I've got no problem with the benediction speaker. Everyone was smiling at the stuff he was saying at the end was partly in jest.

This is me. I liked his speech. I liked the message of bringing the races together and if he did it through humor, then so be it. It needed to be said that while we are focusing on race so strongly, we need to move past it and work together.

Man, GHWB is old now. Guess I haven't seen him in a while.

He's had some recent surgery, which is why he had trouble walking. He still intends to do some more skydiving on his birthday.

ION, Editorials worldwide pillory Bush one final time

"A weak leader, Bush was just overwhelmed in the job," said Germany's Sueddeutsche Zeitung under a headline: "The Failure." "He confused stubbornness with principles. America has become intolerant and it will take a long time to repair that damage."

GHWB is old now.

But he rocked that hat. And showed the most sense out of anyone on that platform -- it's COLD, people!

I was wondering, w/r/t the cold -- are there outdoor heaters on the platform, like you see sometimes on restaurant patios in cold weather? I mean, I didn't notice any, but maybe the government has stealth heaters. Because that would explain why, for instance, Michelle Obama didn't look miserable in her dress, which, though stunning, didn't look very warm.

I have a friend that is married to a 'red man' and there were a number of people that were of mixed or non- white races -- and they were amused by the brown sticks around, yellow will be mellow...etc. they didn't find it racists. and since it included white finds right ( paraphrase) it felt like he was saying we all have lots of work to do .

From the current coverage on MSNBC, Cindy McCain seems like a very cold person, or is it just me?

Four out of five of the last presidents have been left-handed. The number overall is like, way lopsided.

Wonder why?

Because we're so awesome?

I'm sure that there were heaters on the platform.

I mostly refrained from commenting on the religious elements since the religious elements in public ceremonies have bothered me since at least 8th grade graduation. I feel that this country, in which we have (theoretical) separation of church and state, ministers, priests, rabbis or any other religious leader do not belong at my public grammar school or the inauguration.

Not just you.

Though he weirded me out when he was talking about "committing [the Obamas] to your care, lord" because isn't that what you say at funerals?

I had the same thought as tommyrot about that.

I didn't know he was left-handed either!

I just had a celebratory sip of champagne... and then turned it into a mimosa, because, yum. Er, I'm at home, by the by.

I'm liking Hillary's hair today. Nice cut and color.