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The Speech

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Nice to hear the US is going to stop using torture!

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Originally posted by shrew
Nice to hear the US is going to stop using torture!
Absolutely, them god awful special adgents will have to adhear to the law of the land now. But what if bad people won't tell us what we need to know, what do we do then?

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Originally posted by torch71
It made my tummy tingle. Just think we are all going to live better, finally I won't have to worry about making my morgage payment, or put gas in my car, and I will be able to enjoy fresh clean air again for a change.
It was inspirational and you've got to accept that it's primarily aimed at the electorate because if he doesn't have them behind him, then he has no hope. But there's also a message for the world, that this a new, 21st Century America. I'm sincerely impressed in his forward looking approach while appealing to examples of the past.
He also said it's not going to be easy ...
This is a new generation American leader not tied to the ghosts of a militaristic, post-Cold War/Vietnam past and I also have hope.

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As this type of speech goes, I thought it was very good, and well presented.
Whether it all comes to fruition remains to be seen, but it sounded good and will no doubt go down in history as one of the more memorable ones.
I hope it all happens 🙂

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It seems like platitudes on the surface, but when you read it carefully with recent debates in mind, some of those stock phrases pack a punch:


"I thank President Bush for his service to our nation..."

Barack pushes George down the stairs

"We will restore science to its rightful place..."

and kicks him in the butt

"this crisis has reminded us that without a watchful eye, the market can spin out of control..."

and throws his suitcase behind him, as he stumbles to the bottom

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Originally posted by torch71
Absolutely, them god awful special adgents will have to adhear to the law of the land now. But what if bad people won't tell us what we need to know, what do we do then?
I will admit that the speech was very well written, not really sold on the change when you start out with a big bang of around 150 million for your inaugural celebration. Makes me think more of the same Gov spending and spending, and lending, and bailing and more spending.

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Originally posted by mbakunin
i agree. what's with the inevitable "god bless america" thing? typical exceptionalist rhetoric.
For those of us whom are exceptional, it's not just rhetoric. Perhaps to the subpar tho, it seems a bit of the top.

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Originally posted by Ludovician
It's an inaugural speech. It's designed to excite and inspire the public. I found it to be extremely well written, relevant and an excellent preface for the period of change the U.S. is about to endeavor upon.

What exactly were you expecting or hoping for and what would you re-write if you had the opportunity to?
CHANGE! U say, change! I can feel the change stirring through me as I type. The world is cured, my friends. CURED! Change has begun! I'm the one I've been waiting for!

Can we feel it?

YES! WE! CAN!

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Food for thought from today's WSJ:

"...But cribbing, or even learning, from great speeches will not make Obama's speech great. For all their poetry and music, these few classics endure mainly for another reason: because of the greatness of the presidents who delivered them. Had Roosevelt not led America out of the Depression, had Kennedy not lessened the Cold War danger, had Jefferson not shored up America's national identity, had Lincoln not forged a nation more true to its principles, then it is likely we wouldn't recall their words so fondly today..."

- David Greenberg

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Originally posted by Merk
CHANGE! U say, change! I can feel the change stirring through me as I type. The world is cured, my friends. CURED! Change has begun! I'm the one I've been waiting for!

Can we feel it?

YES! WE! CAN!
Hope over fear, my fickle friend. Mock all you like but the times are a-changin'...

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Originally posted by Ludovician
Hope over fear, my fickle friend. Mock all you like but the times are a-changin'...
That's correct. We are all Detroit now.

Edit: Hope and fear get nothing done. Work does. You can hope in hand and crap in the other....

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Originally posted by Merk
That's correct. We are all Detroit now.
The horror!

As for your edit, I do agree wholeheartedly.

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Originally posted by Ludovician
You're a fool if you can't see past three stupid words to the true and heartfelt message of the speech. What an intellectually lazy prat you are.
those three stupid words are representative to me of all the things that are wrong with the us. it doesn't exactly instill hope, nor is it a sign of change. i suspect things will soon be back to business as usual, only a marginal improvement on the previous administration. i'm sorry my opinion differs from yours, but your lashing out is unnecessary. douchebag.

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Originally posted by mbakunin
i suspect things will soon be back to business as usual, only a marginal improvement on the previous administration.
Oh I think things are going to change quite a bit my friend, in what direction is a whole different ball game.

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Originally posted by Wulebgr
Did you hear “We will restore science to its rightful place”? Now, that's something!

See http://timpanogos.wordpress.com/2009/01/20/obama-said-it/

Climate change, salmon recovery, forest recovery, evolution, ... no more support of junk science as was Bush's MO.
I hope he will also restore religion to its rightful place .... no more support of junk religion as well.