General Chat

We just had to watch it this morning, though we didn't manage to switch on the TV right on 8 am (= 11:00 am start in Washington)! I made it for about 8:30 am.

I thought it was very interesting, but so very different from all past Inaugurations that we've seen.

I do hope that he can manage to succeed in most of his ambitious plans, the US desperately needs some peace after the last four years!

How about Lady Gaga's dress???

We watched it and thought he gave a great speech and sounded so much more like a President should. I think he spoke from the heart and deserves to be given a chance by the Republicans.

Lady Gaga was quite reserved for her and I actually liked her dress for once although she was never going to wear something practical. I thought her singing was great.

Kath. x

kath ............... I was pleasantly surprised at her singing. I was half expecting some wild and wonderful version of the national anthem.

I did like her dress, but wasn't sure that it was a morning event dress!

I've always liked Biden, he has seemed to be an honest speaker every time I've heard him.

Yes, I watched it. More subdued than others but that was to be expected.

I liked Biden's speech. He stopped just as I was beginning to wonder when he would finish.

I loved the absolute delight on Kamala Harris's face. She wore a vibrant colour which seemed, to me, to suit her personality.

I liked the colour of Biden's wife's outfit - the sparkles were an extra I would not have put on that type of material though. We knew who she was without adding glitter.

I liked the fact that the ceremony iincluded a poem which I thought was good..

The choice of singers surprised me but it made me wonder who chose them.

I agree, Lady Gaga sang strongly and well. J-Lo not such a strong voice but she campaigned for Biden, didn't she, so she was a natural choice. I can't remember the guy's name - he began after the ladies - but I do remember thinking his voice was fairly insignificant. He did his best to get the crowd singing, failing because I suppose people knew not to inhale and exhale too much at the moment - that or we just couldn't hear them behind their masks.

Biden gives every indication that his presidency will be more caring, calming and inclusive than Trump's and will be much more globally and nationally aware . Fingers crossed - perhaps not the right thing to say as Biden's religion obviously means a lot to him. I wish him well.

The one thing I hope for is that his children do not 'muck it up' for him.

I watched it as well, They didn’t seem to expect the snow, I wonder what they would have done if it was raining.

I watched it too. Very interesting and pleased it went according to plan apart from

having to wait 2 mins before they could introduce Biden as Mr. President.

You’re right Linda I wondered too what would have happened if it rained. It looked very

cold.

I watched it too. It was sad that Biden couldn't have the crowds there but I thought the flags where every effective.

I've never really taken much notice of Lady Gaga before but she did surprise me, I thought what a strong voice, sung from the heart :-) I couldn't take my eyes off the gold brooch....a dove with an olive branch. :-)

I do wish Biden well and hope the American people unite behind him. What a mess to sort out :-0

Trumpoid went out in his usual mean fashion.. .........

He refused to allow Biden and his family to use an Air Force plane to get from his home in Delaware to DC on Tuesday ............ a compliment almost always given to the incoming President. Biden had intended to take Amtrak train, as he had done during all his previous years working in Washington, but safety precautions stopped that plan. Biden's team had to hire a plane.

He arranged to be giving his talk to supporters (mainly his family!!) at the airport at the same time that Biden and everyone were arriving for the church service that ALWAYS precedes the inauguration.

He planned his time of leaving so he could use Air Force 1, the plane that is only used by the President.

Leaving Washington also meant that the suitcase with the nuclear buttons had to go with him. That is usually passed from the aide to the previous President to an aide for the Incoming President at the moment that the first word of the oath is said. This time, they had to have 2 suitcases, and the one with Trump had to be deactivated at the precise moment with the one in Washington switched on immediately. Trump's case then had to be brought back to Washington.

The First Lady traditionally has tea with the Incoming First Lady, and shows her around the living quarters. Not done.

The First Lady traditionally gives a hand written note of thanks to all the household servants and aides who had helped the family over the four years. Melania got a low level clerk who had to use M's way of speech to type a letter, and the letters were then signed by M, so it looked as if she had done it all herself.

Not quite the keepsake note that has been traditionally given out.



The White House is routinely thoroughly cleaned during the 6 or so hours between the outgoing President and his family leaving to go to the Inauguration and the ceremonials finished with. The White House staff usually do that, all 130+ rooms

This time, Biden wanted it thoroughly deep cleaned, because Trump and most of his staff, family etc did not wear masks, and so many of them developed covid during the last months. He spent around $200,000 hiring cleaning companies to do that deep clean.and sanitisation. It seems as if either B or his transition team will have to pay that.

I can't say I blame him though!

Personally, from what I've heard and read about him, he seems to be a thoroughly nasty individual with a family appearing to be learning from him.

Talk about family traits and learning from parents ..... :-0

Thank gawd I have none of them on my family tree (I hope not anyway).

The lad we know as his youngest child is the one who looks most like him, I think. Melania would be wise to keep a good distance between the two of them (as she did when Trump first entered The White House) because if the others are anything to judge by they seem almost as delusional as dad, the exception possibly being the girl whose mother was Marla Maples (i think that spelling is right). She toed the line for appearances with dad when he was president though. :-|

A Republican congresswoman from Florida has filed an impeachment against Joe Biden on the grounds that he didn't win the election fairly!!

:-| :-| :-| :-|

FGS what's wrong with these people....get over it and move on :-|

They've been brainwashed.

There is a very good article about this in next week's Radio Times, by Justin Webb, one of the BBC Washington correspondents. Well worth reading if you can get hold of a copy.

I watched it as well think President Biden seems a very decent person I was so engrossed in that I missed all my evening programmes had to catch up the next day loved his speech and I love the fact that although Jimmy Carter could not be there because of the virus he mentioned him in his speech, it was lovely to see the three x Presidents there giving support also Mike Pence I loved it when Kamala and her husband walked Mike Pence and his wife out of the Capitol and the stood on the steps laughing it was a good day. One last thing. my lives in New York has done for about forty years has got a son but always worked on a green card in October she became an a. American because Trump was starting to ask that's the wrong word to leave so she was able to vote but I got this message just saying TODAY WE THROW OUT THE GARBAGE <3 <3

I have deleted my initial comment here because it caused upset.

Trump was getting too close to comparison with Germany in the 1930s.
Civilian supporters kitted out in uniform.
Stage managed rallies with long speeches by the leader.
Unquestioning obebience by supporters.
Incitement of supporters to commut violence.
Subversion of legal processes.
Replacement of moderate judiciary by those loyal to the leader.

I wonder if the Republican party will split into the Trump Party and e.g. The Real Republican Party?

Dermot ..............



many of us are extremely happy about that, especially women.

So let's just leave it at that, please.

RTR ................


some of us know a heck of a lot more about the Nazis and their rise than you do ......... ie, we do not need to google it to find a link.

You forget that the American Constitution governs almost everything about elections, even how and when the Inauguration takes place, and that despite the fact that much is over 200 years out of date, it takes much time to change anything "basic" in there.

So let's also leave that alone shall we .............. you're not American, neither am I, but I think I know more than you do. I've watched, listened and studied US elections for over 50 years, mainly because we live so much closer to the US and are much more affected by them than you are.

OH????

so now you are a political student of US politics, as well as knowing everything about British politics ........... and everything else in the world?

How the h**l do you know what I know??

Just as how the h**l do I really know about you, except that you spout a lot!



BTW .......... I saw Lady Gaga live on TV on Wednesday, so no need to give the link to a site I NEVER look at.

He just knows you know.......

Caroline .............

you mean he's psychic as well? :-0 :-P