Yes, we can.

[Morrigoon]

Well, damned if you do, damned if you don't. Is he wasting money, or pouring money into the economy? Six of one these days...

[Gemini Cricket]

Gene Robinson's invocation:

Following is the text of the invocation given by Bishop V. Gene Robinson at the opening ceremonies of President-elect Barack Obama's inauguration Sunday, January 18th. Robinson delivered the prayer at the base of the Lincoln Memorial facing a crowd nearly a million people strong that filled a stretch of the National Mall all the way to the base of the Washington Monument.
Good afternoon,
Before this celebration begins, please join me in pausing for a moment to ask God’s blessing upon our nation and our next president.
Oh God of our many understandings, we pray that you will bless us with tears, tears for a world in which over a billion people exist on less than a dollar a day, where young women in many lands are beaten and raped for wanting an education, and thousands die a day from malnutrition, malaria and AIDS.
Bless this nation with anger – anger at discrimination at home and abroad, against refugees and immigrants; women, people of color; gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people.
Bless us with discomfort at the easy simplistic answers we prefer to hear from our politicians instead of the truth about ourselves and our world, which we need to face if we are going to rise to the challenges of the future.
Bless us with patience and the knowledge that none of what ails us will be fixed any time soon and the understanding that our next president is a human being, not a messiah. Bless us with humility, open to understanding that our own needs as a nation must always be balanced with those of the world.
Bless us with freedom from mere tolerance, replacing it with a genuine respect and warm embrace of our differences.
Bless us with compassion and generosity, remembering that every religion’s God judges us by the ways we care for the most vulnerable. And God, we give you thanks for your child Barack, as he assumes the office fo the president of the United States. Give him wisdom beyond his years, inspire him with President Lincoln’s reconciling leadership style, President Kennedy’s ability to enlist our best efforts, and Dr. King’s dream of a nation for all people.
Give him a quiet heart, for our ship of state needs a steady calm captain. Give him stirring words, we will need to be inspired and motivated to make the personal and common sacrifices necessary to facing the challenges ahead.
Make him color blind reminding him of his own words that under his leadership there will be neither red nor blue states but a United States. Help him remember his own oppression as a minority, drawing on that experience of discrimination that he might seek to change the lives of those who are still its victims.
Give him strength to find family time and privacy and help him remember that even though he is president, a father only gets one shot at his daughters’ childhoods. And please God, keep him safe. We know we ask too much of our presidents and we’re asking far too much of this one, we implore you oh good and great God to keep him safe. Hold him in the palm of your hand that he might do the work that we have called him to do. That he might find joy in this impossible calling and that, in the end, he might lead us as a nation to a place of integrity, prosperity and peace.
Amen.

[PanTheMan]

Originally Posted by scaeagles

Four years ago when the economy was fine, there was expressed disgust at some 40 million being spent on the inauguration activities. This time around, with a horrid economy, why is 100 million considered OK?

There are also the numbers to consider. 4 years ago the crowd was estimated at between 300,000 and 400,000. 8 years ago the numbers may have been higher due to protests. This time around 2 million may be an underestimate.

and a bit off topic here, but did anyone see the sunset tonight? Most beautiful one i have seen in 8 years

[scaeagles]

Originally Posted by Alex

Yes, thanks.

So current estimates are that the Obama inauguration will cost $3 more than Bush's. I guess we're just left with the hypocrisy of two congressional Democrats not complaining about it.

No - not entirely. Even if the cost was exactly the same (which I don't necessarily subscribe to - I admit to not having read the media matters article, but I regard them in a similar fashion to how many of you might view Nation Review Online), there is still the issue of what was indeed a general feeling of disgust by many in the media that so much was being spent on the festivities. What it comes down to is simply that those members of the media are happy this time and wish to celebrate and cover celebrations, and in 2005 they did not.

[Alex]

You're moving the goalposts. If you said it so simply to start, I'd have no real issue. I still don't think you're quite accurately describing the objections over cost (they weren't simply financial). But it is the inclusion of fraudulent supporting facts that prompted argument.

Also, I have no issue with National Review nor Media Matters nor Fox News nor Instapundit. When they present sourced facts they present positions that can be rationally debated. When they don't, then they can't be. But simply being from one of those sources does not make facts any less. I'm sorry you filter yourself only to sources you perceive will slant the facts to your preference.

[innerSpaceman]

Originally Posted by Gemini Cricket

Gene Robinson's invocation:

Thanks for posting that. HBO failed to broadcast that part of the Lincoln Memorial kick-off festivivites. A "snafu" in communication with the inauguration team about what to include in their coverage.

Pfft. Ha!



The new conspiracies start.

[scaeagles]

Originally Posted by Alex

Also, I have no issue with National Review nor Media Matters nor Fox News nor Instapundit. When they present sourced facts they present positions that can be rationally debated. When they don't, then they can't be. But simply being from one of those sources does not make facts any less. I'm sorry you filter yourself only to sources you perceive will slant the facts to your preference.

I never claimed that you have problems with any source per se. However, many posters call Fox News Faux News because of they perceive a bias. I am letting it be known that I have always felt the same about Media Matters. In the same way that anything that comes from Fox is doubted by many here, I admittedly have the same doubts about MM.

[Alex]

I'm apparently feeling harsh today. The fact that I have twice posted and then felt I should come back and remove or soften what I've said is strong indicator that today shouldn't be an internet day for me.

So I'm pancaking this and will move on.

[Kevy Baby]

Wolf Blitzer and Keith Olbermann are locked in a fierce battle to show who is the bigger idiot.

Right now my money is on Wolf for "And to all a good night" as Bush's helicopter was circling.

[Tom]

You know you've wanted it. Now it's here:

Chia Obama