Tomorrow is the "Historic" inauguration of President Elect Barack Obama. I'm sure everyone is surprised to learn that I have some thoughts on the subject:
Obama currently has a 70% approval rating. While 25% disapprove. Um... of what? What has he done? Of what am I approving or disapproving? Am I approving just because he isn't Bush? Am I approving because of his skin color? How does a man have a 70% approval rating before he spends a day in office? At least 5% of the people have brains enough to say that they have no opinion of the nothing he has done to this point.
Wait, the humor continues: This same poll has 65% of the people "confident" that Obama will make a good president. 28% are "not confident." 7% have "no opinion." So, if we assume that all 65% of the "confident " people approve of him, that means that 5% of the approving public had to register a response other than "confident." If we also assume that the 25% and the 5% disapprove/no opinion held true to their logical answers we can conclude that 3% of the people who "Approve" of Obama are "Not confident" that he will be a good President! (And 2% who approved aren't sure). If we don't assume that the 25%/5% answered what one would expect, then the percentage of "approving" people who were other than "confident" is actually higher than 3%!
So, the inauguration will kick off tomorrow. Here are the people scheduled to attend/appear (in alphabetical order):
Jessica Alba
Marc Anthony
Halle Berry
Joe Biden
Mary J Blige
Bon Jovi
Bono
Garth Brooks
Mariah Carey
George Clinton
Elvis Costello
Sheryl Crow
Miley Cyrus
Eve
Fantasia
Renee Fleming
Jamie Fox
Aretha Franklin
Timothy Geithner (Treasury Nominee)
Macy Gray
Josh Groban
Maggie Gyllenhaal
Herbie Hancock
Tom Hanks
Ed Harris
Anne Hathaway
Heather Headley
Faith Hill
Eric Holder (Att Gen Nominee)
Ron Howard
Jay-Z
John Kerry
Alicia Keys
Chaka Khan
Beyonce Knowles
Queen Latifah
Bettye LaVette
Spike Lee
John Legend
Lil Jon
LL Cool J
Jennifer Lopez
Ludacris
Yo-Yo Ma
Maroon 5
John Mellencamp
Harold Melvin & The Bluenotes
Monica
Jennifer Nettles
Barack Obama
Malia Obama
Michelle Obama
Sasha Obama
OutKast's Big Boi
Peter, Paul & Mary
Rihanna
Tim Robbins
Samantha Ronson
Peter Saarsgaard
Susan Sarandon
Shakira
Bruce Springsteen
Sting
Michael Stipe
T-Pain
James Taylor
The Temptations
U2
Usher
Rick Warren
Dionne Warwick
Denzel Washington
Will.i.am
Oprah Winfrey
Stevie Wonder
As the Queen of Hearts adeptly put it, "Who are we inaugurating? Tom Hanks?" Possibly. I mean, he'll be there. Going through that list I found 8 people that I would say belong at the inauguration and the celebrations that follow. Am I supposed to have more confidence in this man because of all of the celebrities that are going to be at his inauguration? Is this how President Elect Obama wants to begin a presidency that he won due to the economic crisis that occurred months before he was elected? By throwing the biggest glitziest political bash Washington has ever seen? I guess it's historic in a few ways: A new president is always a historic event. He is the first black president. It looks like the most celebrities gathered for a political event ever.
I'll be waiting to see what political policies Mr. Obama puts forth before passing judgement, (and, I'll be honest, it sounds like he's trending more centrist than his Senate record would have us expect. I'm cautiously optimistic.) But with these massive spectacles, he sure doesn't seem to be starting out on the right foot...
18 comments:
Just admit it dude. You say you want Obama to succeed, but deep down you don't. The amount of criticism you've heaped upon a dude who hasn't even taken the oath of office yet, is evidence that you're really not open to what he might bring to the presidency.
At this point before Bush's inauguration in Jan of 2001, even I was more of a defender of the man than you are to Obama. To all the Bush critics i kept saying, "We can't say anything yet, he hasn't done anything. Let's see what he can do."
As I said before, I love you brother, but i'm calling you out on this one.
Oh and I almost forgot...you said, "Is this how President Elect Obama wants to begin a presidency that he won due to the economic crisis that occurred months before he was elected?"
Right. I'm sure Sarah Palin, losing 4 of 4 debates, McCain's image as Bush III, his Rovian style scare tactics and the fact that Obama ran a brilliant campaign had absolutely nothing to do with it. You are looking at the surface again without digging deeper into the issue.
peace out my brother.
I've only read your first paragraph and I'm responding to that before I read further.
The criticism I'm "heaping," though it appears aimed at Obama, actually has no bearing on him. I'm questioning what the American public are approving of. Right now, I'd be in the 5% that have no opinion. I find it interesting that you pulled the only sentence that was directly aimed at (when you read this) PRESIDENT Obama and respond as thought the entire post was a negative commentary on the man. Reread the post: He's done nothing for us to approve or disapprove of. Right now, I have no opinion.
I'm not questioning the man, I'm questioning the extravagance of his inaugural party. I'm sure he didn't sit down with the DC party planners and specify who and what he wanted for the festivities. In fact, it sounds like the parties have nothing to do with the White House and each planner is hoping they throw a bash big enough for the President to attend. I just would have liked a "We're in hard times right now, let's tone down the extravagant parties." I'm not faulting him because he didn't, it's just what I would have done.
(I said to the Queen of Hearts last night: "Love, if I ever become President, we're not going to have an inaugural ball. We're going to have an inaugural trip to Subway. I hope that's ok with you." Oh, and my good Dr, I hope you know that should I ever become President, you are scheduled to be one of my advisors at least, if not on my cabinet.)
I've slammed the Democrats for desiring the detriment of the country because then they would do better in the next election. I don't hope for that. I very much want to see him succeed. I want this blog filled with commentary about how surprised I am at the wise and bi-partisan decisions of the president. Yes, right now, before he has done anything, he is the man who defeated my candidate. Right now, he's my NY Giants. I'd very much like to support him in what he does. And I truly am cautiously optimistic.
(I slammed Bush for his inauguration glitz too. We don't have a king but we sure welcome the President like he is one.)
To your second point: It was a close election that would have been closer had the economy not been in the tank. I think we can agree on that.
I appreciate the love, but I think the "calling out" is misguided.
Peace
So, if it were only a trip to Subway, you wouldn't think that was a bit of an understated event for the celebration of the inauguration of the first black president in the United States?
I'd like to applaud the list of celebrities who are willing to be a part of such an event. It wasn't all that long ago that segregation affected our schools, our stores, our restaurants, and, as is evident in the story of Rosa Parks, even our public transportation. Still I could probably easily make a list of all of the black Hollywood stars who guarantee a box office hit and the list is SMALL!
Even celebrities and politicians don't celebrate the inauguration who would you rather see there -- a random selection of Joe the Plumbers?
I stand by my comment my friend. Oh I read the post. But as you concluded the it with "But with these massive spectacles, he sure doesn't seem to be starting out on the right foot..." I assumed this summation to be conclusive of your overall thoughts, as that is what closing remarks usually do.
You harped on him throughout the campaign as you are doing now. I'm merely concluding upon what you are putting out there.
Lastly, the election would have been closer had the man giving the concession speech been the man running for president.
Read the analysts on it. Most of them have the finger pointed squarely at Palin. And for good reason.
It was not a conclusive concept, it was a passing thought.
Perhaps you'll change your tune when you read my post on the inauguration itself.
L, ... I'm not black... so I think a trip to Subway would be fine for me.
It'd be one thing if there were a bi-partisan group of celebs. But if you know anything about this list of people they all sit to the left of the aisle. This is not just a celebration of the first black President. This is a celebration of the ousting of the Republican party.
Yes, I would rather see a random selection of "Joe the plumbers." I'd rather they call 500 random nobody Americans and invite them to the party. Yes, I'd rather that.
Thought this was somewhat relevant and humorous. :)
Obamania: Celebrity Overkill
That's awesome.
Finally the Daily Show has a clip that doesn't make me cringe!
Here's another one that you'll definitely appreciate!
Check Here
My wife refers to a lot of the junk children's toys as "Platicrap"
I like Mt Crapmore.
Thanks for the laugh!
I don't remember Tom Hanks swearing in Barack Obama, or Beyonce swearing in Joe Biden. I don't recall Sheryl Crow giving the opening prayer or Will.i.am giving the benediction. Crap. Has it been that long sinced I watched TV, or did I miss something? I love how you point out the celebrities and overlook the millions of ordinary Americans who were present at the Inauguration. *sigh*
I don't know what TV you were watching, but I turned on the Inauguration ceremony yesterday, which was literally the first time I've turned on the TV in almost 2 years. The last time I turned it on was when Obama announced he was running for President on the steps of the Old State Capitol in Springfield, IL on 2/10 (!!!) 2007.
How you can analyze and criticize those who attend the Inauguration or its surrounding activities is beyond me. You say you're waiting to pass judgment on Obama, but how can you say that when you not only pass judgment on him for implying that thus far he has done nothing to approve or disapprove of, and then you slam those who attend his Inauguration? What about the 2 million or so estimated people who converged on Washington DC yesterday? Woe to them for being a part of history, which happened to include celebrities, dignitaries, and people of all ethnicities around the planet.
I watched coverage of the event ALL day Tuesday, and honestly the only celebrities I remember hearing about were Jon Cusack who CNN found in the crowd, Oprah Winfrey who they saw on the CNN image they had pieced together from viewer images at the moment Obama was sworn in, and that's pretty much it.
What I most remember from yesterday were the CNN reporters in the crowd of 2 million people interviewing people for whom this Inauguration means the beginning of a whole new chapter of history...people who were beaten in the civil rights era, who knew and worked with Dr. Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks, and others...people like the women from Georgia and Louisiana who just had to be there to witness history even though they'd never get a glimpse of Obama except on Jumbotron screens...or the choir from Nairobi who was singing and dancing on the National Mall with utter joy and hope for Kenya and for the rest of the world.
By the way, Heather Headley (one of the people in your oh-so-frowned upon list) sings in our church from time to time!
The beauty of the people attending the Inauguration was that there was a sea of humanity that literally represented the world, all gathered in one place at one time to witness one event that is so much larger than one man. It feels like there has been a shift of consciousness and over 2 million wanted to witness it in person. Most of those interviewed said they felt it was imperative to be there not for themselves, but so they could tell their children and their grandchildren that they were there when history was made. They were there when a man whose father would have once been considered 3/5 of a human being, became President of the most diverse country in the world at one of the most challenging moments in our nation's and our world's history.
After standing in line for over 2 hours in Early Voting lines the week before Election Day, I distinctly remember several people in line who were worried that their vote wouldn't count, that it would all be for naught, that something would happen to jinx it, that the system would somehow fail. And this was not only African Americans who were saying this, but most people in line.
And even though I am an Independent voter (meaning: I vote that way as a matter of principle and conscience), my sister and I were honored to get tickets as Obama supporters for the celebration in Grant Park in Chicago on Election Night.
So like the millions of ordinary NON-celebrity people on Inauguration Day, I knew I HAD to be there on Election Night for the sheer reason to experience history and be able to tell my children and grandchildren. And I got more than I bargained for; it was an experience I will remember for the rest of my life. Never before have I seen such a diversity of people gathered together in such joyous celebration. We cried, we danced, we sang, people were more friendly and warm in that crowd of a quarter million people than I have ever witnessed. No, Oprah didn't hang on my shoulder. No, I didn't hand Jessie Jackson a handkerchief. I stood next to my older sister, behind two old white men, in front of younger African American women, next to an Asian woman, and surrounded by everyone in between.
I will leave you with one final thought from a Christian author and self-proclaimed Independent voter, who has a blog called "We The Purple", the same title as the book for which I was interviewed a few years ago. She wrote this in response to Election Night, but I find her words ring true for Inauguration Day too, especially in light of the fact that it just came one day after we celebrated the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.:
"I don't care who your presidential preference was; I don't care what you think of Barack Obama---if you can’t understand why people were crying and taking to the streets in sheer jubilation last night, then you're far too cynical for me.
Our long national nightmare, the one that's (almost) over, isn't our history of racism. I'm hopeful about the future, but I'm also realistic about the deep racial divide among some segments of our society. Racism isn't the nightmare I'm referring to. The nightmare is the Bush administration. Free at last, free at last---thank God Almighty, we're (almost) free at last."
(http://marciaford.blogspot.com/2008/11/our-long-national-nightmare-is-almost.html)
Wow, venom from 2-10!
Check the date that I wrote this. It was written BEFORE the inauguration. I make no mention of the millions that were there because they didn't appear in the news articles before hand.
I will say the same to you that I said to James: "Reread the post: He's done nothing for us to approve or disapprove of. Right now, I have no opinion."
"meaning: I vote that way as a matter of principle and conscience" If this is the definition of an idependant voter, feel free to group me in your club.
I'm sorry that you fail to recognize the balance of power that comes with a R pres and a D house and senate. You can blame Bush all you like, and if it makes you believe that our country will suddenly turn a 180 now that the messiah is president that's fine. You are free to feel that way.
Like I said in another comment. I'd rather see 5,000,000 random "nobodies" (like the people who were there) than 30 celebrities. If they just wanted to "be a part of history" why was their presence so hugely displayed. John Cusack wasn't on the list. Sounds like he was in the crowd. That I respect. He was there to be a part of history, not put his name on it.
Oh, it's all in good fun. *evil grin* It's mostly just to get your attention. Muahahahahahaha...
I've gotta admit that I just find your post laughable--the image I got in my head as I read down your list--and how I pictured this group of celebrities suddenly swarming the inauguration ceremony and parading around the stage and performing behind Obama as he was taking the oath of office. LOL!
Ok, you wrote it before the inauguration, sure...but come on, you had to know they were part of activities surrounding the inauguration ceremony, not the actual inauguration ceremony itself.
Ok, I don't watch TV and the only news I get is what I read online. All the news articles told me beforehand that the number of people expected in D.C. for the swearing in ceremony was in the millions. This was a huge news story. I'm just sayin'...
Surely you had to know that millions were expected to attend the inauguration ceremony?!
By the way, join my Independent Voter club. Maybe I'll start a Facebook group. ;)
Wow, I can't believe you called Obama the Messiah. I wouldn't even go that far to say that! If you believe that I think he's the Messiah, you should know that I didn't vote for him...not in the primaries, not in the general election. Now that'll make your head spin!!! I'm just as cautiously optimistic as you or anyone else in this country. We are holding our breaths to see if what was promised will come to pass...and not just our country, but the rest of the world. There is something different about this President, this inauguration, this time that we live in. I think it's anybody's guess to see exactly what will happen in the next 4 years, but as I realized after I voted and after I was in Grant Park on election night, this election was far bigger than one man. It encompassed a dream for a better America, one where all human beings are judged, in the words of Martin Luther King, not by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. That's my hope for America...I hope it is yours too.
"Ok, you wrote it before the inauguration, sure...but come on, you had to know they were part of activities surrounding the inauguration ceremony, not the actual inauguration ceremony itself." What's the difference? Are the commercials not part of the Super Bowl? Is the parade not part of the coronation of the new King or Queen of England? Is the reception not part of the wedding? Perhaps this is where we are having a disconnect. I don't separate any of the above. Would you?
Perhaps this inauguration was the wrong one to get upset about the crowning of the new president. It is a huge massive immense occurrence in American History. Anytime it's a "first" there's a huge party. (Think we'll have this when we have the first woman president? Or Asian-American? Black woman?)
However, the manner in which we welcome the new President is a problem I've had since I first started noticing inaugurations (I suppose that would be from Clinton on...) (And by inaugurations I don't mean the fantastic, moving, well planned transfer of power by swearing in the new President and then escorting the former President to the waiting helicopter. I mean the whole shindig): We do not have a king. We have a public servant. Why do we welcome him to his job as though he's a Monarch?
What if every time there was a new Pope, there was this kind of celebration. Wouldn't we be a little concerned? (And "New Pope" isn't even every 4 years!)
PLEASE DO NOT MISREAD THIS COMMENT: I am not upset with the President about this. I'm not upset with the millions of Joe the plumbers, and Sam the mechanics, and Debbie the Bank-Tellers who wanted to be there. I understand that. I take issue with the people who planned, paid for, participated in, and executed these lavish pre and post inauguration parties. Do you know what I thought was the most appropriate non-swearing-in activity that took place? The luncheon that followed. Politicians and future cabinet members sitting down for lunch to welcome the new President. Perfect. Wonderful. Not excessive. Respectable. What was with the Club rockin', House party that ABC aired all night long? This was the inauguration of the President of the US to office. Not the inauguration of The Who to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame!
I enjoyed all the spectacle of the transition, I did hear before the inauguration debate on whether the balls should go on and to what degree and whatnot- but you know i'm glad they did, and for the first time since Andrew Jackson the inaugural balls were open to the public. He really is a people's president.
Kyliemotxo, Thank you for that additional piece of information. I did not know they were open to the public. That changes things slightly.
I saw the return of a high school singing group after they sang at one of the preinaugural events. That is the type of "entertainment" we should have.
"What's the difference? Are the commercials not part of the Super Bowl? Is the parade not part of the coronation of the new King or Queen of England? Is the reception not part of the wedding? Perhaps this is where we are having a disconnect. I don't separate any of the above. Would you?"
Thoughts:
- I absolutely separate all of the above. Perhaps therein lies our differences.
- Are the players in the Super Bowl the ones acting in those disgustingly annoying commercials? The Super Bowl is a (very overrated) football game, not a string of commercials.
- Do the King and Queen of England strap on some drums and perform in their own parade? They are still King and Queen, silly parade costumes and music, or not.
- The reception is NOT part of the wedding, but occurs after the ceremony itself. I have been to weddings (like my sister's) where there was no reception. Heck, I've been told (very recently!) that when we go back to Kenya, I better be ready to wear my wedding dress again. So despite the fact that we've been married 6 years and have 2 kids, I better get ready to attend my own wedding reception. And you better believe I don't have the choice to take issue with the people who plan, pay for, participate in, and execute this post wedding party! I'm just sayin'...
- The Inauguration is the swearing in ceremony of the President. The stupid mainstream news media (which is not even worth watching anyway!) publicized the celebrities and events surrounding the Inauguration itself, did they not? Correct me if I'm wrong. I'm just wondering where you got your list of people.
- I agree with you that the luncheon after the ceremony was wonderful. I wish it was televised completely. I did watch the parade too because I wanted to see the President & First Lady's high school bands playing. Then I didn't pay attention after that. I didn't watch any of the balls or anything. I do know that the Neighborhood Ball was different in that it was the first of its kind to be open to the public rather than dignitaries and the like.
"I am not upset with the President about this...I take issue with the people who planned, paid for, participated in, and executed these lavish pre and post inauguration parties."
That sounds so swell, Beev, but golly gee, who should the blame be placed upon? You say you're not upset with the President, but yet he is very deliberately included in the group of people you listed in your original post, which correct me if I'm wrong, fall under the category of those you do take issue with because they participated in said events.
Truly, you have a dizzying intellect...
"Are the players in the Super Bowl the ones acting in those disgustingly annoying commercials? The Super Bowl is a (very overrated) football game, not a string of commercials." I know a good number of people who disagree with you. They watch the Super Bowl for the commercials. The Commercials are their Super Bowl.
"The reception is NOT part of the wedding, but occurs after the ceremony itself. I have been to weddings (like my sister's) where there was no reception." Exactly. You can have a wedding without a reception. When there is one, its one big happening, to me. Just like you can have an inauguration without the parties.
The Queen suggested that I cite the list. It was a compilation of various news outlets listing who was going to be "involved" in the inauguration before the inauguration began. I listed some of the politicians (who, you may notice, I said should be there) and the Obama family because they were mentioned in the news peices.
Once again. I do not put this on the President, who had other things worry about. Who should the blame be placed upon? Do I need to repeat myself? Here, I'll clarify it: "the people who planned, paid for, participated in [other than politicians, Washington regulars, and average citizens who attended], and executed these lavish pre and post inauguration parties. That's who the blame falls on.
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