CNN

I'm inspired to go buy more ammo and ensure that I've got my concealed carry permit before the left takes over and says that I'm not allowed to buy a gun or bullets any longer. I'm inspired to pull my money and 401(k) out of where the greed Dems can get their hands on it and take it all way to pay for their failed socialist programs. I'm inspired to go find some place to hide when the racial turmoil that is coming rips this country apart. Oh, yeah. I'm definitely inspired.

Mmmmm. I love the nasty desperation evident in the tone of these neo-con's posts. Feels good to finally have a president who actually represents ME!!

First of all, I compliment Mr. Obama on telling it like it is on this matter, even though I did not vote for him. While we like to scapegoat the government (especially the Bush Administration) for problems, the truth is that our millions of individual choices have been a/the major contributor to where we are. Two-thirds of our economy depends on consumer spending (which is a separate problem from buying things on credit), and our lifestyle choices introduce enormous pressure to both the environment and the health care system. Certainly I am guilty of all the above, but I have longed for a politician to call us to account – we will see how strongly Mr. Obama does so.
Regarding Mr. Schaedler's comment, I admit it was ingracious, while at the same time I credit him for – alone – signing his full name to it. With regard to the counter-comments, I offer two cautions:

1) While Mr. Obama is, indeed, everyone's President and the nation has "spoken", keep in mind that the word "spoken" by 46% of voters was "no". Mr. Obama seems to be acknowledging that, to some extent, in his Cabinet picks and policy, but we will see how well he can stay on the tightrope. I do not envy him the task.
2) Many people have noted they are inspired by Mr. Obama, and certainly he has given us a historical milestone. I do worry, though, when people say he is their motivation to get involved and volunteer. We have the chance to make a difference every day (including every day of the past eight years) and our society cannot require political phenomena to stir it to action. A great number of government programs would not even be necessary if we lived the generosity of which we are capable. Again, I am hardly an exemplar in this regard, but the observation is true.

President Obama is on the right track with this issue. (Regrettably, he is on the wrong track with abortion, which is eliminating one in five of our future citizens and gutting Blue states like New York.) Let's remember that the American people, more than anyone, have the say on how well our country and society work.

Bryan Kirchoff
St. Louis

Yay Us! I also took time off work. Could not miss the moment in history. Proud to be an American. happy birthday Michelle!

The inauguration is (mostly) not paid for with government money – it never has been. It is paid for (mostly) by donations. In the past, most of those donations have come from large corporations like Exxon-Mobile, etc. This year, because Barack Obama DID NOT accept ANY money from corporations, the inauguration is being funded mostly by private individuals. This is OUR party, folks – of, by, and for the people!

And if, like our president-elect has asked us, we go out and donate thousands of collective hours of our time to making our country a better place on Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday, we will have worked enough BY ANY MEASURE to deserve our party, even the part paid for by the "government", which is us, anyway. All are invited – this includes William, Jeff, and No Hillary=No Obama (gotta do something about that name).

We are all invited. It's our party.

I am just hoping that I can go out into the world and not have to pretend I am from Canada anymore

I am 50 years old, not African American, and I have never been more excited to watch the inaguration on tv.

This is a great moment in history. I am glad he took the train route like Lincoln and is using Lincoln's Bible for the swearing in. He respects and honors history. God bless you President Obama and godspeed to you. We hunger for your leadership.

Lot of mixed messages here. A lot of the same old people. Remember Cheny and Rumsfeld in the Johnson White House? We all know there is a lot of deep politics we will never understand but one thing we do understand is it is over the top.

President Elect had better come through or there will be a lot of dissappointed people out here. With Bush out a heavy load has been lifted off the national mind and it would be terrible to be let down.

We are also tired of what is good for the country and let's move on. The trauma of enforcing the law would be too much for the people to handle. BS, what we need is all the crooks in jail with no exceptions and "the American People Can Actually Handle It" , along with all the rest of the burden put on us.

With all due respect we will wait and see if President Elect can come through the meat grinder he is facing and actually come out on the side of the American people as a whole or not.

Good Luck President Obama
Bill Dunlap

I have no doubt Obama's speech will be brilliant and inspiring just as he has been all along. This nation finally has hope again. It will be a new day when Bush and Cheney and their politics of hatred, slander, corruption, lies, illegal acts, torture, murdered soldiers and citizens for nothing and subverting the Constitution will finally be over.

We will again, after much hard word to rebuild what the Republican administration and Congress destroyed, be a nation that makes items and not just consumes them; leads in technology instead of sending the creation of it overseas; leads in new energy and finally gets this nation off of oil forever; once again becomes a respected leader on the global stage; and where all the wrongs Bush created will be made right and our Constitution protected again.

Obama will be a great leader and it will be wonderfully refreshing to have a good and decent man who is intelligent and displays real values in the White House.

Tuesday cannot get here fast enough! I'm ready for true leadership and wisdom that will focus on the average American and not just the wealthy and the long too powerful oil and insurance industries.

Wow – finally a President who can speak in complete sentences –

Go Obama! The intelligent and educated are thrilled to have such a strong and articulate person as our leader and as our representative to the world.

The uneducated, racist, hate-spewing Republicans are finally in the minority and the good and decent people will be able to reverse the disastrous Bush doctrine and bring our nation back to greatness.

God Bless President Obama and the New Era of a Renewed Nation!

"The speech, which the source said currently runs about 20 minutes, will call on industries and individuals to behave responsibly, saying it was that mentality, in part, that led to the harsh economic times the nation now faces."
Ummmm, NO.
It is the government's irresponsible behavior that has led to the "harsh economic times". I wish the President and all of us well, but his party is the main cause of the home mortgage mess which has driven the overall dive in the financial markets. And if anyone thinks that the government ever created a real job that is not paid for by taxpayers, think again. If we keep taxing more from the people that actually create jobs, we will head to a depression.

Here's to all you right wing loosers: It's time that you practice what you had been preaching for the last 8 years and support YOUR President. We are tired of your big month. If you can't act like a grown-up please sit down and be quiet and let the adults talk because they have got work to do to correct the past 8 years.

What will those who hate losing the election say when things get better. Instead of all those negative rants, actually do something in their community to improve things, or is that too much too ask.

If you don't like something, do something to make some improvements instead of grumbling about how bad things are or is it only waaay too easy to just sit there and complain.

Obama saw things that were bad, so he went into the community and did something to improve things, instead of whining....Look where he is now

If the anything goes menatlity is really going, then Chris Dodd and Barney Frank need to clean out their desks. That was how they let Fannie, Freddie, and the other mortgage companies give loans to unqualified recipients, brought on foreclosures, brought on insolvency, brought on bank failures, brought on bail outs. I am not holding my breath. This will just be about the things Obama's speech writers and advisors do not like.

Geez, folks, chill out. I wish Obama well and hope he turns out to be correct in his approach to the economy, the war, etc. I'd be a beneficiary, after all. But why am I obliged to feel "inspired"? Why would I be considered un-American if I'm leery? No matter how eloquent or charismatic, what he says is more important to me than how he says it. And behind the nice sound bites (peace, unity, etc.), I worry about whether he's naive, untried, whether his well intended programs and approaches are going to create unintended consequences. Don't get me wrong – Bush drove me nuts, but it is not an either/or choice. The expectations of Obama are so over the top as to be silly. I agree that this is symbolically very significant. Kudos to the US for its progress in supporting an African American. But I'm not looking for a symbol in the presidency.

Oh, Mr. Rove, about that 'permanent Republican majority' you masterminded as their 'political genius' I DON'T THINK SO!!!

Thank you Bush/Cheney/Rove etal. only your stunning incompetence could have paved the way for Barack Obama and progressive Democrat policies for years to come, so again, THANK YOU!!!!!

Barack Obama will not fix us economy becouse it needs change in people mentality of spending money, save more than you spend. Like German and Japan are doing. He things that throwing more money will fix the problem. No. sorry guy it is not that easy just to print some more money. Obama is not a Jesus he will not change woter into the wine.

Less then 3 days till President Barack Hussain Obama!!! I can't wait... It feels good to see racists like jeff and william cry... haha

Obama I hope will be more than just another puppet playing the pleasing game to the big boys. A man who says he wants change. A change of many things needed for this country of which he gave no answers for. I hope he really is a christian but I think not. For a christian would not support obortion no matter for what reason. A christian or even a man all though not a christian but had the reality of what this country needed would not take away the rights of law biding Americans. A true leader would have pleasing answers, not self motivaded desires of grander. A true leader would not bad mouth other politicians but would give guidence and help. A true leader will always do what is right for the people of the country over what others say. A leader such as Obama would not vote to make it against the law to use fire arms to protect yourself and your family in the home when someone breaks in and wants to cause you harm. He is not who he says he is and that is the truth! We have change, we diffinetly have change, change for the fall of this immoral ungodly country that has forgotten who we once were.

My tax dollars are paying for his exorbitant parties, but I don't have to watch it. Have lots of movies til mid week.

Obama will do well he can take on the money brokers and banks.Its a shame that Obama cant control them.Lets hope he can.Jessica Yellin is hot.Wink wink

@William A. Schaedler from St. Louis: Don't you dare, don't you dare think that you are going to get away with that comment! The only loud mouth jerk is YOU!!

You can belly ache from now on. The people of this country have spoken and Barack Obama is the next President of the United States of America. You really need to watch what you put in print. Those things have a way of coming back to bite you in the behind.

Now it is obvious to us all that you are upset about the election. That's too bad. There's not a thing that you can do about it. By the way, did you really vote or are you just an empty wagon making a lot of noise, trying to get things stirred up? My advice to you is "Get a real life" !!!

I'm very happy that people are getting truly inspired. Most of us have never seen this type of energy before, and I am truly proud to be an American with Barack Obama as my President.

Hey, everrybody! This is a time to celebrate that we are a democracy and that we have the right to vote for who we want to guide us. It also is the time to stop being so negative about our wonderful country. If we all get behind Obama and give him our support, we may all just turn out to be fine!

Sounds like some of you are a little pissey because you don't have a life on a Saturday night. I know it takes intelligence to realize how much better we as Americans will be with someone running the country that actually cares about the people, rather than his ego ... my way or the highway logic!

jeff... millions of dollars are spent on every inauguration, no matter who the president-elect is. do you think that secret service and other government manpower wasn't "wasted" on bush? on clinton? as much as i disliked bush, i'd rather see him protected– i didn't vote for him (either time!), but he was OUR president. every american president deserves to be protected, and should be, to the fullest of our ability.

william... obama has done far more to inspire this country than bush has. i think a call to action is just what america needs! obama will lead by example. just wait– give him the benefit of the doubt, would ya??? thx!!!

You're right, Willie from STL...George W. Bush, our nation's worst president, came up with eight years of it. I guess I'll settle for only 20 minutes of it from Obama. BTW...just remember what the right-wingers taught us – its unpatriotic to talk badly about the president. Keeping that in mind, please tell me, Willie, why do you hate America?

I totally agree with President Obama! For instance, I 'm very happy gas prices went down to a reasonable price, which they did in part because people curtailed their use of gas. However, I think it may reverse itself if people go back to their old ways and start making extra trips again and forget about curtailing their use of gas.
They also need to be seriously thinking about trading those over-sized, gas guzzling, trucks and SUVs in on smaller, more fuel efficient cars and hybrids. I have noticed in my company's parking lot that there are less trucks and SUVs than a year ago! Even our CEOs
are driving smaller cars to work instead of the Lincoln towncars and Cadillac Escalades now! But we need everyone in the country to think this way!
And the big 3 need to start making cars that get at least 35-40 miles per gallon like the Japanese do!
People also need to think about cutting out frivolous spending. Buy necessities as even they are getting hard to afford! They also need to turn off lights when they are not in a room, buy the new lightbulbs,
turn down the heat a degree or two. Open drapes when there is a lot of sunlight to let Mother nature heat the house, not Com Ed or Nicor!
If everbody made a conscious effort to save a penny here and there, we could save millions across the whole United States and send a message to these greedy utility and oil company's that we will boycott their businesses if they don't come down on their prices!
It's the law of supply and demand!

This is my take on what Obama's speech will be about: it will have echos of JFK's speech, a sprinkling of other's like Roosevelt, Lincoln – this is a guy who imitates rather than originates. Wait and see.

Thank God for this beautiful free country. Thank God for Obama!

It is so refreshing to have someone sound so intelligent speaking to the American pubic. Thank you Mr Obama. ***************

Silly-Willie from St. Louis:
Who urinated in your cheerios this morning? Why all the ridiculous animosity? You sound as if you're piss drunk, mate.
Keep up the good work; the readers of CNN are always looking for a good chuckle. 'Country First' 'Country First' and Cheers!

Those of you who don't like Obama can snark all you want because there is nothing you can say that will lessen the sense of pure energy and excitment that millions of us are feeling today.

I'm so excitied about this inauguration that I took time off from work so that I could watch it live.

This country is so depressed...it isn't all about money Jeff. This man represents hope and history, he just might motivate America to get beyond the current horrible situation we are in. We are excited!
No one gets killed by his train...millions well spent!

William A. Schaedler – just watch your mouth buddy. This is an important moment for America and the world.

Lol...Jeff and William, too late for your negativity! I'm in DC and having the time of my life!!!! From Iraq and back to DC, this is going to be great..!! HOOOOOAH!

hey jeff – go away!! nothing that the new president does will please you. we get it. stfu!!

hey schaedler – you and the rest of the conservofascists can get ready for 8 years of sour grapes. hope you're hyngry.

go barak!!

Well, look there!!! Loud-mouthed jerk himself, William A. Schaedler, from St. Louis came up with twenty-two words of bull! Climb back in the musty hole of your dark cave, sir.

Sounds like you have a handle on the whole jerk/bull thing, why don't you come up with something.

Has anyone thought to ask them self . with the economy as bad as it is should the government be spending the millions of dollars on this train ride that is a joke. The cost of the United States Secret Service, the FBI, DHS and all local and state agencies that are working overtime to walk the tracks when it could be spent on the problem at hand. I realize he is the next president but this is crazy.

You mean this loud mouth jerk can only come up with 20 minutes of bull? Surely he can do better than that.