Scenes from a Mall

Members of Salon's Table Talk community give their perspective on the inauguration, as it unfolded.

Published January 23, 2009 10:43AM (EST)

White House

Inauguration Fever

Mello1 - 03:59 am Pacific Time - Jan 20, 2009 - #346 of 1150

It's 6 am central and thousands upon thousands are already on the mall. It's insane yall. 

Phyl - 06:55 am Pacific Time - Jan 20, 2009 - #380 of 1150

Wooooooooo Hoooooooooo!!!!!

Aleta S. - 08:02 am Pacific Time - Jan 20, 2009 - #419 of 1150 

AAAAAAH!! It's really happening at last!

swooning

kayrob - 08:32 am Pacific Time - Jan 20, 2009 - #463 of 1150 

OMG...they are boo-ing Bush!

Mendocino - 08:32 am Pacific Time - Jan 20, 2009 - #464 of 1150

Oooo, booing. That's pretty classless, but understandable.

coralgarden - 08:36 am Pacific Time - Jan 20, 2009 - #474 of 1150

I glad the music drowned it out. The whole world is watching and there should be nothing that detracts it from being a classy event.

DebG - 08:40 am Pacific Time - Jan 20, 2009 - #490 of 1150

Seeing Joe Biden and Obama walk out. I am tearing up all over again.

Campbell - 08:40 am Pacific Time - Jan 20, 2009 - #492 of 1150

Look at that crowd! There has never been anything like it.

My partner is weeping. No wait, bawling!

tjcj - 08:43 am Pacific Time - Jan 20, 2009 - #501 of 1150

Can we (US) put on a party or what?

Atalanta - 08:44 am Pacific Time - Jan 20, 2009 - #508 of 1150

I'm so excited, I can barely breathe.

SteveH - 08:45 am Pacific Time - Jan 20, 2009 - #509 of 1150

I'm expecting the announcer to say, "let's get ready to rrrrrrrumble!!"

DebG - 08:45 am Pacific Time - Jan 20, 2009 - #510 of 1150

It's a beautiful day. Like a wedding.

Mello1 - 08:47 am Pacific Time - Jan 20, 2009 - #515 of 1150

Lawd. Less than 15 mins now. and Bush baby will be HISTORY.

Mendocino - 08:48 am Pacific Time - Jan 20, 2009 - #518 of 1150

So far Rick Warren isn't getting a very big ovation.

Okay, you can shut up now, Warren. Prayer, not speechifying.

Feircnom - 08:51 am Pacific Time - Jan 20, 2009 - #533 of 1150

His facial hair should be a crime.

kayrob - 08:53 am Pacific Time - Jan 20, 2009 - #550 of 1150

ARETHA!

Nola - 08:57 am Pacific Time - Jan 20, 2009 - #568 of 1150

Aretha got applause in the classroom I'm watching from.

Her hat rocks.

Biden looks like he just ate a lemon though.

Mello1 - 08:57 am Pacific Time - Jan 20, 2009 - #569 of 1150

well, at least she covered her boobies. That's a major thing right there.

Phyl - 08:57 am Pacific Time - Jan 20, 2009 - #570 of 1150

Aaaand, here we go. First one!

Mello1 - 08:58 am Pacific Time - Jan 20, 2009 - #578 of 1150

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHh we have a NEW VICE PRESIDENT!!!!! Hell yeah!

dragondawn - 08:59 am Pacific Time - Jan 20, 2009 - #582 of 1150

Aaaaaand Cheney is GONE!!!! *takes a swig from her mimosa*

Mendocino - 09:00 am Pacific Time - Jan 20, 2009 - #585 of 1150

Fabulous musicians, all of them. Oh, now come the tears.

tjcj - 09:05 am Pacific Time - Jan 20, 2009 - #618 of 1150

stand y'all!!!!

here we go!

Feircnom - 09:06 am Pacific Time - Jan 20, 2009 - #623 of 1150

WOW!

mschmidt - 09:06 am Pacific Time - Jan 20, 2009 - #624 of 1150

oops.

Arizona Girl - 09:06 am Pacific Time - Jan 20, 2009 - #626 of 1150

Roberts muffs the oath of office.

dragondawn - 09:06 am Pacific Time - Jan 20, 2009 - #628 of 1150 

We really did it. And now my tears have really kicked in.

kayrob - 09:07 am Pacific Time - Jan 20, 2009 - #629 of 1150

Yes we did!!

OMG...look at those crowd scenes with all the flags waving.

I can't believe it!

Nola - 09:07 am Pacific Time - Jan 20, 2009 - #631 of 1150

Conspiracy theorists are going to say the oath was no good because they mixed up the words.

God I love those little girls.

Mello1 - 09:08 am Pacific Time - Jan 20, 2009 - #632 of 1150

Yes We DID!!! Finally PRESIDENT OBAMA. PRESIDENT, NOT PRESIDENT ELECT.

NOT PRESIDENT DESIGNATE

PRESIDENT

PRESIDENT

PRESIDENT

Atalanta - 09:08 am Pacific Time - Jan 20, 2009 - #634 of 1150

Now this is going to be a speech.

Phyl - 09:11 am Pacific Time - Jan 20, 2009 - #643 of 1150

"The time has come to set aside childish things."

Adults in the White House! Woooo!

dragondawn - 09:17 am Pacific Time - Jan 20, 2009 - #651 of 1150

I love Malia and her camera. *melts*

Mendocino - 09:17 am Pacific Time - Jan 20, 2009 - #652 of 1150

"Rule of law" - and they show Dubya. Heh.

dragondawn - 09:20 am Pacific Time - Jan 20, 2009 - #660 of 1150

"and non believers" !!!!

Name-checking the atheists! How's about THAT?!

Queasy - 09:21 am Pacific Time - Jan 20, 2009 - #662 of 1150

Restoring to the Presidency the rule of law, honor, integrity, eloquence, and no small measure of proper diction .

Atalanta - 09:21 am Pacific Time - Jan 20, 2009 - #663 of 1150

I am now crying.

Nina Katarina - 09:22 am Pacific Time - Jan 20, 2009 - #664 of 1150

Atheists are Americans too! I wasn't losing it until that.

Mendocino - 09:24 am Pacific Time - Jan 20, 2009 - #666 of 1150

Has any other inaugural address mentioned non-believers? Bless him.

dragondawn - 09:27 am Pacific Time - Jan 20, 2009 - #670 of 1150

And so, so appropriate. It gave me shivers.

Mark W White - 09:48 am Pacific Time - Jan 20, 2009 - #698 of 1150

I am proud of America and of my President.

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