While reading the speech (I have no attention span for watching speeches even at the best of times) I could clearly pick out the parts written to appease the Republicans, etc. In short, I thought the speech was a pretty good compromise between all the disparate factions, which is what inauguration speeches are supposed to be. They have a few good phrases to be repeated ad nauseum later, lay out a general plan of office, and go for the "pleasing all of the people, some of the time" part of government. It has to be bland because it's aimed at everyone. I totally agree with the fact that Obama is such a good speaker he can make anything sound good, but an inauguration is not where you deliver a gettysburg address. *shrugs*