US News
Obama on the edge of history
Jan 20, 2009, 15:27 GMT
US President-elect Barack Obama and wife Michelle Obama depart St. John\'s Church en route to the White Hose for the traditional tea with the Bushs in Washington, DC, USA 20 January 2009. Obama defeated Republican candidate John McCain on Election Day 04 November 2008 to become the next U.S. President. EPA/RON SACHS / POOL
Washington - Barack Obama inched closer to making history as he prepared to take the oath of office Tuesday, become the first African American president and take control of a country facing a major economic crisis and daunting challenges abroad.
Obama, 47, was to be sworn in at noon (1700 GMT) at the steps of Congress in front of millions of onlookers who braved sub-freezing temperatures along the National Mall, a vast park that stretches from the Capitol building to the Lincoln Memorial.
Obama and wife Michelle along with vice president-elect Joe Biden and his wife, Jill, attended church hours before the inauguration. Moments after being sworn in, Obama will address the American people and the world for the first time as the 44th president.
The Obama couple joined President George W Bush and First Lady Laura Bush at the White House for the traditional coffee, and the incoming and outgoing presidents then travelled together in a motorcade to the podium where Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts will administer the oath.
Former presidents Jimmy Carter, George HW Bush and Bill Clinton and their wives were also in attendance for the oath-taking.
Obama takes office amid high expectations that he can turn around the economy that shed more than 1 million jobs last year and is bogged down in the worst recession since the Great Depression of the 1930s. Obama inherits wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and a bruised US image in the world after eight years of the Bush presidency.
Obama's message of change and hope propelled him to the presidency, but in the days leading up to the inauguration he has tried to dampen expectations of immediate results. He has warned the economy will likely 'get worse before it gets better.'
Obama has already begun consulting with members of Congress on a 825-billion-dollar stimulus plan to boost the economy by investing in infrastructure projects, developing alternative energy and other projects to get people back to work.
Among the first acts Obama is expected to take is ordering the closure the Guantanamo detention centre at the US Navy base in Cuba for holding suspects in the war on terrorism. The prison, where most of the remaining detainees have been held for years without charges, has tarnished America's standing in the world. Obama has cautioned that the actual closure took take months or as long as a year.
Revellers travelled to Washington from all over the United States and the world to witness history. Many began flocking to the Mall well before sunrise amid some of the tightest security the nation's capital has ever seen.
'I could have seen this on TV but I wanted to be here to see hope, change and history in the making,' said Yvonne Gill, 43, a nurse from Notre Dame, Indiana.
Barriers were set up all around the downtown area to block vehicle traffic as the crowd took to the streets and waited in long lines to claim a spot in the bleachers along the parade route Obama will take along Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House.
Members of Congress handed out as many as 240,000 tickets for seating and close-in standing areas to their constituents who came to town. Potentially millions more spectators without tickets will be able to watch from greater distances along the length of the mall or on giant video screens.
Cynthia McNeal, 50, an African American office secretary from North Carolina, said she came to honour her parents and the 1960s struggle for civil rights led by Martin Luther King Jr.
'I'm here to witness history,' McNeal said.
As much as the enthusiasm on the streets was an outpouring of support for Obama, it was also a sign people were ready to move on from Bush, who is leaving office with the lowest job approval rating in decades.
'Goodbye Bush, Goodbye Bush,' Metro riders continuously chanted at one exit station near the festivities.
Obama will spend Tuesday evening attending various black tie inaugural balls throughout the city, then will get down to the nation's business during his first full day of office on Wednesday, when he will meet with his top economic advisers.
On Thursday, Obama is expected to meet with General Ray Odierno, the top commander in Iraq, and General David Petraeus, chief of US Central Command, which oversees military operations in the Middle East, South Asia and parts of Africa, CNN reported.
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Older Talkback
page: 1
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.
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.
Within an hour of Barak Obama becoming 44th President of the USA the Rednecks and Loonies are already at his throat (see first two posts) Jesus.H.Christ
{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{GIVE THE GUY SOME BREATHING SPACE !}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}},
and let us PLEASE see what he can do ,first.....
....................................or do you wish G.W.Bush back again????
'and let us PLEASE see what he can do ,first.....'
He has already stated the command:
One trillion dollars of more debt.
He has certainly started off on the wrong foot.
Just as the subprime lending crisis has its roots in debt spending, so does Obama.
'Just as the subprime lending crisis has its roots in debt spending, so does Obama'.
er no!
No! Obama never had this.
Why would he?
page: 1
obamaJan 20th, 2009 - 15:33:45
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
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