Nope, not today. Only 2:15 more of Bush and then he's off to cry in his scotch. I hope I'll only hear his name again before the words "was indicted today" or "was brought before the Hague".
And then there's the inauguration, likely unequalled in importance since the first. It is an exciting day, filled with hope and relief and not a small amount of astonishment.
I just emailed my professor begging for lab to be canceled so we can watch the speech. Lab starts at 12:40pm so it's at a horrid time! I know classes that start at 4pm that have been canceled. :(
My professor just emailed me to remind me that I'm auditing the class (I honestly forgot) so I can skip and just do the lab on my own. I don't have to turn in a report or do the quiz or anything. Duh Alana! lol
If only! I'm going to shower now and meet some peeps from my department at a local pub to watch the speech. It's about a 5min walk from my house so it won't be bad. :D
I'm going to rank several ahead of it. Could make arguments for several others as well. But I'd put this one as maybe #10 so far, if not lower. Remains to be seen.
1. Washington, obviously. 2. John Adams. Peaceful transition of power through electoral process, first contested election. 3. Thomas Jefferson. Peaceful transition to opposition party through electoral process. 4/5. Abraham Lincoln (both elections). Transition to radical party through electoral process; re-election during civil war. 6/7. Franklin Delano Roosevelt (1932, 1944). Transition of power during severe economic crisis; election of physically handicapped individual; re-election during global war and against tradition. 8. John F. Kennedy. First election of a Catholic and first election influenced by television. 9. Rutherford B Hayes. First truly stolen presidential election.
I'd rank Obama's as a tie for #1 because of a simple reason. The person being inaugurated today would not have been considered a person when the country was founded. You rank FDR as 6/7, but we're in an economic crisis today, few knew he was handicapped, re-election in the midst of war is more of a given than a surprise and electing a black man is certainly "against tradition". Your #2 and #3 are important, but more in a "ok, this is actually going to work" sort of way. Same with your #4. A vaccum was being filled. #5? Same as your #7. #8, Important, but Catholics aren't as marginalized throughout much of this nation's history. #9 I don't see a stolen election at a time when a majority of the population couldn't vote as being more important than the election of someone who wouldn't have been able to vote back then.
I'm watching it live on CNN and CSPAN right now -- CNN because after a few minutes of CSPAN, the disintermediated live feed becomes too much to handle and I have to switch over to listening to some jackasses drone on about nonsense.
The background action -- people standing behind WJ Clinton and GHW Bush as they chat, lines of people pressed up against the hallways that J Carter is walking through. A little while ago Dan Quayle, Al Gore, and Walter Mondale trooped along, one after the other.
On CNN they say they're going to show a picture of the mall from space, which I'd like to see because I'd like to see a picture of three million people packed into as tight a space as possible.
MEK HAD CONSIDER, "ALL DOWNHILL FROM HERE": SOON COME COMPROMISES AND TYPICAL POLITICAL GAMES. THOUGH MEK STILL BELIEVE ON BALANCE WILL BE FAR BETTER ADMINISTRATE THAN PAST 8 YEAR...
I felt throughout the day this wave of elation that didn't ever completely subside. It was a great day to be an American and a great day to be a teacher. I have to tell you that the kids I work with are taking their role as active citizens, by and large, very seriously.
There were many faculty members on campus in tears.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2009-01-20 02:40 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-01-20 02:45 pm (UTC)And then there's the inauguration, likely unequalled in importance since the first. It is an exciting day, filled with hope and relief and not a small amount of astonishment.
no subject
Date: 2009-01-20 03:37 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-01-20 03:41 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-01-20 03:51 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-01-20 03:53 pm (UTC)Admit it, you're using the inaguration as an excuse to not go out in the snow. : -)
no subject
Date: 2009-01-20 04:00 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-01-20 04:16 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-01-20 03:39 pm (UTC)1. Washington, obviously.
2. John Adams. Peaceful transition of power through electoral process, first contested election.
3. Thomas Jefferson. Peaceful transition to opposition party through electoral process.
4/5. Abraham Lincoln (both elections). Transition to radical party through electoral process; re-election during civil war.
6/7. Franklin Delano Roosevelt (1932, 1944). Transition of power during severe economic crisis; election of physically handicapped individual; re-election during global war and against tradition.
8. John F. Kennedy. First election of a Catholic and first election influenced by television.
9. Rutherford B Hayes. First truly stolen presidential election.
no subject
Date: 2009-01-20 03:51 pm (UTC)You rank FDR as 6/7, but we're in an economic crisis today, few knew he was handicapped, re-election in the midst of war is more of a given than a surprise and electing a black man is certainly "against tradition".
Your #2 and #3 are important, but more in a "ok, this is actually going to work" sort of way. Same with your #4. A vaccum was being filled. #5? Same as your #7.
#8, Important, but Catholics aren't as marginalized throughout much of this nation's history.
#9 I don't see a stolen election at a time when a majority of the population couldn't vote as being more important than the election of someone who wouldn't have been able to vote back then.
no subject
Date: 2009-01-20 04:20 pm (UTC)The background action -- people standing behind WJ Clinton and GHW Bush as they chat, lines of people pressed up against the hallways that J Carter is walking through. A little while ago Dan Quayle, Al Gore, and Walter Mondale trooped along, one after the other.
On CNN they say they're going to show a picture of the mall from space, which I'd like to see because I'd like to see a picture of three million people packed into as tight a space as possible.
no subject
Date: 2009-01-20 04:24 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-01-20 04:28 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-01-20 04:23 pm (UTC)=M=
no subject
Date: 2009-01-20 04:25 pm (UTC)And who know, you may be pleasantly surprised.
no subject
Date: 2009-01-20 04:54 pm (UTC)=M=
OBAMA AS MESSIAH
Date: 2009-01-20 05:31 pm (UTC)It was great seeing you and the missus at Head58 and meeting you in person. I even held back and didn't bring up the spitting on the cat incident. :)
Re: OBAMA AS MESSIAH
Date: 2009-01-20 05:40 pm (UTC)=M=
no subject
Date: 2009-01-21 05:49 am (UTC)There were many faculty members on campus in tears.
no subject
Date: 2009-01-21 01:29 pm (UTC)And I agree, it is a great time to be an American.
Has any other country ever done this?