...I do not hesitate today in calling on godly Americans to pray that Barack Hussein Obama fail in his efforts to change our country from one anchored on self-governance and constitutional republicanism to one based on the raw and unlimited power of the central state.
It would be folly to pray for his success in such an evil campaign.
The AP, which is now run by a conservative nut who hoped to have a job in the pretend McCain Administration, quickly published a bullshit hit piece by the conservative hack Mark Sherman.
But at one point early on, Obama paused, as if grasping for the next words. Roberts helped him over the brief awkward moment, repeating a few words to get Obama back on track.
Ha, yes, very awkward, the way Roberts said the magic words in the WRONG ORDER.
See how Roberts put "faithfully" at the end? Obama starts to repeat it, then stops, and makes Roberts read it again, correctly this time. And then Obama grins and becomes the president of wingnuts on Free Republic, too!
Here are a couple of amusing posts on Metafilter about this dastardly attempted trick by the jackass John Roberts.
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From Peter Finn at the Washington Post: Obama halts show trials at Guantanamo Bay.
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Fun fact: Fox News was the only network that covered a live telecast of former President Bush's homecoming speech to cheering supporters in Midland, Texas.
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Reverend Lowery's inauguration benediction: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5h4SrWpZNd-yocKSO7_9FO51iLJowD95R4RTG0
With your hands of power and your heart of love, help us then, now, Lord, to work for that day when nations shall not lift up sword against nation, when tanks will be beaten into tractors, when every man and every woman shall sit under his or her own vine and fig tree and none shall be afraid, when justice will roll down like waters and righteousness as a mighty stream.
Lord, in the memory of all the saints who from their labors rest, and in the joy of a new beginning, we ask you to help us work for that day when black will not be asked to get in back, when brown can stick around ... when yellow will be mellow ... when the red man can get ahead, man; and when white will embrace what is right. That all those who do justice and love mercy say Amen.
Amen.
I loved this benediction. The man knows how to laugh, and isn't afraid God will strike him dead for making a joyful noise.
But mostly I loved it because it's such a celebration of the human spirit and human ability. He's not asking God to do all the work. He trusts that God has given people everything they need to get the job done themselves. A little help would be wonderful, but we can get it done.
He gave me the feeling that even the godless heathens have a part in this, because it's people who are doing the hard work, people who will beat tanks into tractors (how I love that new spin on an old metaphor!), people who walk together and pledge not to get weary. He didn't ask all Christians who do justice and love mercy to say amen, he extended that invitation to us all.
Amen to that.
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If you needed any further proof that things are different - very different - today, there's this: Balkinization blogger Marty Lederman will take John Yoo's former position, Deputy Assistant Attorney General for OLC.
As of today, the commencement of the Obama Administration, he begins work as Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the Office of Legal Counsel. There he will be joined by two of his former OLC colleagues, Dawn Johnsen, nominated to be head of the office; and David Barron, who will serve as the Principal Deputy (and as the Acting AAG while the Senate considers Dawn's nomination).
We've replaced the guy who did Bush and Cheney's evil bidding with a blogger-prof and Constitutional champion, Marty Lederman.
Welcome to a new day, America.
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President Obama's first order: Halt Bush's pending regulations and proclaim 'day of renewal': http://rawstory.com/news/2008/President_Obamas_first_order_Halt_pending_0120.html
And the good news just keeps on coming....
The UN's special torture rapporteur called on the US Tuesday to pursue former president George W. Bush and defence secretary Donald Rumsfeld for torture and bad treatment of Guantanamo prisoners.
"Judicially speaking, the United States has a clear obligation" to bring proceedings against Bush and Rumsfeld, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture Manfred Nowak said, in remarks to be broadcast on Germany's ZDF television Tuesday evening. http://rawstory.com/news/afp/Bush_Rumsfeld_should_be_pursued_for_01202009.html
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Some Facebook comments regarding Aretha's giant hat:
-Greg Taylor is proud Aretha is supporting renewable energy by wearing a wind turbine on her head.
-Andrew Fox would like his civil rights, but might settle for Aretha's hat.
-John Whiteside is marveling at Aretha's giant ribbon hat.
-Jeremy Hooper is OMG, Aretha's hat!
-John Farley what does Aretha have on her head?
-Bruce Trevithick is feeling Aretha's headgear!!!!
-Jarrett Nolan is thankful someone gift wrapped Aretha...
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Mandate:
Adam Serwer: Today, Obama sought to provide a vision of our adulthood; an attitude that rejects the impulsiveness, painted as toughness, of the Bush years. It is no longer a time to put "leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame." While rejecting "as false the choice between our safety and our ideals," Obama nevertheless promised that "we will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense." This is not "Bring it on." This is not "Dead or Alive." It is time to put away the cowboy hats and pop guns, for "the world has changed, and we must change with it."
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Rightwing patriotism in action: http://brilliantatbreakfast.blogspot.com/2009/01/right-wing-patriotism-in-action.html
Why does Rush Limbaugh hate America?
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Though President Obama was only inaugurated yesterday, the Senate has already confirmed six of his cabinet appointees:
- Energy Secretary Stephen Chu
- Education Secretary Arne Duncan
- Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano
- Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki
- Interior Secretary Ken Salazar
- Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack
Hillary Clinton would be on that list except for the fact that newly-minted NRSC head John Cornhole is demanding a floor debate on her confirmation, despite the fact that Clinton sailed through the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and is as close to a shoo-in as any cabinet appointee could be.
There's nothing the GOP gains by mucking up Clinton's confirmation–she's going to be approved no matter what and no amount of trumped-up right-wing vitriol will change that or undermine her authority as Secretary of State. Here the GOP is just obstructing for obstruction's sake, which is pretty much going to be their playbook for the next few years.
This incident does teach us two important lessons, though. First, Republicans have always hated the Clintons and only ever pretended to like Hillary in order to undermine Obama. Two, the GOP doesn't agree with Obama that "the time has come to set aside childish things;" in fact, Senate Republicans are basing their entire legislative strategy on childish things.
Why do Republicans hate America?
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Glenn Beck gets all choked up over Sarah Palin
Glenn Beck has been a treasure trove of unintended hilarity over the years. Now that he's at Fox News and he's free to let his freak flag fly, Glenn's true colors come shining through.
Check out this clip at Americablog. There couldn't be a better wingnut clip to show on the day of Barack Obama's historic inauguration than Beck getting choked up introducing the person who will most likely go down as one of the biggest punch lines in political history - Sarah Palin.
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Jessica Alba, attending one of the Inaugural shindigs, was the victim of one of those Fox News ambush crews that wanders events where liberals are numerous and tries to get them to say something dumb so Bill O'Reilly can make fun of them later. She told them exactly what she thinks of Bill O'Reilly.
Reporter: Bill O'Reilly says hi. You wanna give him a Factor Inauguration Shout Out?
Alba: No. He's kind of — [Laughs] He's kind of an a-hole.
Reporter: How so?
Alba: I don't know how he does it. I guess he was just born that way, for some reason.
Reporter: Can you give me an example? Come on.
Alba: No, because that means admitting that I actually have watched Fox.
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'Homeland Security' and Empty Inaugural Parade Seats
Maybe they didn't take the Os off the White House keyboards... but the Bush/Cheney team still wrecked havoc with the Obama Inauguration.
The mainstream media's not talking about it but did everyone else notice the nearly empty bleachers all along the Inaugural Parade route? Despite massive crowds in DC? Despite overwhelming demand for tickets?
Many reports from the scene tell the same story: the Bush/Cheney "Department of Homeland Security" slammed the cold door shut on many thousands of ticket holders - not allowing them to get to their seats.
Yes - we need to provide Obama with top-notch personal security.
But let's get rid of the creepy anti-American 'Department of Homeland Security' - and the police state that grew out of its post-9/11 beginnings.
Hopefully, all the Obama big donors who didn't get to their exclusive seats will still be paying attention when 'Homeland Security' shuts down our access to power.
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