On July 27th (last night), Conan O'Brien had William Shatner on the show to do one thing; read Sarah Palin's good-bye speech as a poem. I can't do it justice by explaining it, you just have to see it to understand.
New President - New Whitehouse.gov
With a new President we get a new Whitehouse.gov. The last major change was brought by George W. Bush a few months after he took office in 2001. It seems that President Obama is one to not let tasks sit idle. The new Whitehouse.gov was up and running just minutes before he took the oath of office. I’ve run through it quickly and I have to say the design is better than the last version. It offers the same history, but looks to have more RSS feeds and seems to be more media rich than the previous website. I’ve always enjoyed reading through the President’s website. There is lots of history and information about our government. You can’t help but learn a little while you read it.
Check it out, after all it’s the People’s website.
Where to Watch the Obama Inauguration
Like most Americans watching our the Presidential inauguration every four years is always a challenge since it happens at noon on what is typically a work day. So, what’s a boy to do? Well, find places on the net to watch it or listen to it. Obviously every TV and radio news service will be covering the event; and many of those with web counterparts will make video and audio streams available too. Below I will provide some links to likely or confirmed sites. Streams could be difficult to get stable, so you may have to “shop” around. Don’t forget international sites; while an American event, it has world wide implications.
Here is a great article from CNet about watching coverage on-line.
UStream - Live Video Coverage (Confirmed Live Coverage) CNN 44th President Inauguration Coverage (Coverage With FaceBook) ABC News Guide to the Inauguration CBS Live Inaugural Video (Confirmed Live Coverage) Fox News on Hulu.com (Confirmed 2 Hours of Coverage) MSNBC - The Inauguration
Enjoy this amazing moment in world politics, not just because it’s the first U.S. President of African-American heritage but because its a transfer of power that on January 20th will have occurred 44 times for more than 200 years under one constitution and no use of military power.
Think about it for just a moment as you watch the celebration. Celebrate the fact that while stable governments are not unheard of throughout history, long term stable governments of the people were incredibly unusual until the 1780’s when the current US Constitution was ratified. Just think about it and remember, America is more about red and blue states; it’s about the Red, White, Blue and Stars of Old Glory that peoples around the world more often than not see as a shinning beacon of hope and what is possible.
Sec. Rice, President Bush & The New Leader of China
I recieved this in an e-mail from a friend. I don't believe that it is terribly inappropriate, or anti-Bush, although it may have been written for that reason, but it is funny. If you enjoy the old Abbott and Costello "Who's on First" routine, then you will appreciate this.
Our man "W" and his gal "Condi" have little chat about the new leader of China..................................Secretary: - Mr. President, Condoleeza Rice is here to see you.
George B. : - Good, send her in.
Secretary: - Yessir.(Hangs up. Condi enters.)
Condoleeza: - Good morning, Mr. President.
George B. : - Oh Condoleeza, nice to see you. What's happening?
Condoleeza : - Well, Mr. President, I have the report here about the new leader in China.
George B. : - Great, Condi. Lay it on me.
Condoleeza : - Mr. President, Hu is the new leader of China.
George B. : - Well, that's what I want to know.
Condoleeza : - But that's what I'm telling you, Mr. President.
George B. : - Well, that's what I'm asking you, Condie. Who is the new leader of China?
Condoleeza : - Yes.
George B. : - I mean the fellow's name.
Condoleeza : - Hu.
George B. : - The guy in China.
Condoleeza : - Hu.
George B. : - The new leader of China.
Condoleeza : - Hu.
George B. : - The Chinaman!
Condoleeza : - Hu is leading China, Mr. President.
George B. : - Whaddya' asking me for?
Condoleeza : - I'm telling you Hu is leading China.
George B. : - Well, I'm asking you, Condie. Who is leading China?
Condoleeza : - That's the man's name.
George B. : - That's who's name?
Condoleeza : - Yes.(Pause.)
George B. : - Will you or will you not tell me the name of the new leader of China?
Condoleeza : - Yes, sir.
George B. : - Yassir? Yassir Arafat is in China? I thought he was in the Middle East.
Condoleeza : - That's correct.
George B. : - Then who is in China?
Condoleeza : - Yes, sir.
George B. : - Yassir is in China?
Condoleeza : - No, sir.
George B. : - Then who is?
Condoleeza : - Yes, sir.
George B. : - Yassir?
Condoleeza : - No, sir.(Pause. Crumples paper)
George B. : - Condi, you're starting to piss me off now, and it's not 'cause you're black neither. I need to know the name of the new leader of China. So why don't you get me the Secretary General of the United Nations on the phone.
Condoleeza : - Kofi Annan?
George B. : - No, thanks. And Condi, call me George. Stop with that ebonics crap.
Condoleeza : - You want Kofi?
George B. : - No.
Condoleeza : - You don't want Kofi.
George B. : - No. But now that you mention it, I could use a glass of milk. And then get me the U.N.
Condoleeza : - Yes, sir.
George B. : - Not Yassir! The guy at the United Nations.
Condoleeza : - Kofi?
George B. : - Milk! Will you please make that call?
Condoleeza : - And call who?
George B. : - Well, who is the guy at the U.N?
Condoleeza : - No, Hu is the guy in China.
George B. : - Will you stay out of China?!
Condoleeza : - Yes, sir.
George B. : - And stay out of the Middle East! Just get me the guy at the U.N.
Condoleeza : - Kofi.
George B. : - All right! With cream and two sugars. Now get on the phone.(Condi picks up the phone.)
Condoleeza : - Hello. Rice, here.
George B. : - Rice? Good idea. And get a couple of egg rolls, too, Condi. Maybe we should send some to the guy in China. And the Middle East. Can you get chinese food in the Middle East? Condoleeza : - I give up.....George B. : - Hey Condi, you like Abbot and Costello? Or are you a Stooges fan?
Vote 2004
Okay,
Everyone else is making their predictions.... so let me make mine as well. I am not using any polls, scientific research or black magic; just my own mental abilities, such as they exist. So, who do I think will be the President of the United State of America come February of 2005? Well, I believe it will be George W. Bush, but it will be by a popular vote margin nearly as close as the last election and an electoral vote even closer. I really think that the nation is just that split down the middle.
What is this worth... well, if you have a post-it note anywhere near you... it is worth one sheet of that pad. The weather is an issue, the people's perceptions of the election on the west coast, the number of registered voters that actually turn out at the polls and maybe even a butterfly in China flapping its wings.
In the end, the President of the United States is the President of the United States. I will support whoever sits in that office. It is truly that simple. I support the office of the President, and not the man. The man or one day woman, is the issue during the campaign but once the polls close and victor decided the "Office" takes precedence until such time as the person holding the office belittles the "Office" and that my dear friends is when we look as removing the person.
I have my favorite, Bush, but I support him with trepidation; but I just can't find it in myself to vote for Kerry. If I were to vote for Kerry it would have to be because he offered me something as a person that I think would enrich the office beyond the current resident. I don't think he does. I am not too kean on his character, which isn't to say I think he is a bad person, and I do have some issues with his past and that is only an issue with me because he made it an issue (mistake on his part I think). I believe in his right to speak out against the Vietnam war... I just disagree with him and do not believe everything he said in the way he said it.
I have my issues with Bush. I think we went to war too quickly. I think we should have declared war on Iraq and on the terrorists of September 11th. I think that taking Sadam down was for the good of the world and it was the time to do it, I just think we could have handled it better and still gone down the same road. I don't think we have planned the war out very well and our men and women are suffering the consequences as are the Iraqis people; but show me a war that went "as planned, as advertised." Not one. I trust though that Bush will do what he says. I trust that Bush will do what he feels is in the best interest of the country, even if I at times disagree with him. In short I trust Bush and I don't have that same feeling about Kerry. Trust doesn't mean I agree with you, just that I believe you will do what you think is best and not what you think everyone else thinks is best. If I were President, I would be doing what I thought was best because that is how a Representative Democracy (Republic) works. You don't take polls or have elections for every decision... the leader makes decisions. Bush makes decisions in my mind, I don't think Kerry does.
I will end this by saying, that I believe Bush will win; but I further believe that Bush needs to make some changes in his administration in a bid to try and win back the trust of so many Americans.