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Doug Mills, NYTimes
I reveled in this, the inauguration day. I watched from early morning until late in the afternoon and then again in the evening. I tried to absorb every moment, every morsel of it. I, like so many others, had waited so long. Crowds in excess of 2 million lined the mall, and tens of thousands were turned away. There was simply no further room. A few reflections:
Most Awe Inspiring Moment: Seeing Barack Obama standing at the entrance to the Capitol, moments before he came out as his name was announced. I plainly lost it. His face, completely serious, was clearing evidence that he was in the moment, recognizing the burden he was about to assume.
Most Funny Moment: Sasha giving dad a thumbs up, just as he went up to begin the swearing in.
Most Unnecessary Moment: Chief Justice Roberts decision to “wing it” and forgetting the words to the swearing in. This was unforgivable. Everyone knows this moment is recorded for all time. It marred slightly a perfect moment.
Most Memorable Moment of the Speech: To those who rule, remember, your people will judge you not by what you destroy but by what you build.
Most Sad Moment: The collapse of Senators Kennedy and Byrd. Both appear to be fine today.
Most awesome quote: Beyonce (yes I really mean this). ” Once ever so often God reaches down and touches someone. This man was born to be here. He was born to lead us.”
Most overused question: Did you ever believe you would see this in your lifetime? (Asked mostly of African Americans, but valid for anybody really.
Most delightful remark by a mall stander: “I woke my child (toddler) on November 4, and whispered, Doctor King’s dream has finally come true. I just had to be here and bring him today. ” Said by a white woman mid twenties.
Most annoying thing: Watching Michelle Obama constantly struggle with the train of her dress. Future designers heed this, and make arrangements to have a pin up available.
Most relieved moment: Seeing Bush depart Washington! Such a long wait.
Most Ridiculous Hats: The ginormous bow hat that Aretha Franklin had specially designed. It was in a word, awful. Ditto for daddy Bush’s ooper hat. I mean the man looked like a fool.
Most Catty Remark: Foxy noise and their instantaneous conclusion that the speech was a disappointment and had memorable moment. And they do so want to be called on at press conferences no? Otherwise they sucked up with the best of them.
Most Silly moment in the Benediction: The color rhyming of blacks, browns, yellows and reds and whites. Amusing but a bit frivoulous for the solemnity of the day.
Existential Ennui 