I set my alarm to 1:30 a.m. so I could get up to see the inauguration. Although I was watching in the middle of the night from half-way around the world via a grainy internet video stream, it was nonetheless quite moving to see Obama sworn-in as president.
I thought his speech was very good — maybe not his best, but nonetheless eloquent, powerful, and most importantly, it set the tone and the agenda for his incoming administration.
It was less soaring rhetoric than his 2004 keynote address or his “Yes, we can” New Hampshire speech, but it wasn’t as workman-like as his nomination acceptance speech in Denver, either.
Over at Politico’s Arena, the reviews are nearly universally positive.
I wonder which, if any, lines will become famous like “ask not what your country can do for you…”. Nothing really jumped out at me as being quite at that level, but I here are what I thought were some of the highlights of the speech:
What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them—that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply. The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works.
This echo’s his 2004 DNC speech, and also nicely frames his pragmatic approach to governing.
As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals.
This line will surely please many people, especially liberals, as it rejects some of the worst policies of the Bush administration, but also offers a new way to move forward the debate on security vs. civil liberties.
We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.
Firm resolve instead of blustering, tough talk.
To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect. To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society’s ills on the West—know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.
Nicely matches with the foreign policy “smart power” outlined by Hillary at her confirmation hearing.
This is the price and the promise of citizenship.
A catchy line to capture his call for service and responsibility. Not quite “Ask not what your country…”, but still pretty good.
sneaky
You watched this on a internet stream? You don’t have a tv?