Watching Inauguration Day in Times Square
Maddow Blog – thank you DesertFlower
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Coming up:
2:40: Inaugural Parade – Pennsylvania and Constitution Avenues to the White House
3:45: Parade Review, White House
8:45: Commander-in-Chief’s Inaugural Ball
9:10: The Inaugural Ball
Live streaming: C-Span * CBS * CNN
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Hey everyone, I added videos and photos to most of the posts below, in case you missed them – more soon. (More photos in all the post comments too)
The Obama Diary 
YO!
YES!!!
🙂 Happy 1st!!
Thank you, friend!
🙂
Congrats on #1 gobrooklyn. My spellcheck kept changing the spelling.
Thanks Carol!
🐱
You are doing a fantastic job, Chips. Thanks so much.
+1,000,000,000,000
I am thoroughly enjoying today. Got my chicken wings, TOD, Twitter and ABC news on mute.
Lol…
I was very touched by something I observed as they sat down for lunch…
The waiter who was pouring drinks was all but invisible to everyone it seemed; No one even acknowledged him…
That is until he poured a drink for Mrs Obama. She leaned her head backwards smiled at him and mouthed a ‘thank you’…
The waiter was so shocked and his face burst into a wide smile…
Small gestures and making sure that everyone including those deemed not terribly important in a room full of self-importants, feel noticed and acknowledged…
Thank you Mrs Obama…
Lovely, smart, empathetic, kind, insightful, inclusive…
Yes. I saw that.
Like PBO acknowledging and shaking the hand of the doorman outside of the Blair house in London, or the staff in the hall of the WH. It’s who they are, lots of acknowledgement of the invisible. Says ‘we see you’ and I (and millions) appreciate that about them. Nice of you to make note of it. Thank you.
yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes. I am so happy that we here on TOD see this
AND mark it in our speaking to each other . . .. . . AND also carry these respectful
behaviors forward into our own behaving. Honestly, PBO instructs me on how to behave,
or, more satisfyingly, how to ~be~ . . . a person.
She’s freaking amazing!
She is…
Lately, I’ve come to really appreciate her in such a powerful way…
At first she appears as simply the wife of a man the world is enthralled with – merely incidental or even in some circles, an afterthought almost…
And then you realize that she is actually the very powerful magic behind his incredible success – but greatly downplayed most of the time…
Her unshakeable core, her values, her integrity, her honesty, her discipline, her focus, her courage, her authenticity, razor sharp instincts, and her refusal to be co-opted by the flimsy, or impressed by self-important people or things…
I must confess that as diehard as I’ve been about President Obama, lately it is Mrs Obama who tugs at my heart in such a powerful way that has caught me quite unawares…
I know everyone raves and gushes about President Obama, but lately it is Mrs Obama that completely captivates me…
Something’s changed for me in a very strange but decisive way I must confess…
I now find myself feeling incredibly protective of and rooting for her…
For so long I met people who told me that the only reason they voted for him, was because of her…
And I never got or understood that…
Now I do…
It’s still a beautiful day. Thank you Chips, tOD and congrats to fobrooklyn! I love everyone!
Wow! Today being “on TOD” is like being on a 747 goin’ around the world
with the windows open! Chips! I can’t believe what’s your providing for us.
Thank you, you person you xoxoxxoxoxoxo 🙂
Well said.
I cry tears of joy with that woman in Times Square. I can feel her emotions on this day. Thank you for posting that, Chips:)
I feel the same way too.
Sorry fobrooklyn. You’re number one. I’m still shaking with JOY! Any lack of enthusiasm here? NO
Spending the day with a steady stream of tears….of joy and anticipation. I love my president and this nation.
You are definitely not alone.
Yes, best tweet of the day yardarm!
Thank you.
Bam!! Kapow!!!
Ninja President! 😀
perfect description
Let there be no doubt.
I like it!
Thanks Chips…..I’ll have to “rewind” all your posts 🙂
Major non-Obama news: U2 is working on TWO NEW ALBUMS with producer Danger Mouse!! Squee!!! One should be released in September, with the other one released shortly thereafter.
And really, why doesn’t Joy Reid have her own show? Replace MHP. Or replace one of Tweety’s shows.
Not replace MHP (though I don’t always like her). There are not enough Black women on the air — let’s add one more. And Joy is a terrific choice.
OK, replace “Up With Chris”. No one would miss him. But really, why does Tweety need two time slots (3 if you count his weekend show) to spaz out?
Chris Hayes is one of the best progressive voices on television. He’s done his research and is spot on on his opinions. I, for one, would hate to see him go.
That was of broadcast air “The Cycle” definitely could go to the trash heap. That would be a lovely open slot!
Ok, I think we can all agree on “The Cycle”. Give Krystal her own show—maybe cohosting with Joy Reid—and we’d have a winner.
Cool! Works for me. Krystal and Joy both need their own shows.
She is my favorite.
Glad to hear U2 has some new stuff coming.
Please tweet and/or write and/or call MSNBC and tell them how you feel about Joy. I agree with you — she needs her own show.
U2 and Danger Mouse. AGHHHHHHHHHHHH………OMG! OMG! OMG!
They’ll either be the best work they’ve done since “Joshua Tree” or magnificent failures!
what a day! I am so proud of PBO. What else can I say but awesome!
This picture, her face, says it all. The meaning of President Obama’s re-election is written in the faces of America’s people.
THIS!
Video snip from CSPAN showing the President taking that one last look
http://www.buzzfeed.com/andrewkaczynski/obama-looks-over-the-capitol-one-last-time
Loved that moment Dudette, thanks for the link!
Thanks for sharing, Dudette. Then he squared his shoulders and lifted the load for the next step.
Yep, that’s our guy!
http://www.bobcesca.com/blog-archives/2013/01/barack-obamas-second-inaugural-address.html
Video with text.
Thanky you so much! Saved in my special inaug file.
Maryland family staying warm while they wait for the parade to start
On Saturday during my National Day of Service, I met this lady whose uncle just made 102yrs old last year. He looked in this late 80’s. She was telling us about how proud he was to vote for PBO and how he never thought he would see it in his lifetime. I told them my uncle who passed away in 1996 never dreamed his children or grandchildren would see an AA president in their lifetimes. I wish my aunt, uncles, and grandmother could have lived to see this day. They all passed prematurely from cancer that took them way too soon.
Thanks for that sweet story, 0388! Nice to so many realize a dream that MLK and RFK gave their lives for.
Chips, you are so rocking it today 🙂
Wow Chips, I am having a hard time keeping up today. I am savoring all of thes moments just like PBO. The lady in the photo above is sharing my feelings today.
A lovely and memorable moment between President Obama and his daughter Sasha.
Dudette sorry for my duplicate post below – didn’t see you had already posted. 🙂
No problem hf. I hold no patents here. It’s a beautiful moment that’s worth sharing more than once. 🙂
Indeed. 🙂
That is wonderful and I love how Michelle and Malia are looking on and smiling. The family’s love for each other is so evident.
Oh my, he loves those girls!!!
Boehner and McCLOWNell cannot even look at him…
Grrrr
Look at the snakes behind the First family. Orange man looks like he’s holding back tears of sorrow, turtle looks to still be in shock and the snake is just slimy. On the brighter note, Sasha is looking and acting so “grown up” even though she yawned during her father’s speech. I bet it’s a very very long weekend for those young girls.
Thank you Chips…We are so grateful for allowing us to share History….
What a Man…such a Great Man…I love President Obama,,,,God Bless him…
(more kleenex)
An extraordinary day Kasai, I’m a mess! Thank you so much.
and a sweeet mess you are. xoxox
You are an extraordinary mess that we love Chipsticks! Thank you for being here for us.
One last look:
Such a classic moment. Thanks for this, and for everything you’ve done today, Ms Chips!
I feel like I’m in the movie ‘groundhog day’. I play this clip to the 2min mark and then I repeat and repeat and repeat. LOL Should I be worried?
You and me both LunarSea, we’re going down together!!!
Like an inaugural Thelma and Louise.
You probably didn’t notice, but I’m hiding in the back seat. 😀
This is too precious – note how FLOTUS and Malia and both looking on with love. Even Eric Cantor is smiling….
While lunch is served I am trying to get some laundry done. Thank you again Chips for this wonderful place.
ok, how many of you have been blubbering off and on for the last 6 hours?
Um, guilty here, canadabarb!
I cannot tell a lie, I ran out of tissues and went straight for large towels!!
Maybe, kinda, sorta. Yes.
I paused it right at 1:38 and in that frame you can see Michelle, Malia, Mrs. Robinson and Sasha behind the President, taking another look at the crowd, at an unremarkable republic that we have that came to see the inauguration of The President and Vice President of the United States.
Just read a few comments following CNN’s article on the Inaugural poet. Here’s one Obama-era new-aged micro poem:
I think that I shall never see
A tree as lovely as diversity
My Mothers favorite poem in its original form. Thank you Jac for bringing my mothers memory today. I’m copying it for my memory book for her. 😘😘😘
I’m so happy for you, to have such a sweet memory of your Mother!
I had to memorize the original poem and deliver it in front of a PTA dinner at my elementary school, way back in the ’50s, with my knees knocking and my own Mother in the audience, nervous as a cat, so it has a little history in my family, too!
Thanks for sharing your memory. We are close in age. ☺
It’s a good age!
Fine wine!
Excellent Donna! Re-tweeted & faved!
Nice Donna!
@WhiteHouse: President Obama just delivered his second inaugural address. What was your favorite #quote? http://at.wh.gov/gZYVx Tell us with #InaugQuote
http://www.buzzfeed.com/katienotopoulos/check-out-malias-adorable-dance-moves
Malia is too cute.
Paraphrasing, big time, but did you hear, in the Inaugural Luncheon invocation, words something like “as we enjoy this luncheon together, let us not forget those who go hungry in our country” … not an exact quote, but that said SO MUCH.
yep, I heard it too.
Did Amk really leave the blog because I’m gonna cry if he was serious 😦
I must have missed something. What happened?
Chips might have to keep bringing it over. I tried but flubbed it somehow.
DD4O, I’m pretty certain he did. He has been telling us he would have to go after the Inauguration. I’m sure most of us did not believe him, I surely didn’t. But his post earlier had a sincerity to it, it felt real to me. I expect he will have to lurk for a while, no one can get a habit like blogging here out of their system in a heartbeat. We can keep him in the conversation so he knows he is loved. But maybe he does need to get on with it, I know he works hard and had a lot of responsibilities. Hey! Maybe he will run for some political seat in India! That would be cool!
Cute picture tweeted by Stephanie Cutter.
I believe she is looking at YOU, amk…. In disbelief…
Wow, I have not been able to keep up with Chips and rest of TOD today…so much to see so little time.
Thank you with all my heart Chips for documenting this historic event for us in such an awesome way.
My heart is so full today. Sharing the love with you all TODers…so much love to go around.
God bless our GREAT PRESIDENT and VP. Peace.
Chipsticks, thanking you so very very much. You are a Legend in my world! {{{{{{{Chipsticks}}}}}}}}
You sweetheart!!!! Thank YOU Pamela!!!!
So…..is the Parade going to be shorter?
Yay! He was incredible, his energy was profound in how he was absorbing the view across history with this action.
Hello everybody. HEADLINE NEWS is replaying the Presidents speech in about 1 minute.
Yeah, but did you VOTE FOR HIM?
She changed her mind near the end of the campaign and said she supported PBO.
Good.
No. But that cool. It’s a nice photo and she did a great job today.
Miss ex Ron Paul.
LOL! Okay then.
Cool that she said this and sent it out for all her fans to see.
Hiya everyone, for anyone who missed Amk’s message –
What a great day. What a great achievement by saner voices. And what an awesome ride it has been.
I thank you all TOD’ers for your unwavering commitment to PBO / JB team and making it all happen (and for putting up with my lame jokes).
I thank our blog empress Chips for her tireless job of supporting, defending and promoting PBO and his ideals and doing it all with a fine sense of humor thereby raising our collective spirits and hopes. TOD is and will always be my most favorite blog and Chips, my most favorite blog hostess.
With my heartfelt best wishes for a great, historic and an awesome second Obama Presidency, I bid you all good bye with a pardonable proud sense of accomplishment.
http://theobamadiary.com/2013/01/21/inauguration-day-part-6/#comment-623927
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Amk mentioned a while ago that once PBO was re-elected he was going to give up visiting blogs, etc and get on with his life, so I don’t know if that’s what he meant with this message. I really hope not. I hate admitting it, but I’d miss the fella. A lot.
😯 😦 😯
Life goes on but it just won’t be the same without him. I haz a sad!
A big sad Donna, I could whip his ass for leaving that message today – of all days.
and I’m in line for the second whipping 😥
Geez, gals! He will never come back if he knows what’s in store for him. Maybe this is part of his anniversary gift to his lovely wife… 🙂
I’ve been a lurker, but, imho, amk is PART of this blog. He’ll be back. If only to share fashion tips and a comment on ‘wimmen’. Not to mention the lame, but lovable jokes. Hope I didn’t overstep my bounds, Ms. Chips.
who will tell us terrible jokes that I love and say “wimmin/smdh”?
Hey Donna. Yup, amk is too funny. I SO wanted to hang with you guys on Sunday. I’m so sorry I missed it, but my travel plans didn’t cooperate. I’ve enjoyed watching the ceremonies online. We worked hard for this, and we’ve got so much more to do.
Thanks for the explanation, Chips. I had no idea.
I thought being here WAS getting on with our lives??!!
Exactlly, Meta. This is one of the places where I ~get on with my life~.
smh 🙂
and I was counting on him to work with OFA…..OFA can bring action around the world….think about that if you are reading….and besides, who is going to make me laugh?
I hope he isn’t going. It won’t be the same without him.
Thank You Martin Luther King..Thank You Rosa Park…I know you’re having a party of your own up there:-)
Thank you!
THE TOAST!!
Carol —
I just renewed my oath of office to serve as your president for four more years.
Thank you for making this possible. It’s an honor to be your president.
Now it’s time to finish what we started — let’s get going.
Barack
P.S. — Organizing for Action is the next step in our grassroots movement and will be crucial to finishing what we started. If you haven’t already, say you’ll be part of it.
Not sure if the transcript of the Second Inaugural Address has been posted yet. If so, here it is, again:
http://swampland.time.com/2013/01/21/second-inuagural-address-of-barack-hussein-obama-transcript/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+timeblogs%2Fswampland+%28TIME%3A+Swampland%29
oh please god, have her be the person being inaugurated four years for now. please! let’s make that happen!!
Yay!
Washington Post has a video of Merlie Evers-Williams Invocation
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/myrlie-evers-williams-gives-the-inauguration-invocation/2013/01/21/55f89e78-63e9-11e2-b84d-21c7b65985ee_video.html
That was the best invocation I ever heard. Gotta save it.
Boy, this speech of Boner is to hypocritical. Can hardly stand it.
Boehner sounded drunk again!!
Was observing Mrs First Lady Obama’s right before bonehead stood up to present those flags. She is icing him out. He said or did something very wrong.
Oooooo, gotta remember to go back and watch video of that.
She is mainainig her cool for Barack’s sake!
The Obama’s don’t do fake. Or spineless weasels. He can’t control his house and it makes her husband’s work twice as hard. Why should she show him anything but contempt. You know she cares deeply for her man and woe to anyone that does him wrong. LOL Or at least that’s my twisted take.
Not twisted at all, LunarSea. I may be reading too much into it but just couldn’t help noticing. meanwhile……4 more glorious years!!!!
YES! –>Forward–> to 4 more for 44
And nothing is spoiling my joy!
I ran it back and couldn’t see her face. Did he fart?
Lol! It is just the way she suddenly turned away from him right before he stood up and made that slurring, drunken speech.
My naughty brain. 😉
Is there a link for the luncheon??
http://edition.cnn.com/video/flashLive/live.html?stream=4
I think Boehner was drunk. Just sayin…
Ewwwwww – Eric Canter after lunch
It’s on cspan. Now we have to listen to Cantor.
thanks!
Oh no we don’t… We have a mute button!
Snakes In The Grass giving gifts to PBO and Miche. :sneer:
Cantor’s nose needs punching!
Those vases are beautiful.
They’re both one of a kind. Cool video about the Lenox tradition of making them here:
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lenox-selected-to-produce-the-official-inaugural-gifts-for-the-president-and-vice-president-on-inauguration-day-187385501.html
Thanks Dudette, they are really something.
Should we have a moment of silence for queen ann? NAH! Carry on.
Cantor presents the crystal vases. At least his fingerprints aren’t on them, he’s just talking about them.
boehner and cantor must been seething. I had to mute both of ’em. Compare that smarmy tripe to the gracious first and second families.
Cantor…you need to have crystal engraved with the words Cantor = backstabber.
Don’t think the President care about receiving any gift from Cantor.
Beware of gifts from backstabbers…..
Nancy smash. I don’t remember gifts being given last time. Does anyone?
Yes, these gifts are a tradition.
Nancy on the podium. What a woman!!
We have to get that gavel back in Nancy Smashes hands!!!
What makes Lamar Alexander the Senior Senator? Is it because he’s been there the longest?
The senior Senator of any state is the one who has served the longest.
Thank you LL 😘
Nancy Pelosi – one of my shero’s
Nancy making comparisons between President Obama and ‘another’ President from the same state.
Sen. Schumer has done so well with the inaugural fesitivities, pomp, and circumstance. He’d make a great wedding planner.
Now we finally get to hear from Joe.
Joe is making me cry.
…..and now laugh hysterically!!
Eric Can’tor claims to be 6′ 2″….lol He looked about a feet shorter than our President…..
Amen!
Ha! weasels are near tall.
I mean ‘never’. I’m kinda excited I guess.
Oh yes, and he’s a marathon champ too, remember… Must be those long legs. 😉
No, no, sorry, that’s the other little man I was thinking of… I’ve embarrassed myself, again.
Joe! He’s so funny!M
Boehner is throwing em back. That dude better watch himself sitting next to the First Lady.
LOL! I love VP Biden’s surprise toast of Chuck Schumer! 🙂
That was great!!
OK, Joe and Schumer and Harry are making me cry again
For we, the people, understand that our country cannot succeed when a shrinking few do very well and a growing many barely make it. We believe that America’s prosperity must rest upon the broad shoulders of a rising middle class. We know that America thrives when every person can find independence and pride in their work; when the wages of honest labor liberate families from the brink of hardship. We are true to our creed when a little girl born into the bleakest poverty knows that she has the same chance to succeed as anybody else, because she is an American, she is free, and she is equal, not just in the eyes of God but also in our own.
The toasts at the luncheon are good viewing (CBS). says Live. Joe did a faboo job of course. Harry up now, toasting the President! Here come the floodgates opening – again.
What did Biden say that made everyone laugh at the end?
He spent most of his toast talking about how proud he was to serve the President, then he said I’d like to offer a toast to a man who never, never operates out of fear, who operates out of confidence (as people raise their glasses)… by the way Chuck, I’m toasting YOU…
I was laughing so hard (everybody thought he was talking about the President), I couldn’t hear the rest of the toast!
I Love My Vice-President!
Thanks Dudette:))
Harry Reid looks tired and frail…anyone else see that?
Harry always look tired. I think that is just Harry.
Deaniac’s new piece:)
http://www.thepeoplesview.net/2013/01/the-pragmatic-presidency-behind.html
We Love You, Mr. President!
“There is controversy about the quality of the president, but no controversy about the quality of the First Lady”
——–no controversy on both count. 99.9% of the people in that room aren’t even fit to lick Bo’s paws.
Hear, hear, Lisa!! 🙂
“There is controversy about the quality of our President, (but there is) no controversy about the quality of our First Lady” – President Barack Obama, toasts First Lady Michelle Obama at the his Inaugural Luncheon, January 21, 2013
I loooooove my POTUS.
Chuck Schumer is certainly beside himself with joy today… I read on twitter that he’s like the mother of the bride today ~ very sweet observation.
I am mindful of the fact that the servants at this banquet are glad and proud to be there, simply because they wanted to be. Not because they had to………..My Mom, GOD rest her soul, would have loved this.
ok. yardarm. I thought my waterworks were finally under control; then with your comment, blubbering again!
Sorry! 😦
it’s ok. shortly after, the parade started and just watching the limo teared me up!
Understood.
Let The Wild Rumpus Begin! Finally, the PARADE! I just know it’s going to be fantastic, after reading the list of floats up Pennsylvania Avenue! (potty break first tho.. 😳 )
POTUS’ toast was like everything he does/ says: perfecto!
I could feel the words coming from his heart. Always special.
Yes meta, Always special.
I saw Mrs. Rusty hug and pat PBO on the back 3 or 4 times—-may be overly optimistic here but I saw a moment of humanity—–a teensy weensy tad, at least.
Please explain to the newbie who Mrs. Rusty is? Thanks.
Boehner’s wifey.
😉
anyone else notice the coldness between john boner and his wife? that’s not a happy marriage at all. didn’t even seem like they were together.
Good point, 4more. The President and VP Biden respect and admire their wives/ women and the oldboys club is still stuck in the clubcar of the pullman express.
Jumpin in here but I think she mostly stays in Ohio. Also too, her husband is a weepy drunk.
Nancy Smash looks smashingly beautiful in red….
OMG paying homage to Dr. King in Statuary Hall . Too many of these moment today
New post!!!
http://theobamadiary.com/2013/01/21/inauguration-day-part-9/
ATTENTION ON DECK!
Sparks standing by!
😀
Fair winds and following seas ALWAYS for YOU from a lurker.
Me thinks you’ve got a bit o’ sea salt in your veins, eh?