Inauguration Day

Here's the official schedule of events:

President-elect Barack Obama, Mrs. Obama, Vice President-elect Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden for church services tomorrow morning at St. John's Episcopal Church. The President-elect will not speak during the services.

Following the services, President-elect Obama, Mrs. Obama, Vice President-elect Biden and Dr. Jill Biden will have coffee with President Bush, Mrs. Bush, Vice President Cheney, Mrs. Cheney and members of the House and Senate leadership at the White House. The coffee is closed to the press.

President-elect Obama, Mrs. Obama, Vice President-elect Biden and Mrs. Biden will travel with President Bush and Mrs. Bush, Vice-President Cheney and Mrs. Cheney to the Capitol. Vice President-elect Biden will be sworn in by Associate Justice John Paul Stevens. President-elect Obama will be sworn in by Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr. at 11:30 AM ET. Mrs. Obama will carry the Lincoln Bible to the platform and hold it while the oath of office is administered. President Obama will deliver his Inaugural Address at approximately 12 PM ET.

The new President will then proceed to the Capitol where he will sign cabinet secretary nomination certificates. A pool from the Joint Committee on Congressional Ceremonies will be present for the signing ceremony and for the remarks at the Inaugural Lunch that will follow. The Senate Press Gallery is determining the pool. The President and First Lady, Vice President and Second Lady will then proceed to the East Front of the Capitol for the Review of the Troops, before the beginning of the Inaugural Parade.

The President and First Lady will travel with the Presidential Escort to the Presidential Reviewing Stand where they will meet up with their daughters and the Biden family to watch the rest of the parade.

The President and First Lady will attend all ten official Inaugural balls. The President will speak briefly at all ten balls.

- Political Wire

Barack Obama: Inaugural Celebration Address at the Lincoln Memorial

Due to the NFL championship games being played yesterday and the fact that HBO paid over $2 million for exclusive rights to cover the inaugural celebration at the Lincoln Memorial, most people did not a see Barack Obama address the crowd.

So here it is:

Youths head to inauguration by the bus load

As masses of people migrate towards Washington DC this weekend to be witness to the inauguration of Barack Obama, Star-Ledger's own Jennifer Weiss rode a public bus to our nation's capital and noticed that almost everyone on her bus is under the age of thirty.

Ride on the Whistle Stop Train Tour

Inaugural Weekend is kicked-off with President-elect Obama's whistle stop train tour from Philadelphia to Washington, DC.

Hop on board and join the fun!!

1/17/09: Your Weekly Address From the President-elect

In his final weekly address before assuming office, President-elect Barack Obama speaks about the upcoming Inauguration activities, a tradition at the heart of our democracy.

Obama's Peace Train Arrives on Tuesday - Hop on Board!

The "Peace Train" arrives in Washington on Tuesday come on everyone hop on board!!

Lessons from the Bush Years

Political Wire - In today's must-read piece, Bob Woodward, who wrote four books on the Bush presidency, offers ten lessons that President-elect Obama and his team should take away from the last eight years.

1. Presidents set the tone. Don't be passive or tolerate virulent divisions.

2. The president must insist that everyone speak out loud in front of the others, even -- or especially -- when there are vehement disagreements.

3. A president must do the homework to master the fundamental ideas and concepts behind his policies.

4. Presidents need to draw people out and make sure bad news makes it to the Oval Office.

5. Presidents need to foster a culture of skepticism and doubt.

6. Presidents get contradictory data, and they need a rigorous way to sort it out.

7. Presidents must tell the hard truth to the public, even if that means delivering very bad news.

8. Righteous motives are not enough for effective policy.

9. Presidents must insist on strategic thinking.

10. The president should embrace transparency. Some version of the behind-the-scenes story of what happened in his White House will always make it out to the public -- and everyone will be better off if that version is as accurate as possible.

Obama Takes Reagan's Path

"Against the backdrop of something approaching national panic," Barack Obama's inauguration next week is drawing many comparisons "to Franklin Roosevelt's at the height of the Depression" writes Steve Kornacki.

"But from a political standpoint, a more meaningful parallel can be drawn between the president-elect and Ronald Reagan as he prepared to assume the presidency 28 years ago. Although they are ideological opposites, there are meaningful similarities between the appeal both men demonstrated as candidates and the circumstances under which they won election."

Another parallel from Mike Allen: "One of President Reagan's first moves when he came to town: dinner with George F. Will."

-Political Wire

Senate Dems set Feb. 13 goal for stimulus

The Hill - Democratic senators have set a goal of Feb. 13 to pass an $800 billion economic stimulus package proposed by President-elect Obama.

Senate Democrats said they made significant progress during a rare two-hour Sunday meeting with Lawrence Summers, a senior Obama aide who will head the National Economic Council.

Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), vice chairman of the Democratic conference, told reporters that Obama’s economic team was proceeding with the stimulus in the "right way."
"They put together a broad outline and are asking us to fill in the details," said Schumer. "We could get it to the president’s desk by the 13th, which is our deadline."

Sen. Kent Conrad (D-N.D.), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, applauded the incoming Obama administration’s response to criticism its proposal received on Capitol Hill last week.

"It is very clear that they’ve listened and heard and are working to respond," said Conrad. "They’re not defensive and arguing back."

Conrad said he received a call from Summers on Friday after he criticized Obama’s proposal to include several tax incentives such as a $3,000 tax credit to employers for each new hire.

Read More >>> Here

01/10/09: President-Elect Obama's Weekly Address

 In this week's address, President-elect Barack Obama highlights the challenges facing our struggling economy and introduces a report being drafted by Christina Romer and Jared Bernstein.

Wall Street has its doubts about stimulus merits

By Ian Swanson - The Hill

Not everyone on Wall Street thinks the stimulus package Congress and President-elect Obama are constructing will solve the economy’s ills.

While many think a combination of tax cuts and spending will spur the economy at a time when consumers and businesses are keeping a tight grip on their cash, others are preparing for another plunge in markets.

“I think there’s still a big split here,” said Brian Gardner, a former aide on Capitol Hill who now offers analysis at Keefe, Bruyette & Woods. Some investors think “the stimulus package is not getting at the fundamental problems of the economy,” Gardner said, particularly the housing problem at the center of the crisis.

Axle Merk, the portfolio manager of Merk Investments, sees Federal Reserve actions to keep interest rates low as “propping up a broken system” and questions the wisdom of providing incentives for consumers to spend on mortgages and cars when they should be saving.

“I think as this thing progresses, they’re going to get frustrated,” he said of Washington policymakers. “Nothing will work out as planned.”

Read more >>> Here

Who Wants Their Piece Of Obamabillia

Honestly, I have just about had enough of the selling of Obama memorabilia. 

From tote bags to champagne flutes to your very own pair of Obama cuff links, you too can own a piece of historic Obamabillia! It is constantly being hawked on every T.V. channel I happen to turn on these days. At what point I ask you does this become tasteless?

Who really needs an $130.00 #44 Obama basketball jersey on it or a cheap $50 cuff link and tie bar gift set anyway? I mean really,who wears cuff links?

But, if you really need a piece of history or think that this stuff will be priceless decades from now the go ahead and shop until you drop:     

The official Presidential Inaugural Store is now open.

In just 16 days, Barack Obama and Joe Biden will be sworn in as President and Vice President of the United States, opening a new chapter in our shared story.

You can own an enduring piece of American history by visiting the official Inaugural Store today.

The Inaugural Store is the only place where you'll find the official merchandise of the Presidential Inaugural Committee - everything from apparel and artwork to glassware emblazoned with the Inaugural seal.

All items are limited edition and available only while supplies last.

Don't miss this chance to capture a piece of history.

Visit the Official Inaugural store today:

www.pic2009.org/picstore

Sincerely,

The Presidential Inaugural Committee

01/03/09: President-elect Obama's Weekly Address

In this week's address, President-elect Barack Obama discusses solutions for our struggling economy in the new year.

A Christmas Message From the President-Elect

In the final weekly address of 2008, President-elect Barack Obama calls for the season of giving to also be a season of common purpose and shared citizenship.

12/20/08 President-elect Obama's Weekly Address

On December 20, 2008 President-elect Obama introduced the team of men and women who will head up the nation's major scientific departments.

Time's Man of The Year: What Is He Smoking ?

Andrea Michelle discussing Time's Man of the Year choice with Times Managing editor asks what was Barack Smoking in this picture!

Legalizing Marijuana Tops Obama Online Poll

Break out the blunts and pass the munchies, the results are in from the Change.gov online poll that asked for people's opinions on what are the most important issues that they would like to see an Obama administration address. The issue that topped list was wether or not the president elect would consider legalizing the use of Marijuana.

With all of the more pressing concerns that face our nation like the economy and Iraq, I found this rather amusing and I an sure it was not what team Obama was asking for.

  

The following letter was posted on the Congressional Blog page of The Hill, it was written by the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws Deputy Director Paul Armentano:

 
Be careful what you wish for.

Last week, the website Change.gov — the official website of the Obama Transition Team — asked the public to provide them with a list of the top public policy questions facing America. Visitors to the site were then asked to vote on which questions should take priority for the incoming administration.

According to the website, “participation … outpaced our expectations. … Since its launch … the Open for Questions tool has processed over 600,000 votes from more than 10,000 people on more than 7,300 questions.”

Ironically but perhaps not surprisingly the top question for the new administration — as chosen on and voted by the general public — was one most politicians seem utterly unwilling to talk about.

“Will you consider legalizing marijuana so that the government can regulate it, tax it, put age limits on it, and create millions of new jobs and create a billion dollar industry right here in the U.S.?”

To anyone thinking the #1 question was some kind of fluke, consider this: More than a dozen of the top 50 vote-getting questions pertained to amending America’s drug policies. For example:

Question #7: “Thirteen states have compassionate use programs for medial Marijuana, yet the federal government continues to prosecute sick and dying people. Isn’t it time for the federal government to step out of the way and let doctors and families decide what is appropriate?” The public’s demand for the Obama administration?”

Question #13: “How will you fix the current war on drugs in America? and will there be any chance of decriminalizing marijuana?”

Question #15: “What kind of progress can be expected on the decriminalization and legalization for medicinal purposes of marijuana and will you re-prioritize the “War On Drugs” to reflect the need for drug treatment instead of incarceration?”

Following the poll, the Obama Transition Team posted the following reply, “Over the next few days, some of the most popular questions selected by the Change.gov community will be answered by the Transition team, and their responses will be posted here on the site.”

So will Obama’s team respond to the demands of the electorate and initiate an honest, objective, and long-overdue review of U.S. Marijuana policies? Or will the incoming administration — like the outgoing one — hide their collective heads in the sand?

It was just over a month ago when statewide marijuana law reform initiatives in Massachusetts and Michigan prevailed with more votes than America’s soon-to-be 44th President — once again reaffirming the widespread popular support for changing our nation’s antiquated and punitive pot laws. It wasn’t clear that either the national media or the incoming administration were listening then. Are they listening now?

Obama's true colors: Black, white ... or neither?

Does it really matter what color a person is anymore? According to a story at Yahoo News it seems so.  People are arguing over whether or not Barack Obama is really the first "Black" president.

Is he really half-white or half-black, mixed-raced or multi-racial. Why should we even care? As long as he is not referred to as a "N" word, why should people get all worked up over his ethnicity? 

Why don't just get use to calling him Mr. President!

"A perplexing new chapter is unfolding in Barack Obama's racial saga: Many people insist that "the first black president" is actually not black.
Debate over whether to call this son of a white Kansan and a black Kenyan biracial, African-American, mixed-race, half-and-half, multiracial — or, in Obama's own words, a "mutt" — has reached a crescendo since Obama's election shattered assumptions about race.
Obama has said, "I identify as African-American — that's how I'm treated and that's how I'm viewed. I'm proud of it." In other words, the world gave Obama no choice but to be black, and he was happy to oblige..."

12/13/08: President-Elect Obama's Weekly Address

Unemployment, the credit crisis and the mortage crisis are the subjects of President-elect Barack Obama weekly address. Obama also gives his reasons for naming Shaun Donovan as his Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.

Meet General Eric Shinseki, Nominee For Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

Secretary of Veterans Affairs nominees  Gen.(Ret) Eric Shinseki briefly explains and discusses, who he is, what his plans are for the Department of Veterans Affairs and why he accepted Barack Obama's  offer to head the department.