cars in frigid Washington are more than star-gazing tourists. They are the reason for Obama’s success, and one of the main to be optimistic about his future. Said Obama, on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial for Sunday’s extraordinary concert: “As I stand here tonight, what gives me the greatest hope of all is not the stone and marble that surrounds us today, but what fills the spaces in between. It is you — Americans of every race and region and station who came here because you believe in what this country can be and because you want to help us get there.” The four days of choreographed events — with echoes of Jefferson, Lincoln, FDR, and JFK — point to Obama’s mastery of the moments that can make politics sublime. It’s that ability that may be his most formidable power when he assumes the presidency at last on Tuesday. The crowds are his army: “Like President John F. Kennedy, who summoned citizens to think about what they could contribute to the nation, Obama hopes to turn some of the focus back onto the electorate, as he did with his grass-roots-driven presidential campaign,” Anne Kornblut writes in The Washington Post. “Aides who have seen parts of Obama’s speech said they expect it to meet or surpass expectations of a president-elect known for his soaring oratory. But Obama and his aides are working to play down expectations about how much he can accomplish in his first days in office.” Sunday’s scene: “It was an emancipation unlike anything Lincoln could have imagined — a mass of people of all ages and races, celebrating the election of the nation’s first black President, on ground once used as a slave market,” The New York Daily News’ Michael Saul and David Saltonstall write. Obama needs the public to think big with him, to once again buy into his vision for the nation. That starts with remembering anew what brought them together behind his unlikely candidacy. “Historians have high expectations for Mr. Obama, who, they say, is especially adept at framing the moment and reaching for a larger context,” Jackie Calmes writes in The New York Times. “Analysts said Mr. Obama needed to create a sense of urgency, especially about the economy, to bring the public along with him and make Congress feel compelled to work with him.” Previewing Tuesday’s speech — David Axelrod, on “This Week with George Stephanopoulos” Sunday: “I think he’s going to talk about where we are as a country, but also who we are as a people. And what responsibilities accrue to us as a result of that. And what we have to do to move forward. I’m not going to handicap whether it’s going to be a great speech, a good speech or — but I have confidence in the message that he wants to deliver and I don’t think you’ll be surprised by it.” The inaugural speech is already written — though tinkering is still going on — and will clock in at between 15 and 20 minutes, ABC’s Jake Tapper reported Monday on “Good Morning America.” “This is just what he relishes, pressure to perform,” Bloomberg’s Al Hunt writes. “The world may well see not only a remarkably historic moment on the west front of the U.S. Capitol but also one of a handful of truly memorable inaugural speeches.” Reflections of hope: “This year, the stars are calling for recession, war, and political gridlock. America’s answer is Barack Obama, and the notion that one man’s ascension to the presidency can, almost by itself, alter a nation’s mood and thereby change its fate,” Peter Canellos writes in The Boston Globe. “Reality is bad enough that people need to be inspired to go out and change it. And inspiration is what people want, need, and even expect out of the new president.” A taste of his message, steeped in history: “What is required is the same perseverance and idealism that our Founders displayed. What is also required is that we break free from rigid ideology and small thinking, and together grab hold of this opportunity to bridge partisan divides and deliver change for the American people,” Obama writes in the Washington Times Monday. Extraordinary times, extraordinary starts. Bloomberg’s Hans Nichols: “Barack Obama’s inauguration is dedicated to the proposition that all presidencies are not created equal.” The flipside: All these expectations bring a burden along with them. “For Mr. Obama and his aides, finding a way to temper and manage all that emotion and optimism may be their biggest challenge in the next three days,” Helene Cooper writes in The New York Times. Where he stands: A 79 percent favorability rating, with 80 percent pleased with his transition — with deep angst about where the nation is heading, per the latest ABC News/Washington Post poll. “A potentially volatile mix of high hopes for the new president and deep dissatisfaction with the country’s condition greets Barack Obama’s inauguration – a political fulcrum that could tip for or against him as he grapples with the country’s economic crisis,” ABC Polling Director Gary Langer writes. Monday brings a series of service events. Barack and Michelle Obama have lunch with volunteers. Then it’s the Kids’ Inaugural at the Verizon Center, and three bipartisan dinners — honoring Colin Powell, Sen. John McCain, and Vice-President-elect Joe Biden. Monday is also Martin Luther King, Jr. day: “The pairing of King Day and Inauguration Day — when the nation’s first African-American president will look across the National Mall to where King in 1963 declared, ‘I have a dream!’ — raises a question: Is Obama the fulfillment of King’s dream? And what, exactly, was that dream?” per USA Today’s Rick Hampson, Larry Copeland, Charisse Jones and William M. Welch. For some, a particularly special moment: “Those of my generation, we will bring a special kind of memory, a special kind of fulfillment to that moment,” Rev. Otis Moss Jr. tells ABC’s Jennifer Parker. “We will feel the presence of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., himself, of the four little girls who died in the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, of a Thurgood Marshall.” Writes Martin Luther King III, in The Washington Post: “Mr. Obama will have the opportunity and the duty to pick up the mantle of Abraham Lincoln, of Lyndon Johnson, of Bobby Kennedy — and of Martin Luther King Jr. Yet this duty is not Obama’s alone. We must all embrace this dream as our civic responsibility. For it to function effectively, we must all take an active role in our democracy and champion the cause that is the common good.” Speaking powerfully, on race: “There is an entire generation that will grow up taking for granted that the highest office in the land is filled by an African American,” Obama said in an interview last week with The Washington Post. “I mean, that’s a radical thing. It changes how black children look at themselves. It also changes how white children look at black children. And I wouldn’t underestimate the force of that.” Then, Obama will be moving fast: Forget 100 days — it will be a busy first 100 hours. “Vans will be poised at the Capitol to take a few top aides of Barack Obama’s to their new offices at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. as soon as he is sworn in,” Politico’s Mike Allen reports. “About 20 senior officials have had their paperwork cleared to enter the White House complex on Tuesday. Some will attend a traditional lunch with the new president in the Capitol, then get to work while the inaugural parade is under way.” “On Wednesday, his first full day in office, he will call in his military commanders as he promised during the campaign in order to come up with a withdrawal plan from Iraq,” ABC’s George Stephanopoulos reports. Stephanopoulos: “He also will issue executive orders to issue the closing of Guantanamo Bay, though he won’t say a time. And in week one, he’s going to appoint new envoys to carry out his diplomatic missions: Dennis Ross, a longtime middle east peace negotiator will focus on Iran and other areas and Richard Holbrooke, who negotiated the Dayton Peace Accords in Bosnia, will focus on India and Pakistan.” Plus — a quick order to start the 16-month troop withdrawal from Iraq: “He is going to begin that process as promised on that,” Axelrod told Stephanopoulos. Moving from speech to action: “Obama’s aides said he was readying an inaugural address that would stress twin themes of responsibility and accountability, and they predicted he would devote his first week in office to economic recovery, setting in motion a 16-month troop withdrawal from Iraq and decreeing a code of ethics for his administration,” David Espo and Ben Feller write for the AP. This has symbolism as well as substance: “Obama has instructed his economic team to write unusually tough new regulations hammering Wall Street and the banking industry to avoid another credit, housing and investment crisis, the Daily News has learned,” Ken Bazinet writes in the New York Daily News. “I think he’s going to have a strong message for the bankers. We want to see credit flowing again. We don’t want them to sit on any money that they get from taxpayers,” Axelrod said on “This Week.” Then come the 100 days: “There’s a plan for what to do with the rest of the first 100 days. We just don’t know it yet because the Obama people are so damn disciplined,” Newsweek’s Jonathan Alter writes. “It will likely involve setting the table for big changes in energy and health-care policy with bills boosting renewable energy and extending health-insurance coverage to children (which passed the House last week). Obama will soon assume his role as educator in chief with the televised discussions he promised during the campaign. The press will predictably say these wonkfests are for show, and it’ll be half right. While the real deal will go down, as always, in private, these sessions will help Obama build public support for his program.” Look who was in town for the weekend: “The Rev. Jeremiah Wright may have made his peace with the former parishioner he once suggested turned on him for political gain, President-elect Barack Obama, but in an exclusive interview, he showed he’s still furious with the media, who he called ‘evil,’ and said he’s ‘not going to kiss anybody’s behind.’ ” per ABC’s Tahman Bradley and Ferdous al-Faruque. “Asked about the change in his demeanor since the Press Club appearance, Wright responded by attacking the journalists who were there that day for being obsessed with his relationship to Obama. He instead had hoped that the media would focus on his presentation about the black religious tradition,” they write. Says Wright: “They were arrogant, they were evil, they were devious and I responded in kind. . . . I just talked to you about a 500-year tradition but you don’t ask me one question about that because that’s not your interest, your interest is to taint Barack Obama. So no, I’m not going to be conservative, I’m not going to kiss anybody’s behind and if I’m standing up straight you can’t ride my back.” More welcome in town: “US Airways pilot Chesley B. ‘Sully’ Sullenberger and his family are going to the presidential inauguration, the mayor of his California hometown said Sunday,” per the AP’s Sudhin Thanawala. “An aide to President-elect Barack Obama said Sunday evening that all five members of the Flight 1549 crew have been invited to the inauguration Tuesday.” A split worth watching: “House Speaker Nancy Pelosi appears to differ from Barack Obama on at least two issues — tax increases and investigating the Bush administration,” per the AP’s Libby Quaid. “The California Democrat is pushing the president-elect to make good on a campaign promise that attracted some of the harshest criticism during the election — that Obama is a typical tax-and-spend Democrat who would raise taxes once in office.” “The administration is well aware that repeal will be highly divisive. Many key Republicans have made it clear they will fight hard to preserve the breaks, and Obama is trying to cool partisan fervor in his opening days, consulting with GOP leaders about the stimulus and winning praise from top Republicans for his efforts,” McClatchy’s David Lightman writes. A partnership worth tracking: “Over the last three months, Mr. Obama has quietly consulted Mr. McCain about many of the new administration’s potential nominees to top national security jobs and about other issues — in one case relaying back a contender’s answers to questions Mr. McCain had suggested,” David D. Kirkpatrick writes in The New York Times. “Mr. McCain, meanwhile, has told colleagues ‘that many of these appointments he would have made himself,’ said Senator Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican and a close McCain friend.” Added Graham: “What the Obama-Biden administration has talked about is not losing the gains we have achieved. . . . Obama does not want to be the guy who lost Iraq when it is close to being won.” Who is most hurt by this — the hacks or the flacks? “Barack Obama may get to keep his BlackBerry, but David Axelrod is losing his IM,” Politico’s Ben Smith reports. “The lawyers broke the bad news to Obama aides at a briefing Friday morning convened by incoming Deputy White House Counsel Cassandra Butts: Not only are they leaving the modern world to enter a White House where some of the clunky desktop computers still run Windows 2000 but — worst of all — they’ll be forced to surrender a form of communication staffers have relied on for the last two years to communicate with each other, outside allies, and the press.” Don’t miss Newsweek’s Tammy Haddad’s conversation with incoming National Security Adviser Jim Jones — who is pretty tough on the Bush administration, and a pretty tough guy all-around. “Marines don’t worry about the cold,” Jones said. “Pain is weakness leaving the body. . . . A little pain is good.” Why are all your Republican friends finding someplace warm (or just someplace different) to spend the weekend? Tribune Co.’s Jill Zuckman and Richard Simon write up the great GOP exodus. Roger Cohen updates a Billy Joel classic for the Obama years, for The New York Times. The Kicker: “I love you back.” — Barack Obama, breaking from script in a speech Saturday on the train journey, in one quote that wasn’t drawn from Lincoln. Viewing guide: ABC News will bring coverage of all the big events Monday and Tuesday, including an exclusive broadcast of Monday’s Neighborhood Ball. ABC NewsNOW coverage starts at 10 am ET Monday, and at 9 am ET Tuesday. Watch a special, one-hour edition of “Politics Live” at 11 am ET, with guests including Ken Burns, Don King, Dr. William Seale, and Cokie Roberts. Watch ABC NewsNOW coverage online HERE. Bookmark the link below to get The Note’s daily morning analysis:
http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/the_note/index.html For up-to-the-minute political updates check out The Note’s blog . . . all day every day:
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Rick Santorum Sweeps 3 States 
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Good luck, (soon to be) Mr. President. You will need it but it appears many people will be listening, at least for awhile.
Posted by: kseyetie | January 19, 2009, 8:42 am 8:42 am
THE HIGHER YOU BUILD UP OBAMA, THE FARTHER HE MAY FALL.
I THINK HIS BACK PEDDLING ON EXPECTATIONS OBVIOUSLY IS A CLUE THAT HE HIMSELF KNOWS THE TRUTH OF THE CURRENT STATE OF THIS COUNTRY.
HE MAY ONLY BE ABLE TO START CHANGE…LIKE MLK.
Posted by: Kris in AL | January 19, 2009, 8:45 am 8:45 am
From this far right wing Republican that did not vote for Obama, as of tomorrow, you are my President. I wish you well, and great success in helping this nation to recover from the problems we all face. I may not agree with you 100%, but I believe in America, and the American people. Welcome to the White House Mr. President.
Posted by: mitch | January 19, 2009, 8:59 am 8:59 am
They need to play the Superman theme song when the One takes his oath.
The media has built him up bigger than man, to immortal superhero status and he hasn’t done a thing other than spend money as if it grows on trees.
Posted by: What's he done so far | January 19, 2009, 9:07 am 9:07 am
thank god obama will be our president!!! we have seen the sick underbelly of america the last 8 years, how refreshing it willbe to have a good man in the whitehouse.
Posted by: T | January 19, 2009, 9:10 am 9:10 am
Mitch….nice try, but quite lying dude, you are in the tank for the O like the media. For one, they all play the race and victim cards, and that wound will never heal when you can milk it for sympathy votes and $$. That is just the facts. They cloak it in “Civil Rights” speech, but I’ve seen more racism coming from those so-called “black leaders” (ie, Sharpton, Jackson, Wright, Jakes, etc) who prey on their congregations for $$ to continue their agenda. I know liberals don’t like to here the truth, but a dose of reality is only fitting I think. Of course, if you look at the Carter years and compare the economy to what’s going on now…no comparison. Carter had 21% inflation and interest rates, gas prices were much higher, but the media fails to do an accurate assessment and scare the American people with the word “depression” in order to levy their social change agenda on all Americans. However, when that starts to peek, millions of Americans will also peek and take our country back by force if necessary. That is the beauty of freedom…it’s always worth fighting for and dying for…and I say this as a proud member of the U.S. Armed Forces.
Posted by: John | January 19, 2009, 9:24 am 9:24 am
Posted by: mitch | Jan 19, 2009 8:59:17 AM; You said; “…I believe in America, and the American people. Welcome to the White House Mr. President.”
I say; “Mitch, from a ‘determined Independent moderate’, you articulate a strong sense of being the Patroitic American we ALL should be!”
If WE, the American People “Pull Together” – I am convinced, “WE CAN” overcome the massive problems and difficulties Our Country faces today.
Posted by: bobj72 | January 19, 2009, 9:25 am 9:25 am
Good to see he honors and follows a republican.
The news media has built this man up real high I think in hopes of failure so they can sell news.
Posted by: Jim Rod | January 19, 2009, 9:26 am 9:26 am
John. No lie on my part. My interests are if the well being and prosperity of America. Something you understand, since you are a member of the Armed Forces. Thank you for your sevice to our country.
Posted by: mitch | January 19, 2009, 9:40 am 9:40 am
Funny thing is…why have the liberals failed to get behind Pres Bush? Now, all of a sudden, conservatives HAVE to march to Obama’s drum? Do you actually think it works that way people? Bush has been bashed, cussed, threatened with a bullet b/t his eyes by YOUR Senate Maj Leader Reed on the Senate floor; and now you expect conservatives to rally around a guy with no experience, a “me first” attitude who preaches a “do what I say, not as I do” attitude? Are you that blind? I mean really, are you? Obama is good at quoting great leaders, their accomplishments and their tenacity for service…I fail to see the comparison here b/t their ACTUAL accomplishments and Obama’s. Maybe I am the only one who has not been duped into believing the hopenosis here. Tell me though, what flavor is that Kool-Aid? And “T” talks about having a good man in the White House now? T…you need to get an education, learn what was actually accomplished, study Obama’s ties and then come to your own conclusion. You guys remind me of a bunch of Lemmings….
Posted by: John | January 19, 2009, 9:41 am 9:41 am
Contrary to what some people fear, that Obama can’t live up to the hype, every day he seems to exceed my original expectations for him. I used to fantasize about a new President, but Obama is better than what I could have imagined. I voted for Obama in the primary, basically on a gut feeling, that he was a very, very bright guy. Who knew he was also competent? PS. I never thought of him as being Black. Is that bad?
Posted by: Amy in Maine | January 19, 2009, 9:43 am 9:43 am
$170 million of the taxpayers money for an innaguration? Now that’s change we cna believe in!
I’m not red or blue, just a reasonable man and I’ll tell you something: Obama will be as poor a president as Bush because he didn’t earn the presidency. It was given to him by the democratic party and the electoral system. He has no military experience, no foreign service experience, he’s never had fiscal responsibility for a budget, he has never worked in a monetary capacity, he has never been in a position of leadership in his life.
He was a student, then a lawyer then a prof. then a state senator, then a U.S. senator and then a political strategy for the dems.
He’s an icon for people who fancy themselves “liberal” whatever that means these days and nothing has yet to change.
I understand this is the most expensive innaguration – even in terms of real dollars – in the history of the country.
Business as usual folks. Sorry, I don’t make the news I just report it.
Posted by: don | January 19, 2009, 9:44 am 9:44 am
Sorry John. It should have read, “My interests are “in” the well being…”
Posted by: mitch | January 19, 2009, 9:50 am 9:50 am
I’ll take the $170 million anyday over the $10 billion a month in Iraq !!
Posted by: jg5012 | January 19, 2009, 9:52 am 9:52 am
Everything is a political strategy: Obama begins search for D.C. church! That means he has to find one that has the right image. Forget about his religious beliefs. They are secondary to finding the politically correct church to be seen in. That has the right kind of minister.
Obama begins search for presidential dog! Obama’s begin search for school for kids. And the kids will go to a private school. LMAO. Public schools paid for by Obama’s constituents and regulated by the DOE aren’t good enough for the president’s kids. What’s that tell you?
Too funny! Our society is circuling the drain and the circles are getting smaller and smaller.
Posted by: Don | January 19, 2009, 9:52 am 9:52 am
Obama can try to save the USA (world included) all he wants. However, unless he has true relationship with the real Savior of the world his ideals will take a different direction. The old saying goes, that the road to hell is paved with good intentions.The great I AM said: What would it profit a man to gain the whole world, yet lose his own soul?
Posted by: midwestflyover | January 19, 2009, 9:59 am 9:59 am
This is a great moment in American history. I am happy to be alive to see it.
Posted by: rwrsok | January 19, 2009, 10:01 am 10:01 am
Dear american friends! i fond of your new president. He’s an excelent guy. I hope the world future will be better with him.
Posted by: hong | January 19, 2009, 10:06 am 10:06 am
Mitch…I want our country to succeed also…but genuine success does not flow from gov’t down..but from the people up. And right now, I’m afraid our leaders, especially the one’s who’ve been there for 2-5 terms do not have OUR best interests in mind, but their own. Real change comes from the American spirit, one that says, I will get off of the couch and make something of myself and contribute to society, not the other way around. We need leaders at every level of society, but the higher up in gov’t you go, leaders are hard to find…
Posted by: John | January 19, 2009, 10:08 am 10:08 am
Posted by: John | Jan 19, 2009 9:24:56 AM; “…… proud member of the U.S. Armed Forces.”
John, your commentary is laced with such “sharp cornered” divisiveness, you make it clear this is a ‘racial thing’ with you. You are virtually making the title “Conservative”, synonymous with “racial intolerance.” Also, the direction of your discussion suggests; CONSERVATIVES (in general), hold the same ‘social views’ that you have articulated. And I’m pretty sure that’s NOT the case. Or I would ASK; “What Kind of Minorities are the Republican Party REACHING OUT TO??”
IF you are a member of the U.S. Armed Forces, please know that we pray daily for you and all of our men and women – in uniform – around the world, who place themselves ‘in harms way’, with a commitment to “Serve and Protect Our Country.”
Posted by: bobj72 | January 19, 2009, 10:13 am 10:13 am
midwestflyover
Obama embodies my understanding of Christian ideals, and, frankly, Bush does not. That could be because I was raised in the Congregational Church, not an evangelical one. Congregationalists believe God wants us to make peace with one another. Obama looks like a leader who will emphasize diplomacy over killing innocent children. That’s kind of what this Congregationalist is looking for. Just want to point out there are apparently differences in belief, even among Protestant Christians.
Posted by: Amy | January 19, 2009, 10:17 am 10:17 am
President Obama . I am reallly gld u won so that the world can know that the God you serve is a living God and nota dead on. You go with the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and he will guide you into all truths if you really believ in him.
Despite what people may say, God shows the people of this world that it is not only make up of white or blacks . Colour does not matter but it is who you believe in and what you believe. Stay with God and he will give you guidance through your term in office and you will even succceed for another term.
GOd Bless You And Your Girls.
God Bless America.
Thank You
Vashti (Trinidad and Tobago.)
Posted by: Vashti | January 19, 2009, 10:32 am 10:32 am
President Obama ,you are a “MAN SENT BY
GOD”and by his grace you will accomplish all things you put your hands to do for the United States of America.
I will be praying for you and you family.
I do hope when you do come to my country I will be able to meet you and at least shake your hand to say CONGRATULATIONS.
Sharon
Posted by: Vashti | January 19, 2009, 10:45 am 10:45 am
John….nice try, but quite lying dude, you are in the tank for the P like the conservative media. For one, they all play the classism and victim cards, and that wound will never heal when you can milk it for sympathy votes and $$. That is just the facts. They cloak it in “elitists” speech, but I’ve seen more classism coming from those so-called “Christian leaders” (ie, Muthee, Dobson, McGraw, etc) who prey on their congregations for $$ to continue their agenda. I know conservatives don’t like to hear the truth, but a dose of reality is only fitting I think. Of course, if you look at Alaska and compare the past economy to what’s going on now…no comparison. Gas prices were much higher, now Alaska is facing a potential state deficit in the billions of dollars. Millions of Americans will also peek at the beauty queen of freedom…She’s all over the media even though she’s “all over the media.”
Posted by: moose | January 19, 2009, 10:59 am 10:59 am
I am certainly glad that all of the media-hype has continued, so much that it has all but ingnored the ridiculous scandals that seem to follow nearly every one of barry’s appts.
The media are a bunch of traitors. They sold out their country to a socialist with great speaking ability.
Posted by: dave | January 19, 2009, 11:06 am 11:06 am
I am soooo happy and excited! I am just beside myself with joy! The nation has been terrorized by GWB and his minions for the past 8 years. Finally the years of terror are over. Finally, I can breathe with hope and optimisim and dream about how great America can be again now that the Bush Terror Machine is leaving the WH. Finally we Americans can begin the healing and come together as one nation un-divided….Hooray, Hooray, Hooray.
And as a black woman, I am equally pleased that Barack Obama will lead us.
God bless us all.
Posted by: Marlene | January 19, 2009, 11:06 am 11:06 am
“The pairing of King Day and Inauguration Day — when the nation’s first African-American president will look across the National Mall to where King in 1963 declared, “I have a dream!”–raises a question: Is Obama the fulfillment of King’s dream?”
What did Dr. King have to say about American militarism?
http://michaelfury.wordpress.com/2009/01/18/when-silence-is-betrayal/
Posted by: ghost | January 19, 2009, 11:09 am 11:09 am
To the so called conservatives with a national debt of 13 trllion dollars, I am running out of towels with all you crying.
Posted by: BSKI | January 19, 2009, 11:12 am 11:12 am
Yup, past is a mirror of present. You’ve got an hour to call PEBO PEBO. Then, he will be PBO.
Posted by: cat's cat | January 19, 2009, 11:18 am 11:18 am
The media are a bunch of traitors. They sold out their country to a socialist with great speaking ability.
Posted by: dave | Jan 19, 2009 11:06:15 AM
…………………………………
He bought it. [giggle]
Posted by: Sarah P. | January 19, 2009, 11:19 am 11:19 am
hey everyone, i am with Mitch, i too am a strong conservative and i am willing to give my new president a chance, but if he goes down the wrong road; for example, if he takes that wish list from the Brady bunch, problem one, shows the new president is a liar, after all his promises to get elected by telling legal gun owners i will not try and take your guns or ammo, or mess with our 2nd amendment which by supreme court rule is and individual right, so Mr. Holder better keep in line with his presidents promises. and then there is all the yes i can speaches, well Mr. president you are in office, yes you better is what i am holding him to. no more should anyone running for high offices or any office be able to say what the people want to hear just to get into office and then blow of the promises once in, this must stop here with we the people. we have to call our congress persons and senators and reps everyday and hold them to their promises, no more lie’s. it is perjury and should be punished as such from here on out, if we as a Nation keep pushing God out of our countries affairs we will be the ones who suffer, if we don’t stand up to organizations like the ACLU or the Brady campaign, which has no leg or proof to stand on except scaring people that don’t understand it is not the gun but the moron on the other end that causes the crime, we legal carry people save lives not take them, it is a proven fact by the FBI that states that have the right to carry have much lower crime rates. so i say to all of you. be a true patriot and get involved, call your congressmen and senators and hold every official to there promises. also a slice of truth; did you all know every one who got elected this year in every office except the career politicians ran as pro gun officials. so every person under that person in your state make sure you call and tell them fight for my 2nd amendment rights as promised, even if you don’t own a gun or never will it don’t matter, it is your right and it is holding known liars to there word. also if we as a people allow just one right to be taken or changed the rest will follow and we will never get them back, so fighting for one right fights for them all. so the best way to fight for civil rights is to join the NRA they fight for every civil right and they are good at it, so join the NRA and stand with all of us Americans that will fight to keep our rights and freedoms, it is we the people that makes the rules in this country not politicians and the media. you have to remember this and stand with us to keep our Constitution and Bill of Rights alive and well. please pray for this country and ask God to stay with us and ask him for his help, America has pushed him out of almost everything and if he takes his hands off this country we will stop existing just like our freedoms and rights, we must say no to America giving up our sovereignty to the UN, this must never happen, they hate our constitution and will fight to have our gun rights taken just like every country in the world, we are the last free Nation in this world that is allowed to own a gun and we Americans like it that way and i am going to fight to keep it that way. so everyone; join the NRA get ready to stand, they need the money to fight everyday in court from today on through this whole administration and we Americans must and will win. Be blessed and may God bless this great Nation again and make her even stronger, pray for Mr. Obama that God changes his heart and makes him a great president and not just another liar in office. all things through Christ are possible. A Patriot.
Posted by: Eddie | January 19, 2009, 11:40 am 11:40 am
All of the inauguration festivities are the most overwhelming display of political capital in presidential history. Combine the pomp and circumstance with 80% approval and the “loyal opposition – i.e; the GOP – will have a hard time trying to retain mainstream support if they continue fighting Obama’s agenda.
http://www.political-buzz.com/
Posted by: matt | January 19, 2009, 11:46 am 11:46 am
The 20th on January will be a great day! We all face opposition in life but the true test is when we stand up against it not sit on the sidelines and talk about it.
If we don’t take the chance we don’t stand a chance.
Go ahead Mr. OBOMA Fight the right fight!
Posted by: Marvin Wilson | January 19, 2009, 11:46 am 11:46 am
The time for regime change is upon us. May the Lord watch over and protect this nation from the real and imminent dangers that face us. Guide our leaders to do your will. May the people of this nation come to once again love and acknowledge your Son as our Lord and Savior. God bless America.
Posted by: mmonroeliveson | January 19, 2009, 11:55 am 11:55 am
dave 11:06:15 AM;
dave, “The weaker of those holding opposing views, tend to resort to “name calling” (unproved & unsupported assertions) when they realize they are unable to mount a reasonable argument.”
Posted by: bobj72 | January 19, 2009, 12:10 pm 12:10 pm
bobj72
“birds of a feather……”
Barry has flocked with socialists and crooks for years. Your ability to shrug off barry’s ridiculous “associations” throughout his past is shocking. Actually, it simply proves that the media really does control the masses perception of reality.
Here are several of barry’s own quotes tending back up my point…
“in college i sought out the marxist professors” -audacity of hope
“i feel it was a tragedy that the courts of the 60′s didn’t get more involved with wealth redistribution”- radion interview in 2001
“I just wanna spread it around a bit”-conversation with joe el plumber
Of course there is also that fact that barry sat in a socialist, racist, anti-American church for 20 years.
Or the fact that he had his political coming out party in a well-known socialist/terrorist house (ayers), in addition to sitting on several boards with him.
Finally, who could forget rezko. The chicago slumlord who is now in prison. He was barry’s biggest campaign fundraiser and also “helped” the obama’s buy their mansion in a sweetheart deal.
BO is either an idiot or a shrewd liar. I certainly don’t think he is an idiot, so what does that leave?
Posted by: dave | January 19, 2009, 1:11 pm 1:11 pm
dave, for sake of brevity let me high-light YOUR MOST RIDICULOUS statement; “Of course there is also that fact that barry sat in a socialist, racist, anti-American church for 20 years.” (Probably 99.5% of the people you could say this to, would think You were HIGHLY Biased or Out-Of-Touch!)
BTW, After President Elect Barack Hussein Obama is ‘sworn in’, will you still be determined to ‘show your disrespect’ by referring to him as “barry?”
Posted by: bobj72 | January 19, 2009, 2:10 pm 2:10 pm
I am so glad that i finally have something to be proud about regarding my country! It turns out, white people and America really aren’t so bad afterall. I don’t know why we stayed at rev wright’s church for so long. Even though he married barrack and myself, baptized our children, and barrack wrote a book titled after one his speeches, we really had no idea he was saying those things (yeah right).
Thank you ABC, CNN, MSNBC, you all have been great! We most CERTAINLY could not have done it without your overwhelming support. It was as if you all were part of the campaign! And Foxnews, you suck.
Posted by: michelle obama | January 19, 2009, 2:17 pm 2:17 pm
bobj72
Actually bob, 99.5% of Americans would probably disagree with rev racist’s ridiculous accusations and notions, barry however, felt right at home.
Also, Barry was the name barrack went by before he realized that identifying with his black father’s heritage would further advance him as a victim. Remember, his deadbeat father abandoned him, but yet, barry still felt compelled to write “dreams from my father”.
It was his racist white grandmother who died from the bus barry threw her under that raised him.
Posted by: dave | January 19, 2009, 2:23 pm 2:23 pm
No, no, no! The only victim around here is ME, ME, ME! I’ve been exploited by the press who have thrown ME under a sharper microscope than Caroline Kennedy. It’s not about racism, it’s about classism. And it’s especially about ME, ME, ME! The press just won’t leave ME and MY family alone. Hear ME talk about this and more on the new Glenn Beck show tonight on Fox.
Posted by: Sarah P. | January 19, 2009, 2:47 pm 2:47 pm
Sarah P. You betcha! LOL
I have to get the publicity where I can steal it. That should be me up there tomorrow. I am just what this whole country needed and should have had. Old man McCain wouldn’t have stood in my way for very long. But shoot, now I have to do it on my own merit. I guess that might take a little longer than I would have hoped. I am not getting any younger you know.
Posted by: scentsofroses | January 19, 2009, 3:12 pm 3:12 pm
Sara P
You are correct in your calling out the media. Some 200 reporters descended on Alaska to comb over your every move since birth, while the same liberal whackjob press gave passes daily to that blundering idiot biden. Biden was caught cheating in college and plagerizing in the 1980′s during his first presidential run, but somehow you not being the real mother of your son was newsworthy. Ridiculous.
Around the same time, BO was claiming there were 57 states in the union, but yet not a negative word was spoken.
I have seen many elections in my time and there was one other “dumb hick from a small town” that the media HATED just as much as they hated you, Ronald Reagan. They sure stopped him, didn’t they?
Posted by: dave | January 19, 2009, 3:23 pm 3:23 pm
dave, I would venture to say; “The publicized lawlessness The Catholic Church has, over time purpetuated on the Children of the Church, FAR EXCEEDS any “Stupid, Anti-White, Racial Remarks” made by ANY Black Preacher!
We’re talking about Criminal Statues here; Child Sexual Abuse, Child Statory Rape and Sodomy of Children! Where’s The Outrage??? Has Anyone been prosecuted? (Catholics, please forgive me for having to draw the contrast.)
And dave, you feel it necessary to concern yourself with a Black Rabble-Rousing Preacher?!?! C’mon man!
Your “Victim” assertion ‘Smacks of’ a “superiority complex”, as I’ve heard similar thought articulated from “the slobbering-and-snot-mixed” lips of Fiery-Eyed White Separatists.
Posted by: bobj72 | January 19, 2009, 3:27 pm 3:27 pm
I am wondering why so many posting about holding Obama accountable for his promises have not done so with the present President. Mr. Bush has been probably the worst President in modern times and still, his supporters have sat idly by without any groundswell for him to fulfill his campaign and inauguration promises. I would have some respect for Republicans (I am one by the way) and I admit that I have been lax in some instances about writing to the President when he let us down. But with all the writing that I did do, Bush ignored them. If a majority of our party had held Bush accountable for at least a minimum of adherence to constitutional ideals we then would have room to crab about Democrats who do not do so with their new leader.
Posted by: Mari | January 19, 2009, 3:32 pm 3:32 pm
bobj72
Let me get this straight, my being upset that barry brought his children to hear this garbage somehow makes me a racist?….
“GD America”
“America created the AIDS virus to murder blacks”
“America is the worst terrorist nation in the world”
“America is run by greedy rich white folk”
“America deserved 9/11″
My party was the one who freed the slaves after we kicked the democrats’ butt in a war, when they were fighting to preserve slavery. My party was the party who had to fight adament democratic segregationists like George Wallace, Senator Byrd (although there are many many more not listed, hopefully your distorted view of history might allow you to atleast remember those 2).
The democrats only picked up on civil rights when they realized entitlements= votes. MLK was a republican, but ever since your party has crippled blacks’ standard of living through entitlements, blacks quality of life relative to whites has dropped drastically. Check the statistics bud, the 60′s free your mind crap really hurt blacks the hardest.
As for the Catholic church and child abuse, if any politician ever stayed in a church after knowing that the parish priest was hurting children, he or she should be beaten SEVERELY.
However,indicting the entire Catholic church for a small percentage of disgusting perverts is wrong. If your going to use that logic, why not indict the entire educational system? Have you seen how many teachers have been arrested after getting a little too friendly with their students?
Bottom line, barry’s pastor was a crooked, agitating racist, anti-American (nothing secret about that) quack, and barry endorsed him for 20 years.
Posted by: dave | January 19, 2009, 3:57 pm 3:57 pm
Mari; Now is not the time to press for adherence to campaign promises. Recovery from the current recession takes precedence over everything else. Since we are at war as well as in a recession it would be folly to further stress our central government’s capabilities by making additional monetary commitments at this time. However, I believe that recipe for disaster will be the course taken by the new administration.
Posted by: mmonroeliveson | January 19, 2009, 3:58 pm 3:58 pm
“GD America”
Oh, that brings back fond memories of the AIP’s Joe Vogler, God bless him and the good work he did.
“The fires of hell are frozen glaciers compared to my hatred for the American government and I won’t be buried under their damn flag,” he said. “I’ll be buried in Dawson. And when Alaska is an independent nation they can bring my bones home.”
“And then you get mad. And you say, the hell with them. And you renounce allegiance, and you pledge your efforts, your effects, your honor, your life to Alaska.”
Posted by: Sarah P. | January 19, 2009, 4:29 pm 4:29 pm
Posted by: mitch | Jan 19, 2009 8:59:17 AM;
mitch, is that also you posting on amren.com at 9:12AM?
That Blog is a “Race Hater Haven!” Not much difference from The StormFront. But it’s healthy to see “Hatemonger ROACHES” In-the-sunlight-of-day. Who knows the sunlight might offer some cleansing.
AND dave 3:57:07PM; YOU taking credit for Freeing The Slaves DOES NOT exempt you from being a Separatist.
AND as far as the rest of your argument is concerned; You got a ‘Rod with the Line in the water, but unfortunately you forgot the Hook!’
Posted by: bobj72 | January 19, 2009, 4:35 pm 4:35 pm
To the Palin impersonator,
Your argument comparing rev racist, the obama’s pastor of 20 years and long time close friend, to joe volger is laughable. Didn’t I hear palin’s husband went to a couple of meetings or something with volger?
Did volger baptize the palin’s children?
Did he marry sara and todd?
Did he inspire sara to write a book titled after one of his speeches? Did sara ever call volger her “spiritual mentor”?
Did volger ever use a pulpit to premote sara’s political career?
I swear, you obamabots have all lost your marbles.
The problem is Todd Palin worked 60-70 hours a week to put food on his family’s table and probably didn’t care a lot for Alaska’s politics. Barry on the other hand used chicago’s web of political scandal to launch his career. Not once did he denounce rev racist until he had to. Not once did he ever denounce Rezko until he had to. Not once did he ever denounce blago or ayers until he had to. He is a snake.
Posted by: dave | January 19, 2009, 4:46 pm 4:46 pm
bobj72
You are really discrediting my posts with those one-line cliché’s! They really are fascinating to read.
Posted by: dave | January 19, 2009, 4:49 pm 4:49 pm
Speaking of laughable, I don’t read newspapers or magazines. You really think I’m gonna write a book? [giggle giggle giggle]
Posted by: Sarah P. | January 19, 2009, 4:55 pm 4:55 pm
“Jobs is a 3 letter word”
(speech on the campaign trail)
“Hillary Clinton is more qualified then I am and would have been a better choice”
(Amen!)
“You wanna see how middle class i am, go down to katie’s restaurnant”
(that closed 20 years ago joe)
“In 1929, Roosevelt got on television and spoke to the American people about the crash”
(this one speaks for itself)
“It’s patriotic to pay higher taxes”
(Right Joe, kind of like it’s patriotic of you to give .0001% of your salary a year to charity)
“Bosniac”
(VP debate)
“I have been to all 57 states”
(BO said this beauty)
Posted by: Joe Biden | January 19, 2009, 5:12 pm 5:12 pm
If Obama and Biden were more like Sarah Palin:
“57 states in the USA? That remark was taken out of context! The salacious mainstream media is always picking on me! It’s a classic case of classism! How dare they put me under a microscope like this! They need to let this go!” – Barack Obama
“JOBS is a 3 letter word”- Biden
“Roosevelt came on television in 1929 and told Americans to be calm about the crash” –Biden
“Bosniac”-Biden
“You want to see how middle class I am? Go down to katie’s restaurant” -Biden
“Hillary is more qualified then I am, she would have been a better choice” –Biden
“I don’t think those are all my exact quotes, but even if they are, they were taken out of context and mocked by the nasty mainstream media. They are always exploiting me!” – Joe Biden
Posted by: O & B | January 19, 2009, 5:35 pm 5:35 pm
Actually,
If barry and joe were more like sara, biden probably would not have been caught cheating in college and plagerizing in the 80′s during his first presidential run.
And if barry were more like sara? Well,that would mean half of the people in his past would be in jail by now. Palin fought corruption whereas barry used it to premote his career, acquire a mansion in chicago and increase his angry wife’s salary by $250,000.
When Palin climbed into the governor’s chair corruption on both sides of the isle was dealth with. People were fired and/or went to jail.
There is NOT ONE INSTANCE OF BARRY EVERY SPEAKING OUT/COMBATING CORRUPTION in the windy city. Can anyone disagree with the fact that he had PLENTY of opportunity to do so in Chicago (the dirtiest city in America)???.
Posted by: dave | January 19, 2009, 5:56 pm 5:56 pm
I just finished my interview with Glenn Beck and, boy oh boy, did he ask me some hard questions. The one that really had me sweatin’ bullets was “When was the last time you went to the Wendys drive-thru and ordered a Frosty?” Seriously.
Posted by: Sarah P. | January 19, 2009, 6:02 pm 6:02 pm
DAVE SAID:
Sara P
You are correct in your calling out the media. Some 200 reporters descended on Alaska to comb over your every move since birth, while the same liberal whackjob press gave passes daily to that blundering idiot biden. Biden was caught cheating in college and plagerizing in the 1980′s during his first presidential run, but somehow you not being the real mother of your son was newsworthy. Ridiculous.
Around the same time, BO was claiming there were 57 states in the union, but yet not a negative word was spoken.
I have seen many elections in my time and there was one other “dumb hick from a small town” that the media HATED just as much as they hated you, Ronald Reagan. They sure stopped him, didn’t they?
GREAT POST DAVE!
Posted by: Jill | January 19, 2009, 6:08 pm 6:08 pm
You’re very insightful, dave. When I did my plagiarizin’ during college, I never got caught – not at any of my four schools.
Posted by: Sarah P. | January 19, 2009, 6:16 pm 6:16 pm
Breaking news, Obama misspeaks!
“I’ve now been to 57 states.” – Reuters video 2008
Reuters is MSM, isn’t it?
Posted by: oopsie | January 19, 2009, 6:38 pm 6:38 pm
dave, Quite frankly you DISCREDIT Yourself each time you venture further into “The Deep End Of Your Pig Sty!” Does This President Elect Barack Obama, This Man Of Color and His Family INFLAME YOU to the extent that it unsettles you Physically, Mentally and Spiritually? GET OVER IT dave, and try to maintain a minimal degree of dignity and decorum. The People of America HAVE SPOKEN!!!
Posted by: bobj72 | January 19, 2009, 7:31 pm 7:31 pm
Let this be OUR INAUGURATION AS A RESILIENT PEOPLE!
The main reason I voted for Obama was that he is asking us (U.S.) to take responsibility. No more whiners, slackers, and complainers…..from any party or affiliation. We need to shift this pervasive negativism into a positive resiliency.
Ya know, when he gets up there to take the oath of office, I”m gonna put myself there…and we all should. We should all see ourselves placing our hand on that bible (or whatever you believe in) and promise to strive to be resilient as an individual, as a family, as a community, and as a country. A resilient person is problem-solving, patriotic, into wellness of body and mind, caring and ethical, service and community-minded, courageous in the face of crisis or terrorists, and has a positive can-do attitude. A resilient person would be a frugal and energy conservation minded not because it’s the latest green fad but because it’s wise and efficient and part of their lifestyle. A resilient person has an understanding of their civic responsibility – they participate in our government and THEY VOTE. A resilient person would not spend their time complaining about the faults of other people but would spend their time getting the job done. Let’s really strive for the highest ideals of this country. Let”s do it.
Posted by: rick glatz | January 19, 2009, 11:03 pm 11:03 pm
BO you are a liar and without the backing of the media would never have even made it through the primaries. The amount of non-existent scrutiny given to you, your friends, and your past decisions is astonishing.
Posted by: jill | January 19, 2009, 11:21 pm 11:21 pm
You’re darn tootin’, Jill! The evil MSM is sooo biased! They were always diggin’ up my lies. Heck, when I lied about the Troopergate report clearin’ my name, the dirty scoundrels actually turned those microphones ON and broadcast my whopper! Oh my goodness, I sure wasn’t expectin’ that! And then there’s my family. When I headed the MSM off at the pass and disclosed that Todd had a past DUI and Bristol was pregnant, the mangy devils spread the word! All they did to Michelle Obama was publish a cartoon of her as a terrorist with a big Angela Davis afro on the cover of the New Yorker. Nuthin’ wrong with that. And when Newsweek put me on their cover, they had the audacity not to airbush out my facial flaws. How dare they do such a thing to a former beauty queen! Not like the cartoon of Barack on the New Yorker as a Taliban leader. Not one blemish did they draw on his mug! And even though the little Obama daughters left their school to move to Washington, do you think the MSM called them dropouts? Nope! It’s absolutely astonishin’!
Posted by: Sarah P. | January 20, 2009, 12:37 am 12:37 am
GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ARE WORRIED THAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DO NOT BUY THINGS (CONTRIBUTE TO MOVE THIS ECONOMY FORWARD). THEY WANT TO CUT TAXES OR ISSUE GOVERNMENT CHECKS. WELL, EITHER ONE WILL LAST A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. WHY NOT CUT PROPERTY TAXES. WHY NOT GET RID OF CAR TAXES. I AM SURE THAT WILL HELP THE ECONOMY. THE REASON THIS ECONOMY IS STUCK IS BECAUSE EVERYTHING HERE IS SO EXPENSIVE: PROPERTY TAXES, CAR TAXES, IF YOU OWN A CONDO, YOUR CONDO FEE GOES UP EVERY YEAR, COLLEGE TUITION IS SO EXPENSIVE, HEALTH INSURANCE IS SO EXPENSIVE, RENT IS SO EXPENSIVE, IF YOU HAVE A CHILD, HIRING A BABYSITTER IS SO EXPENSIVE. SO HOW, I ASK GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, YOU WANT US TO SPEND OUR DOLLARS (TO MOVE THIS ECONOMY) WHEN FIRST WE HAVE TO PAY THE EXPENSIVE BILLS (READ ABOVE). AFTER WE PAY OUR EXPENSIVE BILLS, WE HAVE NOTHING LEFT ($$$$$$).
SO GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS MUST FOCUS IN REDUCING THE ABOVE EXPENSES. CUTTING TAXES OR ISSUING GOVERNMENT CHECKS WILL NOT SOLVE THE ECONOMIC PROBLEM WE ARE IN.
Posted by: Patty | January 20, 2009, 8:32 am 8:32 am
WISHING YOU OBAMA THE VERY BEST IN YOUR NEW JOB, HAVE THE FEAR OF GOD WHTICH IS THE BEGINNING OF WISDOM.
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It is unbelievable to see American nation recovery from one of the greats recession in human history and the approval of health care for poor americans citizen due to hard work of OBAMA administration. If any one needs to be praise now will be and only be Obama for facing and changing the direction of american people life to a more positive one. A born to change will always make a change in an unpredictable world we live. Uncertainty is the common denominator for every nation. National interest remain the focus of Obama administration which is normal and indispensable for the maintain of american suppremacy in the world. I hope he should be congrat for his job well done, not for changing a system that was born during the cold war, let us think and meditate to understand not just to say what comes in our mind.
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