The Inauguration of President Barack H. Obama

[Incongruous]

I just read maybe the creepiest thing I've read in months. It's in an article about Rick Warren's invocation at the inauguration:

We’re a nation not just where you are free to believe or not to believe; we’re a nation founded for Him — so we could praise Him, so we could do His will.

Um, no. Just no. Washington, Adams, Jefferson and Franklin would slap you silly for saying such a thing.

Wow, you're right, that is quite creepy, has there been much discussion about this little tangent where you are Lemur?

[Xiahou]

I just read maybe the creepiest thing I've read in months. It's in an article about Rick Warren's invocation at the inauguration:

We’re a nation not just where you are free to believe or not to believe; we’re a nation founded for Him — so we could praise Him, so we could do His will.

Um, no. Just no. Washington, Adams, Jefferson and Franklin would slap you silly for saying such a thing.

If that's the creepiest thing you've read in months- you don't read enough.

[Lemur]

To be completely clear, Rick Warren did not say that creepy line about how our nation was founded to serve the explicitly Christian God, but rather Kathryn Jean Lopez, a theo-conservative who makes her home at the National Review.

I don't believe Rick Warren is a tenth as disposed toward theocracy as Ms. Lopez appears to be.

[Seamus Fermanagh]

I just read maybe the creepiest thing I've read in months. It's in an article about Rick Warren's invocation at the inauguration:

We’re a nation not just where you are free to believe or not to believe; we’re a nation founded for Him — so we could praise Him, so we could do His will.

Um, no. Just no. Washington, Adams, Jefferson and Franklin would slap you silly for saying such a thing.

Lemur, I don't believe they would. All of them were well aware of the importance of religion to many Americans at the founding -- and such a view as that expressed by Warren would hardly have been uncommon.

They would have ADAMANTLY opposed any effort to take that statement of belief and make it part of the process of governance, but they were well aware of, and mostly supportive of, the positive influence that religion has had on society.

[Lemur]

Lemur, I don't believe they would. All of them were well aware of the importance of religion to many Americans at the founding -- and such a view as that expressed by Warren would hardly have been uncommon.

True, absolutely nothing Warren said was exceptional or disturbing. That's why I wasn't talking about him.

They would have ADAMANTLY opposed any effort to take that statement of belief and make it part of the process of governance, but they were well aware of, and mostly supportive of, the positive influence that religion has had on society.

Again, everything you say is true, and yet it has no bearing on what I was discussing. Ms. Lopez wrote: "We’re a nation not just where you are free to believe or not to believe; we’re a nation founded for Him — so we could praise Him, so we could do His will." That's a very different thing from being aware of the "positive influence that religions has had on society." Note that Ms. Lopez asserts that we are not free to believe as we like. This runs entirely counter to the Enlightenment heritage that our founding fathers drew on.

[Lemur]

Turns out Google and Microsoft execs gave big money to the antichrist's inauguration, whilst Apple and Yahoo resist the wiles of the dusky President. Real Networks execs also gave money to Obama -- do we need any more proof that he is Satan's spawn?

From Microsoft:

• Bill Gates and his wife each donated $50,000.
• CEO Steve Ballmer and his wife each donated $50,000.
• Steven VanRoekel, senior director, Windows Server Solutions Group, donated $50,000.
• Brad Smith, Microsoft general counsel, donated $25,000.

From Google:

• CEO Eric Schmidt donated $25,000.
• Co-founder Larry Page donated $25,000.
• Richard Costolo, former CEO of FeedBurner and now a Google exec (I believe his title is group project manager) donated $25,000.
• David Drummond, Senior Vice President, Corporate Development and Chief Legal Officer, donated $25,000.
• Chad Hurley, Co-founder and CEO of YouTube (owned by Google) donated $25,000.

[LittleGrizzly]

Too much money in politics, if i thought they were doing it purely because they liked his politics i wouldn't mind but people give money and expect favours...

[Incongruous]

Meh, they are failry pithy sums...

[Hooahguy]

the clock comes back

[Lemur]

the clock comes back

I'm loving the unintentional humor of their advertising:

[drone]

They are making the big assumption that he will not get re-elected. With Bush, his countdown was Constitutionally enforced.

[LittleGrizzly]

Hell I learnt my lesson from the reelection of Bush II, assumption is the mother of all...

[Hooahguy]

I'm loving the unintentional humor of their advertising:

lol. i installed Adblock on firefox so i dont see banenr ads...
lucky me...

[Xiahou]

Another Obama appointee who can't figure out how to pay their taxes.

Former Sen. Tom Daschle, picked by President Barack Obama to lead his health reform efforts, recently filed amended tax returns to report $128,203 in back taxes and $11,964 in interest, according to a Senate document obtained by The Associated Press.

[KukriKhan]

Another Obama appointee who can't figure out how to pay their taxes.

Ahh, the kinder, gentler IRS. I remember 1994, the one year I actually owed tax (vs getting a refund for tax overpaid). I'd just gotten my Jury Duty check, and signed it over to the Treasury to pay the overdue amount. It bounced around the IRS for 6 weeks, then was returned to me, uncashed, with a bill for more money for penalties and late fees.

If I'd only been appointed to the Cabinet, I wouldn't have had such troubles.

[Kralizec]

I'm loving the unintentional humor of their advertising:

I have an ad beneath it that says "discover true African Romance!"

[Lemur]

Okay, this is now officially the creepiest thing I've seen in a month.

[Seamus Fermanagh]

No....just...No.

[Lemur]

Nice to see that the same people who were whipped up into a frenzy over the Dems fielding a black man for Prez are also flipping their wigs over a black head of the RNC.

The Republican Party leadership in its latest act of self-immolation appointed, Michael Steele, a radical Black racist as the leader of the Party.

Steele is a passionate supporter of affirmative action programs that racially discriminate against tens of millions of White Americans. He also supports increased discrimination against White owned businesses in the awarding of non-merit and non-bid minority contracts. [...]

I am glad these traitorous leaders of the Republican Party appointed this Black racist, affirmative action advocate to the head of the Republican party because this will lead to a huge revolt among the Republican base. As a former Republican official, I can tell you that millions of rank-and-file Republicans are mad as hell and aren’t going to take it anymore! We will either take the Republican Party back over the next four years or we will say, “To Hell With the Republican Party!” And we will take 90 percent of Republicans with us into a New Party that will take its current place!

[Xiahou]

I thought Steele favored "affirmative action" more along economic than racial lines. I'll admit that I don't know much about the man though. Frankly, I'm not sure it matters too much what his favored policies are- his job will be fundraiser in chief and indications are that he'll be good in that role.

[Jolt]

AAARRGH!!! Stupid me not reading this thread. Just came back from "Introduction to International Relations Methodology" exam, and one of the major questions was the inauguration speech of Obama. BLASTS! My exam sucked.

[Vladimir]

AAARRGH!!! Stupid me not reading this thread. Just came back from "Introduction to International Relations Methodology" exam, and one of the major questions was the inauguration speech of Obama. BLASTS! My exam sucked.

What was the question?

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

I feel sorry for you.

[Jolt]

Bleh, it wasn't really a question. It was parts of his speech and asking to comment it, based on what we learned.

EDIT: "Comment the following excerpt of the speech of president Barack Obama, in light of the topics of the discipline that you consider pertinent and relevant."

[ELITEofWARMANGINGERYBREADMEN88]

It is not really about him anymore; it is far beyond that now.

Yeah, and weeks afterwards, they treating Senator Obama still like a god.

(I call him Senator still, can't bring myself to call him President, unless I invite over for dinner ).

[Vladimir]

Bleh, it wasn't really a question. It was parts of his speech and asking to comment it, based on what we learned.

EDIT: "Comment the following excerpt of the speech of president Barack Obama, in light of the topics of the discipline that you consider pertinent and relevant."

A fair question I suppose. I hope this wasn't a litmus test question.

[seireikhaan]

A fair question I suppose. I hope this wasn't a litmus test question.

Barack Obama- Great president, or greatest?

[Askthepizzaguy]

Barack Obama- Great president, or greatest?

That's the spirit, conqueror.

[/pun]

[Proletariat]

Nvm, repeating what someone else already said.

[Jolt]

Woot! Just heard my marks on that Obama exam thingy, and although the exam didn't go all that well I got a 15! (Out of 20) Go me! :P It went better than I had anticipated! I scored one of the highest grades of my course :P

[Lemur]

15 out of 20 is w00t? I guess they're grading on a curve ...

Sen. Gregg on CNBC this morning.