So what did you think about the speeches Sat night?

[vlyons]

I was truly inspired. Harris is a damn good speech maker. There's just something about her style of being that exudes joy and happiness. I noticed this about her during the campaign also. Joy and happiness comes to those who do not cultivate anger and hatred. Her speech emphasized that together, we are a great people. All of us -- together. I'm left with the feeling that she truly cares about me and is serious about effecting change.

Biden's speech left me feeling inspired also. I especially appreciated his challenge to us to open our minds to the possibility of working together. His call for us to return to civility and to stop demonizing one another was music to my ears. I like that he has laid out his agenda: getting Covid under control, improving the economy, supporting the middle class, addressing systemic racism and injustice, and climate. Let's all be clear, that's where we're going.

I do however have a teensy nit to pick. He needs to speak, not shout, into the microphone. It's a microphone.

[Rorey]

1. I think he felt he needed to exude power

I was fine with that.

[DeminPennswoods]

10. +1

That was a real "I'm in charge now" speech. I think that's what us "folks" wanted to hear.

[calimary]

2. It was great to hear them both!

We’re in good hands once again.

[TreasonousBastard]

3. Both of them were great, but it's a tough job ahead.

[Rorey]

4. I think of it this way

We've had four years of having that last guy reading boring, uninspiring speeches. I feel that President Biden made it clear that we're now on a different course. I loved it.

[ananda]

5. I was very impressed at the whole show!

First, Kamala made the perfect introduction,
highlighting the critical fact that the USA is
a citizen-led country with our elected reps
as servants for the public good. We need to
hear that more often.

Joe then jogged in and showed that he is The
Boss, the alpha man. Did you notice the strong
voice and the slight sneer after some of the
phrases. This is a message designed to show
all Reeps that his admin is not to be messed with.
He’s in charge, and he will get the job done!

Last, the aerial displays were fantastic, the young
people dancing on stage, and the show of family
love and solidarity rounded everything off
beautifully!

Very fine indeed.

[TexasProgresive]

6. Why oh why DU I can't rec ananda's post?

You wrote exactly what I got from last night. I am amazed at the spontaneous expressions of joy in cities around the US. I hear that it happened over seas as well. My we survive the next 2 and a half months.

[ananda]

8. I'm so glad to hear that!

I also can't wait till Jan 20th comes around.

[TexasProgresive]

12. That'll be rec enough won't it, ananda!

[ananda]

14. You got it.

We have work to do.

[redstatebluegirl]

7. Yes this is exactly how I feel!

[Chainfire]

9. To Republicans, "working together" has a different meaning from Democrats

Republican working together means, "our way or the highway." I see no short-term probability that that will change. We may have to ignore that attitude and just power thorough or around them. Even if we do not regain a majority in the Senate the Republicans have to know that, if they don't cooperate to some degree, that they will get nothing for the next four years.

[DeminPennswoods]

11. That was the best speech I've heard from Harris

Even though she's VP-elect, it was very presidential sounding.

[Maeve]

13. Several notes

Kamala wore suffragette white--100 years ago, women wore white because it shows well in B&W photos and both rich and poor could show their support for the vote that way. She spoke of Joe's "audacity" in choosing a woman VP--an echo of Obama's "audacity of hope". She is gracious and warm in speaking.

Joe jogged onto the stage--wonderful! He called out to all the groups that came together to elect him and spoke of healing; what a change from the last 4 years!!! And the battles ahead--he's a happy warrior in the old sense. And straight into the transition team; he's fighting the next battle, not the last (ahem, lesson for the Orange Beast, altho he won't learn it). He's going to try to work with others (but won't make the same mistake Obama made of trusting too long, I think). He is also a better speaker than he's been given credit for.
And "On Eagles' Wings" is one of my favorites, too, despite the fact I left church a decade ago. It was inspiring---"lifting me higher".

And I wrote this while listening to the speeches.

[BarackTheVote]

15. As a practicing Catholic

It hit me hard to hear him quote “On Eagle’s Wings.” We sang it at my grandpa’s funeral, and it always moves me to hear it; it’s like a big warm hug in the coldest hours. It’s been a rough slog here the last few decades for a US Catholic; I’ve found a few Parishes where I feel welcomed as a Progressive, but I’ve had to move away from my favorites and pretty much my sole consolidation has been Papa Francis.

I know religion’s a sore spot for a lot here, and I am not here to in any way invalidate your experience; I know how religion can hurt someone to the core. For me, to hear sentiments in Joe’s speech that strike me as the brand of loving, embracing Catholicism that I remember from my youth really felt amazing, like coming home after a long time.

I’m thrilled that we got our second Catholic president, a good Democrat, because it has always been obvious to me that it’s the Democratic Party that actually walks the walk of taking on the evils of social injustice head on, rather than just paying lip service to Jesus to control people, get all self-righteous about everything, and try to maintain power.