Obama Inauguration Speech Video

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Change of Power in America

People all over are amazed at the almost simplistic transition of power from one outgoing United States President to a new incoming President. Stories go that George Washington, our first President, could have become a King for life but chose to walk away at the end of his term as President. In some respects it took a ton of personal will power for Washington to do that but he did and so has 43 other Presidents to date.

I’m by no means a George W. Bush fan but I mean him no ill will. Regardless of my thoughts and hopes for our new President Barack Obama, it was sad to see W go bye bye. Mind you, I would have been more than happy to drive them back to Texas if they needed a ride. His political philosophy never matched my thoughts but he was still my President. He left the highest office in the land with the least amount of approval rating in history and that alone may be why the 44th President was taking his place. Did I mention I would have driven him and Laura to Crawford? History may give a kinder version of President Bush but I find it hard to believe how. There was large gasp of relief at 12:05 PM on January 20th that was the relief valve of the American people as Barack Obama was officially sworn in as President.

Today I was drawn to the television by seeing our past President’s coming together for a historic event. Each one of them was once the most powerful leader of the free world in their time and now are just citizens of America.

Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalyn were there and for his age, Carter looked damn good. Habitat for Humanity must keep him in shape. Then when I saw Bush the father come in shuffling with the assistance of a cane and what looked like he was in pain, my heart went out to him. I did not know that he was in ill health. Then Bill and Hillary Clinton came in and that was my generations President. The bad boy of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue was back and allegedly President Carter ignored him and Hillary and rushed by them to get to their seats. Former President Carter denies the snub. He spent some times with the Clinton’s earlier.

We now have a new President, times will be tough for Obama but the honeymoon is on and by all means he should take full advantage of it politically. If he has any political capital he better spend it fast, the way things are looking economically, he needs to go on the offense and tackle that situation with the teeth of a lion.

It will be interesting to see how things work out with a Democrat controlled White House, Congress, and Senate. President Obama will either get his initiatives through or his own party will sink him and the nation.

Papamoka

The End of a National Nightmare

Good Morning Papamoka Bloggers - I was an early Obama supporter, having donated to his campaign nearly three years ago. I made an early choice that I liked his positions, and that we needed new blood in politics, and more diversity.

After months of volunteering and financial support, I am very proud to be witnessing his inauguration. I too want to celebrate this historical event, and extend my best wishes to African-Americans and others who are standing a little taller today.

It is also wonderful to celebrate Obama's ascent close to the day we honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It's amazing when you think about it; only four decades ago the haters were openly killing people because of their skin color. We've come a long way. I guess dreams can come true, even in politics.

I acknowledge the historic nature of this inauguration, but I also want to acknowledge the defeat of everything we've been fighting against over the past eight years. George Bush and Dick Cheney are leaving the White House in disgrace today. They are leaving as the most unpopular president and vice-president in American history.

Despite what their supporters say, newspapers at home and around the world are celebrating their departure. We may not have impeached them, thanks to Pelosi and the Democrats, or thrown them in jail yet, but we will be free of them. Their actual exit, which was considered questionable by many, is a victory to be celebrated.

So, let's celebrate Barack Obama as the next President of the United States, but it's just as important to celebrate the departure of the WORST dynamic duo to ever occupy the White House. The criminals are being forced out, and there's nothing they, or their supporters, can do about it.

Our nation will hopefully once again be lead by individuals who believe in the rule of law, and the concept that nobody, no matter how powerful, is above that law. We'll continue to fight to bring them to justice, but in the meantime it's enough to know they are leaving. The nightmare is finally over. Thank you God.

Happy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day!

Michael Boh
Papamoka's Left Coast Contributor
from Our Rants & Raves Blog

Obama Egg Salad Inauguration

We buy eggs by the 18 count at the grocery store simply because we have five baby girls to feed. Depending on what supermarket we go to, the eggs in the 18 count pack will be brown or white. Makes no difference to me, eggs are eggs, the kids just love eggs for breakfast, lunch, or anytime. Over easy with buttered toast and bacon, hard boiled straight out of the shell, egg salad sandwiches, egg and cheese breakfast sandwiches, omelets with ham and cheese, and of course, our family favorite, Westerns with ground up ham and onions and the rest of the desired additional ingredients served up personally by Papamoka aka Daddy for each member of the family. Most of all they love egg salad sandwiches. Mom makes it one way and Dad another. End result, full bellies, happy bellies, and happy children. Eggs are just eggs no matter the color of the shell.

Over at Reuters they have this on race relations and the incoming 44th President of the United States…

Obama inauguration turns page in race relations
Sun Jan 18, 2009 1:18pm EST

By Matthew Bigg
ATLANTA (Reuters) - Anyone looking for evidence of the change represented by the United States electing an African-American as president could start with the White House itself. It was built 200 years ago using black slave labor.

Tuesday's inauguration of Barack Obama marks a feel-good moment for the country. Many hope it is a sign that America's travails over race, older than the country itself, are being resolved.

Outgoing President George W. Bush was quick to make the point in his farewell address, saying that Obama's story -- his black father was from Kenya, his white mother from Kansas -- represents "the enduring promise of our land."

For black Americans, the moment is particularly poignant.

"When Barack raises his hand, every black person in the nation should raise their hand because there's a new sense of pride that we have in being an American that we've never had before," said Lawrence Carter, dean of the Martin Luther King International Chapel at Atlanta's Morehouse College. - Reuters

Racism in America makes about as much sense as segregating brown eggs from white eggs while you are boiling eggs for egg salad sandwiches for lunch. Just today we had half a carton of white eggs and half a carton of brown eggs in the fridge. All of them went into the same boiling hot water and it came to me that I was making an Obama egg salad! Politically, he has brought the racism out of politics and turned a page on how our future will be for all people in America. We are all in the same melting hot pot together in today’s economic crisis and the only difference between us all is the color of the shell on the egg. And what do we all do with the shells of the eggs when we peel them away to reveal the gem underneath to make egg salad? We toss the shells in the damn trash. All eggs are the same, and so are all people. Especially here in America.

Much like snowflakes, nobody makes egg salad the same but we all love it! I wonder how Martin Luther King Jr. would have liked his egg salad on Tuesday? I’m pretty sure he would have loved to taste a bite of the Obama egg salad sandwich.

Happy Birthday Doctor King. Your work and tragic loss made this all possible. Have a sandwich, all we have is egg salad! Your dream has come true and it comes with a mix of special ingredients we all call Americans. And my congratulations to Barack Obama for having a job that nobody in their right mind would want during these difficult days. Grab an egg salad sandwich Barack, you are going to need to keep your strength up my friend.

Papamoka

Rick Warren is No Billy Graham Mr. President-Elect

Good Morning Papamoka Bloggers - I understand it, but I can't believe it. Barack Obama has chosen Orange County preacher Rick Warren to give the invocation at his inauguration. It makes sense politically (for the next election at least), but it's a real slap in the face to the people who feel that Rick Warren isn't the open-minded saint many make him out to be.

The move positions Warren to succeed Billy Graham as the nation’s preeminent minister, but Billy Graham was known to be very bipartisan - or apolitical. Warren has been involved in many political movements, at least here in California. He was a main supporter of Proposition 8 that TOOK RIGHTS AWAY from gays and lesbians. He's also known as a major supporter of Republican causes.

As I always promised, I WILL CRITICIZE DEMOCRATS when I feel they deserve it. In this case, I think Barack could have made a better choice. I would have preferred Jeremiah Wright, if only to piss off the far right. No matter what, there were many better candidates. I think Warren was a very bad decision, no matter how political it may be. Rick Warren will need to evolve before I consider him representative of all Americans. Bad choice Barack.

Michael Boh
Papamoka's Left Coast Contributor
from Our Rants & Raves Blog