Three Cheers!
I enjoyed the afternoon but was a little disappointed with Obama’s speech. I thought he said all the right things. I liked it. But I don’t think, unlike his race speech, that this was a speech for the ages. Oh well.
[update: John Dickerson at Slate.com agrees with me.]
I wonder when right-wing conspiracy theorists will question Obama’s legitimacy (since I guess the supposed no-birth-certificate thing is played out) because, thanks to the Chief Justice’s blunder, Obama never actually did say the oath of office with the correct words in order: “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) 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.” But it was pretty clear from watching that Obama knew the words and was giving Roberts time to correct himself.
[update: Here’s the Times story on the matter]
But don’t worry; Obama is still President!
My favorite moments?
Obama tacking on “non-believers” after the list of religions that together make up America.
Obama saying, “We will restore science to its rightful place.” It’s nice to move on from the Scopes Trial of 1926. It’s a shame that in 2009 we still have to.
But really, I loved Joseph Lowery ending it all on a lighter note with a retro 1960’s cadence:
“We ask you to help us work for that day when black will not be asked to get in back, when brown can stick around, when yellow will be mellow, when the red man can get ahead, man, and when white will embrace what is right.” Amen.
(McCain supporters can click here.)
The Intellectual Redneck said…
detailed instructions on how to get an original vault copy of a Hawaii birth certificate. Of course Obama is President. He would not need to do anything but have someone pick up the phone. This is just to show you anyone can easily do it. Obama supporters spread so much untruth. 🙁
‘When requesting a certified copy of your birth certificate from the Vital
Records Section of DOH, let the clerk know you are requesting it “For
DHHL Purposes,” and that you need a copy of the original Certificate of
Live Birth and not the computer-generated Certification. If mailing in your
request form, please fill in “For DHHL Purposes” in the “Reason for
Requesting a Certified Copy” section. (See example on page 6.)’
hawaii.gov/dhhl/applicants/Loaa%20Ka%20Aina%20Hoopulapula.pdf
They even show a sample copy of the vault record for those so blinded by Obama they thought that document was a myth.
bloggingredneck.blogspot.com/
I counter link you with Fact Check.org. The pictures look real me.
So you’re arguing that the Hawaiian Certification of Live Birth is a fraud? Look, neither you nor I will ever personally handle the original certificate of live birth.
Besides, if he or some other liberal did post of copy of his certificate, would you believe it? You can believe what you want.
Hawaii says he was born in Honolulu. That makes him a natural-born citizen. I would say end of story.
Goddamn it! That bullshit made me miss (by 3 minutes) buying something I wanted on Ebay. Stupid bullshit
It was a really positive day for America. Though I am pretty cynical about “establisment politics,” I found the great emotion and jubilaton, particluarly among black Americans, to be profoundly moving.
One of today’s great moments was the part when Obama mentioned that 60 years ago, his father would not have been able to get service in a D.C. restraurant, but today his son is taking the presidential oath. At that point, John Lewis, who was savagely beaten by Alabama State Troopers while attempting to cross the Edmund Pettus bridge in Selma, stood and applauded. Also present, surviving members of the Tuskegee Airmen and the students that integrated Little Rock Central High.
And Peter, I caught the mention of non-believers too. As one of those non-believing types, I was grateful that President Obama acknoledged my existence. Today we celebrate, tomorrow the hard work begins.