Thoughts on Inauguration Day...

"On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord..."
-- President Barack Obama 1/20/09

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So what did you all think of the inauguration this morning?

I was so excited that I couldn't fall sleep last night then almost overslept. Had planned to watch it in the newsroom but because it was late, walked over to the Park LaBrea Activity Center and joined a group already inside an auditorium where everything was being televised on a movie theater-sized screen. Grabbed some coffee at the cafe next door (gotta love the perks of living at Park LaBrea!) and watched this amazing transfer of power. It was a reminder of what makes this country great and why we should be so proud to be Americans.

There were former presidents Bill Clinton, Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush(wearing a dead animal on his head!), former VP Al Gore, defeated rival John McCain, former archrival and now future Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and, of course there was George and Laura Bush and Dick Cheney in a wheelchair. But best of all, our new president - young and smart and articulate - and that beautiful family. Michelle Obama was striking and the two young daughters adorable. Loved it!

President Barack Obama's speech, I felt, touched on so many important things and did seem to repudiate so muich of what has gone on in the past eight years in Washington DC. I liked this part of the speech (posted below) best because it basically tells everyone to grow up! And,
it's the closest thing I heard that I, as a gay American, deserves equal rights. Obviously i would have liked a more direct nod to LGBT Americans but still, it was an outstanding speech:

"We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness."

Other thoughts: Godspeed to Sen. Ted Kennedy who collapsed during the inaugural luncheon; Kudos to the Bush and Obama families for handling the occasion with such grace; a shout-out to the glorious Aretha Franklin and her cool hat; Amazing that Chief Justice John Roberts screwed up the oath (isn't it just 35 words?). What I liked was Obama knew Roberts had made a small but noticeable error and paused to let him him get it right; the only unfortunate part as far as I'm concerned was Rick Warren giving the invocation. The OC pastor with agressively anti-gay views took a slot that obviously should have been filled by someone who was not so divisive. His words were fine but I did not enjoy him one bit.

And so begins the Obama era.

Here is a clip of the swearing in:

And here is video os the President's inaugural address in its entirely:

Part one:

Part 2: