Ask not what your country can do for you...

[Burgold]

I like the theme of Obama's initial speech. It was a message that government will do, but that we all need to roll up our sleeves, and work and sacrifice for the common good.

We've had a few generations of spoiled children. It is time to give back and reinvent, restore, reinvigorate America. And that will take discomfort, bruises and pain. I'm glad that Obama didn't shy away from that at all.

There may have been a touch too much sunshine in the speech, but the core message was one of mutual responsibility and get off your ass.

The government and we need to do better and look beyond immediate gratification which has been the guiding principle of too many for too long.

[MattFancy]

i thought it was a very good speech. i agree that his message is that we all have to do our part in fixing the mess we are in. we all have to take responsibilty and through everyone's hard work, we will make America a better place. good luck mr president!

[Califan007]

Yeah, really good speech :applause:...

Let's hope the sentiment lasts longer than just the length of the speech, though lol...

[Bliz]

Speech was good but not great. The theme was good, but it was missing that one memorable, resonating line. There was nothing even close, like they weren't even trying for an "ask not..." type of moment.

[wantarace17]

Great speech! I'm glad work let me have an extended lunch break to watch it.

[IONTOP]

Andrea Kramer just said "This is an unprecidented event"

so my question is, was it an unpresidented event or a presidented event?

[skinsfan07]

Such an amazing speech. Let's get it Obama! Time to change America.

[Smoot Point Really]

Overall, the speech was fine (even though the entire event was an incredible yawn-fest)... Anyone else hear the John Williams song and think of the Star Wars cantina theme? I have a few things I could nitpick at in the speech, but I won't criticize for the first 100 days.

[Burgold]

Yeah, really good speech :applause:...

Let's hope the sentiment lasts longer than just the length of the speech, though lol...

If part of the President's job is to set the national tone. I like the first few notes of this melody. Getting Congress to shape up, getting us to shape up, is going to be a hell of a task. We're like that 400 lb slob who doesn't pant climbing the stairs, but can barely make it to the bathroom. It's going to take a whole lot of discipline and help, but at least the challenge has been issued.

[SkinsHokieFan]

Good speech, nice tone

[USS Redskins]

Did he make his way to the handicapped section and was anyone healed?

J/K - this guy has allot to get done. I just cant wait for the media drooling to end in a few days and let him get to work.

[Burgold]

Did he make his way to the handicapped section and was anyone healed?

J/K - this guy has allot to get done. I just cant wait for the media drooling to end in a few days and let him get to work.

Actually yes. It was right after the invocation. Obama walked over to a section and put his hand on this poor quadraplegic. He closed his eyes, murmurred, and then the next thing you know... the guy gets out of his wheel cheer and starts doing cartwheels. Cartwheels! It was the most amazing thing I have ever witnessed.

[Braxford]

Obama is saying all the right things but if we all remember dont all new incoming presidents talk about change? Obama cannot and will not do it by himself. Our nation is in dire straits and has been on this road for the greater part of the last two decades, slowly but surely. While I believe Obama is an admirable man and has the potential to be a good leader change the change that we want will not come easily or quickly. Obama is one man, Congress is 500 something. They can serve longer, they can get away with things easier without as much media attention. Plus the Repbublicans and Democrats and far right and left bickering has gotten us to where we are at now. Can we really trust this system to change when it hasn't before. I love my nation and its people and believe that America's best days are ahead of us. If we the people voice and work to change the the corruption and ineffectiveness in our government, if this does not happen and serious changes are made within the next decade, I truly fear for our nation.

[Braxford]

I also think Obama is set up for a big fall when the media decides it is time to bring him down if he goes to center as all good leaders do instead of being ultra liberal.

[Burgold]

No, there is a difference. Most Presidents talk about what they will do and what government will do. Very few make demands on their constituants. That was the beginning of a call to arms.

Honestly, it was what I really wanted and expected out of President Bush following 9/11. He had 90% support, the country was unified and it was a great time to get something big done, to ask for sacrifices, and take on one or two of the greater shadows that we'd been pushing down the road forever. Instead, he asked us to go shopping. Few politicians put the burden and responsibility back onto us.

Obama walked the tightwire in saying government has a huge responsibility to you, but he also said that we have a huge responsibility to the country and we must be willing to pay the price that other generations have paid in order to get through tough times.

[Thiebear]

Did he say Everyone...everyone or everyone 90%.

[Burgold]

lol. Well, by that notion Obama is only sending out a call to action to 53% or 78%. Somehow, that's a less romantic notion. Let's say "all"

[GibbsFactor]

Burgold is nominated as official ES do good organizer.

What can we do from the interwebz Burgold?

[SparkleMotion]

Did he make his way to the handicapped section and was anyone healed?

J/K - this guy has allot to get done. I just cant wait for the media drooling to end in a few days and let him get to work.

What makes you think the media drooling will end?

[Burgold]

Burgold is nominated as official ES do good organizer.

What can we do from the interwebz Burgold?

Actually, if you are serious there are thousands of things you can do. There are many transcriptions and more sophisticated volunteer hours that could be fulfilled via telecommuting.

[SkinsNumberOne]

No, there is a difference. Most Presidents talk about what they will do and what government will do. Very few make demands on their constituants. That was the beginning of a call to arms.

Honestly, it was what I really wanted and expected out of President Bush following 9/11. He had 90% support, the country was unified and it was a great time to get something big done, to ask for sacrifices, and take on one or two of the greater shadows that we'd been pushing down the road forever. Instead, he asked us to go shopping. Few politicians put the burden and responsibility back onto us.

Obama walked the tightwire in saying government has a huge responsibility to you, but he also said that we have a huge responsibility to the country and we must be willing to pay the price that other generations have paid in order to get through tough times.

I understand all of those things, but words like that aren't necessarily going to simply convince me that it's a good idea to bailout people who took on loans they couldn't afford. Just one example.

I'm thinking positive today, but I don't think it's the greatest thing in the world to be naive going forward. I totally agree it's right to not be selfish, but actions have to have consequences or sometimes people don't learn to be fiscally responsible. It's interesting reading some of the "horror stories" and seeing that some people actually end up realizing they were not being careful with money.

Anyway, I don't want to stay on this right now. It was just words - good words - and we'll see what actions follow! :)

[TD_washingtonredskins]

I was surprised that he didn't turn the reflecting pool water into wine.

I'm of course kidding, I actually thought it was a very inspiring speech. I hope he can live up to it and that he does a great job over the next 4/8 years.

[Kilmer17]

It was a great INAUGURATION address. Purposefully lacking in meat, heavy on theme and broad ideas and visions.

It was, IMO, a perfect tone and message.

I'll wait til his SOTU to hear and critique details.

[Burgold]

I understand all of those things, but words like that aren't necessarily going to simply convince me that it's a good idea to bailout people who took on loans they couldn't afford. Just one example.

I'm thinking positive today, but I don't think it's the greatest thing in the world to be naive going forward. I totally agree it's right to not be selfish, but actions have to have consequences or sometimes people don't learn to be fiscally responsible. It's interesting reading some of the "horror stories" and seeing that some people actually end up realizing they were not being careful with money.

Anyway, I don't want to stay on this right now. It was just words - good words - and we'll see what actions follow! :)

Again, the bailout in some respects was the opposite of what he was talking about. He was talking to banks to start loaning and taking risks. Americans to be more industrious or maybe volunteer or do more with charities. He probably did mean on the pain side that we may need to lift our share and bare more burden than we want.

I agree with you too... right now, these are words. Good words, but just words nontheless. We need to say if he can pick up his end and if we can mobilize to pick up ours as well.

Maybe a sacrifice would be delaying Social Security for an additional five to ten years. Medical science has advanced to where we can be productive longer. Maybe we don't access Medicare or SS... maybe we all give back to our community through Church enterprises, or tutoring in our school, or something else. Resources that become free to society, and free up monies that might have to be spent otherwise.

[SkinsNumberOne]

Again, the bailout in some respects was the opposite of what he was talking about. He was talking to banks to start loaning and taking risks. Americans to be more industrious or maybe volunteer or do more with charities. He probably did mean on the pain side that we may need to lift our share and bare more burden than we want.

Well, his plan (that I admittedly don't know a ton about yet) to help with foreclosures is what I'm referring to.



I agree with you too... right now, these are words. Good words, but just words nontheless. We need to say if he can pick up his end and if we can mobilize to pick up ours as well.

I agree. But I am saying, blind following is not the right path either. This is dramatic, but Bush could say similar things in 2001. Anytime the nation is in crisis, be it coming from terrorism or from an economic crisis, it's a time when politicians can ask for the people to do more than they would generally do. I'm sorry, but while Obama can be an inspiring speaker, we'll have to wait and see what happens and be wary that we don't get burned again.

That doesn't mean that when he does good things we should be skeptical. I'm just saying, definitely no blind following of anything that gets said. I'm already leery of the way the government intends to "salvage the economy" of which Obama seems supportive, but those are things that are extremely hard to gauge so while I disagree, it's not something you can definitively judge.


Maybe a sacrifice would be delaying Social Security for an additional five to ten years. Medical science has advanced to where we can be productive longer. Maybe we don't access Medicare or SS... maybe we all give back to our community through Church enterprises, or tutoring in our school, or something else. Resources that become free to society, and free up monies that might have to be spent otherwise.
Yes, good point on Social Security. I don't mind those things. Although I'd hope that there would be some people who would be grandfathered in if they're close - I think that would only be fair rather than have the rug pulled out from under them.

[codeorama]

I like the theme of Obama's initial speech. It was a message that government will do, but that we all need to roll up our sleeves, and work and sacrifice for the common good.

We've had a few generations of spoiled children. It is time to give back and reinvent, restore, reinvigorate America. And that will take discomfort, bruises and pain. I'm glad that Obama didn't shy away from that at all.

There may have been a touch too much sunshine in the speech, but the core message was one of mutual responsibility and get off your ass.

The government and we need to do better and look beyond immediate gratification which has been the guiding principle of too many for too long.

The sad thing is that most of his supporters that I have come across ( I'm a teacher, nearly everyone I work with, but not all, are Obama supporters) view his success as "what my country will now do for me" ie: hand outs....

[PokerPacker]

you know I always did think that was a stupid saying.

[Burgold]

The sad thing is that most of his supporters that I have come across ( I'm a teacher, nearly everyone I work with, but not all, are Obama supporters) view his success as "what my country will now do for me" ie: hand outs....

I think that's because that has been the culture of Washington and America since at least the 1980's if not longer (my personal political awareness sort of begins there) To change that starts with rhetoric and then must be combined with example and action.

A speech is a good start and it sets a good tone of expectation, but yes, we have grown up where we expect allowances not for chores, but simply because we exist. I never got an allowance. Everything I wanted I needed to earn (mind you, my needs were always freebies so I was lucky). On a national level, we need to find a middle ground. It starts with the demand though that people get off their duff.