Video- President Obama's call to the International Space Station

Astronauts Watch Obama Inauguration From Space

By GottaLaff

NASA Astronauts Michael Fincke and Sandra Magnus with Christmas cookies aboard the International Space Station over the recent holidays.

Lawrence O'Donnell just now on MSNBC: "This is the best writer to take office in a long time." President Obama is so talented in so many ways, the next thing you know he'll become an astronaut:

Two astronauts joined the millions of Americans who watched now-President Barack Obama's inauguration Tuesday, even though they were flying high above Earth aboard the International Space Station.

Space station commander Michael Fincke and flight engineer Sandra Magnus, both of NASA, took some time out of their busy day to watch live TV coverage of Obama's inauguration in Washington, D.C., from their perch 220 miles (354 km) above Earth.

"Congratulations on a new president and a new administration," Fincke told flight controllers on Earth after Obama officially became the 44th U.S. president.

Fincke was able to vote from space during the 2008 presidential election while aboard the space station thanks to a special Texas law that allows astronauts in orbit to participate in local elections in Houston, Texas. [...]

"The next best thing to being in the parade will be to watch it from the comfort of our own space station," Fincke told Mission Control.

So astronauts have no problem voting from outer space, but millions of Americans are disenfranchised. I'd rant about that, but I'm in much too good a mood celebrating President Obama's inauguration.

Because he won the election despite the dirty tricks.

And the Republicans didn't.