"We are finally, we the people"

Ernesto Haibi, US Army medic, Copperas Cove,TX (Democrat)

The speech covered, elegantly, all of America's concerns. Economy is driven by our personal industriousness, not corporate greed. Our defense comes from our bravery, not our fear.

Our fists are harder because they began as extended open hands.

Simply, our nation must help itself in order to help the world. We make the world a better place by educating our citizens and creating the great things that help the world.

The great things, intellectually, scientifically, and industrially. To those of you out there who hate or distrust his "Blackness", we will leave you in the 20th Century. We are finally, We the people.

"A strong message of hope for the nation"

Edgar Thornton, Director of a college department, Iowa City (Republican)

While I did not vote for him, as an African American I am very proud of his accomplishments and I was pleased with the speech.

It was a terrific new beginning for his Administration and it was a strong message of hope for the nation and an understanding of our unique American past.

Our new President urged us as citizens to rally together to confront our country’s current problems.

While I am not sure how he will pay for all things he wants to do, he eloquently expressed a confidence in what Americans accomplish and how our country can be a leader in the world.

I was encouraged by his attempt to directly challenge us as citizens to remember the past, look to the future and be willing to strive for a new role in international affairs.

As a Republican, I was encouraged by his commitment to keep the country strong and to work for common ground with us.

My hope is that he will keep his word, and listen to other opinions and keep everyone’s point of view in mind. It is Day One, now let us see what he will do.

As part of the loyal opposition, I liked what I heard but I need to see how he implements policy."

"The calls to action his speech inspires are majestic"

Tim Kenney, Branding consultant, Bethesda Maryland (Democrat

It was such a thrill to watch Obama's inauguration today. I've been around long enough to have seen 11 different US Presidents come in to office, and NONE of them have been this exciting.

We stayed home rather than brave the cold and crowds, and were glad we did.

Television gives you the advantage of being able to see, up close and personal, the expressions of the outgoing President and the incoming one. Startling to see how compelling Obama's personal presence is.

I was deeply moved by his speech, and very very grateful that the voice of wisdom and common sense seems to have reappeared in our leaders.

Obama's Inaugural address started with some degree of negativity, but I was pleased when he became positive and hopeful. This is our expectation of him, to bring hope to a troubled world. And begin to clean up the mistakes of the past.

I have lamented the loss and abjure the moral arrogance of the Bush Administration regarding our own civil rights and the rights of other sovereign nations.

The following phrase from Obama's address goes far in restoring my faith in the United States and the principles on which this nation was founded: "...we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. Our Founding Fathers, faced with perils we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man.... Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience's sake. And so to all other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman, and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more."

The calls to action his speech inspires are majestic, challenging, and hopeful.

We can ask for no more in these troubling times.

With Hope and Virtue

Linda Sharp, parenting writer, Austin TX (Democrat)

And so it begins. With tears in our eyes and hope in our hearts, the next step into our future has been taken. Barack Hussein Obama is our nation's 44th President.

Listening to him speak, hearing words of truth and strength, and reminders of where this nation has been and where we need to go, I am filled, more than ever in my life, with pride to be a citizen of this incredible country.

I am a United States citizen. And today, I reclaim my pride.

I take it back from an administration which made me hang my head in shame, which made me fear for my daughter's safety when she traveled abroad last summer, which made me want to scream from the mountaintops that NO!, we are not all like those who lead us!. Barack Obama spoke truths that were hard to hear.

That we are not just victims of the woes that currently beset us, but that we have also, to varying degrees, been complicit in allowing us to reach this precipice.

Maybe we did not run Wall Street into the ground, but did we really need those plasma screen TVs, latest iPods, houses bigger than our incomes? And just as we must own our blame, we must now own our resurrection.

He said, “Starting today we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin the work of remaking America.” And we will. We have to. We must.

He ended his address by quoting George Washington, "Let it be told to the future world ... that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive... that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet [it]."

President Obama, you have tapped into the virtue which defines us as a people, have made us dare to dream of a better day, and have given hope back to the many who thought all hope was lost. And I thank you. Now... let's get to work.

"Consistency would be nice"

Pamela Hall, photojournalist, New York (Republican) 

The Big Speech was filled with the traditional laundry list of platitudes and laudable goals.

Can we hope that some of these may actually come to pass? He'll need the good will of the powerful radical and angry Left wing of his party.

Can he lead them to follow in a responsible manner? If not, no change, no hope, just more vindictiveness and destructiveness from the old "Hate America" crowd.

Also, his spread-the-wealth mantra to help Americans struggling to keep their homes seems empty when, without apology, more money was spent on the largest, most expensive inaugural ever (a record number of parties ever.) Consistency would be nice.

An amendment to the Constitution, opening the door to his “Imperial Presidency”, not nice. There was little “O’ could say today other than, “Here’s my Birth Certificate; nothing to hide".

"I hoped to hear just a little more substance"

Justin Quinn, blogger and journalist, Pennsylvania (Republican)

There were parts I liked, but I was surprised that there wasn't more.

His line "... the question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works ..." has me on edge because the Democrat's answer to failing government is to expand its powers.

I heard more about spreading the wealth than I would have liked and less about maintaining vigilance against outside and inside threats to the nation than I would have liked.

I hoped to hear just a little more substance, but I get that today is about platitudes not specifics.