Poles not Impressed with Obama Inaugural Speech

The inauguration speech was a disappointment, different Polish experts said on Polish Radio. What about the policy of the new administration, will it really bring any change internationally?

Joanna Najfeld reports:

Americans gathered at the inauguration ceremony no to listen to what the new president says, but how he says it, explains political studies expert Wojciech Jabłoński. In his opinion, the widely publicized inaugural speech sounded more like an election campaign speech:

'You can still sense that old Obama - the candidate, like he was right after he won the elections, when he got carried away with the wave of enthusiasm and hope. And this time he used some realistic ideas, to which nobody paid attention, because most of Obama's followers are convinced he will make it. And for those few in the crowd, who still need to be encouraged, Obama makes those idealistic undertones - all the talk about change and being able to make it together,' Jabłoński said.

American Studies expert Krzysztof Michałek says the 44th inaugural speech in based on the speeches of previous presidents: 'Franklin Delano Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy in particular. There was no single idea by Barack Obama himself. In this respect, the speech was disappointing,' said Michałek.

Professor Zbigniew Lewicki, American Studies expert at Warsaw University is also disappointed at the inaugural speech of Barrack Obama. The leader lost everything that Americans thought was charming about him, says the professor:

'He turned into Champaign without bubbles. At the beginning, he was greeted by huge applause. He couldn't say a word. Everybody was chanting "Obama! Obama! Obama!". But when he started speaking, there was weak applause only twice. The enthusiasm just wasn't there, he did not mesmerize the crowd. That speech lacked what everyone was waiting for - for Obama to show them that he will lead them in a good direction,' Lewicki explained.

The poor speech caused the stock indices to plummet: 'The indices fell by over 3% in reaction to his speech. And they should soar, at least for ten minutes. The Wall Street clearly said "no, that's not it!" So what kind of prognosis for the future is this? You can make the first impression only once. And the first impression he made was not what we expected,' Lewicki added.

But what will the new US policy be like? In the opinion of American Studies PhD Tomasz Płudowski, Barrack Hussein Obama's rule will be quite similar to the policy of George W. Bush. 'It won't be that leftist as has been expected during the campaign, nor will it be so radically different from the policy of George W. Bush,' Płudowski said.

Especially the international policy is not about to change, says professor Zbigniew Lewicki: 'He said the US would withdraw from Iraq slowly, and would win in Afghanistan. This is not a policy of drastic change, and that's good. But it also means we should be concerned about Obama's abilities to solve issues effectively.'

Tomasz Płudowski does not expect the US to get any closer to Poland. Americans are too busy with their domestic issues, he explains. Michał Kaminski of the chancellery of Poland's president Lech Kaczynski is more hopeful: 'Myself, as well as very many of my fellow countrymen, would like to see Poland's visa problem solved during this term.'

Polish president, Lech Kaczynski, who is looking forward to meet Mr. Obama in person, emphasized that what is really importnat to Poland is the issue of American missile defense shield.

'The United States remain our strategic partner. And we are hoping very much that what was agreed on during the presidency of Mr. George W. Bush will continue to be realized. And I would also like to use this opportunity to send my regards to President George W. Bush,' said President Kaczynski.

[Polish News in English Language from Radio Polskie]