Inauguration Day Schedule

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**Frazzled**

http://inaugurationday2009.com/schedule.html

Time Event (EST)
8:00 AM Gates open for ticketed attendees -- if you have tickets, it will be wise to arrive very early as crowds will be huge and security heavy.
10:00 AM Preliminary festivities begin, including music by The United States Marine Band, The San Francisco Boys Chorus, and the San Francisco Girls Chorus.
11:00 AM Live internet broadcast of the inauguration begins at the Presidential Inaugural Committee web site. See the where to watch page for more information.
11:30 AM If you have tickets to the Inauguration ceremony, you must have passed through security by this time.
Call to Order and Welcoming Remarks: Senator Dianne Feinstein
Invocation: Dr. Rick Warren
Aretha Franklin will sing
Vice President-elect Joe Biden will be sworn into office
Music composed by John Williams and performed by Itzhak Perlman, Yo-Yo Ma, Gabriela Montero, and Anthony McGill.

12:00 Noon As specified by the U.S. Constitution (20th Amendment), presidential terms of office begin and end at 12:00 noon on January 20. Barack Obama will take the oath of office, which is this simple, 35-word, statement:
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.
12:05 PM (approx) President Barack Obama will give his inaugural address, speaking to the nation and world, for the first time, as President of the United States, followed by:
Poem: Elizabeth Alexander
Benediction: The Reverend Dr. Joseph E. Lowery
The National Anthem: The United States Navy Band "Sea Chanters"

**PanamaG**

There are grade schools today requiring all students to watch it at lunch (or they rework the lunch, one is having it at 10 am). Some (I think it was in Florida) are then requiring their kids to write papers on why today is historical, or make bulletin boards about it.

Its sad when parents start to brainwash their kids for a political party. Do people not realize it, and this many people blindly view politics as an honest system, when it is actually a two business (party) business (government)? Or do they just care that little, even for their kids?

Today is a sad day for America.

Im going to let this post sink in, I will not be back to this thread, there will be those that do not understand what I mean, who will say it is because he is black that he is being celebrated, but even so, we do not celebrate black people who make it to the top in big business. This is the same thing.

**Frazzled**

WTF did you just say?

**PanamaG**

Exactly

But I hope for your sake that is sarcasm.

Goodbye!

**Apone**

If you don't like the system PanamaG, try and change it.
As for the OP, will be good to see, though I think I'm missing the main event for work.

Music composed by John Williams? Please tell me they are gunna play "The Throne Room/End Title" (medal ceremony song) from Star Wars!
That would be amazing.

**Frazzled**

Don't forget you can live stream on your computer Apone.

I did not vote for Obama, but even I recognize the historical significance of this day.

**Apone**

Indeed. I didn't vote for him either (because I'm English obv) but events like this are nice to watch.

**malfred**

I'm amused that so many of this stuff seems "new" to people because they
haven't been paying attention to inaugurations for the past 16 years, and yes
I'm amused with myself as well.

I'm just glad it took Barack Obama to bring that many people to DC as opposed
to Louis Farrakhan.

**BloodofOrks**

PanamaG wrote:There are grade schools today requiring all students to watch it at lunch (or they rework the lunch, one is having it at 10 am). Some (I think it was in Florida) are then requiring their kids to write papers on why today is historical, or make bulletin boards about it.

Its sad when parents start to brainwash their kids for a political party. Do people not realize it, and this many people blindly view politics as an honest system, when it is actually a two business (party) business (government)? Or do they just care that little, even for their kids?

Today is a sad day for America.

Im going to let this post sink in, I will not be back to this thread, there will be those that do not understand what I mean, who will say it is because he is black that he is being celebrated, but even so, we do not celebrate black people who make it to the top in big business. This is the same thing.

Boo Hoo. Yeah, because no schools took time off from class to watch George Bush's inaugurations right?

And yes, this only matters because Obama is black (sarcasm)

**reds8n**

PanamaG wrote:There are grade schools today requiring all students to watch it at lunch (or they rework the lunch, one is having it at 10 am). Some (I think it was in Florida) are then requiring their kids to write papers on why today is historical, or make bulletin boards about it.

Damn schools and their crazy ideas that pupils should perhaps have an interest in current affiars or the the future of their country.

EDIT : Aretha Franklin isn't dead ?

**LuciusAR**

I must admit I'm really concerned by the attempts to constantly bring Obama's race into the debate. Even more by desperate attempts by many to imply that the only reason Obama won was because of his race. I've even read people accusing African American voters of being racist by claiming they only voted for a candidate only because they were the same race as him. The only person I've never heard discuss Obama's race is Obama. Seriously I've never heard him bring his race into it.

He got elected because he brought a fresh perspective to the table. It was nothing to do with Race, yes he did attract a large African American vote but certainly not enough to swing the election had white America decided not to back him, and yet they did. Beside I think his commitment to improving the lot of the American working people as opposed to an already rich minority might have had been the real cause of him attracting the votes of a traditional downtrodden community. We've already seen his plans to finally end the occupation of Iraq and close the disastrous and Illegal guantaimo bay. I know im an outsider but for the first time in years today I feel proud of the British 'special relationship' with the states.

**Polonius**

A friend of mine actually got a ticket to see the inauguration as a guest of the DoD (I don't know how she did it.) I told her to sink it all in. I'm not really jealous (crowds aren't my thing), but she didn't even vote for the guy and I did.

As for reasons this inauguration is historic:
First northern president in 20 years
First former senator as president in 44 years

Seriously, I think his race is important, not for him or his presidency, but for the impact it will have on the nation. Before JFK, Catholic candidates weren't taken very seriously on the national stage. It sounds silly, but 100 years ago I would have been essentially barred from high office due to my religion. That changed in 1960.

Obama's election gives more than hope, it gives tangible evidence to every black kid, every kid of mixed race, every child of an immigrant, every kid with a dead beat dad, heck, every kid with a goofy name that they can achieve success. I think that's historic. Sure, the man's chief ability seems to be being in the right place at the right time, and his policies can always be disagreed with, but simply who he is and what he was elected to do are historic.

**malfred**

A lot of us can identify with being in the right place at the right time.

It's how I met my wife.

**dietrich**

His race had less to do with Obama being elected than the Mess in the Middle East and the economy tanking. Did Bush finally hit single digits for approval rating? The Republicans could have run Michael Phelps, and he would have lost. Granted, it wasn't a slam dunk for the Dems to win, afterall, the did put Kerry on the ticket in 2004.

I also think that Obama's legacy will be judged a lot less on race than his accomplishments.

**Frazzled**

We'll see.

OT but hate Bush as much as you want, but remember, his approval ratings are still higher than Congress...

**dietrich**

OT - I think history will judge Bush less harshly, and I think it's too early to judge him. If Al Qaeda bombs something tomorrow, he looks better in hindsight. The economy is cyclic - it will occasionally tank.

**Polonius**

Frazzled wrote:We'll see.

OT but hate Bush as much as you want, but remember, his approval ratings are still higher than Congress...

That's not surprising. I think everybody has reason to disapprove of the current congress. In general, I think congresses will get lower approval ratings, both for the reason that the people who support the majority may still disapprove (while the "base" of a president seldom disapproves), and because Congress is a body built on gutless compromise and exchanges of favors, while the president simply makes decisions. Supporting the President, even in times of mild disapproval is also inherently patriotic, as he is still the head of state and government, and deals with foreign powers, etc. Congress is made up of politicians and whack jobs, and pretty consistently pisses people off. I say this as a resident of the Ohio 10th District, home of Dennis Kucinich. I voted for the guy, and I disapprove of his performance....

The real test for Bush's numbers will be to see if he is vindicated, Truman style by history. Personally, I think he has a Jimmy Carter type future: an unpopular president who can reform his image as a respected statesman. Nobody will ever look back fondly to the Carter era, but they shared the common trait of sticking to their guns and being men of deep faith and moral conviction. Personally, I think if the two men switched positions, the world could have been a better place.

**whatwhat**

After watching ten minutes of our broadcasting industries big old ass kiss to your country, anyone else think that it's is all just a bit, wet?

**Frazzled**

Viva El Presidente!

Keep the seat warm for Genghis Connie, first woman President!

**Grignard**

PanamaG wrote:There are grade schools today requiring all students to watch it at lunch (or they rework the lunch, one is having it at 10 am). Some (I think it was in Florida) are then requiring their kids to write papers on why today is historical, or make bulletin boards about it.

Its sad when parents start to brainwash their kids for a political party. Do people not realize it, and this many people blindly view politics as an honest system, when it is actually a two business (party) business (government)? Or do they just care that little, even for their kids?

Today is a sad day for America.

Im going to let this post sink in, I will not be back to this thread, there will be those that do not understand what I mean, who will say it is because he is black that he is being celebrated, but even so, we do not celebrate black people who make it to the top in big business. This is the same thing.

Assuming that is true, I don't think that is indoctrination or brainwashing. I didn't vote for him, in fact, I didn't vote at all, but I think the point is not to get the children to support Mr. Obama but to learn something about the country they live in. Any presidential inauguration is "historic", I would say. I don't think there is any way around the fact that his race makes the fact that he is becoming the president of the U.S. historic. Note that I'm not judging whether that is good, bad, or whatever. I could give a damn about his race. The fact that it has not occured before makes it historical, no?

**Fifty**

Interest in current affairs is bad, 'mkay?

**BloodofOrks**

Grignard wrote:
PanamaG wrote:There are grade schools today requiring all students to watch it at lunch (or they rework the lunch, one is having it at 10 am). Some (I think it was in Florida) are then requiring their kids to write papers on why today is historical, or make bulletin boards about it.

Its sad when parents start to brainwash their kids for a political party. Do people not realize it, and this many people blindly view politics as an honest system, when it is actually a two business (party) business (government)? Or do they just care that little, even for their kids?

Today is a sad day for America.

Im going to let this post sink in, I will not be back to this thread, there will be those that do not understand what I mean, who will say it is because he is black that he is being celebrated, but even so, we do not celebrate black people who make it to the top in big business. This is the same thing.

Assuming that is true, I don't think that is indoctrination or brainwashing. I didn't vote for him, in fact, I didn't vote at all, but I think the point is not to get the children to support Mr. Obama but to learn something about the country they live in. Any presidential inauguration is "historic", I would say. I don't think there is any way around the fact that his race makes the fact that he is becoming the president of the U.S. historic. Note that I'm not judging whether that is good, bad, or whatever. I could give a damn about his race. The fact that it has not occured before makes it historical, no?

I had to write two papers (2000, 2004) on why George Bush's inauguration was historical. It's the same assignment school children get every four years.

**ShumaGorath**

The man had a good speech, you could tell he was a little bit overcome by emotion when he was reciting the oath of office.

Today is a sad day for America.

Today is a good day for you to get hit by a car.

**reds8n**

I thought his spech was good, at the very least you can't deny he is a better orator.

Very heart warming to see so many people actually enthused and taking an interest in their country too.

**Kilkrazy**

I read that when Mr Obama was born, it would actually have been illegal for his father to marry his mother in various southern states.

That shows how slowly the USA changed between 1863 and 1961, and how fast it changed between 1961 and today.

**sexiest_hero**

Heh I remember the last whites only sign being taken down in alabama and I'm only 28, in in 2002 my home county in georgia still had segregated proms. Change takes forever in the south. This is a big step forward and now my nefews have somebody other than a ball player to look up too.

**Frazzled**

Kilkrazy wrote:I read that when Mr Obama was born, it would actually have been illegal for his father to marry his mother in various southern states.

That shows how slowly the USA changed between 1863 and 1961, and how fast it changed between 1961 and today.

Don't forget that big jump between 1859 to 1863 though. But yes a great day.

**Grignard**

sexiest_hero wrote:Heh I remember the last whites only sign being taken down in alabama and I'm only 28, in in 2002 my home county in georgia still had segregated proms. Change takes forever in the south. This is a big step forward and now my nefews have somebody other than a ball player to look up too.

No offense, but I don't believe the second part of that statement at all, and I have real trouble believing the first.

**Polonius**

Grignard wrote:
sexiest_hero wrote:Heh I remember the last whites only sign being taken down in alabama and I'm only 28, in in 2002 my home county in georgia still had segregated proms. Change takes forever in the south. This is a big step forward and now my nefews have somebody other than a ball player to look up too.

No offense, but I don't believe the second part of that statement at all, and I have real trouble believing the first.

I know the segregated proms existed. Not because they were mandated, but because the schools simply always had them, and everybody seemed happy with it. The article I read was pretty sympathetic, basically saying that the two student bodies had wildly different tastes, and the relatively small overlap between the two in terms of friendships and couples made it not really a problem.

As for the white's only signs, that seems unlikley, but keep in mind that the Alabama State Constitution still requires segregatged schools:

http://www.legislature.state.al.us/CodeOfAlabama/Constitution/1901/CA-245806.htm

Obviously, that's unenforceable due to the the supremacy clause (federal law trumps state law), but it's still technically there.

**Grignard**

Grignard wrote:
sexiest_hero wrote:Heh I remember the last whites only sign being taken down in alabama and I'm only 28, in in 2002 my home county in georgia still had segregated proms. Change takes forever in the south. This is a big step forward and now my nefews have somebody other than a ball player to look up too.

No offense, but I don't believe the second part of that statement at all, and I have real trouble believing the first.

Alright, I was reading that again and it looks like I'm coming off calling you a liar, and I don't intend that. What I would like to know is if there was a written school policy saying there were to be segregated proms? Was it a private or public school, and was it a prom that was sponsored by the school? If it was a public school and it is paid for by the school then they're breaking the law, that much I knowm and I have a hard time believing that they would when you know as well as I do that would be national news. Now if it was a private party at someone's house you're calling a prom, then I just don't know what the law is there. If it is a private function held at a public facility, like a community center, then for all I know you still have to play by certain rules.

Where did you see a sign saying whites only? I will bet you 1000$ it wasn't at a publicly owned property. Not that I'm trying to justify it on private property, or even saying it is legal, I don't know the law. I'm just saying that there is no way the State of Alabama is going to have that on public property that isn't a museum. Come on, do you know how fast the media would be all over that?