The kabuki of the typical inaugural can be broken down into specific set pieces; the thoughts arranged in a comforting sequence that would have been instantly familiar one hundred, even two hundred, years ago.
1. I am not worthy of this great honor.
2. But I congratulate the people that they elected me.
3. Now we must all come together, even those of us who really hate each other.
4. I love the Constitution, the Union, and George Washington.
5. I will work against bad threats.
6. I will work for good things.
7. We must avoid entangling alliances.
8. America’s strength = democracy.
9. Democracy’s strength = America.
10. Thanks, God.
That's pretty much the size of it.
This year it should be “So Help Us God”
Right now the United States is an iffy proposition, IMHO. We may not survive the next four, or God help us, eight years.
Yet it cannot be a coronation
No, what we have here is a mass adoration, or a mass idolation.
hats have been optional since 1960, when John F. Kennedy held a silk top hat but did not wear it
I heard once that JFK was the reason men stopped wearing hats. No matter what you think of his Presidency, at least he did one good thing for this country (I HATE wearing a hat).
“so help me God Allah"
The title tells me that Ted Widmer has too much time on his hands.
bump for later
The inauguration was originally held in March for two reasons — it took longer for news to get out in the 18th century, and also because the position of the sun on that day forms a trine with the position of the sun on Independence day — the founders were masons who were highly informed about astrology (Washington signed the accord with Cornwallis at a specific propitious hour and minute).
1. You not worthy of this great honor.
2. But I congratulate myself that they blindly bought my line and elected me.
3. Now we must all come together, and wipe out those right wing haters.
4. I loath the Constitution, it gets in the way far too much.
5. I will work against conservatives.
6. I will work for Mr. Soros.
7. We must avoid entangling alliances. Iran is such a little country.
8. America’s strength = socialism.
9. Socialism’s strength = Obama.
10. I am God.