Compare this from an inaugural address when the United States wasn't in a permanent state of Orwellian crisis and war.

"Peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations, entangling alliances with none."

- Thomas Jefferson, 1801

Utterly boring, uninspiring, conventional, useless speech. Welcome to 4 more years of words without body.

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"America must play it's role in ushering a new era of peace"...Lovely words but if you also state "our nation is at war" and "the way we use energy strengthens our adversaries"...and think that adding almost 100,000 soldiers & Marines to the Pentagon's budget(& 30,000 of them to Afganistan) will make this happen?...
Thanks for the Carter speech-"We pledge perseverance and wisdom in our efforts to limit the world's armaments to those necessary for each nations safety."

I had the privilege of listening to this address. It is the 10th in my lifetime, and quite frankly most were not memorable by any stretch of the imagination. This speech, however, was different, contrary to some who have posted here. It was unique in many ways, but perhaps most of all in its subtlety. He took the Bush Administration to task, and very quietly said that they are not above the law. Did he say he would prosecute them? No, but neither did he say they would get off either for their crimes. Did he call Israel to task as well? Yes, but by telling the Muslim world to unclench their fists and we will reach out an open hand of friendship. Did he say we would back down from terrorists? No, we would bring them to justice and finish what should have been finished in the past. Did he offer hope for a tired economy that is tanking rapidly? Yes and No. He is going to try to make it possible for WE THE PEOPLE to work to recover this economy instead of just sitting back partying with the wealthy of Wall Street. And finally, he issued us a challenge that is long overdue: He called on us as a nation to come together, look past our differences, and meet the challenges of this century with the same hope and virtue that the soldiers of Valley Forge did centuries ago when they fought for this nation. He told us he would work to give us a hand-up, but not a hand-out, while putting those who would abuse those offers on notice that they will not be tolerated and will be held accountable. What most people did not like hearing (and quite frankly probably did not want to hear) is that this country is in serious trouble, that it will get harder before it gets easier, and that they, THE PEOPLE OF THIS NATION, are going to have to be the ones who fix it, because government cannot. These are honest words, but hard to hear. I found it refreshing to hear them after 8 years of lies and delusions, because until we face the true reality of our nation head-on, we will not be able to fix anything and one man cannot do it alone. Give him a chance, but more importantly, give him your hand to help rebuild what Bush and Cheney, et. al. have torn down.

It sounded just like it was, crafted by 27-year-old in Starbucks named Jon Favreau. No wonder it sucked.

It started with idiocy, "… I thank President Bush for his service to our nation..."
-you mean for damn near destroying it?

Next, "...Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred..."
-that his war funding helps fuel.

And finally "...Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age."
-Just WTF is this "our collective failure to make hard choices"?

What the hell is that? I made the hard choices, I don't vote for Democrats, carry a $0.00 balance on my credit cards and paid off all my bills and my house. I don’t gamble or buy lottery tickets. He has nerve to blame me for the greed and corruption of Wall Street Fat Cats and the government that he is apart of, that looked the other way!

"...Our health care is too costly..."
-If he would have gone to bat for single payer as fervently as he did for Big Banks Inc. maybe it would gain momentum.

"...proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas..."
Pure platitudes, no Red States, no Blue States, pure bs!

"...The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works.... Where the answer is no, programs will end..."
-Yeah right, we know all too well what he means. Social programs will get cutbacks or end but military programs and government surveillance will get increased funding.

“…Nor is the question before us whether the market is a force for good or ill. Its power to generate wealth and expand freedom is unmatched…”
-since when do free markets expand freedom?

"...We will begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people, and forge a hard-earned peace in Afghanistan..."
-sure as the troops pour into Afghanistan.

"...we will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat...
-that means we will work hard to make sure those we don't like don't get them, Israel and our allies can keep them, and build more.

"...We will not apologize for our way of life.."
-one of the most wasteful and militarized nations on Earth

"...or blame their society's ills on the West..."
-as if US foreign policy were above reproach

“…guardians of our liberty, but because they embody the spirit of service; a willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves…”
-what bullshit, it’s the OIL STUPID!

“…What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility —“
-this means the wealth gets transferred from our pockets into theirs, ha!

“…knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny…”
-of course, God is on the US side

“…in the coldest of months, a small band of patriots huddled…”
-Obama as George Washington…

"...God bless you. And God bless the United States of America."

-How about God bless the poor, God bless the sick, God bless the Palestinians and oppressed peoples, God bless the suffering and hungry….GOD BLESS THE WHOLE WORLD NOT JUST AMERICA YOU CHEAP SELL OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

To engage in a point by point analysis of Ric Abreu's 'critique' would be to try to apply reason where there is little other than hostility and self-styled rationalization. The chosen points and commentary can be likened to the worst of the insolent conservative tripe and hyperbole we've heard time and time again over past decades.

The increasingly pervasive negative tone of this forum and this thread so far speaks volumes as to the ill of our greater community, as do many of the issues and points, and particularly the inflammatory slights toward others, submitted by the growing stream of pseudo-intellectuals commenting here at Common Dreams. (I am not including everyone by this of course - there are many positive contributions by very fine-minded individuals, often neglected or distorted by those of which I do speak.)

This forum could and should speak to the hope and cause of our future vision and well being, for our success as a united and empowered people. As the name suggests, in pursuit of our common dreams.

To criticize and find fault, and particularly to smite others the way many on this forum, and as some who will respond to this will undoubtedly do, that is not mature, not hopeful nor helpful nor indicative of a fine mind exercising sound reasoning or demonstrating a realistic grasp of the world. It is not wisdom, nor is it fair. Instead it is indicative of a simple malcontent unequipped with the means and methods to perform unbiased deconstructive analyses, to formulate meaningful constructive arguments, and to secure just and viable solutions in a fair and open fashion equitable for EACH and ALL involved. Any child can rant or belly-ache, bully, name-call, nitpick, be defiant and contribute to increasing levels of noise and tension, but it takes the patience, wisdom, resolve and discipline of practiced and accomplished minds to find the calm and purpose and direction where there otherwise appears to be none.

Obama's inaugural address was somber, hopeful and idealistic in some senses, real and essential in others. He spoke to rekindle the spirit of unity and equality and promise that characterizes America's struggles, and ability to overcome.

Whether you liked the address, agree with the man or not, whether you think there is a powerful corrupt infection of evil in our midst, or think the means to a greater end is down a different path, there is one certain and unwavering truth, as trite and old as it may seem - united we stand, divided we fall. And, it can most assuredly be guaranteed that negative contemptuous and impertinent commentary only raises ire and creates discord. It might get attention, but that was and is the method of Limbaugh and countless conservative ideologues, for decades past, and is now a growing infection here at Common Dreams.

I know some will think I'm speaking as an Obama apologist, and that the ill of our nation cannot be cured by any Democrat or Republican. I know many falsely believe electing an independent 3rd party candidate to an office thoroughly enmeshed within an international machine of finance, war and elitism might actually be possible and successful. I know some have the passion to wage a violent revolution, and many hold the conviction that people need to come to their senses. But these all speak to an inability to grasp an understanding that goes beyond the apparent and obvious. These premises all fail to see and understand the real mechanism that keeps us divided and conquered. And those holding these thoughts fail to understand the ways and means by which Obama has conjoined so many in his quest to become president. That is what needs to be understood and appreciated. How do you manifest that critical mass, with the clarity and purpose to have a real voice, to even make it possible to effect real change and make an actual difference? And how do you do so in a way that can be sustainable and balanced over time?

Sarcasm and closed-mindedness is not the path to our common dreams. Understanding and harnessing our collective power is.

You know how when you pull into McDonald's to get your burger? It's always the same. The Golden Arches don't change, the burger doesn't change, the only difference is the face in the pick-up window. Obama is just the new face in the window.

History repeats itself, first as tragedy, second as farce.
Karl Marx