US News
World's eyes on Washington as Obama due to be sworn in as president
By Chris Cermak Jan 19, 2009, 23:44 GMT
The White House is illuminated by lights on Pennsylvania Avenue in preparation for the inauguration of President elect Barack Obama in Washington, D.C. USA, 19 January 2009. US President elect, Barrack Obama, will be inaugurated on Tuesday 20 January with an estimated 2 million people gathering in the Mall in Washington to witness the historic event. EPA/SHAWN THEW
Washington - America and the world's eyes turned Tuesday to the US capital for the inauguration of Barack Obama as the country's first African-American president.
Obama was to be sworn in as president just before noon on the steps of the US Capitol building in Washington, in front of a record crowd that could reach 2 million people by some estimates.
Obama enters the White House carrying the sky-high expectations of both Americans and the rest of the world. He faces an economic downturn that could be the worst since the Great Depression as well as ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
In his inaugural speech Tuesday, Obama was expected to strike a delicate balance between the realities of the challenges ahead and and the optimistic tone that helped him the November 4 elections.
Obama, 47, has sought to play down expectations in recent weeks, warning that the economy will likely 'get worse before it gets better' and urging all US citizens to do their part to turn around the country's fortunes.
He reinforced that message on Monday, rolling up his sleeves and joining other Americans in observing the birthday of slain civil- rights leader Martin Luther King Jr with a nationwide call to community service.
More than 5,000 volunteer groups helped organize 11,000 community projects, involving as many as 1 million participants across the country, Obama said.
'We're gonna have to take responsibility, all of us,' Obama said in a stop at Calvin Coolidge High School in Washington. 'If we're just waiting around for somebody else to do something, it never gets done.'
For African-Americans, Obama's inauguration is a huge step toward fulfilling hopes of racial equality that King evoked in his famous 'I Have A Dream' speech in 1963.
The opportunity to witness history has brought millions of people from across the country to Washington to witness Obama's inauguration as the 44th president, filling hotel rooms as far as 400 kilometres from the city.
Supporters prepared for long lines, tight security and freezing temperatures to watch him take the oath of office. Huge crowds were already roaming Monday on the National Mall, a vast, park-like expanse that extends from the Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial.
Long lines of ticket recipients for the inauguration waited outside congressional offices on Capitol Hill to collect their passes. People crowded into nearby subway entrances for 20-minute waits just to get onto the platform.
'Because of the nature of this man, the potential of his presidency, people are prepared to be patient and put up with things they'd never put up with under ordinary circumstances,' said Sharon Kanter, 68, of Kinston, North Carolina, who was lucky enough to snag a ticket for Tuesday.
A total of 240,000 tickets for seating and close-in standing areas for the swearing-in ceremony were distributed, mostly via congressional offices. Potentially millions more spectators without tickets will be able to watch - albeit at great distances - along the length of the mall, which has been lined with huge video screens.
On Wednesday, his first full day in office, Obama plans to meet with his economic advisers and military commanders as he works to quickly implement new policies in both areas.
Obama may immediately issue a series of executive orders reversing some of Bush's decisions, including a possible directive to close the controversial detention facility for suspected terrorists on the US naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
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Older Talkback
page: 1
Tick, tock.
Every day of the year your children's future is being destroyed with FIVE BILLION dollars of new debt EVERY DAY as your president buys cronies, friends and power at the expense of your children's future.
The previous president did it, and this new president plans to do it. The typical U.S. citizen is bought and paid for with their children's future. Spend money! Hell yes!! Who cares where the money comes from, says the typical U.S. citizen.
Just like the 'subprime mortgage crisis', the president and U.S. citizens are going to say: 'No one knew it was coming, no one could have predicted it.'
Well, the subprime mortgage crisis was predicted and the president and congress liked destroying the U.S. economy and they do exactly what they like.
Now, the next crisis is going to be exhausting and debilitating federal debt. When the crisis comes the typical dumb head U.S. citizen, Obama, and the president at the time are going to say the same thing: 'No one knew it was coming, no one could have predicted it.'
The cycle repeats itself. The typical U.S. citizen and their presidents mass kills pagans and jeopardizes their own children's future with myopic and blind-sighted greed and lust for power.
Barack Obama as next President of The United States of America
The die is cast and for reasons that only a privileged few know, you Sir, will be the next President of the United States of America. Your next 4 years will be a turning point in US history and planet earth. CHANGE, your advisors and high stake investors offer the nation will undoubtedly be the same rhetoric and empty promises that make up a political campaign, that campaigns for appointment for any public office in America.
The White House will be the Black House to some, the Aryan Brothers of America will not be so happy, but yet will blame you and your staff if you fail, which will reinforce their belief that the Aryan Nation is the true leader for America. The religious zealots will be busy bees making nests to survive the onslaught of lies, corruption and deceit. Business enterprises and other competing nations will capitalize off of your inexperience in the art of corruption and murder. The organized crime organizations from different nations including our own will benefit from the lack of control over national crime.
Military governments including our own will test your tolerance to pain and deception and trick you into needless and profitable domestic and international conflict. You will no doubt attempt to colorize your staff to soften the race conflict once in office.
As President you will be President. Nations will respect you only for your title of office. Americans will soon see after your appointment as President that your intentions were manipulated by those that make the rules. You will fill the spot in history as planned, and nothing more.
You will never while in office be able to pull the troops from conflict in any land we are engaged in. As a matter of fact we as a nation will be engaged in a new conflict of war, which will galvanize Americans to seek a different form of government and a different and honest Congress.
You will attempt to shore up Americas problems with false promise and lies, because you cannot directly affect the CHANGE you promised.
Your frustration will be your downfall while in office, and your co-dependence on those that you trust will also add to your demise.
Our Armed Forces in rank will respect you as good soldiers they are, but those under them will not, and for good reasons, that only a good soldier knows.
America will not be America until its government respects the People, and tells the truth. America is a Republic, not a Democracy or Fascist Government or is it?
Until you can walk thru the streets and neighborhoods of America unaided by Secret Service or any other law enforcement agency you will not be respected by the many, only by the fearful and selfish few. Americans can protect their leaders if they are honest and respectful of the people they were elected to serve. Our Government has forsaken us for many hundreds of years, and now we will wait until your 4 years are finished for us to come to fruition.
CHANGE FOR AMERICA FOR AMERICANS!
The American Republic
A Sovereign Republic
blather
'Continual ... blather'
Sure, that is exactly what the typical U.S. citizen said when warned about the subprime mortgage crisis before it became a crisis.
Morons make history repeat itself over and over and over.
Do more than the monkey at the zoo who slings poop at every passerby.
Do more than bitch, bitch and bitch like a grumpy old lady.
Are you EVER gonna do more than just talk, Lance?
Or, Will you choose to continue with your attacks on people based on your false assumptions of their positions?
Anybody can talk, Lance. When talk is all they have to offer.
Anybody can sow division. Very few can bring people together and cause real change.
Which will you choose?
on lance. He has been asked what he would do to solve the current financial problems facing this country and all he would do is blather about what should have been done and what should be done in the future........not what should be done right NOW! He likes his written word, much like old men like the sound of their own voice raging on.
page: 1
lanceJan 20th, 2009 - 13:16:59
Yet another president promising free money to all the U.S. citizen cronies and welfare dregs.
Who says you can't buy friends and votes.
When the money runs out, the false optimism will stop. It may take decades and 20 to 50 trillion dollars of debt before the cronies and dregs are forced to their knees with unbearable debt and finally feel the pain of their stupidity.
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