Americans React to Inaugural Speech
Hi Folks,
Does anyone feel like throwing up? Over 40 million dollars spent on
this shindig for the elite Bush supporters. What did Bush have to
celebrate? Nothing. He reportedly said the big inaugural
celebration was "for the troops in Iraq." Yeah, right, George.
Why didn't he put the money to better use... like supplying the
troops with armor, better equipment, and better yet... bringing
them HOME. He could have even helped the poor and afflicted with 40
million, donating it to the Salvation Army for their soup kitchens.
This was not a time for celebration...
I don't know about the rest of you who don't like Bush or his
policies of horror, but I boycotted the inauguration. I stayed home
all day and watched movies on AMC, boycotting any TV channels that
covered or reported on the inauguration. I did not go shopping or
spend any money, even though I am in serious need of coffee and
toilet paper. I still had Kleenex... more expensive but a whole
lot softer. This evening I plan to celebrate by watching the Jon
Stewart Daily News Show on Comedy Central.
I found the following article about Bush's inaugural speech on
Yahoo. That's about it... Fantastic day!
Jodie
---------
Americans React to Inaugural Speech
By ANGIE WAGNER, Associated Press Writer
Inside a dim American Legion hall in Florida, President Bush (news -
web sites) had just finished his inaugural address, and Joe
Echeverria was impressed.
Bush spoke of freedom, of the goal to end tyranny and urged the
nation to find unity.
Echeverria, a 62-year-old Air Force veteran and Republican, drank his
whiskey from a tall glass, then pumped his fist in the air. He liked
how concise Bush was and that he didn't make empty promises.
"All right, Bush!" he said to the television above the bar in Tampa.
Two barstools away, Democrat Phil Sullivan, another Air Force
veteran, caught some of the remarks, but not because he wanted to.
He had turned off his hearing aid.
"I wish him the best, but I'm not wild about his war, and I am not
wild about his Social Security (news - web sites) plan," said
Sullivan, 74.
Bush spoke for 21 minutes, about the work needed to protect America
and of a world moving toward liberty. He mentioned overhauling Social
Security and spoke in sweeping terms about keeping the world safe.
Never did he mention Iraq (news - web sites) or Afghanistan (news -
web sites).
And Todd Wood, a West Virginia University senior from Lewisburg,
W.Va., found that omission unsettling. In Las Vegas, former high
school French teacher Linda Cotten found it alarming.
Both were concerned Bush will force his will upon other countries.
"He's assuming too much responsibility," said Cotten, a 59-year-old
Democrat who voted for Sen. John Kerry (news - web sites) in the
presidential election. "It seems to me that he's laying ground for
Iran and North Korea (news - web sites)."
The bottom line for Cotten?
"I don't trust the man," she said.
In Ohio, the state that gave Bush the White House, Melvin Davis, 24,
wanted to know what will be different over the next four years and
how Bush plans to get the country out of Iraq.
Davis, a student at Ohio State University law school, has a brother
serving in Iraq.
"Most of what he said throughout is last four years. Nothing new," he
said.
Michael Mindell, a 31-year-old Burlington, Vt., resident who was
passing through downtown Kansas City, Mo., ignored the inauguration
on the Country Club Cafe television, saying: "I don't believe in
anything that he says."
At a sports bar in Brentwood, Tenn., customers ate lunch while only a
handful paid attention to Bush's speech on the big-screen TV.
In Pittsburgh, Bob Romah, a 50-year-old Republican, didn't think much
of the inaugural events. Inside the Original Oyster House, Romah
purposely chose a table away from the television showing Bush's
address.
"What's the estimate on what was spent today for this? Forty or $50
million? He's been the president for four years. Is it really
necessary for all this pomp and circumstance?" Romah said as he drank
a glass of buttermilk and pepper.
But Las Vegas tourist Mary Jane Fincher was sold.
"These are difficult times we are living in," said Fincher, a
Republican real estate appraiser from Illinois. "It's a speech of
purpose and hope."
___
Associated Press reporters John Gerome in Tennessee, Joe Mandak in
Pennsylvania, Elizabeth DeForest in Ohio, Mitch Stacy in Florida,
Heather Hollingsworth in Missouri, and Vicki Smith in West Virginia
contributed to this report.
___
EDITOR'S NOTE — Angie Wagner is the AP's Western regional writer,
based in Las Vegas.
Hi Folks,
Does anyone feel like throwing up? Over 40 million dollars spent on
this shindig for the elite Bush supporters. What did Bush have to
celebrate? Nothing. He reportedly said the big inaugural
celebration was "for the troops in Iraq." Yeah, right, George.
Why didn't he put the money to better use... like supplying the
troops with armor, better equipment, and better yet... bringing
them HOME. He could have even helped the poor and afflicted with 40
million, donating it to the Salvation Army for their soup kitchens.
This was not a time for celebration...
I don't know about the rest of you who don't like Bush or his
policies of horror, but I boycotted the inauguration. I stayed home
all day and watched movies on AMC, boycotting any TV channels that
covered or reported on the inauguration. I did not go shopping or
spend any money, even though I am in serious need of coffee and
toilet paper. I still had Kleenex... more expensive but a whole
lot softer. This evening I plan to celebrate by watching the Jon
Stewart Daily News Show on Comedy Central.
I found the following article about Bush's inaugural speech on
Yahoo. That's about it... Fantastic day!
Jodie
---------
Americans React to Inaugural Speech
By ANGIE WAGNER, Associated Press Writer
Inside a dim American Legion hall in Florida, President Bush (news -
web sites) had just finished his inaugural address, and Joe
Echeverria was impressed.
Bush spoke of freedom, of the goal to end tyranny and urged the
nation to find unity.
Echeverria, a 62-year-old Air Force veteran and Republican, drank his
whiskey from a tall glass, then pumped his fist in the air. He liked
how concise Bush was and that he didn't make empty promises.
"All right, Bush!" he said to the television above the bar in Tampa.
Two barstools away, Democrat Phil Sullivan, another Air Force
veteran, caught some of the remarks, but not because he wanted to.
He had turned off his hearing aid.
"I wish him the best, but I'm not wild about his war, and I am not
wild about his Social Security (news - web sites) plan," said
Sullivan, 74.
Bush spoke for 21 minutes, about the work needed to protect America
and of a world moving toward liberty. He mentioned overhauling Social
Security and spoke in sweeping terms about keeping the world safe.
Never did he mention Iraq (news - web sites) or Afghanistan (news -
web sites).
And Todd Wood, a West Virginia University senior from Lewisburg,
W.Va., found that omission unsettling. In Las Vegas, former high
school French teacher Linda Cotten found it alarming.
Both were concerned Bush will force his will upon other countries.
"He's assuming too much responsibility," said Cotten, a 59-year-old
Democrat who voted for Sen. John Kerry (news - web sites) in the
presidential election. "It seems to me that he's laying ground for
Iran and North Korea (news - web sites)."
The bottom line for Cotten?
"I don't trust the man," she said.
In Ohio, the state that gave Bush the White House, Melvin Davis, 24,
wanted to know what will be different over the next four years and
how Bush plans to get the country out of Iraq.
Davis, a student at Ohio State University law school, has a brother
serving in Iraq.
"Most of what he said throughout is last four years. Nothing new," he
said.
Michael Mindell, a 31-year-old Burlington, Vt., resident who was
passing through downtown Kansas City, Mo., ignored the inauguration
on the Country Club Cafe television, saying: "I don't believe in
anything that he says."
At a sports bar in Brentwood, Tenn., customers ate lunch while only a
handful paid attention to Bush's speech on the big-screen TV.
In Pittsburgh, Bob Romah, a 50-year-old Republican, didn't think much
of the inaugural events. Inside the Original Oyster House, Romah
purposely chose a table away from the television showing Bush's
address.
"What's the estimate on what was spent today for this? Forty or $50
million? He's been the president for four years. Is it really
necessary for all this pomp and circumstance?" Romah said as he drank
a glass of buttermilk and pepper.
But Las Vegas tourist Mary Jane Fincher was sold.
"These are difficult times we are living in," said Fincher, a
Republican real estate appraiser from Illinois. "It's a speech of
purpose and hope."
___
Associated Press reporters John Gerome in Tennessee, Joe Mandak in
Pennsylvania, Elizabeth DeForest in Ohio, Mitch Stacy in Florida,
Heather Hollingsworth in Missouri, and Vicki Smith in West Virginia
contributed to this report.
___
EDITOR'S NOTE — Angie Wagner is the AP's Western regional writer,
based in Las Vegas.
Main Page - Saturday, 01/22/05
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