Obama’s speech yesterday
An estimated 500,000 – 800,000 people braved the cold on the Washington Mall to attend the “We are One” inauguration concert yesterday. The crowd was treated to memorable and moving performances including Bruce Springsteen, Mary J. Blige, Pete Seeger, U2, and Jon Bon Jovi. Celebrities and comics including Samuel L Jackson, Queen Latifah and Tom Hanks introduced the musicians, read passages and gave brief inspiring speeches. The President Elect addressed the crowd and talked about our place in history. He emphasized that we’ve conquered adversity in the past and will do so again. In a line that is sure to be repeated for years to come, Obama said that “the true character of our nation is revealed not during times of comfort and ease, but by the right we do when the moment is hard.”
According to a new CNN poll, most African Americans say that Dr. King’s dream has been fulfilled with Obama’s Presidency.
Here some of the performances, in order. I am so proud to be an American at this place in history.
Bruce Springsteen: The Rising
Bettye LaVette and Jon Bon Jovi: A Change is Gonna Come
James Taylor, John Legend, and Jennifer Nettles: Shower the People
John Mellencamp: Pink Houses
Josh Groban and Heather Headley: My Country, ’tis of Thee
Will.i.am, Herbie Hancock and Sheryl Crow: One Love
Garth Brooks: American Pie and Shout!
U2: Pride and City of Blinding Lights
Pete Seeger and Bruce Springsteen: This Land Is Your Land
Beyonce: America The Beautiful
Thanks to UPI/Newscom for these photos from yesterday.
FINALLY THE WORLD CAN SMILE AT THE THOUGHT OF AMERICA AND NOT THINK ABOUT IDIOTIC GEORGE BUSH OR OUR HUGE CARBON FOOTPRINT!!!!!!!!!!!!
They should have booked SaltnPepa~
“whatta man whatta man what a mighty good man”
I just finished a post in my private blog about how I am feeling so overwhelmed with indescribable emotions. I go back and forth laughing and smiling to crying (tears of extreme joy, of course!), and have been everywhere in between as well.
I have been begging my SO to hop in the car and head to DC, but to no avail. He bent a little bit, but mostly the answer is still no. I am not gonna give up, though.
This is one of the greatest moments in my 28 years on Earth. I, like CB & many others, am so happy and proud to be an American right now. 8D
I too am so thrilled that today is George Bush’s last day and that tomorrow is a whole new beginning for us. I am filled with much hope, excitement, and pride that we are about to turn such a momentous corner.
good riddance bush
Hello President Obama
Damn, Bey killed it! you go girl ! Im watching tomorrow on CNN. Obama is the most loved political figure of my generation, much like Kennedy of my parents generation <3 Good luck President Obama
As an American, I do not identify myself with the Bush haters. They have been a disgrace and have no ethical standards of their own. All I can say is karma is a bitch. What goes around, comes around.
Mr. T: Sour grapes much? It astounds me there are people who can’t find anything to be optimistic about in this new presidency. They’re just sitting with arms folded across their chests and practically peeing themselves waiting for a chance to scream “I told you so!” It’s really pathetic.
@Mr. T:
No ethical standards? Are you kidding me!???!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!?
Can you point me in the direction of Bush’s ethical or moral standards? Because from what I’ve seen over the past 8 years, he’s not neither… nor does he have common sense.
You remind me of my grandfather, who told me that George Bush was not, in fact, a complete idiot, but instead a really good actor that has us all fooled. I was bamboozled then and I remain so now.
Don’t let the door hit you in the a$$ on your way out, Bush!
It disturbs me that it took getting Bush out of office for people to be proud to be an American. You live in a free country for crying out loud, you should have always been proud to be an American. I’m a staunch Republican and I’m annoyed that BO is about to be inaugurated, but it doesn’t change how I feel about America. It’s still a great country and I’m privileged to live here.
Bush has been a continued embarrassment to the entire country for 8 years now. Of course some people are goin to feel ashamed because of it and their patriotism will wane. And ER, the best part about having a free country is that you are free to hate on it if you want to. Yay freedom. Blind patriotism is not what this nation is about.
Hopefully now we can be proud of our country and proud of our leader for the first time in a good long while. Make us proud Barack!
As an American, and as a citizen of the World, I do not identify myself with Bush. Period.
Happy, happy, happy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day! History is in the making!
i am so excited!
anyways, i think its really really sad that a lot of republicans sound like they WANT obama to fail just so they can shout “i told ya so!”. why would you want YOUR president to fail just to prove you right? this is your country too, and you would think that everyone would be hopeful and optimistic, at least.
you may not have voted for him, but you should still give him your support…he hasnt even gotten into office yet. give the guy a chance. if he fails as president, we all fail. were all in the same boat here.
and to those that think obama supporters are “hypnotized” by him or something because we are so excited & hopeful about the next four years…whats so wrong with that? whats wrong with believe in someone to fix our country & our world? whats wrong with being tired of being lied to and being tired of our failing economy & an unwanted war?
whats wrong with hoping that someone can change the path that we are on?
its sad that people cant see what a great moment in history this is, whether youre republican or democrat.
i didnt vote for mccain, but if he HAD one, id still support him and want him to succeed.
hes the president to ALL of us.
Wait, if McCain “HAD one” what?
haha sorry, i got a little caught up in my rant. i mean HAD WON….i suck….
LOL CB, I’d say Florida is probably the nearest hotel room you’re going to get to DC over the next few days *wink*. Hopefully I’ll get to hear the proceedings on the radio (starting about 4.30pm local time)
I think our American readers on both sides will do well to remember that the first 100 days of any presidency is traditionally a very trying time, no matter what.
But outside of the US there is tremendous good will towards Obama generally, especially as he didn’t deliberately get off on the wrong foot like Bush did in 2000 (his “f*ck Kyoto and f*ck the rest of the globe” stance not being a rip-roaring success in the long-run strangely).
TIme will tell how well his administration manages the coming 4 years and their legacy into the future.
One more day folks! This is an exciting time !! It’ll be the first inauguration I’ll have watched in quite a while. So much burgeoning hope. Prayers for our new President 🙂
I’m a Bush supporter/Sarah voter. (There were many things Bush did that I didn’t care for or support.)
However, the hate since Day One of 43’s presidency has been awful. No wonder so many R’s are waiting for O to fail.
Objectively speaking, this O-mania is beyond the pale. This man is a politician like all the rest – and he came from Chicago, a cesspool if there ever was one. Illinois itself is awful as well. I say that as a resident.
All of the insanity around O is causing him to be built up beyond all reason, and this alone will cause many in the middle (the people who pay attention to the news for about 45 mins a week) to turn on in once he doesn’t do everything that he is supposed to do. In that, I feel sorry for him.
Is it a wonderful thing that a (half) black man was elected President? Yes. But this hysteria is unsettling.
Do I wish him well? Yes. I pray for God to keep him safe, especially from America’s enemies. I’m 42 – the US has NEVER been loved or respected. And eventually, our traditional enemies will hate him too.
I can’t even dwell on ignorance and hatred today. What a powerful, beautiful day in our Nation’s history! We’ve come so far, and seen so much . . . Today is such an inspirational day!
I’ve never been so proud to be an American.