Tuesday, January 20, 2009

10 quick thoughts on the inauguration

1. I watched the peaceful transfer of power this morning in a darkened conference room with about 50 of my colleagues. Last time that many of us gathered around the TV in the middle of a Tuesday, we were watching the World Trade Center towers collapse.

2. I got a lump in my throat when Aretha Franklin was singing. Her voice definitely isn't what it used to be, but it was still Aretha.

3. I'm not a big Rick Warren fan, but I thought he struck a decent if not particularly eloquent tone today.

4. Joseph Lowery knocked it out of the park. Anyone who goes through what Lowery went through and comes out on the side of not hating everyone is a pretty good advertisement for his faith.

5. I wonder if 88-year-old John Paul Stevens is making retirement plans right now?

6. Two decades after Bush the Elder suggested atheists shouldn't be considered citizens, it was nice to hear Obama mention "non-believers" in his inaugural address.

7. After seeing Dick Cheney in a wheelchair, I can totally envision him playing Old Man Potter in community theater productions of It's A Wonderful Life.

8. Upon hearing that Ted Kennedy had taken ill at the inaugural luncheon, the last thing I wanted to see on CNN was a tight shot of John Cornyn's forehead.

9. Several instapundits clamored on about Obama's address not having a money shot for the ages, but I liked "To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society's ills on the West - know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy." Obama stepped on the trailing applause with his next line, but it would still make a nice soundbite.

10. Can't wait to fire up the electronic hearth and zip through the parade in TiVo time.

2 comments:

Unknown said...

Though I was not an Obama supporter do to my Republican leanings I have to say I felt a since of hope during his speech. I may not agree with him on a lot of issues, yet I still believe in respecting the commander in chief. He has a long road ahead of him and I hope he keeps the centrist approach in his decisions.

Anonymous said...

Joseph Lowery was my favorite part of the day, hands down. But, then, I'm brown and I'm stickin' around.

Teresa R.