"If he's got doors open for me, that I believe are in our state's best interest, the nation's best interest, I'm going to go through those doors."

And there we have it: even the will of the almighty is subordinate to whether La Palin "believes" something to be true or not. The dead giveaway of the true religious charlatan.

I watched for 1.5 seconds-- awful!-- but then scrolled the image up out of view and just listened. I'd never heard this poem spoken before (though remember it well from college) and spoken it is haunting and beautiful and terrifying (in a good way). All the more so if this is a recording of Plath's voice. Listen to it only.

The flubs were on the Chief Justice's part, not on the President's. First, by not pausing after the name (as is customary) and then by incorrect word order. President Obama has been gracious about it and Chief Justice Roberts graciously apologized at the Inaugural luncheon.

Roberts messed up. Period.

From the NYTimes:

"At the swearing-in ceremony on Tuesday, Mr. Roberts juxtaposed a word in the oath when he said, 'That I will execute the office of president to the United States faithfully.' The word "faithfully" was misplaced.

Mr. Obama, who had been studying his lines, paused awkwardly after saying, "that I will execute." The chief justice gave it another try, but still not quite right, omitting the word "execute."

During a luncheon after the ceremony, Mr. Roberts could be seen on camera telling the president that the mistake was "my fault." So he agreed to travel to the White House on Wednesday evening for a ceremony that was not announced until it was over."

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/01/21/oath-is-administered-once-again/?hp

As for the the customary pause after the person's name,here's an example of how the oath is administered correctly. Probably the only 35 words Bush didn't mangle in 8 years.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DY_nQE7ZXjU

Give it a rest yourself, buddy.

...I greet you as liberators!

I think your letters were perfectly well expressed and sincere. Nothing wrong with your sentiments and no, you weren't blaming anyone for your life or experiences. I often find in these threads that well-meaning people seem to just not take the time to carefully read other people's posts, (that said, I hope I remembered the correct spelling of your screenname!) and often read without compassion.

If I may say, you sound like an interesting, wonderful person. And I wish you continued fulfillment in your life, work, friendships, etc. I hope that in your upcoming trip through Asia (how wonderful is that!) you chance into the romantic/love relationship of your life and live insanely happy together till you're both 100+ years old. Don't give up on that dream. It can, and often does, happen when you least expect.

Just your description of the woman at President Obama's rally brought tears to my eyes. I'm grateful beyond words can tell it that we have a president who is so intelligent, articulate, and truly compassionate. And who is unafraid to stand in a room of diverse-- unvetted, unfiltered-- citizens and capable of such grace and strength. After such an 8 year Hell!

I disagree that it was Carla competing "with love" that brought her loss. No. Carla's wonderful quirkiness, kindness, good sportsmanship, hootie-hoos, and yes the love that she brought (along with what looked liked some top-notch cooking chops and delicious food) are all the reasons she was such a great contender. And why so many of us became fans as this dismal Season 5 went on. And why she could have won it all.

No, the reason she lost was because she didn't fully trust herself when it counted. She rejected what she knew was her own vision and voice.

"In every work of genius we recognize our own rejected thoughts: they come back to us with a certain alienated majesty."

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

I don't know if I would characterize McConnell as sounding like a teenager with a crush. He looks pretty lifeless to me. His words, delivery, and demeanor are pathetic. Embarrassing and pathetic.

from my family to yours.

Peace.

This, from your blog which I read to the very sweet end, sums it up for me too...

In sum, for me, our time and resources are much better and more righteously spent getting our hands dirty abating the miseries comprising the daily lot of millions of the world's actual "persons."

Thank you for that long and insightful discussion, and thank you most especially for your personal anecdote. Your family is lovely.

a roaring comeback for the name Brunswick.

"You guys wouldn't be in the White House without Tom."

Says it all, right there.

and p.s. you two: you're not in the WH anymore.

The pre-planned choreography (of at least most of the dancers) is one of the aspects of this extraordinary feat that brings tears to my eyes. It is the antithesis of the pre-planned choreography of destruction of acts ranging from shooting up immigration classrooms, to high-seas piracy, to terrorist acts like on 9/11/01, to wars themselves.

That's what makes this so extraordinary. That people got together to PLAN this piece of fun, joy, and exuberance-- just to makes others happy.

In the future, all wars will be fought in iconic train stations, in coordinated dance-offs set to academy-award winning show tunes. I can't wait.