When it comes to politics I don't normally get emotional. However, today just listening and watching the coverage of the Obama Inaugration, I find myself getting very misty. I see only good things coming out of this administration. We need fresh ideas, a new direction, a new purpose in the world, and regain the trust and respect from the world. We have been down for so long. I am not going to slam Bush because it goes further back than that. Here is to hope to all of us.

Raving Lunatic wrote:When it comes to politics I don't normally get emotional. However, today just listening and watching the coverage of the Obama Inaugration, I find myself getting very misty. I see only good things coming out of this administration. We need fresh ideas, a new direction, a new purpose in the world, and regain the trust and respect from the world. We have been down for so long. I am not going to slam Bush because it goes further back than that. Here is to hope to all of us.

It's not that we are loosing a moron, but gaining someone who has the ability to reason and respects intelligence.

I see only good things coming out of this administration.

I think the most of the world shares your sentiments. Obama is bringing hope for change.

I've just watched the inauguration.

It was inspiring to all humanity, and I am proud of you America, because you have given us a glimmer of light and hope.

Mr. Pessimistic wrote:

Raving Lunatic wrote:When it comes to politics I don't normally get emotional. However, today just listening and watching the coverage of the Obama Inaugration, I find myself getting very misty. I see only good things coming out of this administration. We need fresh ideas, a new direction, a new purpose in the world, and regain the trust and respect from the world. We have been down for so long. I am not going to slam Bush because it goes further back than that. Here is to hope to all of us.

It's not that we are loosing a moron, but gaining someone who has the ability to reason and respects intelligence.

Irony in the post aside, I agree wholeheartedly. Hearing Obama specifically say we need to do more to address the sciences, and that certain changes taking place in the world right now are backed up by data and statistics made me very happy.

ZachSylvanus wrote:

Mr. Pessimistic wrote:

Raving Lunatic wrote:When it comes to politics I don't normally get emotional. However, today just listening and watching the coverage of the Obama Inaugration, I find myself getting very misty. I see only good things coming out of this administration. We need fresh ideas, a new direction, a new purpose in the world, and regain the trust and respect from the world. We have been down for so long. I am not going to slam Bush because it goes further back than that. Here is to hope to all of us.

It's not that we are loosing a moron, but gaining someone who has the ability to reason and respects intelligence.

Irony in the post aside, I agree wholeheartedly. Hearing Obama specifically say we need to do more to address the sciences, and that certain changes taking place in the world right now are backed up by data and statistics made me very happy.

He also included "non-believers" in when he said this is a nation of christians, muslems, jews and non-believers. Small thing maybe, but I think it is very positive. Yeah. This is a good thing...after such a bad thing.

I for one do NOT expect 'miracles' and hope the stupid hype around him does not taint the expectations. We are in deep and no one man is going to turn the tides in one year or maybe even one term. But he is intelligent, rational, inclusive and exudes true confidence (as opposed to swagger). This is a guy I truly would love to have a glass of WINE with.

It just feels so good knowing that it is finally over....

Great speech. I agree with Zach regarding statistics. The idea that policy should be based on evidence is immensely powerful. Failure to rely on scientific data seems to have been at the core of the Republican error. American greatness rests on its enlightenment heritage, and Obama is restoring that heritage as a basis for governance. Mr P is right to note the new inclusion of non-believers, who have really been at the heart of America's leading role in skeptical reason. Some things that leapt out to me were Obama's two uses of the phrase "new age", his nod to Saint Paul regarding putting away childish things, his call for respect for the Muslim world, his statement that "the source of our confidence [is] the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny", the mention of water and energy, and the comment "it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things - some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labor, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom." My sense is that the national security state of the Reagan-Bush era has lost contact with this entrepreneurial basis of American destiny, confusing it instead with a preferential option for the rich. A symbol to me of this dangerous stagnant obsolete Reagan-Bush vision is the wall around Israel. I hope Mr Obama can work with Israel and Palestine to tear down this wall.

Speech is at http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/160307 ... tory.jhtml

From what I am hearing on NPR and CNN, tomorrow is going to be a very busy day for the new president. The first thing on the agenda according to both of the news sources is the Gaza Strip. Both Hamas and Isreal has said that they are doing a cease fire until after the inaguration. I wouldn't be surprised that at midnight the fighting begins again.

Raving Lunatic wrote:From what I am hearing on NPR and CNN, tomorrow is going to be a very busy day for the new president. The first thing on the agenda according to both of the news sources is the Gaza Strip. Both Hamas and Isreal has said that they are doing a cease fire until after the inaguration. I wouldn't be surprised that at midnight the fighting begins again.

I really wish these people would just kill each other off already.

When he mentioned "non-believers" I felt so relieved and happy. Atheists have been treated like outcasts for so long.