The Big Day: Live Blogging the Inauguration Magic
The 2008 election was a powerful experience, so what better way to start a new presidency, live blogging, with mimsoas and with some of my favorite gals:
- Karen Walrond of Chookooloonks and LensHouston
- Katherine Center
- Laura Mayes of Blog con Queso and Kirtsy
- Jenny of Good Mom/Bad Mom and The Bloggess
- Jodi Bash of The Journey
- Kara of What Would Jane Austen Do?
6:30am
Inauguration party people stumble bleary-eyed to Chookoolonk's coffee maker. Delicious caffeine wake-up juice.
7:20am
Just finished our first live feed with Karen at the mic with Fox news and awesome anchorman John. Coffee conversation have ranged from explosive diarrhea to the 'dark side' of Texas history to... oh yeah, Obama.
8:46am
Jodi rocks the follow up interview with John on the religion and the election.
8:56am
Laura Mayes shows up with champagne. Mimosas and couch-side discussions begin on more Texas state history DIRTY ROTTEN LIES, children that bite and champagne. And the Quaker Oats guy on a stick. Anchorman pretty-boy facade drops and hip hop and college dorm stories ensue.
9:03am
Quaker Oats caterer guy shows up with oatmeal. But we've already moved on to champagne. They mix right? Jose, the very cute catering guy just announced that this election was his very first vote since he became an American - much cheering ensues. And glass refilling.
9:48am
Oh!!! There he is!! Obama and Bush hit the road in the limo. Laura explains the symbolism of church, coffee and limo riding together. Peaceful transfer of power time.
10:01am
First lady-to-be outfit discussions happening - a little bling in the daytime. We are impressed.
10:08am
Oatmeal is served (thanks Jose!), the Gores and Bushes make their appearance. A very brief discussion on hot octogenarians. Unrelated.
10:27am
Laura and Lynn on their way out -- Laura says: 'Hey everybody'. Gotta' love those Texan ladies :) Kind of wondering why they've got the mics on folks as they walk out onto the stage (lots of 'holy crap it's cold comments').
10:29am
Things got quiet. Absolutely amazed at the sheer numbers of people ready to witness this event. Consensus in the room (beyond the fact that the Obama girls are ridiculously precious and lovely) is a cliche feeling of HOPE.
10:31am
George and Michelle make their way out -- the phrase 'peaceful transfer of power' has been repeated at least 10 times in the last 2 minutes. Repetition hopefully will work...
Dick Cheney makes his way out in a wheelchair, Bush is doing the hand shakes and yup, there goes the Hail to the Chief (enter selected lyrics here). Mrs. Obama has the Lincoln Bible in her hands. No pressure there. Hasn't been used since 1861, when Lincoln was inaugurated. Wow.
10:39am
Obama appears. Alone. What is he thinking right now? Chookooloonks thinks he might have had a hit of something to get up on that stage -- WOULDN'T YOU NEED IT TOO!?!? :)
10:42am
Obama enters for real this time. Lots of 'second coming' references, squealing, clapping, cheering. Yah, this is a totally a chick inauguration party. How is Obama looking so calm and collected? This is almost un-human. WOW!
10:45am
Senator Dianne Feinstein: "We come here every 4 years to bestow the power of presidency on our democratically elected leader."
"They will look back and remember that this was the moment that the dream that once echoed across history... finally reached the walls of the White House.... we not only inaugurate a new administration, but pledge ourselves... to a new call to greatness by our 44th president Barack Obama."
10:48am
Rick Warren: "History is your story. Hero is real. The Lord is our God. The Lord is one... We celebrate a hingepoint of history with the inauguration of the first African American president of the United States."
10:51am
"May we have a new birth of clarity in our aims, responsibility in our actions and civility in our attitudes even when we differ. Help us to share, serve and seek the common good of all... we now commit our new president and his wife MIchelle and his daughter Malia and Sasha to your loving care."
10:53am
Aretha is ON with "My Country 'Tis of Thee'. And a really bow-tastic hat. She's fabulous. I'm seeing tears here on our end.
10:58am
Joe Biden takes his oath of office. The peanut gallery says: "Looks kinda' like a boxer saying the pledge of allegiance."
10:59am
Yo-Yo Ma and Itzhak Perlman present a lovely interlude.
11:00am!!!!!!!!!!!!
President Obama is officially PRESIDENT Obama. Noon has struck. Our world has changed.
11:05am
Obama: '... less measurable, but no less profound is the sagging confidence across our nation... today, I say to you that hte challenges we face are real. They will not be met easily or in a short amount of time... but know this America, they WILL be met. We gather b/c we have chosen HOPE over fear. Unity of puprose over... discord."
11:11am
"It has been the risk takers, the doers, the makers of things... that have carried us up the long rugged path towards prosperity and freedom. For us they toiled in sweat shops and settled in the West. For us they fought and died. Time and again, these men and women worked and sacrificed until their hands were raw, so that we could have a better life. This is the journey we continue today... we being the work of re-making America. Everywhere we look, there is work to be done. We will act, not only to create new jobs, but lay a foundation for growth.... We will harness the wind, the sun and the soil... All this we can do. All this we will do."
11:14am
"The stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long, no longer apply. It's not whether our govt is too big or too small, but whether it works."
11:16am
We will not give our ideals up for expediency sake. To all other people and government who are watching today... know that America is friend of each nation and ever man, woman and child with a dream for success.
11:18am
Our power grows through its prudent use. The tempering qualities of humility and strength. We are the keepers of this legacy... We will not apologize for our way of life... our spirit is strong and cannot be broken. You cannot outlast us and we will defeat you. For we know, that our patchwork heritage is a strength - not a weakness... we are shaped by every language and culture... and since we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds will someday pass.
11:20am
TO the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward based on mutual interests and mutual respect... know that your people will judge you on what you can build - not what you destroy. To those who claim to power through corruption and decieit... know that you are on the wrong side of history and will extend a hand if you will unclench your fist.
11:21am
The world has changed and we must change with it... it is ultimiately the faith and determination of the American people upon which our success lies. Our challenges may be new, the instruments with which we meet htem may be new - but those values upon which our success depends... these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What's demanded then is a return to these truths... a new era of responsibility. Duties we do not begrudgingly accept, but take willingly. This is the price and promise of citizenship.
11:24am
"Let it be told to future world, that in the depth of winter where nothing but hope and virtue could survive... America, in the face of our common dangers, in thi swinter of OUR hardship - let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave these icy currents and brave what storms are to come... With eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried that great gift of freedom that we carried safely with us."
11:27am
Elizabeth Alexander (poet): "Praise song for the day - Each day we go about our business walking past each other catching each other's eyes - or not - about to speak or speaking. All about us is noise. All about us is noise and bramble, thorn and din. Each one of our ancestors on our tongues.
Someone is stitching up a hem, darning a hole in a uniform, patching a tire... repairing the things in need of repair. Someone is trying to make music somewhere..."
