Today, America gets a new president

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Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 4:13 am

I thought my girl (USN) might get pulled for ceremonies since she plays an instrument and is on temp DET to Norfolk. She wouldn't have had a good time.

Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 4:16 am

I assume the coverage was good here in Australia... but at 3:25am, I was asleep Laughing

Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 4:46 am

I agree Aretha should have sang Respect after My Country Tis of Thee. Very Happy

I keep waiting for the First Puppy.

Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 10:35 am

Quote:

I keep waiting for the First Puppy

Did they find a non allergenic one? Shrinkwrap would be good.

I was watching the speech, BO looks into the crowd to the right, then to the left all the time, never in front. 'How does he do that without an autocue, has he memorised it all?' I think, which is what I'm supposed to think. When the camera pulls back, he has one of those little plastic screens set either side of him at 45 degrees. Here they are on a previous outing, though he's actually looking down here:

Once I noticed, and watched his head going from side to side like a metronome, it started to bug me - it would look more natural if he did a bit more at random.

Good conjuring trick though, very clever. Trust me to spoil it all by wondering how it's done, I'm the same at a magic show.

Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 2:11 pm

@ Roycropper

I taught Public Speaking for four decades, mostly at the college level, and I have found it maddening to watch Obama's tick-tock, left-right, head swivel during the campaign.

I taught my students what I termed a "lighthouse" strategy, of sweeping the room from center to left to right in a smooth motion,
and then returning to center (the center position typically being what a camera will see as "eye contact").

But until I read your observation, it had never occurred to me that this was an artifact of the setting of Obama's teleprompter screens.

It still bugs me, nevertheless.
At least my students, although rarely as verbally fluent as he, typically managed to engage their audiences with direct eye contact.

Master Baiter Joined: 08 Jul 2004 Posts: 188

sir scam alot wrote:

I very much enjoyed the speech. He said there was alot of work to be done...

So everyone, there's mandatory overtime and weekends until we get this lad problem under control.

Being serious here, what was great about his speech? I was at lunch when he was sworn in, which several tables actually got up and applauded the screen afterwards, but anything beyond that I missed.

I may not agree with his views (or at least the ones I've heard so far. i.e. Snip - Roy), but I will admit that the guy is a hell of a public speaker. I'm glad that I'm not the only one who picked up on the head movement thing.

Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 3:54 pm

/\/\ If we discuss what was great, or what you disagree with, we're into political discussion, and that means padlocks.

Baiting Guru Joined: 19 Mar 2007 Posts: 2628

I remember the same feeling of excitement when Tony Blair got elected...

Wink

*** BANNED *** Joined: 18 Jul 2004 Posts: 2049

Obama is a class act - he proved that by giving Dubya a hug and characterizing 43 as a "good guy". Now that's reaching way across the aisle. Thumbs up

Good times are here folks !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mods - unlike my usual acerbic bent when it comes to right-wing, red-knecked religious morons, please note that I have not included any political comments that will require immediate censorship. In fact I have not even hinted at how pleased I was to hear that the son-of-a-bitch Cheney hurt his back. Wink

Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 5:30 pm

/\/\ I did cringe when I saw you'd posted in this thread, GH, cant think why... Wink

Suprised Unka Dick doesn't have flunkies to carry his furniture around for him.

Baiting Guru Joined: 03 Mar 2006 Posts: 7103 Location: Yes

All I'm going to say is that The Onion has some great, great parody from yesterday.

Note I've linked to two articles, one making fun of the out-going GOP, one making fun of a new Admin Cabinet member -- I am truly reaching across the aisle.

Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 11:44 pm

Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert had some awesome material on their shows last night. No matter what party, I believe politicians are fair game for comedians. My new favorite quote, from another board, is "we have a new president, and he can't dance."

Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2009 3:20 am

I can't wait for his grey hair count to quadruple by the end of January.

Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2009 6:11 am

sir scam alot wrote:

I thought my girl (USN) might get pulled for ceremonies since she plays an instrument and is on temp DET to Norfolk. She wouldn't have had a good time.

I can't say what my military girl's involvement was because loose lips sink ships but it was considerable. Her musical abilities are amazing because she demanded and received lessons from the age of 3. This is from an email today.

Quote:

They played the inauguration on the TVs in <redacted>... and it was the greatest irony because they played it on Fox News. Everyone in my squad was pissed and cussing, but I just sat there smiling. When they noticed that I wasn't upset at all, they asked who I voted for. I just smiled at them. They then proceeded to make fun of me ("Change, <redacted>? You want change?"), at which I was reminded of my favorite Jane Austen quote, "Laugh as much as you choose, but you will not laugh me out of my opinion."

After his speech, we formed up in the company area and they had NOTHING to make fun of Obama about.

Baiting Guru Joined: 31 Jan 2007 Posts: 12237

sir scam alot wrote:

Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert had some awesome material on their shows last night.

The Wyatt Cenac segment was damn funny. They have some great writers on that show.

Edit: Here is a link to that episode. Click. It might not work for those outside the US.

Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2009 6:40 am

sorry i missed it, I was busy burying gas and my guns.

Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2009 7:24 am

no luck down under PF Crying or Very sad

Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2009 8:43 am

The man behind the myth:

http://uncyclopedia.wikia.com/wiki/Obama

Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2009 9:45 am

I had to weave the inauguration into a bait when a Lad complained to Captain Mal about not replying... so he got this:

Quote:

It may have escaped your attention but the attention of the US, and of many around the world, has been on the inauguration of President Obama. Among those who braved the Washington weather was me, to salute the President and Commander-in-Chief! So stop this palaver about being left in the dark, OK?

Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2009 11:02 am

Just a little side note - the President re-took the oath on Wednesday.

Since Chief Justice Roberts muffed the oath on Tuesday and got a word out of order, Obama thought it best to take it properly.

Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2009 11:28 am

I like this new president. He can string a sentence together. Smile

Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2009 1:39 pm

@PF: "Queen on the board." Laughing

Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2009 1:44 pm

Titania wrote:

Just a little side note - the President re-took the oath on Wednesday.

Since Chief Justice Roberts muffed the oath on Tuesday and got a word out of order, Obama thought it best to take it properly.

That is so ridiculous. I heard so many people saying that he "really wasn't president" because he wasn't sworn in properly. Some people are just idiots.

Of course the open gaffe factory Biden had to take a knock at John Roberts. Obama had real class and just stood there, probably wondering why Biden said something so retarded. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7fsf8b1PcM

Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2009 4:13 pm

I thought the dress Michelle Obama wore for her husband's victory speech was horrible. A black piece of cloth splashed with red paint:

But the one she chose for the Inauguration Balls is very down to earth and something found in every American home ... I saw something very similar at Wal Mart ... In the shower curtain section of the store ...

Whoever advises this lady on what to wear is her worst enemy ...

Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2009 4:28 pm

She looks nice normally. But that first pic, she looks like a black widow.

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