STEAM: Readers respond to Obama inauguration column

  Glad we’re all in agreement about my view of President Barack Obama’s inaugural address.

  Well, there were a few divergent views:

  From Jerry Fink: "A couple of questions. Is Obama's 4 years over yet? If not, is assisted suicide legal in Nevada? I'm so sick of the adoration and adulation being shown him (and that's only by the media), I want to puke. I'm going to Lake Mead because I half expect him to come walking across the water from the Arizona side. If assisted suicide is not legal, can I get some anesthesiologist to put me under for 4 years, only to wake me in 2012 to vote and if the guy is re-elected, put me out until 2016? In 2016, he'll probably pull a Venezuela and become president for life.
  “Well, I guess that's enough humor for now.
  “The real reason for this e-mail is, unlike the TV and cable news, I was able to skip some 15-to-20 pages in my R/J edition this a.m. and get on to the really important things going on in the world. God bless the newspaper industry and may it long survive!”

  Gerald R. Carrick: “Seems you have bought a nonrefundable ticket on the freeloader express.  Day one he will bankrupt the country.  That will derail the freeloader express.”

  M. Eugene Ward: “I agree with you that we should all pray Barack Obama is up to the task. I'm also praying that as we enter this new era (one Carlos Santana is calling a ‘New Dawn’ on his Facebook page) as America, we don't emerge 8 years later as France, where the only thing we have to offer the world markets is wine and cheese.
  “Let's face it, we don't even do wine and cheese all that well.”

  Ron Lenhart: “I, like most of the country, watched and listened to the message of hope given by now President Obama. I was impressed with the size of the crowd of supporters on the Mall as they sensed they were watching history being made while standing in the middle of our nations historical monuments.
  “They cheered as he asked for personal sacrifice and acceptance of personal responsibility to help get our country back on track. Then as the ceremony ended and the crowds thinned out I was struck dumb by an image that shattered the promise of change.
“In the midst of this historic moment in this historic place this cheering crowd of supporters had TRASHED THE PLACE. There was trash everywhere.
  “Did they not even consider the disrespect they just gave to all who made this moment possible and the even worse disrespect they showed to our new president? Did anyone else notice this total disconnect between Hope and REALITY?”

  William H. Harrison (presumably not the former President: ) “As a liberal I can only imagine how thrilled you are at getting one of your kind elected President. But just because someone may not be as enthused as you over a liberal President and Congress does not mean he spits on the floor of a restaurant. Your comment after a Skeptic said 'he gives a good speech' about this person being the type to spit on the floor of a restaurant only shows how much of a bigot you are when someone disagrees with you.
  “As for me, I hope Obama does a good job. But I value what a person actually does much more than what he or she says.”

  Scott Byleckie: “Great article today.  President Obama does give a good speech.  I thought he sounded a lot like a southern preacher with his intonations and inflections in his voice.  I also thought that he sounded a lot like JFK.  While I don't think he will be the 'messiah' or he is like Nelson Mandela as indicated by CNN yesterday, I do believe his freshness and his convictions will make him a successful President.  I will, however, miss David Letterman's bit that he does on great presidential speeches.  He's had so much fun making fun of W.”

  Keep writing. I’ll keep working your comments into blog items or, when precious space permits, slip them into the column.