Inauguration day 2009

[Demosthenes11]

I wonder how many years til an asian is pres...100 years?

poor asians...they get no love when talking about race

[Zilong]

Pretty sure it'd be easier for China to just economically and eventually politically dominate US than for an Asian to become a president at this point >_>

[archibaldcrane]

Just like Japan in the 1980's. Remember when they were buying up the western seaboard as part of their economic domination?

[LD]

This is kind of a broad statement and false too. The swastika symbol is everywhere in art if you look for it. People just have a tendency to ignore the fact that it is there but it is not erased from eastern culture at all.

I can name two instances in which the Ban symbol (the swastika) was removed from something within popular culture before getting here: Once on a pokemon trading card and in the bleach manga/anime.

Name one instance in which it made it through.


At any rate, I only have to be mostly right to be right; You arguing the details doesn't obviate the fact that you will never see the symbol in any form of media western media that isn't ostensibly pro-nazi or relating to nazis. While not impossible, focusing on obscure niche culture is irrelevant, since the point is that the majority is suppressing it. Also, artful camouflage can't really count either, since the symbol is being obscured by what it is incorporated in.

While I'm at it, you're arguing this simply to be contrarian. You can't reasonably believe that when seeing the Ban symbol and nazi swastika put together, they'll, for the rest of their lives, be horrified by one and uplifted by the other. My entire point is that it's more likely that they'll be horrified by both, whether they realize it or not, because there is no immediate appreciable visual difference and the nazis had a greater effect on the west's social consciousness.

Focusing on these details that are so minor as to have absolutely no relevance is a fucking waste. The big picture is people hate the swastika and as such it is edited out or omitted in western media. If something is made so rare that it seems to not exist, then it is not worth being considered, and thus it does not exist (for the purposes of an argument). It is superfluous information and must be destroyed or excised.

[Churchill]

I really don't care if Obama is black, and I really don't think it's significant. A black man who for all intents and purposes, is a mix of Carlton/Will from The Fresh Prince isn't exactly a threatening or stereotypical black person. The only people he threatens are those who truly dislike black people/and or Muslims (for the sake of propaganda) and of course, those Republicans who would never vote Democrat. To everyone else, he is a likable and charismatic person and I don't think race really played that much of an issue for the yes/no vote.

Of course, if the media harps on it repeatedly, then it becomes an important and awe inspiring issue for all to behold. I personally got sick to my stomach when Feinstein talked about the American Revolution and how "we honored them" on this day, but I guess that'd have more to do with her personal hatred of the Constitution.

I dislike Obama for the same reasons I dislike John McCain, they are not honest people and neither is anyone else you can think of that holds a political office and isn't named Dennis or Ron.

[archibaldcrane]

Why do you hate Russ so much, Churchhill? He's about as liberal as you can get, but still believes that "a president should be able to choose his own cabinet" to the point where he cast the deciding vote to allow John Ashcroft as attorney general.

If that's not honesty I don't know what is.

[tyven]

just got back from one of the official inaugural balls (southern) what a fucking blast. will photo dump tomorrow even though im sure no one cares.

unfortunately i was not able to challenge barack or biden to a break dance battle

[Dimmauk]

I'd love to play basketball against him.

[0ni0n]

Shortly after he and Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. were sworn in, Mr. Obama ordered all pending Bush regulations frozen for a legal and policy review...He also plans to sign executive orders to start closing the detention center at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, and could reverse Mr. Bush’s restrictions on financing for groups that promote or provide information about abortion.

Too awesome.

[Xno Kappa]

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama's first public act in office Wednesday was to institute new limits on lobbyists in his White House and to freeze the salaries of high-paid aides, in a nod to the country's economic turmoil. Announcing the moves while attending a ceremony in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building to swear in his staff, Obama said the steps "represent a clean break from business as usual."
The pay freeze, first reported by The Associated Press, would hold salaries at their current levels for the roughly 100 White House employees who make over $100,000 a year. "Families are tightening their belts, and so should Washington," said the new president, taking office amid startlingly bad economic times that many fear will grow worse.
Obama freezes salaries of some White House aides - Yahoo! News

LMAO, This is some pretty pimp shit lol.

[Dimmauk]

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama's first public act in office Wednesday was to institute new limits on lobbyists in his White House and to freeze the salaries of high-paid aides, in a nod to the country's economic turmoil. Announcing the moves while attending a ceremony in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building to swear in his staff, Obama said the steps "represent a clean break from business as usual."
The pay freeze, first reported by The Associated Press, would hold salaries at their current levels for the roughly 100 White House employees who make over $100,000 a year. "Families are tightening their belts, and so should Washington," said the new president, taking office amid startlingly bad economic times that many fear will grow worse.
Obama freezes salaries of some White House aides - Yahoo! News

LMAO, This is some pretty pimp shit lol.

I watched this during my lunch, and my arm got tired from all the air punches.

Best part was this anti-Cheney law

"Obama's new lobbying rules will not only ban aides from trying to influence the administration when they leave his staff. Those already hired will be banned from working on matters they have previously lobbied on, or to approach agencies that they once targeted.

The rules also ban lobbyists from giving gifts of any size to any member of his administration. It wasn't immediately clear whether the ban would include the traditional "previous relationships" clause, allowing gifts from friends or associates with which an employee comes in with strong ties.

The new rules also require that anyone who leaves his administration is not allowed to try to influence former friends and colleagues for at least two years. Obama is requiring all staff to attend to an ethics briefing like one he said he attended last week.

[0ni0n]

The swift reform brought by Obama to Washington impresses me. I only hope this will only the be beginning of many more transparent and accountable practices during his tenure. I honestly feel like being in episode "A New Hope".

[Maguspk]

PolitiFact | The Obameter: Tracking Barack Obama's Campaign Promises

Pretty cool link, don't know if it's worthy of it's own thread, keeping track of his promises but it's a cool idea.

[Tristam]

PolitiFact | The Obameter: Tracking Barack Obama's Campaign Promises

Pretty cool link, don't know if it's worthy of it's own thread, keeping track of his promises but it's a cool idea.

This is a great idea, wish someone had done this with Bush.

[Elvis]

It's pretty badass that he just froze the outgoing Bush legislation. That plus Darth Cheney in a wheelchair = win.

If Obama helps us become an honest broker for peace between Israel-Palestine then I'll where a pink ballerina outfit for a year. Yes, nearly a hundred years of conflict = me in a pink tutu.

[Suited Aces]

This is a great idea, wish someone had done this with Bush.

It should be done with ALL politicians and elected officials. They should be accountable for the promises that got them their position.

[Tristam]

It should be done with ALL politicians and elected officials. They should be accountable for the promises that got them their position.

True

[Kael]

I wonder what the letter Bush left him said.

[Correction]

I wonder what the letter Bush left him said.

"If you find my stash, kindly forward it to Crawford."

[Lordender]

i just think its funny that on my local news monday i didn't hear one story about it being MLK day and the entire news cast was devoted to obama being sworn in on tues. I found that to be a little odd tbh.

as for people who are sore losers you just gotta give it up. I am a republican and when the time came the people spoke and hopefully the right person is in office. You gotta atleast give obama a chance, I think bush fucked up big time and it will not be easy to clean up this mess that could have been handled better.