World Celebrates Obama's Inauguration

CBS Evening News: Crowds Around The Globe In Hopeful Jubilation Over New Presidency

(CBS)  In Kenya, the land of his father, they sang Barack Obama's name.

In Donegal, Ireland, they cheered in what claims to be the land of his distant cousin, and wrote new lyrics. "There's no one as Irish as Barack O'Bama!"

They rang the ceremonial bell in the town in Japan that bears his name. Yes, it's called Obama, Japan.

Never have so many felt so close, from so far away, CBS News correspondent Mark Phillips reports.

In Russia, one man said, "all of a sudden we have this smart guy running the United States."

The world seemed to stop to watch the man many see as their new leader too.

"Barack Obama really does seem to be the first American president who is also in many ways quite genuinely the world's president," said Constanze Stelzenmuller of the German Marshall Fund.

And he will inherit the world's problems. But Obama, perhaps more than any before him, is being carried along on a river of good will.

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For a more in-depth look at how some of America's friends and foes reacted to the inauguration of Barack Obama, see the latest from CBS News staff around the globe in our World Watch blog.

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"He seems to have an understanding of the way that all parts of the new world work, including in Africa, including in Asia," said Sir Jeremy Greenstock, a former British Ambassador to the United Nations. "It's not just a rebooting. I think a lot of us feel America needs new software and Barack Obama looks like he can provide new software."

Around the world, they listened most carefully when he spoke to them.

And in the village where his father was born, they may have cheered loudest of all.

Well, not everyone cheered. In Gaza and the West Bank they've seen American presidents come and go - and nothing change.

One resident of Ramallah said: "Writing a speech - it's so easy to write a speech. But it doesn't mean that what he is saying, and he's just a president and he's not going to do anything new in Palestine."

But elsewhere, he's already done something new.

In Paris, Maria Laloux said: "For me it's a miracle. Martin Luther Kind said, 'we shall overcome.' We did today."

At least for a day, he's done for the world what he's done for America - given it hope.

[liberalme]

It''''s great to see all the sore losers finally get their comeupance. And they really show their class and expertise by attacking Obama before he has a chance to prove his qualities. At least liberals gave Bush eight years to prove he was an idiot.



Posted by expatriate2 at 03:00 PM : Jan 21, 2009

Yeah, and it''s all in writing---every time he gave a speech! LOL

[liberalme]

exactly. Obama has 3 1/2 years, thats all, that is all the antichrist gets. Look out. There will be peace, but it will be a false peace. Then all he// will break loose and you will see the real antichrist.

Posted by croft1111

Wasn''t Bush the one who could see Putins soul? If that''s not anti-christ--Bush thinks he IS GOD!!

[libra217]

Bible prophecy speaks of this event...Man of middle eastern decent the world falls in love with..

Posted by rudedogrulz at 03:25 PM : Jan 21, 2009

Sorry to burst your bubble, but President Obama is NOT of Middle Eastern descent.

[jsd330]

Cutting aid to israel, Egypt and other middle eastern countries is a good start. Keep that money where it belongs.

posted by getoffmine1

Good post. That is what the U.S. needs to do cut off all the welfare to these other countries, we get nothing but problems from them in return.

[getoffmine1]

I see good signs already for Americans. Posted by getoffmine1 at 01:38 PM : Jan 21, 2009
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I saw the stock market fall below 8,000 yesterday...How can that be a good sign?

Posted by msay3 at 02:09 PM : Jan 21, 2009

It is up today. We need to start somewhere. Cutting aid to Israel, Egypt and other middle eastern countries is a good start. Keep that money here where it belongs.

[msay3]

I see good signs already for Americans. Posted by getoffmine1 at 01:38 PM : Jan 21, 2009
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I saw the stock market fall below 8,000 yesterday...How can that be a good sign?

[getoffmine1]

I see good signs already for Americans. Go to President Obama''s web site and he has a poll asking Americans what they think of aid to Israel.
http://citizensbriefingbook.change.gov/ideas/viewIdea.apexp?id=087800000004lmt&srPos=1&srKp=087&srS=1#comm
It looks like an overwhelming majority feel that aid is either to high or should not be given at all.
I find it encouraging that the President wants to hear from the majority, because we should always get our way.
It might be bad news for Israel, but as an American I say who cares? Let Israel solve her won problems.

[deathofusa]

N
ow leeana58, don''''t be silly. EVERYONE knows that D. Cheney is the antiChrist.
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Posted by raflin0010 at 12:37 PM : Jan 21, 2009


Nah, everyone knows that D. Cheney is Darth Vader.

[deathofusa]

Obama wants to create a huge Civilian Security Force
"We cannot continue to rely only on our military in order to achieve the national security objectives that we''''ve set," he said Wednesday. "We''''ve got to have a civilian national security force that''''s just as powerful, just as strong, just as well-funded."
http://www.chicagotribune

Is this an attempt at an American version of the Hitler Youth?
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Posted by Hacker1001 at 07:52 AM : Jan 21, 2009


Sounds more like the Gestapo.

[leeanna58]

I''m glad that Obama is hailed world-wide as the President of the World. Maybe he is the Messiah after all. The whole thing is quite amazing. What a love story.

Or maybe he is the anti-Christ. Who knows?

[sheiladog-2009]

fsw3 - Outstanding! Now that''s what I''m talking about. May you vote in peace and prosperity all the days of your life.

[jsd330]

I see by the posts all the sore losers and prophets are in full swing this morning. The man hasn''t even been in office for 24 hours and already he is being beaten down. Wait a couple of hours and you can listen to the great prophet Limbaugh. I am sure he can predict what Obama''s going to do, after all he is the "ALL KNOWING" and he''ll tell you that himself.

[sheiladog-2009]

The ''cult of personality orgy'' we have just endured is distasteful at best. Before every election the chattering classes insist that everyone must get out and vote, that your vote is important! I humbly suggest a stab at another standard. For starters, if you cannot:

1. Name the 3 branches of the federal goverment and describe, briefly, the purpose and intended function of each,
2. Name your U.S. representative and at least one of your (how many?) senators,
3. Have some working knowledge of the U.S. Constitution
4. Be able to recognize that no title of nobility may be granted by the United States and explain why

You should not vote! You are only polluting the idea of self government.

Far too many people vote for 1. whoever promises the biggest handout (Democrat), or 2. whoever will give them the freedom to fleece the masses with impunity (Republican). We need to return to the fundamentals, now and always.

[liberalme]

Have you rubbed your Obama good luck charm today?

Posted by sheiladog at 09:34 AM


Really cute!!! I''ve never needed a "lucky charm" I have enough faith and confidence in what I believe--

However, while Bush was in office I was known to toss a little salt over my shoulder, avoid walking under ladders--not stepping on cracks in the sidewalks and avoiding going anywhere on any Friday the 13th.

[secundus2]

The best thing of all, whether you favor Pres. Obama or not, is that the web freaks have had to shut up for a day -- no assassination, no military coup led by ex-VP Cheney, no armed wing of the DEMs taking over government offices. Too bad they can''t all have a sign "I was wrong" hung on them for 30 days.

[sheiladog-2009]

Now that was a nuanced response, liberalme. Thanks for the enlightenment. Have you rubbed your Obama good luck charm today?

[liberalme]

Now it is on to the daunting task of attacking individual freedom and promoting the degenerate agenda of all the Clintonistas finally back in power. Maybe when they are through putting us through the wringer we can elect yet another Bush. What would we do without all these Ivy League elites to show us the way? Oh well, maybe they will schedule another round of games to keep us distracted.
Posted by sheiladog

Oh yeah right---wonder how Haliburton will do the next 4 years.
Perhaps with all his new free time Bush will go on a tour of 4200 American troop grave sites--or perhaps go comfort a few troops at Walter Reed--ya think????

Naw--ole Bush Cheney and his group of merry men had a meeting after Bush left the ceremony---hmmmmm wonder what they''re planning next? Perhaps lunch with Bin Laden and Bush Saudi Arabian blood brothers?

[sheiladog-2009]

Now it is on to the daunting task of attacking individual freedom and promoting the degenerate agenda of all the Clintonistas finally back in power. Maybe when they are through putting us through the wringer we can elect yet another Bush. What would we do without all these Ivy League elites to show us the way? Oh well, maybe they will schedule another round of games to keep us distracted.

[irmcvet971]

A sleazy Chicago pimp from one of the most corrupt political machines in the US is now in charge. I''''m so excited. All that cheering in Kenya....I wonder if all his illegitimate brothers and sisters (7 total) were watching, along with his Kenyan father.
8 different kids by 8 different women, with Barack being one of them. Now that''''s change we can believe in.

What a joke Barack is. He had his day in the sun, and even that was tainted by the stock market giving him a cold slap of reality in his half-white face.

Posted by mikejacobskc at 07:38 AM : Jan 21, 2009

I take it you are upset that the other kiddies refuse to play the game YOUR way. They refuse to hate the kid next door because YOU don''t like him so you are making up stories so they will. Kinda Childish don''t you think?? Trying to paint Obama as one of the crowd in a stereotype is VERY childish even for someone with a small mind.

[irmcvet971]

Is this an attempt at an American version of the Hitler Youth?

Posted by Hacker1001 at 07:52 AM : Jan 21, 2009

You need to change schools kid. Hitler was a radical RIGHT WINGER!