After delivering his second inaugural address, leaving the stage, and heading back into the Capitol, President Obama stopped, turned around, and took a good long look at the crowd and the scene that stretched to the Lincoln Memorial, two miles away.
The video doesn't capture the audio, but if you saw the C-SPAN feed, the president appears to say, while savoring the moment, "I want to take a look one more time. I'm not going to see this again."
That's true, at least insofar as today will be the last time he'll see it as a sitting president. Of course, Obama will presumably be on an inaugural stage again when his successors take office in the future.
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I think that was my favorite moment of the day so far -- and you all showed it, too - but none of you remarked on it!
That was very surprising -- but right now you are, finally, talking about it. Somebody should probably watch what's happening, doncha think?
Rachel — you look so elegant with all that mascara and eye-shadow. Like Bess Myerson from my day!
Joy-Anne Reid wasn't sparing the mascara today either — again, very effective. I felt ennobled by it (remembering my elegant mom, born 1912).
But as usual, one quibble — no "h" in Antonin (sc. Scalia).
The POTUS too must be chidden — "tenets of our faith", sir, not "tenants" — your embargoed text spelled it right. Also, in another recent statement, "pundits" not "pundants".
Otherwise, BARN BURNER! This 2nd Inaug will stand with Lincoln & FDR, in my view.
Please find the Fox News feed of this poignant moment.
Megyn Kelly, in voice over, asks "What is he doing? Is he looking for Beyoncé?" Yes, she really did.
There is a reason I despise those people.
Thanks Rachel, I missed this!
Does Miss Maddow have a live-streaming video of her coverage of the inauguration? She should.
I was curious what the president was looking at in that shot. Thanks for the observation and explanation.
Commenting on today's (Rachel Maddow/panel) comments about the president's speech, note that the president's message of us all being "in this together," speaking in terms of the common good, is a message that has been largely disregarded since Clinton, most notably by otherwise-liberal media. The president did NOT address his speech exclusively to or about the middle class, and he has not stood for and with the middle class alone. Let's hope his speech today marks the beginning of the end of the class elitism that has restricted the (liberal) political discussion to pandering to the middle class. Maybe then we can begin discussing the rebuilding of the massive middle class that we once had, back when upward class mobility was still possible.
I really liked this moment. As I mentioned in the comment of the video itself, it's a great reminder that Obama is still human. And it's not surprising that he wants to put the pomp and circumstance aside and simply process and enjoy the moment.
My favorite moments were when Obama said: "We the People"!!!
YES!! He still has his "progressive chops"!
Hey, guys!!! --- can you please tell us what it is your cameras are showing us? WHILE they're showing it to us?
Like the re-enacters from Massachusetts, and the Native American dancers, for instance?
Who are they? where are they from?
And there were Asian dancers and some who looked like Navajo women! -- they went to the trouble and expense to be there, the least you can do is tell us who they are and where they're from -- PLEASE!?!
Like Teh Terminator, I to suspect Obama "will be baaack!"
What with his youth and modern medicine, I would not be surprised to see him on the inaugural stage in 2061, with the newly elected Asian/Hispanic/Native American/WASP lesbian 55th POTUS.
Perhaps from Canada.. .
What a nice moment. Thank you for sharing it.
It made me pause to finally see an Obama moment that I could relate to. He did something I would do. Usually, I don't relate to Obama's life, his family, the places he's lived. His "inspirational" speeches.
Now I have my own window into our president.
Nice.