US News
Obama sworn in, declares 'new era of peace'
Jan 21, 2009, 14:03 GMT
US President Barack Obama (R) dances with US First Lady Michelle Obama at the Eastern-States Inuagural Ball at Union Station in Washington DC., USA on 20 January 2009. Obama was sworn in as the 44th President of the United States, becoming the first African American to be elected President of the U.S. EPA/MARK WILSON / POOL . .
Washington - Barack Hussein Obama became the 44th president of the United States on Tuesday, declaring the country was once again prepared to lead the world in a 'new era of peace' while calling on Americans to choose 'hope over fear' to confront the worst economic crisis in decades.
Obama, 47, moments after making history by becoming the first black president, addressed millions of onlookers who endured sub- freezing temperatures along the National Mall, a vast park that stretches from the Capitol building to the Lincoln Memorial.
'Our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions - that time has surely passed,' Obama said. 'Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.'
Obama's move into the White House ends eight years of Republican rule over the executive branch, and marks an end of George W Bush's unpopular tenure, which was characterized by wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and ended with an economy battered by the financial crisis and loss of more than 2.5 million jobs in the past year.
'The challenges we face are real,' Obama said. 'They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this America: they will be met.'
Obama recited the oath led by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts shortly after Vice President Joe Biden was sworn into office. Obama's rise to the White House was evidence of racial progress that the country has made since the days of slavery and the civil rights struggle of the 1950s and 1960s.
Revellers travelled to Washington from all over the United States and the world to witness the event. Many began flocking to the Mall well before sunrise amid some of the tightest security the nation's capital has ever seen. Some in the boisterous crowd booed when Bush stepped onto stage, then briefly fell silent when Obama took the oath before erupting into loud cheers. Three African-American women collapsed on the ground in tears, while the men in their group wept.
Obama comes to the presidency facing high expectations, but has cautioned that the problems plaguing the country will take time to overcome. He pledged to renew America's leadership role in the world by adhering to values and multilateral diplomacy, and rebuild the country's bruised image.
'As for our common defence, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals,' Obama said, subtly criticizing his predecessor and breaking with the hardline foreign policy agenda of the Bush years.
'Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions,' he said. 'They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please.'
'America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and we are ready to lead once more,' Obama said.
Obama took the oath with his hand on a Bible used in 1861 by Abraham Lincoln, the Civil War president who freed the slaves. First Lady Michelle Obama flanked her husband during the reading. Bush and three other former presidents - Jimmy Carter, George Bush and Bill Clinton - looked on.
The new president later escorted Bush to the Marine helicopter that took him to an airport outside Washington for the flight to his home state of Texas.
In his first act as president, Obama signed a document symbolizing a national day of 'Renewal and Reconciliation,' and a second document certifying his cabinet nominees. He then sat down for lunch with congressional leaders and will later participate in the parade and a series of black-tie inaugural balls throughout the city.
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. Obama in his first full day of office on Wednesday will huddle with his economic advisors.
Among the first acts Obama is expected to order is the closure of the controversial Guantanamo detention centre at the US Navy base in Cuba for suspects in the war on terrorism, but he has cautioned that the actual closure could take months or as long as a year.
On Thursday, Obama plans 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.
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. More than a million more spectators watched from greater distances along the mall on giant video screens.
Obama only briefly touched on the issue of race during the 15-minute speech, reflecting how only sixty years had passed since segregation laws in the southern United States would have prevented his father from dining in a local restaurant.
'This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed - why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration,' Obama said.
Cynthia McNeal, 50, an African American office secretary from North Carolina, said she came to the inauguration to honour her parents and the struggle for civil rights in the 1960s led by Martin Luther King Jr.
'I'm here to witness history,' McNeal said.
Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr, the son of a civil rights activist who ran for president in the 1980s, said: 'Today, the world will look at America differently and today Americans will look at each other differently.'
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Older Talkback
page: 1
The mentally ill person is YOU, lance!
'The mentally ill person is YOU, lance!'
... a heckle of desperation from the crowed.
Desperate at the prospects of stopping the flow of free money. Cornered, the typical U.S. citizen turns into a wild animal lashing out in fear of the unknown ... a balanced budget.
All I know is that my company laid off 63 people since Nov 17 , 08. I was spared and am still working. There is no overtime though. My bills are just barely paid and my car is in disrepair. My son who'll be 15 in a couple of days wants to know why he can't have an allowance and why he only gets 2.00 for his $ 2.00 school lunch.
If this guy can fix the economy...let him try. In the meantime ther're millions exactly like me who live in fear they'll lose everything. A job , house , car. We're called the working poor.
At some point things are supposed to get better. How long can we wait before people start throwing themselves out windows and O'D'ing they're entire families just to stop the suffering.
We're not some 3rd world country where starving and homeless are the norm. This is America a land of opportunities. Well......no one is hiring..because they're all firing.
Mr. Lucky,
Let me explain how it works:
Billionaire tycoons work the system to soak up all the free money and reduce your wages.
That is the way it works in a system that lost its financial sense. Without a good balance sheet, the economy is a gambling hall, with losers and winners.
It does not matter how much you work, or how hard you work. If you win lotto then you are a winner. If you don't play the con game then you do not have a chance to be the winner.
When business leaders keep their nose to the balance sheets then no one gets fired, everyone has a life time job if they want it. Otherwise economic anarchy breaks out.
I am very very sorry for your child's financial constraints. Let me leave you with a piece of cheers complements of Bush and Obama: With debt piling up your child's future looks more bleak than ever. His financial future is being robbed from him by today's politicians.
Sorry, but I don't make the rules. If I did, the news of the future would be very different. Elbow grease and honesty would be the key words.
P.S. - It's because of people like Mr. Lucky that I post so often. Although he is making it, his child's future is bleak. What a travesty of injustice being perpetrated on the innocent young and unexpecting recipient of debt. Born into servitude at the hands of greedy politicians and business leaders placing them into debtors prison at birth.
For what it is worth, I myself am a business leader (surprise!) and keep my nose to the grindstone and balance sheets continuously 365 days a year. I refuse to fail those who count on me.
that you are a businessman, since you are on this site 24/7!!
'that you are a businessman, since you are on this site 24/7!!'
In this era of financial and political fraud, your skepticism is well founded. Keep up the good work.
And remember: When a politician offers you free money: JUST SAY NO!!
You can make it on your own without welfare. You don't need Obama, what you need is a balance sheet, and a plan, for your life.
Do not accept less for yourself, and do not expect any less of your government.
The whole optimism thing Obama brings is a bit corny and ridiculous. And its a bit late.
The U.S. has a massive trade deficit with China and to a lesser extent other countries. This imbalance is truly astronomical when you look at the numbers. This in a nutshell is why there are no jobs left, and its also why all the spendable cash has since left the country, now in the hands of numerous Chinese conglomerates. A shortage of cash in the economy causes more of it to be produced, thus devaluing, which of course pushes people to shop at venues like WalMart, which carries nothing but goods imported from.. you guessed it.. China. This results in an economic tailspin that will continue to spiral out of control until the U.S. is completely bankrupt. I honestly believe nothing can stop it at this point, it can only be delayed.
Obama's talk of 'hope over fear' sure sounds warm and fuzzy, but will do nothing to reverse the reality of the economic hemmoraging and eventual collapse of the U.S. economy. The NAFTA and WTO protesters were right all along. We should have listened to them.
Someone discovered who greenlighted NAFTA, GATT, WTO, and MFN for China. Now they're in charge again.
When did you discover this? Last night?
Leader of the world. When did this happen?
lance and sp4 must be eliminated asap
yeah...I know all about how it all works. My employer has moved more than half of the manufactured products our company produces to his Mexico plant. I am well aware of how istead of paying his employees here in the U.S. - O.T. he is subsidising his plant in Mexico with our funds.
I watched as over a dozen of the guys I've toiled with in the machine shop handling and manufacturing parts walked out the door with manilla envelopes with paperwork for Unemployment.
One guys Dad is in the Hospital on his death bed and his was the only source of income in the household.
I know all about everything. I am learned. It's a damned shame that with as things are today that GUYS like myself in the hundreds of thousands are out of work and losing all they've worked hard for with ELBOW GREASE.
Obama wants to institute and economic stimulus plan by creating 30,000 jobs with 300,000 dollar a year salaries with his borrowed 3 trillion bucks. Then he's going to give everyone a thousand bucks to stimulate spending. Well how about......? creating 300,000 jobs at 30,000 a year....that sounds like a better deal to my out of work buddies.
You goooooo Lance!!!!!!!!!!!
Where is Ameerica?
New Boss's first '48' ratings:
Attention to Detail: -- 9 (not lettin the Oath flub linger
and Aggressively going after Nation's Corporate Pigs on how next 800 Billion Dollars relief money will be managed)
Ability to Develop Consensus with Defense leaders - 8 (Did at least
meet with his military leaders)
Dealings with Legislative and Judicial Branches:-- 8
Communications with Foreign Sovereigns:-- 7 (Did not include China
or European Union leaders in first Telconversations regarding Hamas aggression.)
Overall first 48 Hours Citizen-rating Score = 80%
Why are people in such despair?
America is now by far the best country in the world.
Look how all Americans study science and books all the time, how advanced production lines and infrastructure is all over the place, how the economy and the free market system without state intervention is booming and there is no corruption or even need for control, how peaceful the foreign policy of the United States is all over the world, and how everybody loves America ,how the human rights and freedoms and privacy are deeply respected and cherished in the USA. Look at the role models of the American people, the best role models in the world, scientists who sacrificed their lives to help people and advance technology, true role models that everybody in America follow and know about and want to help them with their work.
America is truly the country of the future, it is evident from even the simple fact that it had as its president a true genius and humanitarian, aka George W Bush.
'Overall first 48 Hours Citizen-rating Score = 80%'
Today, Obama gave out another 2.5 billion dollars of free money, and gave 2.5 billion dollars of new debt to babies not yet born.
He got a 80% approval rating of people he bought off.
What will be his approval rating from those babies?
You're all very funny...I love brevity and levity. WE must keep our chins up.
We should all be damn thankful we live in a country where we are free to voice our opinion and live our lives. To the naysayers regarding their comments about the new President and his policies - take a big deep breath - you'll survive and probably be much better off than in the last 8 years!
'take a big deep breath - you'll survive and probably be much better off than in the last 8 years!'
Proof that there is a sucker born every minute.
Obama is taking money from your child (and other people's children) at the rate of 2.5 billion dollars every single day of the year.
While he gives you welfare with his right hand, he steals money from your baby behind your back with his left hand.
He is a slick con artist; and your child is his patsy.
Hey Lance ...
Stop with the 'While he gives you welfare ...' crap, unless false assumptions are what you want to base your arguments on.
You are so friggin dense, you don't even seem to care about being wrong.
Let me ask you, Lance ... 'Have you stopped beating your wife?'
'Let me ask you, Lance ... 'Have you stopped beating your wife?''
I beat my wife today at the same rate that I beat her yesterday.
Obama gives out welfare at the same rate as Bush and Obama is proposing to give out more welfare.
... false conjecture as your premise isn't the way.
You call yourself 'a messenger'? Bwa ha ha ha.
Messengers bring truth.
You bring false conjecture. Lance. (over, and over, and over)
You make yourself a liar and a fool ... And you do it gladly.
You a messenger? Ha ... I can't stop laughing.
'Earth to Bugs Bunny come in Bugs Bunny.' 'GET ME OUTTA HEEEEERE!!!'
Listen, please.....Lance is cool and raises awesome points and pertinent issues. He is I'll admit a bit of a downer and a pessimist. That's his rap though. You can't argue w/him you can't tell him he's wrong either.
No President in the last 20 years has made any great strides to do a damned thing for the working man/blue collar guys. Obama's proposed plans don't include anything to benefit us either. I work and work and work and work and work and never get anywhere or have anything to show for it. I'll be hoping I don't get laid off like the other 2 illion people in the U.S. .
So Lance's wrath and remarks only reflect what most of us feel. The America that was so important for people to fulfill dreams is gone the melting pot has spilled all over the land and the lunatics are running the asylum now. Let's see what the next 4 years brings.
I'll tell you one thing though. 4 years is all he's going to get.
He's getting the ball and if he fumbles it he's going to ruin all the accomplishments and hopes that has been so previlent during the election.
He is behind the wheel now. This is a new America based on HOPE.
The America based on opportunity is long gone.
So I'll keep hoping things get better while I feed my kid Ramen noodles and toast for dinner instead of Meatloaf and Mashed potatoes.
My comments to Lance have to do with his endless conjecture that 'everyone here is waiting for a welfare check' ... his comments on that are not limited this article.
Granted, it seems that no matter how slowly people type it out for Lance, he refuses to get it.
Lucky, I wish you the best in your situation ... Like you, I also know people who are out of work within the last few months ... my best friend is now losing his home as a result.
Like you, I'm hopeful of this new administration ... tempered with reality. The gov't can't create jobs, but at least it looks like this new administration isn't working behind closed doors against us, as the last one has.
Time will tell, of course.
All the best to you.
That is an excellent choice of words...Thanks and you too.
Why is everyone complaining?
Look, the rich and powerful, those that own the media, the big companies, the lobbies, the politicians, they kind of over loaned deliberately the people, even while they knew that the people would not be able to pay back, and through various exotic made up economic products and packages the sold back and forth between them they got all the real money from the people in the form of personal bonuses for themselves, their fortunes got even bigger and on top of that the government had to step in to save and bail out the companies that these people managed in order to allegedly save the economy. As if the economy is more important than the real hard working family people themselves!
Look, it was all done in plain daylight so don’t complain, they got your money, they throw you out of your houses, you lose your job and they get richer and even get more money from you by stealing directly from the government and your kids future money, WHICH MONEY THEY WILL USE TO ACTUALLY BUY THE HOUSES THAT YOU LIVED IN and guarantee your previous loans, oh and the very same people who are doing all these are the people who created this mess in the first place, so don’t complain!
JUST LIVE WITH IT AND SHUT UP!
You sound like Dennis Leary , I think you're Dennis Leary. Hey ..? Do you remember Mel Gibson in that movie about cospiracy theories ? What was that movie ....called again? ..............Oh well hey do like chicken I like chicken I like fried chicken. I think our new president likes chicken too....not that I'm saying anything derogatory I mean....who doesn't like fried chicken. It's not like I said anything about watermelons or grape Nehi soda. I mean I would not WOULD NOT I would never say anything nigative about The President or colored people....not that I mean you people....I'm just saying that every group of people gets an honorable mention...even the mongoloids and window lickers. Not that I'm making fun of Window licking mongoloids....I would never intend to offend anyone who owns one....respectively.
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lanceJan 21st, 2009 - 14:24:07
Today, Obama gave U.S. citizens two and a half billion dollars of new debt. A nice gift. He has promised to give you more gifts and hope in the future in the form of three billion dollars of debt per day or more.
I really don't care what Obama says. I care what he DOES.
So far, his pledges and what he is doing and planing to do is very unremarkable.
If he talks and walks like a mentally ill credit-holic addict then he is a mentally ill credit-holic addict.
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