Obama's Inaugural Speech is Called "Ungracious" By Some Bush Aides

I think Obama needed to say what he said the way he said it. It's the first speech of his Presidency and it sets the agenda for the next 4 years. That the agenda is different and at odds with Bush's administration is to be expected - he ran on the message of "Change". True, aside from thanking Bush at the beginning for his service, the speech didn't have anything nice to say about the Bush administration. But if he had been complimentary towards Bush you'd be writing that he was a hypocrit for slashing the Bush Administration during his campaign and then being complimentary towards him at the inauguration. I don't think it's fair to say he was ungracious during the speech, or that he was taking shots. What would be the point? And if you look at the proceedings as a whole, he was very gracious towards Bush, in fact historically unprecedented in his graciousness. It's the first time in history the incumbent President and VP and wives personally escorted the outgoing President and wife to their helicopter and saw them off. Obama's message is clear to me: Agree to Disagree, show love and compassion for your neighbor despite differing views, and get on with healing our country. It's a sentiment I heartily applaud.

I do not see how he can have taken the speech too far in anyway, it was a wonderfully compelling speech. It was exactly the sort of thing which was required to start to sort out the problems which he will ahve to deal with. I dont see how anything necessary can be seen as going too far. As for whether he was spreading the blame, although he has been selected to move the country forward, surely he can not solve anything without public support?? Take the economic problems for example, he can offer as many bail outs as he likes, but for us to get out fot eh economic depression depends on us spending the money in the first place. I hold these views from an english perspective and i realise that Americans may expect different things from Obama.

I know I've read where different members here posted that Obama had taken shots at Bush, etc., but I honestly didn't see it that way. I'm not sure what some people would have had him say! He wasn't elected by such a huge margin because people wanted a continuation of Bush's policies. That's not meant to be a shot or an attack but just a fact. I'll get some flack for this but no, I didn't think he went too farr at all. Annie

I not only thought that the took some shots at the previous administration, I felt that he didn't make any effort to acknowledge that as a Senator, he had been part of those decisions. I would have liked to have seen more personal commitment on his part - and indication that he is determined to take on these responsibilities HIMSELF - that he is going to be personally responsible for making the changes he has promised. If you will notice, you heard a lot of "we" and not too much "I" in his speech - he's very good at laying the blame and the responsibilities for change on the shoulders of others.

I dont think Obamas speech went too far. He stated the facts and said what needs to be done. I think people need to give him a chance cause he has quite a bit of mess (to put it lightly) to straighten out after Bushs nightmare of a job. When a president gets a worse approval rating than Nixon, well, that says it all. A lot are saying how Bush was so graceful at the end with what he did and how he acted. People, of course hes gonna be that way. Hes done doing his damage and is outa there. Hes going back home to enjoy the riches he stole from America for the past 8 years. Id be happy and very cooperative too. Bush just acted like someone who was on their last day at a job and had no reason to not be that way. He created all this mess and now left someone else to pick up the pieces. Someone else also said, 'considering what Ive seen so far, I dont see things changing any different'. Omg, youre sure patient. He hasnt even been in office for a week! Things dont ever get better overnight. Take this for example. America is basically obese. You dont get that way overnight, nor do you lose the weight overnight. Its gonna take some time to get through all this and if he can manage to improve and make some type of dent in the system for improvements, thats saying something considering the horrible horrible mess we are in. Keep in mind too, that we dont really know just how bad things are. The corporations only allow what they want you to know to get out through the media. It can very well be so much worse than we realize. Lets give Obama a break.....and a chance.

It was just right. And that was just what we expected to be brought out in his inaugural speech. It gives us a mere glimpse of how he see's the government now and what would be his direction he would be taking. It did mention some bad notes on the previous administration but that is based on his opinion. Its just right that Mr. Bush didn't react to it because he was aware that he was not the one mentioned on the speech. Maybe those who reacted are the ones being hit or are the guilty ones. What the do you think?

That's just nuts. Everyone has their opinions i suppose, and no matter who said what, someone out there would find fault with it. my husband and I watched the whole thing, and we liked what we saw. We thought that his speech was just great! We enjoyed the broadcast.

It went too far. It was childish, immature, vindictive, and shows the kind of man the Obamamites and the media wanted to be elected. Obama was supposed to bring the nation together but he showed his true colors that this was about blaming the former administration and about getting even with the white majority for the evils of slavery. I hope the people of the United States wake up because if they do not, Obama and his cronies will make it the Ununited States.

I watched the inauguration and really liked it. I do not think Obama went to far with any of it. I think he truly spoke from the heart.

I've heard others say similar things and I know some here feel that way but I honestly didn't see it that way. Really, what was he supposed to do? Stand up there and say he was going to continue all of the same things the outgoing Administration had been doing? I have a feeling that would have been the ONLY way for him to avoid this type of criticism. The way I see it, the world was watching so it was possibly a once in a lifetime type opportunity to get his message across that there WILL be differences in how certain things, including some foreign affairs, will be handled. I saw no personal digs or disrespect. Annie

He was clearly taking shots. I think most people could see that. Bush never complained because that's just not the kind of person he is. He was gracious and chose not to complain about the vandalism by Clinton's staff during the transition even when his own people were raising he!! over it. Now he's been as gracious and respectful as possible during the transition and he won't lower himself to take parting shots at the incoming president. As a former president, it would do him, Obama, or this country any good to complain now.

President Obama showed GREAT RESTRAINT, the problem is, that those who criticize him are just use to the shallowness, arrogance, and lack of depth and communication skills of Bush. For some it is difficult to transition to a gentleman of integrity, and speaking ability of President Obama. TWO MILLION PEOPLE STOOD AND LISTENED IN SILENCE AND AWE during the innauguaration, not one person was arrested with all of that crowd, now that is respect.

I thought it was funny to an extent, but there were definitely some points directed at Bush...There were also some statements that showed bitterness. I think he is a little more racist than he wants everyone to believe that he is. I think he has a strong sense of entitlement, and I think he is going to definitely lean in favor of the black people and the muslims... Obama scares me (and other people as well). I don't think he is the right person for the job. I have a feeling that, in the long run, we will see just how much of a racist and a muslim he really is... I didn't vote for him, but he was elected, so now I have to do the best I can to try to support him. I still don't like him, and their still seems to be something shady about him, but I hope he can do something to help our economy and our country...

Hi Bd200789, No, I thought he did it well and so very moving, I think there are a lot of jealousy around, why don't they just let Obama get on with his job undoing all the mess that was left behind and it will take him a long time to do that so please give the man a chance. Tamara

No matter how much you disagree with a former leader of this country, as a new leader it is necessary to be respectful and set a good example. I can't stand Obama but if I were in the political spot light and the position he is in, I would never disrespect America by speaking publically about any American official as he did about Bush. Bare in mind I've never been much of a fan of Bush either however now when I really look back at what he's done that is good for America I see he really is a good man. Obama's behavior is disgraceful. We'll see what kind of an America we will have in 4 years. After what I've seen Obama do in the past three days I am not at all confident that it will be any better.

Glad to see I'm not the only one that noticed. Prs. Obama took what is traditionally a non-partisan transfer of leadership and made it into a sham. Rahn Emanuel has no place to talk here. He is neck deep in the corruption and crimes that were instrumental in the economy problems now. He should be a defendant in court, not a president's chief of staff.

Yes he should not have done that. Just look at how gracious Bush has been in the time approaching the transition with showing the Obama's around the Whitehouse, etc., etc. Certainly not like when the Clintons left and stole furniture and removed all the "w"s from the computer keyboards when Bush was coming into office. Bush has shown a lot of respect for Obama and Obama should not have treated him that way.