Our long national nightmare is over.

[cormac]

I got to work an hour early to set up the Board Room for the inauguration. As I fired up the projectors, the House of Representatives were going through their pro-forma rituals, including the reading of committee resignation letters of Representatives who'd been assigned to new committee positions. Then they got to the business of the day, and informed a very noisy House that only current Representatives would be allowed a space on the dias, and that spouses and children would not have a seat (groan), that they needed to have the pins that were being passed around (groan), and that they needed to line up in order of seniority (GROAN GRUMBLE GROUSE).

By the time 8:30 rolled around, there was standing room only, as eyes watched C-SPAN on two of the three screens (one projector blew early on) in the room. Except for the poem, which I Felt was rather empty and poorly delivered by its author, the entire ceremony was magical. The excitement in the air, both on-screen and in the board room, was so thick you could taste it.

About a third of the way through Obama's speech, before the "yes we can" turnaround, I imagined him getting through the end of the "we face turbulent times," which seemed to stretch on for quite a while, then saying "...is bad, and is not likely to get better. Thank you, Washington! You've been great! Good night!" It wasn't his best speech, but it was certainly in the top 5.

Welcome to the era of hope.

Comments

[blackbirdsings.livejournal.com]

From http://www.barackobama.com/factcheck/2007/12/11/fact_check_no_news_in_obamas_c.php -

Obama Supported A Package Of Legislation That Would Limit Handgun Sales To One A Month. ''The package closes the Firearm Owners Identification (FOID) card loopholes which resulted in the shooting out in Melrose Park. We're eliminating 17 specific assault weapons. There is no reason why anybody should need an assault weapon to protect themselves or their family,' Obama said. 'We're limiting handgun sales to one a month. 'We're calling for handgun registration. It's very hard right now to track whether or not a felon has turned in his weapons or if he has a FOID card because we don't know how many weapons he has purchased.'" [Chicago Defender, 2/20/01]

Obama Voted To Prohibit Multiple Sales Of Handguns Within A 30-Day Period. In 2003, Obama voted to create the offense of unlawful acquisition of handguns, prohibiting the multiple sales of handguns within a 30-day period. In 2000, Obama was co-sponsor of bill prohibiting the transfer of more than one handgun within a 30-day period. The bill exempted federally licensed firearm dealers who purchase handguns in the regular course of business, military, law enforcement officials and certain hunters. [93rd GA, HB 2579, 5/16/03, 3R L; 23-36-0; 91st GA; SB 1614; 2000]

Obama Disagreed With The NRA That "People Should Be Unimpeded And Unregulated On Gun Ownership;" In Favor Of Handgun Registration And Licensing Requirements. Obama said, "I know that the NRA believes people should be unimpeded and unregulated on gun ownership. I disagree. I do not object to the lawful use and ownership of firearms, but I do think it is entirely it appropriate for the state to monitor it. Too many of these guns end up in the hands of criminals even though they were originally purchased by people who did not have a felony. I'll continue to be in favor of handgun law registration requirements and licensing requirements for training." [Chicago Defender, 7/5/01]

Obama: America Has A "Tradition Of Gun Ownership In This Country That Can Be Respected." The Weekly Standard reported, "When a student asks Obama for his views on the Second Amendment, he reminds his audience that he taught constitutional law at the University of Chicago and is thus familiar with the arguments regarding the right to bear arms. He acknowledges 'a tradition of gun ownership in this country that can be respected,' and says that his academic studies convinced him gun ownership 'is an individual right and not just the right of a militia.' But he was not finished. 'Like all rights, though, they are constrained by the needs and the rights of the community.' Obama then spoke of 34 students who were killed on the streets of Chicago and called for sensible gun control to prevent senseless death. He speaks of the importance of parental involvement in education before listing the many ways in which he would expand the role of the federal government in the schools." [Weekly Standard, 12/17/07]


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The more you knooooooow!

[cormac.livejournal.com]

Ok, fair enough. But do you really need more than 12 handguns in any given year?

[blackbirdsings.livejournal.com]

Haha. Well, I wasn't posting that to try and prove that Obama is anti-gun--to the contrary, he seems to have a fairly moderate record on the issue, especially compared to the "you can't trust him with your guns!" hysteria that his opponents were trying to spread last year.

[shaunacarrick.livejournal.com]

When Obama was here in Billings, just before the nominating convention, I got the chance to attend a small gathering for veterans and disabled veterans. One thing he said was 'the gun owners of Montana have nothing to fear from me.' Plain and simple - and there are a LOT of gun owners in Montana!

He impressed me then with his ability to think on his feet when answering questions - nothing was scripted or pre-selected (I know, as I got a chance to ask him a question directly) and he answered all questions with a great deal of thought, moderation and humour. A VERY well-spoken man, and it is very nice to know that there is someone 'in charge' who has a vocabulary that includes what some of my friends call 'four and five dollar words' - and understands them and can use them correctly in full sentences!

The whole 'hysteria' that you mentioned I think was whipped up out of thin air, myself, but I am a bit biased.

[hagerson.livejournal.com]

"We're eliminating 17 specific assault weapons. There is no reason why anybody should need an assault weapon to protect themselves or their family,' Obama said."

In certain areas of East Tennessee, if folks don't like the way you think, act or believe, they burn you out. It's only a few years ago that certain fossils burned down a historic grist mill that was being relocated brick by brick, board by board to Townsend, TN. rather then have a city approved tourist attraction, a historic building in their sleepy little town certain people paid to have it burned down. The local police and county sheriff did nothing about the folks that paid for the crime.

Thank you very much, I'll keep my Assault riffle. it's the only thing certain types understand.