Comments

He also provides hope to many throughout the world - may God bless Mr Obama and all citizens of the US.

Posted by Trevor Gay at January 20, 2009 7:17 AM

Great post Tom - Perfect addition Trevor

A moment with a certain special energy

Posted by PaulH at January 20, 2009 8:31 AM

Dear Tom,

What a beautiful post. I too have never been so proud to be an American.

May God bless this beautiful family and the great people of the United States of America.

This day I remember the countless nameless others, black and white, rich and poor, Christians
and Muslims et al, who have brought us to high noon, an elevated noon, a proud noon this day.

We will be the change we wish to see. We have already begun to be.

Thank you, Tom.

Judith

Posted by Judith Ellis at January 20, 2009 9:25 AM

In a series of texts minutes ago, my brother, Rob, texted me these messages:

"Happy Obama Day!"

"I have heard a lot of people say that Obama is only one man and that things are not going to really change. But I thought about it and the one thing that"

"they don't get is that because he is so inspiring he gives people hope and when people have hope they can do anything. The Bible says, 'hope deferred ma"

"kes the heart sick,' and when people are sick things become hard or impossible to conquer. But thank God hope is here and we shall all overcome!"

"Thanks dearly. I'm so excited!!! I will talk to you later today. Love you much!"

Posted by Judith Ellis at January 20, 2009 9:57 AM

Best wishes and good luck, America.

Posted by Mark JF at January 20, 2009 10:08 AM

YES!

Posted by Halley Suitt at January 20, 2009 10:22 AM

Yes WE can...

Posted by nextgenradio at January 20, 2009 12:16 PM

I was in tears and hope each of his moving words are backed by action - the world is once again united by hope!!

Posted by gauri at January 20, 2009 1:02 PM

Best Wishes to America and to Obama! Thanks to Rick Warren and others who prayed for the Nation and the new President.

God Bless!

Pradeep

Posted by Pradeep Henry at January 20, 2009 2:04 PM

May God bless Pastor Rick. I thought he did a fine job. Reverend Dr. Joseph Lowrey's prayer was simply marvelous, the opening and ending stunning. As profound as he normally is, Rev. Lowrey, a great hero of the Civil Rights Movement, is ALWAYS fun.

Posted by Judith Ellis at January 20, 2009 2:13 PM

I doff my cap to you, Americans! Lots of people here shut shop early and took time off to watch!

Posted by Jo at January 20, 2009 3:16 PM

May the new White House become a place of vigorous discussion and debate, of hard won discord rather than ideologically driven accord, of transparency, accountability,and community, of hope sprinkled with imagination and purpose, of determination, focus, and faith, and of reconciliation and peace.

My best wishes, in all future circumstances, go to Barack Obama, Rahm Emanuel, Valerie Jarrett, and David Axelrod - they will soon come to know just how it feels to have so much expectation placed on the shoulders of so few....

Posted by Richard Lipscombe at January 20, 2009 7:10 PM

Outrageous that the new GM presidential limosine sputtered to a stop so the president & 1st lady HAD to walk in that bitter cold weather - while the world looked on to witness how far the USA has fallen!

The UAW released a statement saying "We'll teach you pay for play Mr. president 44 in your fancy new car!" This after their TARP for Viagra failed to materialize as expected in a special weekend session of "high ranking" officials!

Posted by Contraire at January 20, 2009 7:57 PM

Meanwhile the free market system shows its appreciation for Mr. new 44 by dropping the Dow Index the most of any inauguration day in history ... -4%!!!

Insiders say it was a reaction to Michelle's choice of wardrobe color which spooked the free markets - a cooooooool blue was what Wall Street expected!

Heaven help us & thanks Barack for the 5 references to God in the inauguration speech! :>)

Posted by Contraire at January 20, 2009 8:10 PM

Can we take a break from patting each other on the back for just a minute?

Tom-----after all of your experiences, you've never been prouder, than today, to be an American? Lunar missions, Apollo 13 and Nasa, the 1980's Olympic hockey team, Brady taking a bullet for Reagan, the Iran Hostages coming home, our military pushing back the Iraqis from Kuwait, and Phelps swimming in last year's Olympics...you've never been prouder? I'm disappointed.

Our country has set some unprecedented records with mismanagement of our government and corporations...and this is your finest hour? Never before have we seen unemployment rise at record numbers at the same time Americans are getting tossed from their homes (double jeopardy). In my city, in December, there were so many requests for unemployment benefits that the phone lines (the only way to file) failed because of inundation. This is your finest hour as an American...because we elected a minority? That's it? That's all it takes? The hope of Barack Obama? Very shallow in my opinion.

I quote Harvey Dent (DA) in The Black Knight to Bruce Wayne (Batman) when they're sharing dinner together. "You either die a hero or hang around long enough to see yourself become the villain (or something like that)" Your finest hour?

Anymore, when I visit this blog, I ask myself, "Self, what can the common folk, laborers, gain from the wisdom of what Mr. Peters has to say?" In the past, it was quite a bit. Now I get blogs about our proudest moments and 10 Things that a Personal Brand Isn't. Do you realize, that if I take the 10 Things blah, blah to my fellow employees, they have no idea what I'm talking about or how it applies to their positions.

Get back to the basics my friend. Talk in language that common American workers can understand. Give me something I can work with!!!!! Enough of this proudest moment manure. People are stuggling beyond belief and this is our proudest moment...rubbish. Looks like another Hollywood event to me that costs hundreds of millions of dollars (congratulations to HBO).

Posted by Candy Man at January 20, 2009 9:22 PM

I don't want to see this end on a sour note. Mr. Candy Man - from the looks of your post, God Himself would not satisfy you on this day of CELEBRATION. You could have waited with your manure post for at least a day. Judging from the tone of your post, your fellow employees run in terror when you walk into a room!

God Bless President Obama - he IS our president now, so get behind him and unclench your fist.

Posted by Tom N at January 20, 2009 10:22 PM

"Lunar missions, Apollo 13 and Nasa, the 1980's Olympic hockey team, Brady taking a bullet for Reagan, the Iran Hostages coming home, our military pushing back the Iraqis from Kuwait, and Phelps swimming in last year's Olympics." These are indeed all great moments in American history and we, as Americans, are all very proud indeed. Now, let's consider where we are today and where we have been and understand from whence my second was given.

Considering 2,000 plus years of slavery in the U.S., millions of murders and lynchings, systematic humiliation, countless rapes of women and girls, the consistent emasculation of men, denied education, destruction of families, denial of humanity, cruel and unusual punishment, I think that we Americans, both black and white, can indeed say that we have never been prouder to be an American at this particular moment in our history. We release bitterness and rancor. We refuse anger and wrath. We beg forgiveness and peace. We call upon our higher selves to be greater still.

May God bless America, may God bless President Obama, and may God have mercy on us all and we move forward to change America. This moment does not diminish any other great historical one. Instead, it punctuates the spirit of a people calling and enacting change. The work has now begun. Yes, we can!

Posted by Judith Ellis at January 20, 2009 11:16 PM

I cannot agree more, actually I wrote a similar post weeks ago

Edward

Frontier Blog
http://www.hwswworld.com/wp

Posted by frontierblog at January 21, 2009 2:49 AM

Hi American Friends: thank to be with us, you're Young, often too aggressive, often too "American", often too...but...you're here with us from many, many years, I'm Italian and always when I think about your country I tell myself: yes, U.S. is a country where all is possible.
God bless America
Mauro

Posted by mauro baricca at January 21, 2009 4:12 AM

It's been interesting watching the rise of President Obama over the last few months. He always appeared to be the more statesmanlike of the candidates from both parties and the one that I was more likely to trust had I a chance to cast a vote for him.

BBC's News Channel here in the UK ran the Innauguration live over here for hours yesterday and their flagship 10pm News on BBC1 came live from Washington too. It was an important day and even the tabloids over here have recognised that fact judging by the front pages and the commemorative issues that have been published by both the tabloids and the quality papers over here.

Now all we need in the UK is someone of Obama's stature to take over the running of our country here, but I still haven't seen one yet...

Posted by Keith Rickaby at January 21, 2009 6:12 AM

One movement Judith - that is gaining energy is black women dating & marrying Caucasians & Asians. The time I was in D.C. that was the case with me almost exclusively as dark blonde & blue - more later on similar issues.

Posted by Contraire at January 21, 2009 7:08 AM

My in-laws, nieces, and cousins are from Pakistan, Kenya, Canada and are Jewish too. Dark, blonde, brown and blue.

Posted by Judith Ellis at January 21, 2009 7:25 AM

Tom M---My fist is not clinched, never has been. An assumption that employees run from me? Because I'm pointing out some very truthful realities of today's America...whatever? I can't celebrate when the realities of today's America have affected my friends, family, and others to such an overwhelming degree. Yesterday was just another day for many of us...

2000+ years of slavery in the US. I'm a little confused about that, but I understand the country has endured growing pains. The Native Americans got it worse than any group in the States over the past 300 years. Jewish people have had it worse than any group I know of over the past 2000 years.

I really thought we'd overcome slavery and the issues described above prior to yesterday. There have been thousands of other African Americans that went first to make yesterday a reality. Defining moment...absolutely...the proudest moment of my American history (hardly). I look at Obama as another guy, a human being, who's bright and quite educated. I hope his ability to lead is as sharp as his speeches.

Hope and God, at least right now, aren't paying my mortgage. The problem I see with today's society, and getting back to some of my previous remarks, I sense that American people believe that Hope and God are going to take care of their issues. Have no fear, Obama is here. George and Laura couldn't have run faster to the helicopter waiting for them on the lawn. Reminded me a little of the evacuation from Saigon several decades back...

Posted by Candy Man at January 21, 2009 9:17 AM

A Berlin (Germany) tabloid today headlined in semi-german, semi-english: 'Now show us what you can'. Hopes are high, rarely have been higher before, hopefully not too high! The show is over, now real life begins, and real life is tough these days. Will Barack Hussein Obama still be the knight in shining armor in 4 years from now? I truly do hope so. I wish him luck. May God bless him - and may he be a blessing for his fellow americans and all mankind, beacuse the US still is - no doubt about that - the most powerful nation on this globe.

Posted by Sven at January 21, 2009 9:41 AM

Tom P. - I'll give you a pass since you were only about 1 at the time, but the landings at Normandy as a national sacrifice (with soldiers of all races and religion) to overthrow the fascist regimes in Europe was America's greatest moment. Something to be far more proud of than anything else since the start of the 20th century to date.

I must be too young not having lived through the 60's, but I don't see electing an African-American as that big of a deal. Not sure if that's good or bad, but I never (and apparently the majority fo voters) considered it very relevant. The same will be true when a woman is elected. It's a matter of when, not if.

Posted by Bruce at January 21, 2009 10:17 AM

Why must there always be a one upmanship on misery? We are talking here about the inauguration of Barack Obama as President of the United States and the pride we felt. We are not debating whether one group of people has suffered more than another. By the way, my maternal grandfather was half Cherokee Indian and we know the stories of American Indians and their awful legacy too. However, now we speak of a particular moment in history at this particular time. It is not a question of who suffered more, but of whether we as Americans can understand our history, live in the now, and speak to our glorious future.

It is obvious by the remarks above that this particular man--I assume writer is not a woman--is not a leader and perhaps not a man of great love. It is in the most difficult times that leaders, compelled by love and determined by necessity, infuse hope in seemingly hopeless situations to bring about change. Hope makes the heart healthy. Hope enables actions that make a difference. "Now abides faith, hope and love these three but the greatest of these is love."

Americans are not as naive as some believe. We are well aware that we must do our part. But this doing is not in separating hope, faith and love. Some may have thought that the President's speech yesterday was a bit too somber. It was clear (as with the speech in Grant Park but taken further still) that President Obama was not campaigning but leading.

Leading means giving hope and having the courage to point out weakness in order to move forward. President Obama has led quite well over these two years. No one in the history of this country has run such a campaign and no other president in recent history has gone out of his way to include others, including non-believers (as it should be), partisan journalists, and a recent rival. How big of the President to honor Senator McCain in a dinner the night before the inauguration.

We all know that President Obama can give a great speech that can rival any statesman, preacher or motivational speaker. We have witnessed this many times beginning at the Democratic Convention in 2004 and over the last two years before millions, here and abroad. I found the inaugural speech selfless in that the President chose to lead rather than be remembered for a particular line or soaring rhetoric. He spoke to what America needed and gave hope of our succeeding.

I am happy for the correction above. Good that it was pointed out, but indeed quite obvious too.

Posted by Judith Ellis at January 21, 2009 10:32 AM

A mere suggestion: Why don't we simply state what is our proudest moment as opposed to telling others what theirs should be?

By the way, age has nothing necessarily to do with understanding. Empathy matters. History too.

I was born in the late 60s but I am well versed in the Renaissance period and in ancient history.

Posted by Judith Ellis at January 21, 2009 10:47 AM

My proudest day? My wedding day.

Posted by Mark JF at January 21, 2009 11:38 AM

I had an odd thought yesterday watching the
celebrations.
George Bush mught be the last white President.

Posted by glenOrGlenda at January 21, 2009 12:37 PM

Regardless of what Americas proudest moment (and you've had a lot) in history is, has been or ever will be...maybe yesterday was a day to celebrate the now! Yes your economy is troubled, yes you have caused woe in trying to help liberate countries and yes your perception around the world is not always seen as great!

But you are where you are and that's the starting point for Barack. It's now not about the situation that America is in but about how your president leads you in these times!

You've already accepted real change to kick start the process...you've elected a president, not because of his colour, religious beliefs or because of the colour of Michelle’s dresses but because you want change and he is the best equipped to help you deliver it!

Leave yourselves ready and open because I think it's going to be one hell of an interesting ride.

Interestingly a few that weren't so ready and open:

China - Censored Barack’s speech
Iran - Didn't air the inauguration
Russia - Hardly mentioned it
North Korea - No mention at all!

I think it's a great moment in time...one full of hope and hope has a powerful way of manifesting itself into something truly amazing!

Good Luck to America!

And all this from a cynical Brit observer!

Posted by Matt at January 21, 2009 1:15 PM

We are very happy for MarkJF. (Really!) But there is also something to be said for those events that have an impact universally as opposed to those that impact personally, whether acknowledged or not.

The fact that any of us are happily married will probably not affect national or international events such as the global econonmy.

Regarding the countries that did not air the speech, there is most certainly no love lost. To each his own. But I'm sure they're wearing our jeans, listening to our music, and have our latest technology or some reversed engineered thing.

It's all good.

Posted by Judith Ellis at January 21, 2009 1:45 PM

Judith,

You state some wonderful truths and I believe you're a woman that acts in accordance with your writings. I happen to be a male, a man of great love, and I've lead in an executive role before (never to return in its current format--corporate America). I've seen greed and corruption firsthand, and I've seen families upended by bad leadership and decisions, bad government, and horrific management.

I found irony in your statement...

"Why must there always be a one upmanship on misery? We are talking here about the inauguration of Barack Obama as President of the United States and the pride we felt. We are not debating whether one group of people has suffered more than another. By the way, my maternal grandfather was half Cherokee Indian and we know the stories of American Indians and their awful legacy too."

The one upmanship to...by the way, my maternal gradfather was whatever is the very irony you're arguing against in my statements. I'm not miserable, I'm not even cynical; yet, I do not trust our government, I do not trust politicians, and I refuse to put my faith in anyone else but God, my wife, my children, and me. Obama, in my eyes, is just another politician; from a pretty dirty state when considering the scheme of government in Illinois. Nelson Mandela, Ghandi, military personnel on the beaches of Omaha or Normandy transcended anything that I will ever be able to accomplish as a human being. They have truly put themselves in harm's way for others so that I may become a better man and my family remain safe and secure in the States.

We've taken Obama, and in some cases, made this more about him being black than running a good campaign, winning the Oval Office, and being brave enough (or stupid depending how you look at things) to take on these challenges.

He may very well be one of the bravest men I come to know over the next four years. I'm very pleased that Black people don't have to go through what their parents and grandparents did over the past several decades. But we have a different struggle going on out there today. Our own people, black, blue, yellow, orange, red and otherwise, are struggling to feed their families. That's why I struggle with extravagant celebrations, the "yes we did" comments last night, and everything else that cost huge amounts of money. What have "we done", I say "we", over the past two years, other than elect an African American President?

I hold out hope by doing homework with my kids, praying that their health stays in tact, and that I can feed them and put clothes on their back. Outside of that, I can't depend on anyone else for hope...

When TP made his post yesterday, my first reaction was, "here we go again with all of the racial this and that." I'm kinda tired of it and that's why I stated what I did. I enjoy people of all backgrounds and beliefs, that's why it wasn't that big of a deal to me.

Saving our financial institutions without crippling future generations with tax buren will be a big deal to me...

Posted by Candy Man at January 21, 2009 1:57 PM

Best in all that you do.

Posted by Judith Ellis at January 21, 2009 1:59 PM

Irony can often be found whenever sought after. The point: I understand personally the history of American Indians.

Posted by Judith Ellis at January 21, 2009 2:02 PM

Me too...the USA's history of genocide. Horrible representation of humanity in our history. Deplorable too!

Posted by Candy Man at January 21, 2009 2:07 PM

Oh, Nameless (Brave?) One, many countries have had such a history. Our desire, however, should be to recreate history (with a bit of her-story) by remembering the past, living in the now, and looking forward to the future.

Posted by Judith Ellis at January 21, 2009 2:16 PM

hi
I think the post is about an important day in the History of this planet.

but many comments are talking just about chronicle.
God bless America and americans

Posted by jamshid at January 21, 2009 2:41 PM

What a fantastic food fight! Thanks to everyone for taking the time! I love it when a quasi-business blog like this suddenly becomes semi-political. That way, everyone can share the benefits of their inexperience.

To put us squarely back in our semi-business setting, rarely does one pluck a junior level functionary and install them in the CEO's suite. This is for good reason. They're apt to fail. We've done that in this last election and now the world will live with our decision.

We all wish him the best luck possible. Our last president had terrible luck, from beginning to end, and now that he's gone his reputation is already beginning to be rehabilitated by the same people who excoriated him a few short months ago. The parallels with Harry Truman are unmistakable.

My fingers are crossed, but my money's on the sidelines.

Posted by Cruz Overbrook at January 21, 2009 4:32 PM

Turning 'hope' into practical outcomes is the task set for Barack, Rahm, Valerie, and David as they settle in on day one at The White House. The first big test for Barack and his team is not what most people think - it is to ensure he keeps his blackberry. With echoes from my former life I smiled when I heard that the real issue at Noon on Inauguration Day at The White House was how do new staff 'log-in' on their computers so they can start work (these are the types of seemingly trivial details that will kill you over the next four years if someone is not paying close attention).....

Posted by Richard Lipscombe at January 21, 2009 5:12 PM

Richard,

Great comment about the Blackberry. I had one for one week and gave it back to the company I was working for. I remember the day like it was yesterday. I was out to lunch with a high ranking manager and he would look at his Blackberry about every other minute. The thing was going off like a toaster oven and I thought the guy couldn't maintain his focus on our lunch meeting. My Blackberry wouldn't shut up either and I handed the item back to an IT manager. Man that thing was annoying...

Posted by Candy Man at January 21, 2009 7:24 PM

Cruz, your point is well taken. However, I can't get past the point that these "experienced" CEO's are really quite responsible for the current economic mess. I say bring in some new blood. By the way, I am curious to find out who the folks are that you think are beginning to rehab the reputation of W. I am not hearing that. Thanks

Posted by Mike Neiss at January 21, 2009 7:45 PM

Transitions, as we're sure Richard knows "with echoes from" his "former life" are not always smooth, especially when bureaucracy is concerned. But I think by mid-afternoon all was well. If the White House is ran anything like the campaign, all will be well indeed. The campaign was nearly pitch perfect.

Perhaps too much is made here of "trivial details" when the situation was rectified in a timely fashion. (Are "trivial details" like small things?) It sounds like Richard was watching CNN half way across the world as I this afternoon. Cool. His words are nearly verbatim to the White House correspondent.

Hope was being materialized well before Barack Obama took office and made practical on this the President’s first day. Regarding the Blackberry, it seems to be a way to continue to relate with people outside of his administration. This appears to be the value for President Obama.

Posted by Judith Ellis at January 21, 2009 7:49 PM

Thanks Cruz, Richard, Candy Man, Sven for the insights! Tom is a feminist drama queen quite often so his "proudest moment" comes along when his estrogen peaks! :>) Now is the time for blacks to PAY reparations & step up & join in 100% - be they in prison or ready to drop out of an inner city public "school" - excuses are for losers & they have proclaimed themselves winners! :>) Hey wait a minute - wasn't Bill Clinton the 1st black president? Ahhhhh - to have his true high intellect back again & the 4 surplus years!

Posted by Contraire at January 21, 2009 7:55 PM

Candy Man....

The blackberry - I have never had one because of my experience with people who do have them and who therefore act as you say when they are around me... I see Barack's blackberry as a lifeline to the outside world - a source of liberation and solace from the constant beat of 'group think'...

There should be a sign on every office door of the West Wing - "Welcome to The White House were every problem ever faced by mankind has already been solved" (please be assured that in your top draw is your unique code - enter it into your computer and you will never have to "think" for yourself or by yourself ever again - Welcome to the world of 'group think')....

Strikes me there are just four people in this new administration that must not be allowed to become swept up into White House 'group think' - Barack, Rahm, Valerie, and David. I am sure that fighting the powers of 'group think' is what prematurely ages Presidents.

The President will go into a meeting day after day with 'new and bold ideas' only to return to the Oval Office with the same old problem - how to get the White House staff to do what he wants them to do...

Barack's blackberry will be a symbol of change for me - it will signal to me that he is willing and able to take on (if not to stare down) the White House 'group think' regime....

Richard.

Posted by Richard Lipscombe at January 21, 2009 7:56 PM

Until Contraire finds balls and identifies himself properly so we can actually have a serious discussion void of laundry lists of Googling, BET neighboring, and often nonsensical quipping, he should probably simply be ignored. The "drama queen" theme reminds me of another one here with an identified name who spouts the same seeking identity and some sort of yearning fame. I actually laughed when Contraire wrote earlier "more later on similar issues." A tease-less tease, funny indeed.

Posted by Judith Ellis at January 21, 2009 8:24 PM

Judith Ellis...

Thanks for reading my comments and giving me feedback on them - feedback is always welcomed by me... I agree with you, Judith, that President Barack Obama and his core senior team have done a 1st class job with the transition from campaign managers to White House custodians.... Regrettably, Barack has too much expectation on his shoulders to be the continuing font of 'hope' that everyone (around the world) seems to demand or need from him... HOWEVER, the great thing is it seems apparent to all of us that Barack is trying to get each of his supporters to carry their fair share of his enormous load... Since his election I have been one of many, many thousands of people around the US and the globe who have made a small contribution to his team - I have done my bit to help carry my family's share of Obama's load... I am sure that you too Judith are fully engaged and thus carrying your share... Good luck to you and yours....

Cheers, Richard.

Posted by Richard Lipscombe at January 21, 2009 11:31 PM

"Regrettably, Barack has too much expectation on his shoulders to be the continuing font of 'hope' that everyone (around the world) seems to demand or need from him."

I disagree with this statement categorically. Continuous hope is both possible and needed. It appears that what Americans are thought to be, those with short attention spans, cross great gulfs of waters. We are at attention but we must act too.

80% of Americans, according to a recent NYT poll, say they are patient and willing to wait for the needed change. As long as Americans see that we heading in the right direction, we will continue to be hopeful and patient with the current administration.

This is an extraordinary time and we are an extraordinary people.

Posted by Judith Ellis at January 22, 2009 1:32 AM

Peace, Richard.

Posted by Judith Ellis at January 22, 2009 1:38 AM

All the comments above about the Blackberry overlook one thing: it isn't the device that's the problem. What's at issue is people who keep looking at it when they should be concentrating on a meeting, a conversation, a meal or whatever. Do they use technology to help run their life or have they let technology take it over? For the unitiated, don't worry: Blackberries do have cancel, mute, divert and even off buttons.

In a way, I think this parallels the choice President Obama faces. He's going to have the world and his dog knocking on the door with all sorts of ideas about every issue under the sun. He can't respond to all of them. He needs to choose which issues to push back, which to delegate and which ones to answer. I wish him well.

Posted by Mark JF at January 22, 2009 3:24 AM

As reported on PBS Newshour today - the White House did flick the switch to the digital age. The make-over was instant to The White House web site. The new mission is to keep in touch with the 13 million supporters who were online and onboard with Obama in his election campaign. The notion is this will become a wired White House that will fully utilise digital technology to allow access and connection of ordinary folk into policy discussions. President Obama will also upgrade his weekly radio report to include a digital video that will be posted on YouTube. Obama realises that he is the first President of the Digital Age and so he intends to use the internet to stay in close touch with his constituents. He wants them to contribute to national and local affairs as he consolidates his grass roots campaign movement into an ongoing instrument of government.

Posted by Richard Lipscombe at January 22, 2009 3:51 AM

The perfect drama queen is Judith too! Love the balls quote - same for 44 - he must be like LBJ "... when we have them by the balls their hearts & minds shall follow ..." Spoken though in his 44 no drama fashion!

Posted by Contraire at January 22, 2009 7:09 AM

The Dow rallied to 280 points yesterday, some 3.5 percent, one day after the inauguration of President Barack Obama. I do not hear any voices here bemoaning this fact.

The real fact, however, is that markets are fickle and unpredictable. The brilliant Nassim Nicholas Taleb calls markets "manic depressive." The great stock speculator and renowned dancer, Nicholas Darvas, writes about various kinds of speculators and the danger of brokers and tipsters – all up and down, even when losses are diminished.

Recently reading Darvas' book, How I made $2M in the Stock Market, I got the impression that the fickleness of the Stock Market in within the market itself. I wondered if it is not some big scheme of sort whether you are, as Darvas describes, a Gambler, Fundamentalist, or Speculator.

Funny thing, initially Darvas writes about distrusting brokers and tipsters, but by the book's end he himself becomes a kind of tipster with neophytes asking advice from the revered speculator.

Posted by Judith Ellis at January 22, 2009 10:56 AM

Let´s take the opportunity to back up President Obama in every way we can to make this a better planet to live on. I am just an amateur/dad/father/brother/man who made this song after seeing a terrible photo in the news..hope it will influence somebody to take part on the journey ahead..Jan

www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmmxZa1rkzI

Posted by Jan Gunnarsson at January 22, 2009 11:13 AM

Dear Jan,

Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful thought-provoking song.

I will pass it on. Thanks again--much appreciated.

cheap generic viagra 100mg Judith

Posted by Judith Ellis at January 22, 2009 11:59 AM

Jan - I have just added your video to my blog for all fathers and mothers who support these in rebuilding families and world communities. Thanks again.

Posted by Judith Ellis at January 22, 2009 12:11 PM

Mark JF: Re wedding day, I'd call mine my Day of Greatest Amazement; "Why is this lovely woman idiot enough to go through with this?"

Posted by tom peters at January 22, 2009 12:23 PM

Great additions since yesterday.

I love all the testicle references, in part the jabbing between Contraire and Ellis; that was funny! Thanks for all of the contributions and helping make the forum fun.

With regard to the Dow's performance yesterday, kudos to the one day gain. However, one day does not make a week, one week does not make a year, and one year does not make a lifetime.

I'm still reeling from the 40% pounding I took in 2008. 280 point gains for weeks on end will have me back to even. Kinda similar to the challenge in front of Barack.

Judith----I checked out your blog. Well done and I liked it. I'm beginning to think that you may have bigger balls than Contraire. Just a joke folks!!!!!

Posted by Candy Man at January 22, 2009 1:03 PM

Oh, Candy Man, I've got big balls, metaphorically speaking—of course. You can trust me on that. :-) I too trust that my heart is equally as so. I'm glad you liked my blog. Thanks for passing through. I agree with you about the Dow's one day performance. Darvas was big on stops and getting out. Perhaps he's not considered an investor. The speculator seems to practice gaming more. He writes, after a major loss, "I had decided never again to risk money than I could afford to lose without ruining myself." He did so again. But I think I'd rather be a speculator in this market.

In his latest book, Enough. True Measures of Money, Business and Life, Jack Bogle describes the difference between a speculator and investor. Great book if you haven't read it. TP highly recommends it in a couple of posts. By the way, my remark regarding the one day gain was based on a criticism here of a one day loss after the inauguration of President Obama after the fall Tuesday. My point is that the market can be simply silly sparked by ridiculous things which makes me in part think it's a scheme.

Gotta go or I’ll be late for a meeting. Ciao for now.

Posted by Judith Ellis at January 22, 2009 1:41 PM

I am a proud Australian citizen but I am also someone who is too fond of America according to the discord it generates within my family. America is not looked up to within my family - all, except me, think Obama is just another politician. They are all very pleased that Bush is gone - they delight in reminding me that I would have voted for him twice had I been an American citizen and I can assure you that fact does me no good in this household.

Which brings me to the point raised by Timothy Garton Ash (he is an historian, political writer and Guardian columnist) writing in our local rage The Age.... Will the rest of world follow the US? Ash says "Obama's toughest job is to persuade others that America has changed."

Ash says in part ... "According to the US National Intelligence Council, "by 2025, the international system will be a global multipolar one with gaps in national power continuing to narrow between developed and developing countries".

This does not require that America will decline; only that others continue to rise. There was a hint almost of melancholic defiance in Obama's inaugural rallying cry: "We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on earth."

In a speech that was very good, but not the overhyped Lincolnian great, President Obama spoke both to his country and to the world. I believe that he succeeded rhetorically and can succeed practically with the first audience, despite all the current difficulties, but I'm less sure about the second."

I know that my family wish President Obama well - however they surely do not want Australia to follow the US anywhere anymore. They are much more interested in a world that is not dominated by or led by American politics. They would be happy if Obama's leadership was concentrated and focused (as I believe it will come to be) more on America and Americans and less on the world. Don't get me wrong they are happy that Bush has gone home to Texas (they take absolute delight in telling me that I got it so wrong with Bush and how Bush was the worst leader of the free world ever). But they are not interested in Obama as the new self-professed and self promoting (they recoil at Americans love of self-promotion) leader of the free world. He is not their leader and never will be. My family is looking elsewhere for 'hope'....

Posted by Richard Lipscombe at January 22, 2009 4:26 PM

Good luck to you and yours, Richard. All the best in your search.

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Funny thing, we don't go run around looking for hope externally.

Hope must begin within.

Posted by Judith Ellis at January 22, 2009 5:22 PM

Thankfully each member of my family has the faith and the belief in their own abilities needed to cope with and to make their world a better place... I 'hope' all the readers and those who contribute to these comments do too....

Posted by Richard Lipscombe at January 22, 2009 5:45 PM

There is the singular and collective to consider here, the personal and national.

Personally, I believe and have faith, but sometimes I do wonder about the "abilities needed to cope" all the time.

I have tremendous hope and manage reasonably well, thank God, even after I fail.

Posted by Judith Ellis at January 22, 2009 6:09 PM

Proud??!? We elect a guy who was not even "the candidate" when this all started, who was packaged, protected and pumped up by the media, a guy who we don't really "know", who has NOT been forthcoming and transparent, a guy that we do know as the most lib senator around, a guy who will make an abortion law one of his first acts, a guy with some very strange associations and beliefs..and we are to be proud??!!? If he WAS NOT protected and pre packaged by the media, if he WAS forthcoming and transparent, if he WAS open and honest, then YES, I would be proud, but I am baffled by this whole process. Time for me to figure out how to protect my 401, house, savings / invetments, how to navigate these choppy waters ahead. GOD Bless America!

Posted by J D Duncan at January 22, 2009 8:49 PM

I think Obama sold hope, not a solution. I didn't notice a plan/ a viable solution - so far.

There's a thin line between being rational and being impulsive/ emotional, and "hope" :) is just an instrument/ device used to push you into the hurdle.

Why don't you ask some of those stupid/ dumb questions you were promoting & supporting ?
Why not ask: who is he? what did he do? what is his family tree/ relatives? what he achieved? owns some business? what field? who are his friends? etc...

Something else. Discernment. Use it. It's another tool since you're consultants. Walk the talk.

PS: If you decide to answer to my post, I would actually prefer real arguments, not an ad hominem one.

Posted by adrian at January 23, 2009 2:41 AM

Adrian - Grow up. (Is that an ad hominen attack?) Your comment does not warrant a "real argument" or discussion.

Posted by Judith Ellis at January 23, 2009 4:39 AM

If anyone knows the Mapp and Lucia books by EF Benson, would you agree there's a distinct touch of Riseholme round here?

Posted by Rob at January 23, 2009 12:30 PM

Still sulking?

Posted by Judith Ellis at January 23, 2009 2:58 PM

Interesting blog - no repsonse required, but Judith and Candy Man seem obligated to reply to every comment made about their positions and really came across as a "high school know-it-all's". Debate and reasoned action will win the day. The US should be proud and if a new generation of potential leaders can get excited about something or someone, then great. Perhaps positive action will come. It has to be better than the "doing drugs or doing nothing" approach that seems to dominant the younger folk of North America.

Posted by Mike at January 24, 2009 10:32 AM

@Judith: Thanks, I appreciate your advice! :)

Why doesn't my comment warrant a discussion? Because I have a different opinion?

OK. I'm gonna try a different approach:
Obama said that one of his top priorities is Healthcare - solution: reducing costs.

For me a viable solutions for reducing healthcare costs sounds like this: We currently spend 500 billion $, by which 300 billion $ on drugs only.
Objective: Reduce drugs costs to 200 billion $, by renegotiating drugs prices. Explicitly, Drugs X & Y have a price of 1$ and 2$ and the amount bought represents 100 billion $.
Targeted price reduction: drug x - 50c, drug y - 75c, by direct renegotiation with suppliers. If renegotiation fails, we can import the drugs at the desired price from country/ company Z. Or, third choice - finance a government drug factory in order to cover a larger scale of drugs. Or, forth solution,... etc

I didn't come by any solution provided in this manner in Obama's speeches. If anybody came across a solution somewhat like this, I would love to see it, and afterward, I'll gladly reconsider my position.

Posted by adrian at January 26, 2009 12:21 PM

There is a time and place for everything. You have got to be kidding if you expected or wanted President Obama to address such detailed policy in an inaugural address. Campaigning is different from governing, although the President's website throughout his campaign was quite detailed indeed. But why do people keep harking back to the campaign? Let's look forward please.

President Obama's first 100 hours have been more focused on policy than any others in recent history. (Dare I say more than some others' 100 days?) 68% of Americans are pleased with President Obama's first days and 48% of Republicans. These approval ratings are higher than any other president in recent history as well. Hope abides.

"I didn't come by any solution provided in this manner in Obama's speeches." Adrian, maybe you should have run for president.

Posted by Judith Ellis at January 26, 2009 12:54 PM

Thanks for this post.
Me too, I also felt proud of belonging to the same humankind, of living same in the same time, of being able to watch this moment and ... I'm not american and never lived in America.
Pastora

Posted by pastora at January 26, 2009 9:49 PM

@Judith

Answer my request please, :), don't smoke me by turning to another idea. Don't avoid the answer.

By the way, I see you do enjoy using sarcasm. Why? :)

Posted by adrian at January 27, 2009 2:10 AM

Adrian - I'm sorry. I guess your question was not worthy of an answer. (How's that for sarcasm?) For you to put yourself out there and say why doesn't President Obama (though having only been president for a mere week and having done so with such skill and sensibility) offer more intelligent solutions like something I'd offer, deserves a bit sarcasm in my humble opinion -- not to mention that you intimated that President Obama was simply about speeches and not solutions. Did you not also say that he "sold hope?" You are well deserving of sarcasm, my friend, a bit of tongue lashing indeed. :-)

Posted by Judith Ellis at January 27, 2009 8:22 AM

@J

Excuses not accepted.

You had a lot of other alternatives such as simply as telling me to rephrase.

So, excuses not accepted. Excuses are worthy only when followed by action J.

Posted by adrian at January 27, 2009 9:12 AM

Adrian - Choose your "alternatives" and I will choose mine.

Excuses or Exposed? :-)

But it's all good, really!

Best!

Posted by Judith Ellis at January 27, 2009 9:22 AM

:)) I just realized that sarcasm is actually all you can do on this specific matter:)). That's fine for me - I'm just gonna call it a day on this subject.

Last idea: I've actually tried different approaches/ alternatives - you just didn't pay attention. :)

thanks again J. and best wishes! :)

Posted by adrian at January 27, 2009 2:35 PM

Pastora - What a lovely name, expressed sentiment, and blog. My Portuguese is not as good as other langauges, in fact, not good at all. But I was able to read your blog. Nice.

I have performed Villa Lobos' Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5, Aria (Cantilena). It's sublime.

Here is the wonderful Barbara Hendricks. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_06B1SQjRRQ

Posted by Judith Ellis at January 27, 2009 4:47 PM