DISQUS

liz_n_cats · 11 months ago

a vile, offensive end to the bush regime. Just what would be expected.

hrh · 11 months ago

Mr Holier-than-all-of-you Rev Warren, isn't OBESITY one of the Seven Deadly Sins?

Soundboy_jeff_meanie · 11 months ago

gluttony actually.

Clancy · 11 months ago

I'd second everything you said here, John, and add that the man needed a haircut. He looked a little slovenly for a featured personality at a Presidential Inauguration. Was it too much to ask that he see the barber before speaking before millions?

Gridlock · 11 months ago

He just looked so satisfied with himself up there, with that gay-ass sweater and dorky Mr Rogers hair. So sure that this was his moment. He came off as every bit the travelling salesman shiller that he is, trying to sell a broken vacuum cleaner to the masses wrapped in a pretty Jesus bow.

It was all about HIM, and his Jesus blatherings.. not about the nation. Him.

Pride, i believe, is one of the other 7 deadly sins Warren bathes in.

KarenMrsLloydRichards · 11 months ago

Using the Lord's Prayer: not very imaginative. Warren is a lazy guy. He had no original eloquence.

Warren, Inc. is an overrated brand. "America's Pastor." The Wonder Bread of televangelists.

Jon Stewart mocked his "gay" pronunciation of Obama's daughters.

We'll see if he ends up getting busted in a truck stop or rest stop toilet.

lucky hussein · 11 months ago

busted - virtually guaranteed..

Soundboy_jeff_meanie · 11 months ago

yes, but the question remains...

truck stop
airport men's room
park restroom

or the age old favorite of televangelists...

hooker

we need to start a pool on it.

JamesR · 11 months ago

I call congregant.

As the shepherd would say: "Really officer, I was just trying to push the sheep through the fence."

Greensburg · 11 months ago

Wonder how many rent boys warren had the night before?

Indigo · 11 months ago

and did Team Obama supply them?

Roddy McCorley · 11 months ago

All that aside, how flat and uninspiring he was. I'm not a Christian, but I can be moved by the power of the oratory as oratory - Rev. Lowry furnishes a perfect example. Warren was just tedious on every level.

KarenMrsLloydRichards · 11 months ago

Every week, he appeals to thousands of dull Orange County Republican suburbanites. They are his flock. After attending service, they go to Applebees for lunch. He is, ipso facto, bland and dull in expressing his bottomless hatred and fear of everything that is not bland, dull, suburban, and conservative.

If Saddleback were a restaurant it would be Applebees.

Sharoney · 11 months ago

Some megachurches have chain restaurants as tenants, so that their audiences can go for a snack without risking running into godless heathens. So your comment is more spot-on than you realize.

KarenMrsLloydRichards · 11 months ago

Yes! Thanks for that reminder: I know of one that has a Mickey Dees in it.

Who's Rick Warren? · 11 months ago

Was he the fat guy who looked like he enjoys the company of little boys? I was watching but when he got up and spewed on about hi sinvisible friend, jeebus, I turned off the TV and no longer gave a shit to watch.

Galactic Dustbin · 11 months ago

I heard it on the radio, he sounded smug and insencere. It was clearly a moment of a man out of his ability and depth.

KarenMrsLloydRichards · 11 months ago

We can all thank that vastly wise 26-year old, Joshua Dubois, for Warren's appearance yesterday.

lucky hussein · 11 months ago

OT, but obama's been in the oval office 4 hours now - what have they done? I'm waiting!! ;) seriously, I'm expecting stuff in the next day or so - pardon's executive orders, ready to go...

mamazboy · 11 months ago

Lucky, maybe you missed what's already happened in the last couple of hours. He's doing a LOT of stuff already, including opening up Bush's hermetically sealed archive to FOIA requests (which should be a tsunami), closing the revolving door of the leech-lobbyists, freezing salaries of his staff over $100K, freezing the Gitmo trials for 120 days, and more! It's all over the googles, the Internets, and the medias now. Hope!

lucky hussein · 11 months ago

cool - thanks!

RitornaVincitor · 11 months ago

Two days earlier Bishop Robinson gave an invocation that like Lowery's did not presume to impose Jesus on all Americans. Robinson was very careful not to do that. But as we know, his invocation was not televised. It was a far better invocation than Warren's. And it lacked Warren's cheap theatrics, which reminded me of Falwell. Anyone can close their eyes, raise their faces skyward and on cue adopt an expression like they are communicating directly with the Divine. And most Hollywood B actors could do it more convincingly than Warren. There was something very self conscious about Warren, like he was at least as important as his message.

CBS News reported yesterday that Billy Graham was the first preacher to bring Jesus into an invocation at a presidential inauguration. Prior to Graham speakers had kept it more generic.

KarenMrsLloydRichards · 11 months ago

Unlike Warren's bland pablum, Robinson actually broached controversial subjects. Hence he was silenced.

Can't have anything disturbing to the mainstream. Or that would "wound" all the "innocent" children listening.

Joshua Dubois tells Obama this. Obama listens to Joshua Dubois, who has the Wisdom of the Ages on theological matters. At age 26.

RitornaVincitor · 11 months ago

Interesting about Dubois. I know next to nothing about him, but have for some time suspected that there may be a closeted gay person on team Obama who is involved in decision making. Some commenters have said that Dubois creates blips in their gaydar. Don't know if it's true or not. But I do suspect there is a homophobe behind the scenes, and likely a self-loathing closeted gay homophobe. And naturally they would choose a preacher who is likely the same.

DavidinPS · 11 months ago

Robinson's speech was also inappropriate, heard or not. It was not a prayer it was a political talk. It was waaaaay to long too, which may be why it was not allowed to take up expensive air time.

A simple solution to a complex problem: stop it. Stop it all. No invocations, no prayers, NOTHING religious at government events.

Religion poisons everything.

RitornaVincitor · 11 months ago

I didn't think it was all that long, and I thought it was beautiful, though I'm an atheist and agree that religion should be kept out of all of it.

JamesR · 11 months ago

Is this too long?
(Text of Robinson's prayer)

O God of our many understandings, we pray that you will…
Bless us with tears – for a world in which over a billion people exist on less than a dollar a day, where young women from many lands are beaten and raped for wanting an education, and thousands die daily from malnutrition, malaria, and AIDS.
Bless us with anger – at discrimination, at home and abroad, against refugees and immigrants, women, people of color, gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.
Bless us with discomfort – at the easy, simplistic “answers” we’ve preferred to hear from our politicians, instead of the truth, about ourselves and the world, which we need to face if we are going to rise to the challenges of the future.
Bless us with patience – and the knowledge that none of what ails us will be “fixed” anytime soon, and the understanding that our new president is a human being, not a messiah.
Bless us with humility – open to understanding that our own needs must always be balanced with those of the world.
Bless us with freedom from mere tolerance – replacing it with a genuine respect and warm embrace of our differences, and an understanding that in our diversity, we are stronger.
Bless us with compassion and generosity – remembering that every religion’s God judges us by the way we care for the most vulnerable in the human community, whether across town or across the world.
And God, we give you thanks for your child Barack, as he assumes the office of President of the United States.
Give him wisdom beyond his years, and inspire him with Lincoln’s reconciling leadership style, President Kennedy’s ability to enlist our best efforts, and Dr. King’s dream of a nation for ALL the people.
Give him a quiet heart, for our Ship of State needs a steady, calm captain in these times.
Give him stirring words, for we will need to be inspired and motivated to make the personal and common sacrifices necessary to facing the challenges ahead.
Make him color-blind, reminding him of his own words that under his leadership, there will be neither red nor blue states, but the United States.
Help him remember his own oppression as a minority, drawing on that experience of discrimination, that he might seek to change the lives of those who are still its victims.
Give him the strength to find family time and privacy, and help him remember that even though he is president, a father only gets one shot at his daughters’ childhoods.
And please, God, keep him safe. We know we ask too much of our presidents, and we’re asking FAR too much of this one. We know the risk he and his wife are taking for all of us, and we implore you, O good and great God, to keep him safe. Hold him in the palm of your hand – that he might do the work we have called him to do, that he might find joy in this impossible calling, and that in the end, he might lead us as a nation to a place of integrity, prosperity and peace.
AMEN.

I like it. Sure it's still a prayer, addressing a deity, but it suggests to us humans to get our shit together. Not to be just a part of the history that's all God's domain anyway. (A la Warren.) Let's get less comfortable and make the world better. Like Jesus, whether he was holy or even wise, undoubtedly would have suggested himself. Jesus the pain in the ass community organizer, not the blowhard politician wannabe.

J. Bill · 11 months ago

I can say something good about fundamentalist cleric Rick Warren's speech--It provided time to make a couple of turkey wraps for lunch, and not miss anything.

Bit NOLA · 11 months ago

Fat gasbag. Dime a dozen.

Except when one gets anointed by the easily huckstered.

Speaking of fatuous gasbags, Harry Reid is still being strangled with his own words by Jane Hamsher:

When asked to clarify his remarks, given Obama's promises to change that part of Capitol culture, Reid responded that lobbyists are part and parcel of the job.

"People should understand that lobbyists, per se, are someone's father, mother, son, daughter," said Reid. "They work for a living."

Give Harry hell, Jane. And Bye Rick, see you in a few, when they catch you with your pants down "and money sticking out your hole."

Soundboy_jeff_meanie · 11 months ago

Strawman... going straight to the devil.
Strawman, going straight to hell.
Strawman, going straight to the devil.
Strawman.
Strawman!

;-)

Bit NOLA · 11 months ago

Bingo.

Lou rules. Didn't hear him singing yesterday.

SCLiberal · 11 months ago

Slave traders worked for a living too.... Sheesh. Reid needs to go.

Lolis · 11 months ago

I don't remember one thing Warren said and I was paying attention ... I was watching the inauguration in a movie theatre and everyone just laughed when he said Malia and Sasha's name all weird. That was kind of a WTF moment.

Warren's use of Jesus probably was not as inclusive as it could have been but Billy Graham and Franklin Graham also referenced Jesus in their prayers for past presidents. As a non-believer just hearing the term God isn't really better to me than Jesus. But, hey, Obama gave me a shout out.

Lowery's prayer was much more memorable although he was hard to understand in parts. The ending was hilarious. I like that he was political while using humor.

RitornaVincitor · 11 months ago

I liked Lowery's finish too. I kept hoping he was going to say, "Gay is OK". But I never heard the word "gay" in the inauguration, except when CBS News commentators several times mentioned the controversy over Warren.

soulsurfer · 11 months ago

I thought that was weird too, saying Sasha and Malia's name during his "sermon". Perhaps Warren thinks that the Obama girls' names are exotic or foreign. Like some ignorant people accentuate Mexican-American names, makes them look like an a$$.

I loved Lowery's prayer. Very inclusive.

catdance · 11 months ago

His tone of voice and his inflection and his pronunciation were just creepy. I thought, "Man, I'd keep you away from MY daughter."

cowboyneok · 11 months ago

Its funny, Talibangelicals always demand a "place at the table" only to turn around and exclude ANYONE who isn't just like them. Knowing Evangelicals are incapable of compromise should have been the biggest reason for NOT having Warren give the invocation.

mamazboy · 11 months ago

zowie - the comments in this blog are a gold mine for me today. great new word for my vocabulary: "Talibangelicals" - thanks cowboy!

cowboyneok · 11 months ago

Reverand Lowery was AWESOME.

Great Lakes Liberal · 11 months ago

None of the religious figures should have been there. Amidst all the whining about Warren and and the "slap" at gays, little mention was made of the closed-fist pummeling of non-religious Americans. And I was delighted to hear Obama specifically address non-believers in his words to the country.

RitornaVincitor · 11 months ago

I was too.

Steve · 11 months ago

My giant invisible friend
My giant invisible friend
He knows everything you do
He knows all about you
My giant invisible freind.

Verchiel · 11 months ago

Meanwhile the bottom-feeders at WorldNetDaily are frothing at the mouth over the "racist rhetoric" of Rev. Lowery for saying "white does what's right."

John Aravosis · 11 months ago

I have to admit that my eyebrow raised when I heard Lowery say that line yesterday.

SCLiberal · 11 months ago

This white laughed when I heard it. I loved his little poem.

Bedub · 11 months ago

why raise an eyebrow? I am Asian and when he said "when yellow will be mellow" it simply made me smile. I didn't immediately think it was some sort of veiled jab and assume he was implying that Asians are not normally 'mellow' ... that that must mean that he thinks we are antonyms to 'mellow' (hard, immature, sour, tart, unripe). I simply took it the way it was intended: as a whimsical rhyme meant to make you smile and pray for a more harmonious future.

FunMe · 11 months ago

I like mine!

"when brown can stick around"

KarenMrsLloydRichards · 11 months ago

At 87 and a bloodied veteran of the civil rights struggle, Lowery is entitled to say this. He's been wronged by my race.

But then I am a guilt-ridden bleeding heart liberal, not a ballsy conservative who complains about affirmative action being reverse discrimination.

Verchiel · 11 months ago

Was largely thinking the same thing. The entire tone of his speech was about requesting blessings and strength and working together to better us all.

The claims of "racism" which--of course--by extension reaffirm Obama's *own* racism are repellant.

catdance · 11 months ago

You're right.

What I loved most about being at the inauguration and around DC yesterday was being around all the elderly African-American "church ladies" -- in their Sunday best with their hats. Many had difficulty walking; you could tell this was costing them physically, but they simply *had to* travel hundreds and hundreds of miles just to be in DC on that day. They were SO joyful and proud, and every one that I spoke with praised her Lord for letting her see this day -- one that she thought she'd never see. No matter how happy I was, I knew I could only see the barest outlines of how huge this was for them.

sukabi · 11 months ago

let them froth... it's what they do best...

The only folks that would be offended by Rev. Lowery's words are those who would deny equal participation to those who aren't exactly like themselves. And it's way past time that "white does what's right", and this comes from a middle aged white woman...

onceler · 11 months ago

cue a ton of whiney white people with massively outsize victim complexes.

the funny thing is, its a leap to even call that a racist comment in the least. but crazy right wingers and white people lacking the empathy gene hear racism when they hear a simple thing like a call for white 'to do what's right'. as if you're somehow hating or discriminating against a group if you say they should 'do what's right'! amazing. uptight white people - there's just no pleasing them. ever.

sdv · 11 months ago

I don't like the guy, and thought the Lord's Prayer and him repeating Jesus' name a bunch of times was tacky. But, I think he deserves credit for including the Sh'ma and the first few of the 99 names of Allah in his prayer. I actually think that is way more ecumenical than giving different faiths a "shout-out". I actually think this is quite significant - although it'd be good to hear what Jews and Muslims made of it.

onion · 11 months ago

yup, noticed the sh'ma right away. those words are etched in my skull.
appreciated it. he's still an ass though. but maybe he's trying.

sherifffruitfly · 11 months ago

Rick *who*?

Lowery completely stole the show. Religion is still fucking stupid, but I'll happily listen to that man pray any time.

JohnInTexas · 11 months ago

The only thing worse than Warren was Aretha Franklin (and not just that hat). Maybe the cold made it difficult for her to sing like she is capable of doing, but we both cringed most of the time she was singing and shook our heads.

KarenMrsLloydRichards · 11 months ago

She's in her late 60s, and she's all sung out, I'm afraid. She has real breathing problems and can't hold a note for more than a couple of beats. Most singers past their prime have many of the same vocal shortcomings.

She's an icon, though. Gotta R-E-S-P-E-C-T that.

JohnInTexas · 11 months ago

I agree, but I've heard her indoors in a controlled environment and she does much better. I do give her credit for doing what she did in such cold weather, and the song is very difficult to sing anyway.

Rob Mule · 11 months ago

Thank you, Karen...Poor Aretha doesn't appear to be long for this mortal coil even tho she's immortal.
I'm happy she had the strengeth to perform. I loved hearing her. She was a must for the event as was the brilliant quartet performance by Gabriela Montero, Anthony McGill, Itzhak Perlman and Yo-Yo Ma!

mamazboy · 11 months ago

That's a great line, Citi! "Poor Aretha doesn't appear to be long for this mortal coil even tho she's immortal."

wendy davis · 11 months ago

As my husband said, Warren's was not a prayer, it was a bloody sermon!

p.s. i loved aretha's hat! Though my main early disappointment in life was that i could not grow up to be Aretha!

Todd in Minneapolis · 11 months ago

I thought it was some pretty thoughtful scheduling on the part of the Obama people: Rick Warren was the first to speak followed immediatly be Aretha Franklin. I took it as sort of "out with the old, in with the new."

sukabi · 11 months ago

that's the impression that I was left with as well... and Warren didn't disappoint, he showed on an international stage what a small man, with shallow ideas he is.

maybe now the folks of this country will be able to get passed the "impulse buy" and move on to substance. Warren is/was part of the era of mediocrity, mendacity and indulgence.... time to move on and grow up.

boloboffin · 11 months ago

I see him as balanced with Lowery. 50 years ago, someone like Warren would have been preaching the sins of miscegenation. Today he shares the stage with a preacher from the civil rights movement. It was a statement of progress. Warren's homophobia shows exactly what kind of preacher he would have been in the 1950's. So though I didn't like that he was even there, I am cool with it now.

cowboyneok · 11 months ago

Speaking of the inauguration, Chief Justice Roberts could have spent the time necessary in order to learn the oath of office, instead of SCREWING UP! Typical Republican. I doubt he would have screwed up so badly had it been McThuselah who had been standing there. I'm still very resentful over the fact we wouldn't even have a Chief Justice Roberts if he hadn't done all that "all important" work to ensure Bu$h won Florida in 2000.

"The 2000 Election
Nominee Gave Quiet Advice on Recount

by ABBY GOODNOUGH
Published: July 21, 2005
MIAMI, July 20 - John G. Roberts advised Gov. Jeb Bush during Florida's
presidential recount in 2000, even traveling to Tallahassee from Washington
to help him navigate those frenzied 36 days.

But neither Governor Bush nor other Republicans involved in the recount would
say on Wednesday just what advice Judge Roberts, then a lawyer at Hogan &
Hartson in Washington, shared."

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/21/politics/21fl...

Must be nice to do the work to pick the man who would make you Chief Judge of the Supreme Court! Great work if you can get it.

Rob Mule · 11 months ago

Roberts did a sort of guilty conscience Freudian slip...

cowboyneok · 11 months ago

Just watched Obama give an awe inspiring speech to his staff about "shared sacrifice" and then Vice President Biden just SLAMMED Chief Justice Roberts by saying his "memory wasn't as good as Chief Justice Roberts" and he needed to follow a script when administering the Oath of Office. SNARK! BAMMM! SLAMMM! LOL

I was glad Roberts screwed up so badly because Republicans always act as if he is some sort of super genius incapable of any mistakes.

Rob Mule · 11 months ago

Wyle E. Coyote, super genius...

Lolis · 11 months ago

At least Obama voted against his confirmation saying that Roberts used his power to stand up for the strong not the weak.

KarenMrsLloydRichards · 11 months ago

Federalist Society "wunderkinds" don't DO the Constitution as a thing you bone up on today.

They just moan about turning the clock back to 1789.

cowboyneok · 11 months ago

Federalists remind me of the Talibangelicals in that they refuse to see any kind of written word as having the potential to evolve with time and in reflection to current society.

KarenMrsLloydRichards · 11 months ago

Nice analytical link between the two. Obama loves the written word, so we are, perforce, in better hands.

And to think the likes of Sarah Palin sneered at this at her big audition in Minneapolis.

mikeyDe · 11 months ago

Warren was a mistake. Who exactly did that selection appeal to that couldn't have been appealed to in another way? Obama should make a major speech on the Constitution, renew his botched oath to protect and defend it, give the country a civics lesson, stress the separation of powers and individual rights guaranteed in the Bill of Rights. Most of all, I wish he would keep God private and restrict his public participation in it to occasions such as this morning's Prayer Breakfast.

tlsintx · 11 months ago

well said, John A.

Warren gags me with that over-wrought "emotion" in his voice...blah.

Bit NOLA · 11 months ago

If we have to have caterwauling to the sky and head-bowed pule, then let's have Wiccan witches do it.

It's closer to what this addressing the great "other" all about.

Ann · 11 months ago

Rick Warren's invocation was just awful. His words said it was about God but his manner and the way he spoke said it was all about himself. I couldn't wait till he stopped talking.

Sharoney · 11 months ago

Word. If you're leading a group in prayer, you don't use the words "I" or "me." Basic homiletics. But as you said, it was in words and delivery, all about himself.

He didn't make eye contact with the camera or the crowd once. So much for connecting. What a hack.

foxy · 11 months ago

All I could think all the way through it was... "You stupid fat f#ck..."

Sharoney · 11 months ago

Maryscott O'Connor at MyLeftWing nailed it, saying that she believes Obama's putting Warren first--BEFORE he was sworn in as President (in other words, during the Bush term) and Lowrey after, was deliberate, a brilliant chess or poker move by a master tactician.

Linky: http://www.myleftwing.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=...

Rob Mule · 11 months ago

Great point...Mr. Obama has to steer a gigantic and unwieldy ship and fleet across Perfect Storm-type seas.
His public statements, including yesterday's sweeping and far-seeing first Inaugural, scare me in the consanguinity of his and my hopes, dreams and beliefs.
I also hope Sen. Feinstein making such a point over the American landscape "View of the Yosemite Valley," by Thomas Hill indicates major new support of arts and education by Democratic leaders.

Gridlock · 11 months ago

*looks at her like she's a moron*

This is the problem with left-wing intelligentsia (pardon me for using such a belabored and overused term) in these matters, and why Bush coasted to 8 years of religious misery for the rest of us:

If you feed the stupids pablum as part of a joke against them, you can smile and feel smug about it all you want, but outside of the "in-joke" crowd, your little trick did nothing but reinforce their stupidity.

If the stupids don't get the joke, your joke has failed and you fed them and helped them grow.

That's how the left underestimated the religious nutjobs back in 2000. That's how they did it again 4 years later.

Sharoney · 11 months ago

Thank you for taking the time to comment.

Gridlock · 11 months ago

*presses 2 for espanol*

cowboyneok · 11 months ago

Watching Vice President Biden and he just SLAMMED Chief Justice Roberts because he is giving the Oath of Office to Senior Staff live on MSNBC. He just said, "My memory isn't as good as Chief Justice Roberts!" bwahahahahaaa! You GO, JOE! SLAM!

Sharoney · 11 months ago

Joe has a rapier-like sense of humor and a smile that lights up a room. That's a combo deadly to the average wingnut.

Let the screams for an apology for "dissing" Justice Brainfart begin!

Rob Mule · 11 months ago

Roberts should be deeply ashamed.
Such an important moment and words memorized by countless schoolchildren across the ages...
One might imagine our head legal beagle could have pre-armed himself with a prompt handy index card?

mamazboy · 11 months ago

He brought the same quality of "mind" (used loosely) to the simple act of swearing in the President that he brings to his Supreme Court decisions supporting all manner of evil.

Webster · 11 months ago

Just Bushie-boy leaving us with one last example of his "heckuva-job" picks.

curlytoes79 · 11 months ago

Warren's idea of religious diversity: Pronouncing "Jesus" four different ways.

PeerOne · 11 months ago

L O L!

soulsurfer · 11 months ago

He IS a pop preacher. I noticed that he had some highlights put in his hair. I'm sure he wanted to look his best for the camera. Humility??? NO! I

CMcC · 11 months ago

Warren lost me early on. He began, "Almighty God, our father, everything we see and everything we can't see exists because of you alone. It all comes from you, it all belongs to you. It all exists for your glory. History is your story."

WTF? History is our story. Does he really want to go down this road? Everything...comes from you (slavery?); it all belongs to you (Exxon-Mobil?); it all exists for your glory (the Holocaust?)

He continued, "The Scripture tells us Hear, oh Israel, the Lord is our God; the Lord is one. And you are the compassionate and merciful one. And you are loving to everyone you have made."

At the mention of Israel, he lost me again. I have read that the next sentence is a Muslim phrasing, but that is not clear to the casual listener, certainly not to the average American. Besides, I'm not sure I heard it, because I'm thinking, this is the Bible verse you chose to quote? How inappropriate to remind everyone that our view of God ("our God") is derived from a small group of people on this vast planet. I was reminded of the general who said, "our God is bigger than their god." Great message.

Warren continued, "Now today we rejoice not only in America's peaceful transfer of power for the 44th time. We celebrate a hinge-point of history with the inauguration of our first African-American president of the United States.
We are so grateful to live in this land, a land of unequaled possibility, where the son of an African immigrant can rise to the highest level of our leadership."

Obama's dad was "an African immigrant"? I thought he was here only as a student. Didn't he return to Africa upon completing his education? Colin Powell's parents were immigrants. Obama's dad was not. I'm thinking, how could Warren not know this?

JamesR · 11 months ago

EXACTLY! Thank you. I was gonna try and point out a couple of those points but you said them better and added a few I hadn't realized, THANKS. Even so I am gonna add a few:

Emphasizing the 'Africanness" the way he did was just weird. Kinda off -topic, and, um, God already know this.

- If he wanted to emphasize the different-ness of his background, why? Usually when one does that sort of thing it's to emphasize inclusiveness and universality and glorify diversity, which the rest of of his dog's dinner of a prayer just was not doing. Way to ramble and attempt to pander, in a prayer.

Mentioning he own personal relationship with Jesus was self-aggrandizing, and exclusive and dare I say downright RUDE. For a Republic that does elevate one religion over another. In theory.

If he had just stopped it halfway, it would have been VERY GOOD, and I would have been impressed and said so. But no. Jesus, African this and that, wandering here and there and then WTF with inserting the Lord's Prayer at the end. For me this could be the most offensive - First it's a Christian prayer, so fuck you Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists etc. Second - Couldn't you have written something catchy at the end yourself? You hack. And Thirdly, the worst - it was an act of COWARDICE, and frankly a violation of Commandment 3 if you ask me. Very vain. Very. It was cowardly because he put it at the end so he could get applause! Using the Lord's Prayer to dig yourself out of a hole - very upsetting. The temerity. Wrapping one's self in the most sacred prayer to many, the same as wrapping one's self in the flag when you've just done something un-American. Not what we want to keep seeing. This is why I voted for Obama, not Bush, not McCain. It was like watching someone projectile vomit at a banquet, who chose to do so. Inappropriate, RUDE, and just not done. Unless you are this type of person.

Hooking his car to the Obama train, bogarting the spotlight for himself and his own brand of religion, etc., might indeed be a way actually to be shown up and deflated. (If this were an Obama motivation.) But I think the Inauguration was not the place to give someone an opportunity do that. And I am not gonna go into that "poem" either. May all Obama's mistakes be this type and not the legislative and enforcement type.

PeerOne · 11 months ago

I thought Michael Jackson had already coined the "HIStory" title/phrase...

catdance · 11 months ago

And wasn't Presidential power being passed for the 43rd time, not 44th? Dunno, I'm not so good with teh maths.

Warren's "prayer" was mediocre and most certainly not up to the occasion. i was embarrassed by it. One looks for something eloquent, uplifting, poetic, and/or moving at a time such as this. It was like he was reading a shopping list.

Maybe Obama picked him to show the world that that particular emperor has no clothes.

gardengirl · 11 months ago

I was on the Mall at the inauguration and turned my back on Warren during his prayer. It was very strange to hear how he pronounced Malia and Sasha Obama's names. Mah-lee-ahhhh and Saaa-Shaaa! As if to point out their supposed exoticness. Other folks noticed it, too.

tlsintx · 11 months ago

good for you gardengirl. i was in the car and turned my head as far to the side as i could without crashing. i noticed those pronunciations as well...seemed to me a thinly-veiled snipe at "black" names...

mirth · 11 months ago

Hey, Ms tls :)

I didn't think the snipe was thinly-veiled. I think it was a blatant, and shameful.

tlsintx · 11 months ago

you are correct my dear. i hope Michelle keeps her daughters far away from Warren.

how you doing?

mirth · 11 months ago

Falwell Jr knows he would have to deal with Michelle, so I think the girls will be safe from him :)

I'm doing great, altho still living in total chaos while i renovate my house.

Am I right that you have moved to a retirement community in CA that you really like? I try to keep up with all my fave commenters, but I may have you confused with someone else.

tlsintx · 11 months ago

ah no, i'm still here deep in the heart of Texas...
best of luck on those renovations!

KarenMrsLloydRichards · 11 months ago

Jon Stewart does a priceless imitation of Warren doing this. You can watch at hulu.com

Anna · 11 months ago

I loved Rick Warren's speech and thought it was one of the highlights of the day!
It reaffirmed all my beliefs in what America is.
Less than 5 mins is not a long time.
God Bless,

Gridlock · 11 months ago

America is a self-important fat blowhard in need of a haircut, dressed in a cheap sweater who excludes everybody but those who are just like him?

*ponder*

You know, you're right.

foxy · 11 months ago

Yeah you know you're right. Looked like a bit of trailer trash as well....scruffy.

foxy · 11 months ago

Yeah "speech" you got that right...not a prayer like it should have been....

Rob Mule · 11 months ago

Strange how a person like this can intend a blessing as a curse...

jcgraham77 · 11 months ago

I thought he looked very unkept. Very stereotype televangelist.

jcgraham77 · 11 months ago

And btw...isn't gluttony a sin? He seems to be kind of a husky guy. maybe its glandular.
Proverbs 23:2 proclaims, "Put a knife to your throat if you are given to gluttony."

dula · 11 months ago

What is America to you Anna? It was never intended to be specifically Christian. Our Forefathers believed in religious freedom. Never did they intend for this Nation to be defined as Christian. I will pray for you that you may see your self-centeredness, judgement, and fear in its proper context.

Susan · 6 months ago

Dula, Anna is not self centered. She believes in God Almighty and the Holy Bible which IS inspired by God, and knowing that, we as Christians believe in our hearts that God and Jesus are One and anything else is a lie and its our duty as Christians to tell the world this. But ofcourse, ONLY in a loving way.

kajc · 11 months ago

Warren made me squirm, and I'm a Christian. Smarmy is a good description of him.

I thought Roberts might have pulled what he did on purpose, though. Just to try to make Obama look stupid or something. But, that's hard to do after the king of stupidity.

slappymagoo · 11 months ago

"And it's why Rick Warren will be remembered as nothing more than a smooth-talking pop preacher who couldn't resist using Obama's big day to take a dig at whoever he was busy judging on that particular day."

Because when you're a pantload like Rick Warren, EVERYDAY is Judgment Day!

mamazboy · 11 months ago

I couldn't watch Fat Bastard, but a friend who did told me he READ the Lord's Prayer, that he didn't even KNOW it by heart. Good grief - I'm not even religious, and wasn't raised religious, but I know that prayer. What kind of idiot is this?

michaelt · 11 months ago

personally, i thought he brought absolutely nothing to the event. knowing his background, i waited for some type of outreach to the people who disagree with him. i didn't see it. i thought given all the controversy he would have been better.

he wasn't.

luke · 11 months ago

I think the word "smarmy" is about right. I didn't have any feelings about him beforehand - I simply don't care or think much about who the religious personalities are - but I thought his manner more like a slimy used car salesman rather then a wise soul (Lowery had that, I thought).

It seemed long to me simply because I wanted him to stop. But in reality he wasn't that long.

PeerOne · 11 months ago

As I replayed Warren's "invocation" on mute last night and it really did seem a bit long-winded.

I was "meh". I, too, just wanted him to stop talking and get on with the swearing-in.

RainbowPhoenix · 11 months ago

We're pretty much all in agreement that Warren should never have been anywhere near the inauguration, but maybe this will turn out for the best in the end. When the announcement was first made, the left wing of the Internet imploded. People kept talking about it. The mainstream media was forced to talk about it. Warrens bigotry was thrown in the spotlight. Now that it's happened, the majority were forced to see how pompous and self-centered he is, and Obama will think twice before he tries something like this again.

stymie · 11 months ago

I figure RP that Obama did it exactly for that reason, to showcase the bigotry, selfishiness, and self rightousness that envelopes Mr Warren and his like.

RainbowPhoenix · 11 months ago

I suspected that since the beginning. Didn't lessen the sting from hearing about it immediately after four out of five anti-gay ballot measures passed.

Bedub · 11 months ago

A sidenote here, Michelle Malkin, in true Malkin style, is going off on Rev. Lowery on her blog... claiming he said in his Benediction "We ask you to help us work for the day when black will not be asked to give back..."

The AP transcript of the Benediction has it down just as I heard it yesterday: "We ask you to help us work for that day when black will not be asked to get in back..."

But, naturally, by this time, all the wingnuts have worked themselves into a froth over Malkin's (intentional?) misquote.

pete heck · 11 months ago

None of the commenters on Lowrey's benediction seem have been aware that it's an allusion to an old blues lyric, by Big Bill Broonzy. ("Black, Brown & White.")

"If you're white, you're all right;
If you're brown, stick around;
But if you're black, uh-uh, brother --
Get back, get back, get back."

Verchiel · 11 months ago

As I noted elsewhere, going back to the transcript clearly shows that the crux of his statement was about requesting blessings and strength while working together to better us all.

Racism appears to be experiencing a resurgence as the anti-Obama accusation du jour. He's a racist who's an empty suit, elected on the basis of his skin by like-minded racists and "white guilt" stricken liberals.

Chris · 11 months ago

You can tell when someone is saying just words to promote their particular agenda (religion worn on the sleeve (Warren) and when it is something personal because of experience (Lowery)

Dave of the Jungle · 11 months ago

With these people, every event is just an opportunity to emit Jesus-blather.

Kate · 11 months ago

I found Rick Warren insincere, phony and devicive, not to mention rather slimey. Rev. Lowery, on the other hand, was elloquent and universal, keeping with the theme of the day.

empirecookie · 11 months ago

I have to ask this: did Warren poop his pants when he was saying the names of Obama's kids? That was just freakish.

Indigo · 11 months ago

I am deeply grateful that Rev. Warren did not attempt to plunder the Buddhist traditions in search of pious blather to plagiarize.

ChrisSF · 11 months ago

I couldn't agree more. It was way too long, not very eloquent, and went out of its way to poke non-Christians in the eye, which isn't a very Christian thing to do if you ask me.

foxy · 11 months ago

It almost sounded like he just put it together at the last min.

truebluecoondog · 11 months ago

I think that Jon Stewart nailed it when he said that Warren pronounced the Obamas's little girls' names, "Meleeeeeya", and "SaSHa", as if they were something delicious. It was weird and icky.

Jeff Pierce · 11 months ago

The biggest problem with Warren wasn't really that he tried to get his politics across in the opening prayer, but that his whole presentation was B-O-R-I-N-G. Reverend Lowery was a far more engaging speaker. I'd drop Warren the next time, and keep Lowery.

scott shepard · 11 months ago

I agree that Warren is loathsome. But watching the event yesterday, I see a very sharp political reason for Obama to have selected him: All of Warren's bigoted followers had to watch their leader bow down, in a sense, and praise Obama. A step, maybe, in pulling them out of their own smallness.

Anyone else think this?

KarenMrsLloydRichards · 11 months ago

Well said.

PeerOne · 11 months ago

Yes, I think exactly this as well.

xrugly · 11 months ago

if we enforce the law and remove the tax exemption of the fat rich bigoted asshat preachers then i bet they bow down a hell of a lot faster.
Do that and not a one of these liars will continue their infecting of the body politic. Not a one....

SociologistTina · 11 months ago

Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes!!!

dave · 11 months ago

I disagree with Rick Warren about gay rights and a lot of other things, but it is neither surprising nor offensive that he mentioned the name of Jesus in his prayer. Rick Warren and many other Christians believe that Jesus is the son of God, and that those who believe this will have eternal life. That may not be what you believe, but that's what he believes. And for someone who believes that, sharing that with others -- being a witness by speaking the name of Jesus -- is not only appropriate, but positively required. So basically, Rick Warren would have been a traitor to his own beliefs and theology if he had not prayed in the name of Jesus. That's a bit much to ask, isn't it? We shouldn't be requiring ministers, rabbis, and other religious leaders to jettison their consciences and beliefs at the door.

timncguy · 11 months ago

are you suggesting the the also Christian Rev Lowrey was atraitor to his faith for not specifically referencing Jesus in his prayer?

spiritualseeker · 11 months ago

The Rev. Billy Graham never mentioned Jesus in his prayers when they were in mixed religious settings. Does that make him a traitor to his faith? Of course not. He is one of the finest examples of a humble, yet world renowned evangelists there is. Wish Obama had invited him instead.

Prayer in public settings should be about including as many people in as possible, making God/Allah/Higher Power accessible to the most people. Jesus knows when we're praying to him, and doesn't need his name spoken aloud. It's not even his real, given name anyway, just our English version of it.

Rick Warren is just full of himself, and he wanted to rub his beliefs in everyone's face. He proved that everyone who was criticizing this choice was right. I hope Obama learned his lesson that while being "inclusive" is good, that doesn't mean that we have to have these people speak in front of us. Maybe now Warren will go away. I pray he does!

Linda Sheldon · 11 months ago

I had the same reaction - between the self-indulgent succumbing to his emotions and the intentional reference to the Jesus he believes in - and even bowing to the smattering of applause he got - not very reverent if you ask me. Best related event was news coverage (ABC of all things) of the protest the day before, when he delivered the sermon at Ebeneezer Baptist Church: from a protester, "There's a bigot in that church who doesn't deserve to stand in Dr. King's pulpit." I doubt Coretta would have invited this silly man.

JeepTreats · 11 months ago

Rick the dick is a psycho. Obama has reverend issues. But I'd choose Obama over McShame/Phalin any day.

Rab · 11 months ago

Rick Falwell. Jerry lives on

WTF · 11 months ago

IMHO, Rick Warren should never have been there. Period. Crazy inappropriate. Yeah, I'm glad Obama is there and not McCain, but this does not make me feel good about Obama.

The man (Warren) believes dinosaur bones are not more than 6,000 years old.

The man does not allow gay folks in his church.

The man didn't care about AIDS when it killed gay men.

PeerOne · 11 months ago

This librul Orange County resident has never ,and will never, set foot inside Saddleback Church unless it's a designated disaster/rescue center.

onion · 11 months ago

Warren did throw a bone to non-Evangelicals: he quoted like the most important Jewish prayer ever, almost immediately in his invocation. I'm totally ignorant of Christianity, and I don't know if it has managed to absorb the most important Jewish prayer, but Ithese words:
"Hear, O Israel: the Lord is our God, the Lord is One" are the opening sentence of the Shema, the iconic prayer of the Jewish faith.
Warren sux, but it was nice to hear those words.

Sunshine · 11 months ago

How ironic that Warren would exercise his own right to free speech so soon after trying to deny it to others through his attempted censorship of the book PyroMarketing. Search: "purpose driven interference" to learn the story.