My gal is really excited about the inauguration

[Sebastian]

i think it'll be covered live on some of yer 'local satellite' channels.

 

I do like watching the 'cSpan' version, for there is no commentary from learned intellectuals to clutter, in real time.

 

You might notice a marked difference in the commentary between nbc and fox, for example. I prefer to watch without any commentary.

Edited January 20, 2009 by Darnell (see edit history)

[Sebastian]

OK - time for the sit-down meal. cSpan turned off the 'directed-mike' audio feeds, but is still broadcasting video live. The rest of the networks have shifted to something else.

 

So, if yer a lip-reader, it's an interesting watch.

 

If you like to know something about guanxi , the USA version of it, see who's talking to who during this meal. Those conversations, at least we can 'see' who's there for the meal.

[NewDay2006]

My wife watched it. She was at first for Hillary last year because she heard that Hillary would do things for the Chinese people... then I explained about Politicians and what they 'sometimes' say before they get in office is different from what they do when they get in office.

 

My last comment reminded me of the following joke someone sent to me. It shouldn't offend anyone

 

 

-----Heaven or Hell?

 

 

 

THIS IS A NONPARTISAN JOKE THAT CAN BE ENJOYED BY BOTH PARTIES! EVEN THE INDEPUBLICRATS!

 

 

While walking down the street one day a US senator is tragically hit by a truck and dies.

 

His soul arrives in heaven and is met by St. Peter at the entrance.

 

'Welcome to heaven,' says St. Peter. 'Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts, you see, so we're not sure what to do with you.'

 

'No problem, just let me in,' says the man.

 

'Well, I'd like to, but I have orders from higher up. What we'll do is have you spend one day in hell and one in heaven. Then you

can choose where to spend eternity.'

 

'Really, I've made up my mind. I want to be in heaven,' says the senator.

 

'I'm sorry, but we have our rules.'

 

And with that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell.

The doors open and he finds himself

in the middle of a green golf course. In the distance is a clubhouse and standing in front of it are all his friends and other politicians

who had worked with him.

 

Everyone is very happy and in evening dress. They run to greet him, shake his hand, and reminisce about the good times they had while getting rich at the expense of the people.

 

They play a friendly game of golf and then dine on lobster, caviar and champagne..

 

Also present is the devil, who really is a very friendly guy who has a good time dancing and telling jokes. They are having such a good time that before he realizes it, it is time to go.

 

Everyone gives him a hearty farewell and waves while the elevator rises...

 

The elevator goes up, up, up and the door reopens on heaven where St. Peter is waiting for him.

 

'Now it's time to visit heaven.'

 

So, 24 hours pass with the senator joining a group of contented souls moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing. They have a good time and, before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by and St.

Peter returns.

 

'Well, then, you've spent a day in hell and another in heaven. Now choose your eternity.'

 

The senator reflects for a minute, then he answers: 'Well, I would never have said it before, I mean heaven has been delightful, but I think I would be better off in hell.'

 

So St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell.

 

Now the doors of the elevator open and he's in the middle of a barren land covered with waste and garbage.

 

He sees all his friends, dressed in rags, picking up the trash and putting it in black bags as more trash falls from above.

 

The devil comes over to him and puts his arm around his shoulder. 'I don't understand,' stammers the senator. 'Yesterday I was here and there was a golf course and clubhouse, and we ate lobster and caviar, drank champagne, and danced and had a great time. Now there's just a wasteland full of garbage and my friends look miserable. What happened?'

 

The devil looks at him, smiles and says,

'Yesterday we were campaigning...

 

Today you voted.'

[Sebastian]

Interesting - a quickie announcement was made by the Revered prior to the benediction - Sen Kennedy was evac'd from the luncheon, paramedics have him stabilized.

 

Sen Byrd also collapsed during the inauguration.

 

The 'official parade ' is next,

 

Then some prep time for the official inaugural ball, plus 9 others. WOW.

Edited January 20, 2009 by Darnell (see edit history)

[Yuanyang]

Lao po also loves all of this since the start of the elections. She can't get enough of the news and coverage.

 

BTW: She finally picked an English name after over 2 years.... "Michelle"

[rogerluli]

My wife has been very interested as well... Imagine coming from a country where you had no say at all in your government to the US and in a short time when you become a USC you can also vote

[NewDay2006]

 

BTW: She finally picked an English name after over 2 years.... "Michelle"

Cool, my son has picked one(Kevin), actually I picked it for him(at his request) and he agreed.. my wife has not yet. We'll see.

[Guest Tony n Terrific]

My wife wanted to know what an Inauguration is and why we spend so much money on it.

Edited January 20, 2009 by Tony n Terrific (see edit history)

[Guest jin979]

i read it is congress who controls all power, this is like empty emporer , just looks good as face and voice.

or is president emporer ?

 

i think not, so really no real power changes, right, just the look of it ?

[Randy W]

i read it is congress who controls all power, this is like empty emporer , just looks good as face and voice.

or is president emporer ?

 

i think not, so really no real power changes, right, just the look of it ?

 

 

You have a few textbooks to read - the president is one branch of government - the Executive branch. Congress is the Legislative branch, the third is the Judicial. They operate through a system of checks and balances so that no one (of the three) has power over another.

 

The president is the single individual with the most power.

 

Yes, the inauguration is "just" a show.

[Sebastian]

Jin - na - to keep the 'emperor-king' away, the USA made a 3 tiered form o Government - Executive Branch - which contains the President and all of those wonderful departments (like SSA, DOS, USCIS), the Legislative Branch (Congress and the Senate) and the Judicial Branch (Supreme Court and the Federal District Attornies offices). It was set up that way to keep 'absolute power' out of the hands of 'just 1 person' - we had some great dislike of Kings and their ilk.

 

But, is it business as usual? Mostly, but with a huge power shift between the two Political Parties. The 'Power' itself hasn't changed, just who is 'wielding' the power.

 

An Inaugural Day, sure, is just for show, but it legitimizes the turnover of Power, from one President to the Next. I like the pomp surrounding it, the last time we saw major turnout was, I think, when Donald Rumsfeld retired.

Edited January 20, 2009 by Darnell (see edit history)

[Li & John]

My wife was watching it for awhile but it got boring and turned on the Chinese channels.

[Jon & Jas]

 

BTW: She finally picked an English name after over 2 years.... "Michelle"

 

Did you play her the Beatles song?

[Jon & Jas]

i read it is congress who controls all power, this is like empty emporer , just looks good as face and voice.

or is president emporer ?

 

i think not, so really no real power changes, right, just the look of it ?

 

What Randy and Darnell said... You will have to know this eventually if you ever decide to become a naturalized citizen

[eseum]

My wife found our political process to be interesting as well. When Obama won the election she said that he was very young for the position. She said no one that young would ever be the head of China. But then she said she thought that our way was better.