Obama II: What will the next four years hold?
The National Mall at sunrise, photo courtesy of blog poster Brosephus
Barack Obama was officially if informally sworn into office for the second time Sunday, but the formal, public ceremony is taking place today, on a bright, cold Martin Luther King Jr. Day, with Obama taking the oath on bibles owned by King and President Abraham Lincoln.
We’ll be live-blogging the rest of the ceremony ….
11:38 — A nicely done, dignified prayer by civil rights leader Myrlie-Evers Williams, a woman who has seen a lot.
11:41: With Sen. Schumer of New York as inaugural planner, it’s understandable that a Brooklyn choir is doing the “Battle Hymn of the Republic.” But really, a southern choir would have done it righteously.
11:47 Taking his oath, Biden’s just repeating what Sotomayor is saying. Didn’t he get in trouble for that once?
11:51: Obama takes oath, with one small stumble certain to cause comment among a few. The Capitol looks resplendent.
11:58: A call from Obama to the necessity of joint, unified action. “My fellow Americans, we are made for this moment, and we will seize it if we seize it together.”
12:03 “Social Security, Medicare … do not make us a nation of takers”
12:04: A call to action on climate change. The first real news of the day, committing to a second-term goal.
12:08: A strong embrace of gay rights, equal respect, immigration reform … a broadening of the American family.
12:10: “We cannot mistake absolutism for principle.” I suspect that was directed to some Dems as well as Republicans.
12:12: A relatively brief address by the president, with talk of national unity and purpose interspersed with indirect if sharp reminders of issues that divide us.
12:20: A rather prosaic effort by poet Richard Blanco.
12:31: But a stirring version of the Star Spangled Banner by the lovely and talented Beyonce to close the ceremony.
– Jay Bookman
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937 comments Add your comment
Jm
January 21st, 2013
9:05 pm
Big government not the path to prosperity, but that’s what Obama believes
No matter
The poor will not be better off
Obama is just accelerating the day of reckoning
Move money offshore if you can
Fred ™
January 21st, 2013
9:06 pm
DebbieDoRight – A Do Right Woman
January 21st, 2013
8:59 pm
and, well, I DID understand…that’s why I had the permission slips to begin with…
Wink, wink. Word.
What’s that old saying? Been there, done that….
++++++++++++++++++
You were once a gay white man with two little latino boys in a McDonalds? Well I never……….
LOL I have a bad sense of humor……….
Fred ™
January 21st, 2013
9:07 pm
Jm
January 21st, 2013
9:05 pm
Big government not the path to prosperity, but that’s what Obama believes
No matter
The poor will not be better off
Obama is just accelerating the day of reckoning
Move money offshore if you can
+++++++++++++++++
Yes. Be a thief, a criminal. a traitor. It’s the republican way.
Soothsayer
January 21st, 2013
9:09 pm
Goodnight, everyone. Ol’ Sooth’s gonna go in a put his feet up next the hot woodstove. See you all tomorrow! God willing. I hope every single one of you has someone to keep you warm tonight ’cause baby it’s cold outside.
Brosephus™
January 21st, 2013
9:11 pm
DDR
She’s an Army child who was born in Germany and lived in VA before moving to Georgia.
Fred ™
January 21st, 2013
9:12 pm
Sooth; The Republicans have their hatred of our President to keep them warm…….
Alex
January 21st, 2013
9:14 pm
@ Debbbie, bringing up kids in this information intensive world with Facebook and opinions and ideas available in the twinkle of a semiconductor, I feel that I have only modest understanding of my childrens ideas much less than that of even my sisters children. I stay out of their business unless something dangerous or destructive is visible (and that HAS happened and my intervention was decidedly ineffective). I think it is very difficult at times to not stereotype and that there is at times value to stereotyping (probably why at an evolutionary level we do it), yet it is the recognition of the unique aspects of life that bring continued growth and add to the the richness of the life experience….and of above all being a parent is “the best of times and the worst of times”…..
DebbieDoRight - A Do Right Woman
January 21st, 2013
9:14 pm
Ugh ………..got a conference call in a minute. Have a great night everyone and to all you cons,
Happy Obama 2nd Inauguration Day
Our journey is not complete, until our gay brothers and sisters are treated like anyone else under the law — President B. Obama Jan 21, 2013
Jm
January 21st, 2013
9:15 pm
No Fred
If I preserve wealth, one day it can be reinvested in the American economy if things change
The less destroyed by Obama, the more for future investment
But I don’t expect you to understand that
DebbieDoRight - A Do Right Woman
January 21st, 2013
9:17 pm
Alex: .and of above all being a parent is “the best of times and the worst of times”…..
Alex i just showed my Mom what you wrote, she agreed and smacked me upside my head for all the stuff that i’ve ever done that she hasn’t found out about, yet.
She and I thank you for that.
Adios! Vaya Con Dios!
Fred ™
January 21st, 2013
9:20 pm
Jm
January 21st, 2013
9:15 pm
No Fred
If I preserve wealth, one day it can be reinvested in the American economy if things change
The less destroyed by Obama, the more for future investment
But I don’t expect you to understand that
++++++++++++++++++++++++
You are right, I don’t understand your pitiful excuses for lying, cheating and stealing. Your reprehensible, traitorous behavior would somehow be OK if George Bush were still President/ I don’t think so. A thieving scumbag is a thieving scumbag no matter who is President. At least admit who and what you are.
Jm
January 21st, 2013
9:22 pm
Fred says investor = thief
There you have the lib mindset
Redneck Convert (R--and proud of it)
January 21st, 2013
9:22 pm
Well, I don’t know about you but tomorrow I’m going to WalMart to look for a pair of them Jimmy Choo shoes that Michelle was wearing. All the TV folk were talking about how he makes them for men and women and they’re the best in the world. I sure hope they don’t run more than 40 bucks and they come in steel toe.
Have a good night everybody.
Redneck Convert (R--and proud of it)
January 21st, 2013
9:25 pm
BTW, that red dress Michelle was wearing really shows off her 46″ wide butt.
Just thought I’d throw that in there.
JamVet
January 21st, 2013
9:26 pm
Move cons offshore if you can.
LOL.
Fred ™
January 21st, 2013
9:26 pm
Jm
January 21st, 2013
9:22 pm
Fred says investor = thief
There you have the lib mindset
++++++++++++++++++
Nope. Fred says a thief illegally moving money offshore in illegal deals = thief. YOU however and your lie = typical lying Republican. Your position is so weak that you HAVE to lie. The truth won’t serve you.
Fred ™
January 21st, 2013
9:27 pm
As far as I’m concerned JM. I would like to move you AND the .50 cents you have offshore never to return again. I’m tired of you lying, traitorous scum.
Leave.
Jm
January 21st, 2013
9:31 pm
Fred
It’s not illegal to move money offshore except in liberal utopia
Jm
January 21st, 2013
9:32 pm
Sorry Fred
Still here liar
Alex
January 21st, 2013
9:33 pm
@ fred, Obama is disliked for many reasons and some are because he challenges the status quo which many people are uncomfortable with and that is not a good philosophy toward life. He is a big picture , strategic type of person, his operational skills leave a lot to bedesired,: sure everyone believes that medical care should be available, but the program he gave us is partially unconstitutional, incredibly complex and well may be inoperable..so where does that get us. Personally, I have no problem paying higher taxes, but what about the burgeoning deficiet-it’s a real problem that by many accounts affects the continued existence of this “experiment” He should suggest a plan, a program , develop a dialogue. If this great strategist does not develop some operational characteristics, he will go down as a mediocre president and the country will suffer. Black or white, young or old, rich or poor–raising taxes for those making more than 400,000 ain’t going to cut it.Let’s get to work./..
USA Patriot
January 21st, 2013
9:33 pm
Jeepers Fred, you’re one pissed off individual. One would think you’d have your dancing shoes on and having a grand time with your president’s 2nd inauguration taking place today. Seem a bit sensitive.
Jm
January 21st, 2013
9:33 pm
Liberals basically want to reappropriate all wealth
This is what dumb people in poor countries do
That is our future
Jm
January 21st, 2013
9:35 pm
Alex
Obama doesn’t care about the deficit
Other than token lip service
Alex
January 21st, 2013
9:36 pm
@ Debbie goodnight and if you do RIGHT, why are you always on the left side of the equation? =====sorry!
Jm
January 21st, 2013
9:38 pm
We’ll have $20 trillion in debt by end of obama’s second term
Greece here we come
Jm
January 21st, 2013
9:39 pm
Obama: tax, spend
Repeat
Welcome to the Occupation
January 21st, 2013
9:40 pm
Holy crap, is MSNBC a propaganda arm of the Democratic party or what?
Seriously!
Doggone/GA
January 21st, 2013
9:42 pm
“It’s not illegal to move money offshore except in liberal utopia”
It is if you’re doing it to avoid taxes. Ask the Swiss Banks about that
Crazy Uncle Joe Biden
January 21st, 2013
9:43 pm
The stupid will get stupider, and vote for Jughead for a third term. We don’t need no stankin constitution.
Oscar
January 21st, 2013
9:43 pm
The budget and deficit are being worked on. It’s up to congress in the end. Some laws will have to be changed to reduce spending. That’s up to congress.
Alex
January 21st, 2013
9:44 pm
@JM , Obama isn’t stupid, he’s a politician playing to his base which he will always have in this partisan country. His recent elevations of washington insiders suggests to all that he does not believe that outside opinions are helpful and he is comfortable that his strategies are correct and will win the day. He needs to play to the country, discard the far right and far left, if they won’t work with him and help the vast majority..can he do it, will he do it..?? Feb, deficit reduction talks will tell the tale……
JamVet
January 21st, 2013
9:44 pm
And Jm wants to give all the money to the 1% and hope some of it trickles down.
Now THAT is supremely stupid.
Jackie
January 21st, 2013
9:44 pm
One has to wonder how the Repubs have adoration for Ronald Reagan and his VP – Dick Chaney – famously said “deficits don’t matter.”
Can’t have it both ways.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/10/04/1139806/–Deficits-don-t-matter-True-or-False-Both
Doggone/GA
January 21st, 2013
9:44 pm
“The stupid will get stupider, and vote for Jughead for a third term”
I hate to be the one to break it to you…but you’ve just proven they already have gotten stupider
Oscar
January 21st, 2013
9:45 pm
dog – correct. there are legal and illegal reasons to move money offshore. and moral and immoral reasons.
USA Patriot
January 21st, 2013
9:50 pm
So there were Hillary & Bill Clinton at the inauguration and as they are leaving the ceremony a reporter asks Bill “how is Hillary’s head?” – Bill, “well, she’s no Monica”. HA!
oldguy
January 21st, 2013
9:50 pm
With you there JM,
Just converted the last of my government bonds to physical gold and sent it out of the country with my Daughter to Canada.
And don’t think its just conservatives drawng down on US investment. Most multi-national corps are parking their cash overseas. I understand from Business Weekly that Soros and Buffett, not noted for their conservative views, have both dumped billions from their US stock portfolio and moved the money to their overseas accounts.
Investing in US business now, with all the regulations and laws (Obamacare for example) is a fools folly. Go out and try to find a consumer good made in the US. Clothes, tools, even electronics, nada. Businesses are treading water hoping for a change. The middle class, especially in the blue collar work area is going the way of the dinosaurs. Service and maintenance are the only areas staying above water.
The crash of the dollar is coming, get your investments in something else!
Doggone/GA
January 21st, 2013
9:52 pm
“One has to wonder how the Repubs have adoration for Ronald Reagan and his VP – Dick Chaney ”
Ummmm….who was Regan’s VP again?
Jackie
January 21st, 2013
9:55 pm
Those that support the Repub agenda should read this link carefully.
http://theweek.com/article/index/217524/what-caused-the-national-debt-6-culprits
Alex
January 21st, 2013
9:56 pm
@Oscar, the PRESIDENT submits A budget which then congress takes control of, this president needs to submit a budget that is viable ,cuts spending,and allows members of congress to “save face”. This is operational politics or the “sausage ” of democracy. He does not work well with the opposition and appears to have little interest in doing so, but in this he is sowing the seeds of mediocrity for this country, BOTH sides are to blame
JamVet
January 21st, 2013
9:56 pm
The con beatings will continue until their morale improves…
Doggone/GA
January 21st, 2013
9:57 pm
“Just converted the last of my government bonds to physical gold and sent it out of the country with my Daughter to Canada”
Yeah, my Dad did something similar during WW2…and his family spent it all before he got back.
Jm
January 21st, 2013
9:57 pm
Doggone
Tax avoidance isn’t illegal
Tax evasion is
There’s a big difference
Jackie
January 21st, 2013
9:57 pm
Sorry, George H.W. Bush was Reagan’s VP, Mr. Cheyney was VP of George W. Bush.
Cloudodust
January 21st, 2013
9:58 pm
Until the MSM et al can begin to free it’s gulible masses by announcing simply that BHO begins his 2nd term instead of pointing out he’s ‘afican-American’ in the process, no strides have been made to getting over the racial cliff of unity that keeps us seperated to their degree of narcissistic expertize on the matter of racial division. Seems to be the G-spot for the dolts that want to give us what we’re to hang onto going, er, FORWARD. MLK Jr’s words indeed..!?!
Doggone/GA
January 21st, 2013
9:59 pm
“A budget which then congress takes control of, this president needs to submit a budget that is viable ,cuts spending,and allows members of congress to “save face”. ”
Actually, no he doesn’t. He needs to present (not submit) a budget…but it could be as off the wall as he felt like, since Congress doesn’t vote on it, and it has no force at all. It’s all for show.
Jm
January 21st, 2013
9:59 pm
Alex
We’ll see
I seriously doubt there will be deficit reduction other than the trillion in sequester cuts already on the books
And even those may get tossed overboard
Don’t hold your breath
Trillion dollar deficits from here to eternity
RB from Gwinnett
January 21st, 2013
9:59 pm
Just face it, In Fred’s world, nobody who have money obtained it morally or though their own work and everybody should be working for the common good of the people. In short, Fred is a communist. He can call himself a liberal, or a progressive, or whatever the heck else he wants, but there is no difference in what he says on this board and a communist.
And he apparently didn’t get the message that liberals are supposed to be tolerant.
getalife
January 21st, 2013
10:00 pm
I will invest the profits I made selling some of my guns and ammo to cons.
Easy money to make easier money.
Thanks cons.
Doggone/GA
January 21st, 2013
10:00 pm
“Tax avoidance isn’t illegal. Tax evasion is”
If you are using tax avoidance to evade taxes…it’s illegal.
Jm
January 21st, 2013
10:01 pm
Old guy
I don’t have much in gold for certain reasons
But I have plenty of money invested in overseas businesses
Jm
January 21st, 2013
10:02 pm
Doggone
Go talk to a tax attorney and learn the difference
Mick
January 21st, 2013
10:02 pm
jm
All talk, as if you are some authority on economics? You negate any sense you might have by comparing us to greece, that is your epic fail and you keep going down that road and all it does is prove how wrong you can be; that comparison is null and void just like most of your squawking..
JamVet
January 21st, 2013
10:03 pm
…no strides have been made…
Certainly not in the Republican’s segregated Lily White Party.
But the rest of this great melting pot called the United States of America?
Indeed there have been! Thanks to non-conservatives of all colors, creeds and ethnicities…
JamVet
January 21st, 2013
10:04 pm
Any imbecile who still sees commies everywhere is just plain pathetic.
Ask Alan West…
Jm
January 21st, 2013
10:06 pm
Jackie
January 21st, 2013
9:57 pm
Sorry, George H.W. Bush was Reagan’s VP, Mr. Cheyney was VP of George W. Bush.
LinkReport this comment
Yep, sorry is the right adjective
RB from Gwinnett
January 21st, 2013
10:06 pm
“Tax avoidance isn’t illegal
Tax evasion is”
Not to a liberal. In la-la land, if you don’t pay 39.6%, you’ve cheated somehow, paid off a senator for a deduction for rich people, or something. Never mind reading what’s in the tax code, if it’s not 39.6%, you’re a cheat.
And most of them couldn’t define “effective tax rate” if their life depended on it and have no idea what their own effecitive tax rate is.
Jm
January 21st, 2013
10:07 pm
Mick
History doesn’t repeat, but it does rhyme
Learn the difference
Jm
January 21st, 2013
10:08 pm
Mick
America is not immune to the laws of economics
Such as they are
RB from Gwinnett
January 21st, 2013
10:09 pm
“Certainly not in the Republican’s segregated Lily White Party”
Racist.
Jm
January 21st, 2013
10:09 pm
RB
Yes, libs are clueless
oldguy
January 21st, 2013
10:09 pm
What’s your prices Get?
Am always in the market for another nice AK to add to the bunker, at the right price. No AR 15s though, they are junk (carried a M16 in Nam, lots of the guys tossed them in the Perfume River and kept the captured AK47s,they actually worked.)
I’ll bet you are one of those fools who will dutifully march down and turn your guns and mags into the Feds when they tell you to.
Jackie
January 21st, 2013
10:12 pm
Help in understand marginal v. effective tax rates.
http://freefrombroke.com/marginal-tax-rate-vs-effective-tax-rate-what-are-they-and-how-do-they-affect-you/
Jm
January 21st, 2013
10:14 pm
Good to see Jackie has learned how to use google
Jackie
January 21st, 2013
10:15 pm
@oldguy
I am a Viet Nam vet, 68-69.
After they found out the problem with the M16, the black powder, it was just as effective as the AK-47.
Jackie
January 21st, 2013
10:17 pm
@jm
I use google to help you out.
Without documentation, you still do not believe the facts.
Secondly, you should hope that you will learn how to use it for yourself.
JamVet
January 21st, 2013
10:17 pm
And most of them couldn’t define “effective tax rate”…
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And the fiscal liberal thinks he pays a 39.6% effective tax rate?!
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Neocons do crack me up…
Jackie
January 21st, 2013
10:19 pm
@jm
Anyone who pays attention to business and has education in the subject matter, knows the difference.
Matti
January 21st, 2013
10:22 pm
Awwww…. the Bidens slow dancing are just TOO CUTE!
oldguy
January 21st, 2013
10:22 pm
Jackie,
tolerances were way too tight on the 15, they jammed constantly. They had to put that push lever on the side to force the action when it jammed.
also I hate the .223 bullet. It could be deflected off of jungle folage easily the AKs 7.63mm do not, plus the AK action was so loose that you could not dump enough mud on it to jam the action.When you pulled the trigger, it shot!
appleseed
January 21st, 2013
10:23 pm
Seems like,uh who was it.now I remember that had all their money off shore Mittens Romney.Typ.con.
Jm
January 21st, 2013
10:26 pm
“Surveys show Americans feel less hopeful about the future under his leadership than when he first entered the White House.”
For good reason
But not enough
RB from Gwinnett
January 21st, 2013
10:29 pm
“And the fiscal liberal thinks he pays a 39.6% effective tax rate?!
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
LIghen up on the bong, Jammie. You’re making less sense than usual tonight.
oldguy
January 21st, 2013
10:29 pm
Jackie,
Lost some good friends in Nam…..White,Black,Hispanic,Yankee it didn’t make any difference; they were all “Comrades in Arms!”
Jm
January 21st, 2013
10:30 pm
When I sell things now, my money goes to one of four places
Canada, Taiwan, Singapore, or India
For varying reasons
I’m a traitor apparently
Crucify me you capital control loving commies
Jackie
January 21st, 2013
10:30 pm
@oldguy
Everything I experienced about the M16 was related to the powder, not the tolerances. Early on, there was problems with the metallurgy of the barrels in that they overheated and became unusable; once the powder problem was figured out, tests and use in our Division in I Corps, II Corps and III Corps proved the rifle was just as good.
The small round was designed to be light and easily fragment to tumble when it struck significant resistant. It entered small and exited HUGE!!!
Jm
January 21st, 2013
10:31 pm
“You’re making less sense than usual tonight.”
That’s a pretty high hurdle RB
Jackie
January 21st, 2013
10:31 pm
@oldguy
SALUTE!!!
Jackie
January 21st, 2013
10:32 pm
@oldguy
Have several guys that I grew up with enshrined on the Wall in DC
oldguy
January 21st, 2013
10:32 pm
Jackie,
Back At You!!!
oldguy
January 21st, 2013
10:35 pm
Jackie,
My daughters had never seen me cry until we visited the Wall ! I had no idea it could be so powerful.
Jm
January 21st, 2013
10:36 pm
“Have several guys that I grew up with enshrined on the Wall in DC”
Bush’s fault presumably
Oh wait Johnson was a democrat
Assuming you’re referring to Vietnam
Jackie
January 21st, 2013
10:36 pm
Another foray into google shows that the only reason the world does not hold the USA and President Obama in higher regard is because of the drone strikes.
http://www.pewglobal.org/
Jackie
January 21st, 2013
10:37 pm
@jm
YOU ARE OUT OF YOUR F*#$%NG LEAGUE.
BUZZ OFF!
Jm
January 21st, 2013
10:38 pm
War knows no party or ideology
They’re all war mongers in DC
For better or worse
JamVet
January 21st, 2013
10:38 pm
I just laugh at RB using the word define.
But hey, he has the worlds greatest financial adviser, Jm,aka Kid Singapore Sling, cuddling up to him, so maybe he is paying a 39.6% effective tax rate!
The cons do mathematics and accounting like they do science…
Jackie
January 21st, 2013
10:38 pm
@oldguy
I went to the Wall that travels around the country and the haunting experience is still there.
Jm
January 21st, 2013
10:39 pm
Jackie 10:36
Drone strikes without a formal declaration of war is abuse of executive power except in covert actions
appleseed
January 21st, 2013
10:40 pm
I can understand the question of leadership now vs in beginning.I never thought any would sacrifice the country just to make him a one termer.
oldguy
January 21st, 2013
10:41 pm
Thank you JamVet,
After all I do have an Engineering Degree!
p.s. I don’t type very well however
Jackie
January 21st, 2013
10:45 pm
@jm
We know that the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan were in violation of the War Powers Act.
Would you have us send troop to police those two countries?
Jm
January 21st, 2013
10:45 pm
Jackie
We lost 10x as many people in Vietnam under Johnson than we did in Iraq under W
Sorry to remind you of that cogent fact
JamVet
January 21st, 2013
10:46 pm
Jm, like that gutless t*rd, Dick Cheney, had priorities other than military service.
oldguy and Jackie, I too, wept there.
And it just sickens me that these never-served, bloodlusting Bushbots have learned absolutely nothing from that affair…
appleseed
January 21st, 2013
10:47 pm
know nothing about arms but black powder and 7.63 mm kind of feels out of place for that time.
barking frog
January 21st, 2013
10:47 pm
Jm
are you aware that foreign banks take your money and buy US
Treasury securities?
Jm
January 21st, 2013
10:47 pm
Jackie
I agree that without a declaration of war, we shouldn’t be in those countries
Jackie
January 21st, 2013
10:47 pm
@jm
You remind me of something that I am well aware of. What is your point?
As with Viet Nam, Iraq and Afghanistan, none were declared wars, but, Americans were still killed!!!
What is your point????????????
Oscar
January 21st, 2013
10:48 pm
all three wars were mistakes.
Jm
January 21st, 2013
10:49 pm
Frog
I don’t put the money in cash at a bank
I buy equities
Jackie
January 21st, 2013
10:49 pm
@JamVet
To go to a vets funeral today and hear taps brings back flood of bad memories.