Its Official! Hillary Clinton is Confirmed By a Vote of 94-2!

Its Official! By a vote of 94-2 Senator Hillary Clinton-Rodham will now be known as Secretary of State Clinton.

After much consideration and just one hold up from Senator John Cornyn a Republican from Texas who probably just wanted to throw his weight around a little, she has been confirmed by her colleagues to run the U.S. State Dept.

A series of questions were raised during the hearings regarding her husband, former U.S. President Bill Clinton's Global Foundation and donations from Foreign Governments being made to that Foundation.

She assured the Senate that no conflicts of interest due to her husband's Fundraising/Foreign Affairs work would complicate her work with the U.S. State Department.

Clinton stressed that the Obama Administration would rely more so on "Smart Power" versus using Force when negotiating with other Global Leaders.

Eric Holder, President Obama's pick for U.S. Attorney General has been delayed for one week.

Sources: CNN, Huffington, Post, CBS News, Washington Post

The World Welcomes An Obama Presidency!

On Jan. 20, 2009 while giving his Inauguration Address, the United States wasn't the only nation celebrating President Obama's political success. Many other countries also joined in on wishing the incoming Administration well.

From Europe to Asia to Africa, his inauguration was seen as a new beginning, offering new hope to the entire world. A hurting world desperately seeking answers and willing to work with the U.S. to help achieve positive solutions.

In Kenya the homeland of his father, they sang out Barack Obama's name.

In Donegal, Ireland, they cheered, "There's no one as Irish as Barack O'Bama!"

In Japan they rang the Ceremonial bell in the town that bears his last name. (Obama, Japan)

In Russia, a young man who was interviewed said, "All of a sudden we have this smart guy running the United States."

Yes! It most certainly appears as if President Barack Hussein Obama has become Leader of the entire world.

WOW!

The World celebrates Obama's Inauguration.



Sources: CBS News, Huffington Post, LA Times

President Obama Attends Washington National Day of Prayer Service! Rev. Sharon Watkins Speaks

After a LONG night of Inaugural events President Obama and Vice-President Biden sets the tone for their new Administration by attending a National Day of Prayer Service this morning in Washington, DC. (9:30 am EST)

Prior to being sworn in yesterday, President Obama and Mrs. Obama also attended another religious service at St. John's Episcopal Church (Washington, DC). The Rev. Otis Moss Jr. blessed the couple, while the main message was presented by Bishop T.D. Jakes. Thus Obama proves that his Faith in God is an extremely important facet of his personal life.

The service expecting to last from 75 to 90 Minutes, will take place at the Washington National Cathedral (3101 Wisconsin Avenue) with the main sermon being given by Rev. Sharon E. Watkins, General Minister and President of Disciples of Christ Church.

President Obama met Rev. Watkins while on the campaign trail and was deeply moved by how she was able to unite people through Prayer.

Watkins will be the first Woman ever to deliver the sermon at the Official National Day of Prayer Service.

Music will be provided by the Washington D.C.-based Gospel Children's Choir and the event is by Invitation Only. Tickets will be required.

You can check out the service on-line at the National Cathderal's website or via the Video below from the Associated Press.

National Prayer Service Program

Welcome - Reverend Samuel T. Lloyd III, Dean of the Washington Cathedral

Invocation - Reverend John Bryon Chane, Episcopal Bishop of Washington

Opening Prayer - Reverend Otis Moss Jr., Senior Pastor Emeritus, Olivet Institutional Baptist Church in Cleveland, Ohio

Prayer for Civil Leaders - Reverend Andy Stanley, Senior Pastor, North Point Community Church, Alpharetta, Georgia

Scripture Readings - Dr. Cynthia Hale, Senior Pastor, Ray of Hope Christian Church, Atlanta, Georgia, Archbishop Demetrios, Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church in America, New York City, and the Most Reverend Francisco Gonzalez, S.F., Auxiliary Bishop of Washington

Psalm Reading - Rabbi David Saperstein, Executive Director, Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, Washington, D.C.

Responsive Prayers--

* Dr. Ingrid Mattson, President, Islamic Society of North America, Hartford, CT
* Rev. Suzan Johnson-Cook, Senior Pastor, Bronx Christian Fellowship, New York City
* Rabbi Jerome Epstein, Director, United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, New York City
* Rev. Carol Wade of the Washington National Cathedral
* Dr. Uma Mysorekar, President, Hindu Temple Society of North America, New York City
* Rev. Jim Wallis, President, Sojourners, Washington, D.C.
* Rabbi Haskal Lookstein, Congregation Kehilath Jeshurunm, New York City
* Pastor Kirbyjon Caldwell, Senior Pastor, Windsor Village United Methodist Church, Houston, TX

Prayer for the Nation - Donald W. Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington, D.C

Closing Prayer - Bishop Katherine Jefferts-Schori, Presiding Bishop, Episcopal Church USA

Benediction - Reverend Wesley Granberg-Michaelson, General Secretary of the Reformed Church in America

President Obama attends National Day of Prayer service.



Sources: MSNBC, Washington Post, Youtube, Associated Press, Chicago.about.com, Presidential Prayer Team.org, Pic2009.org, NY Daily News, Yahoo News

Obama Attends 10 Inauguration Balls! Beyonce Serenades! (Pics) (Videos)

Last night President Obama and the first lady Michelle, attended no less than 10 count them TEN Official Inaugural Balls last night! Whew!

The two most important being the "Commander-In-Chief and Neighborhood balls".

These celebrations marked the end of a long day of formal inaugural events and the two-year campaign that helped to get Obama into the Oval office.

At the "Neighborhood Ball" the President and his wife danced close and slow while A-List Entertainer Beyonce serenaded the couple to the Etta James hit "At Last".

While in attendance at the "Commander-In-Chief Ball" President Obama gave honor to all of the dedicated Military Personnel who work so hard to keep our country safe locally and abroad.

Of course let us not forget about Vice-President Biden and his wife Jill who attended several balls including the Eastern Inaugural Ball with the Obamas at DC's Union Station.

Today the REAL work begins, but last night was a dream for CHANGE that became a reality.

Beyonce serenades President Obama and his first lady Michelle at their "Neighborhood Ball".



The Obamas at the "Commander-In-Chief Ball".



Sources: Huffington Post, Youtube

President Obama's Inauguration Speech (Full Text)

Today Barack Hussein Obama became the 44th President of the United States after being sworn in by U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts.

Not long after he gave his long awaited Inauguration Address.

Check out the full text of it below after the video.

President Obama gives his history making Inauguration Speech.


"My fellow citizens:

I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors. I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition.

Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because We the People have remained faithful to the ideals of our forbearers, and true to our founding documents.

So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans.

That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.

These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics. Less measurable but no less profound is a sapping of confidence across our land - a nagging fear that America's decline is inevitable, and that the next generation must lower its sights.

Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. 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. On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.

On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.

We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.

In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of short-cuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted - for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things - some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labor, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom.

For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and traveled across oceans in search of a new life.

For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West; endured the lash of the whip and plowed the hard earth.

For us, they fought and died, in places like Concord and Gettysburg; Normandy and Khe Sahn. Time and again these men and women struggled and sacrificed and worked till their hands were raw so that we might live a better life. They saw America as bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions; greater than all the differences of birth or wealth or faction.

This is the journey we continue today. We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on Earth. Our workers are no less productive than when this crisis began. Our minds are no less inventive, our goods and services no less needed than they were last week or last month or last year. Our capacity remains undiminished. But our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions - that time has surely passed. Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.

For everywhere we look, there is work to be done. The state of the economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will act - not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth. We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together. We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age. All this we can do. And all this we will do.

Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions - who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short. For they have forgotten what this country has already done; what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage.

What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them - that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply. The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works - whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified. Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end. And those of us who manage the public's dollars will be held to account - to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day - because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government.

Nor is the question before us whether the market is a force for good or ill. Its power to generate wealth and expand freedom is unmatched, but this crisis has reminded us that without a watchful eye, the market can spin out of control - and that a nation cannot prosper long when it favors only the prosperous. The success of our economy has always depended not just on the size of our Gross Domestic Product, but on the reach of our prosperity; on our ability to extend opportunity to every willing heart - not out of charity, but because it is the surest route to our common good.

As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. Our Founding Fathers, faced with perils we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations. Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience's sake. And so to all other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman, and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more.

Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint.

We are the keepers of this legacy. Guided by these principles once more, we can meet those new threats that demand even greater effort - even greater cooperation and understanding between nations. We will begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people, and forge a hard-earned peace in Afghanistan. With old friends and former foes, we will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the specter of a warming planet. We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.

For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus - and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.

To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect.

To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society's ills on the West - know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.

To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds. And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world's resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it.

As we consider the road that unfolds before us, we remember with humble gratitude those brave Americans who, at this very hour, patrol far-off deserts and distant mountains. They have something to tell us today, just as the fallen heroes who lie in Arlington whisper through the ages.

We honor them not only because they are guardians of our liberty, but because they embody the spirit of service; a willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves. And yet, at this moment - a moment that will define a generation - it is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all.

For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies. It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break, the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours. It is the firefighter's courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a parent's willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate.

Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends - hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism - these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility - a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.

This is the price and the promise of citizenship.

This is the source of our confidence - the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny.

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 across this magnificent mall, and why a man whose father less than sixty years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath.

So let us mark this day with remembrance, of who we are and how far we have traveled. In the year of America's birth, in the coldest of months, a small band of patriots huddled by dying campfires on the shores of an icy river. The capital was abandoned. The enemy was advancing. The snow was stained with blood. At a moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people:

"Let it be told to the future world...that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive...that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet [it]."

America. In the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.

Thank you. God bless you. And God bless the United States of America."

President Barack Hussein Obama, January 20, 2009

Source: BBC News, Youtube, CNN, Huffington Post, ABC News

Obama Is Sworn In! The World Watches Obama's Inauguration! (Live Video Coverage of Ceremony)

Today as the world watched Barack Hussein Obama became the first African-American U.S. President (number 44 to be exact), and the fifth youngest ever elected.

Obama along with his Vice-President Joe Biden, won the general election with 365 Electoral Votes beating their opponents John McCain and Sarah Palin by at least 95 more votes than the 270 necessary to step into the Oval office.

Millions have decided to brave the Cold weather for the opportunity to personally witness such a Magnificent event in History.

No doubt Obama's Inauguration represents a milestone once unimaginable in a nation still plagued with racial issues since its founding and where segregation is still being practiced in many Southern states, especially within their Public School systems.

His election also pays homage to the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a slain Civil Rights Leader most famous for his "I Have a Dream" speech given at the Lincoln Memorial during the Civil Rights March on Washington, DC August 28, 1963.

The swearing in ceremony took place right outside the U.S. Capitol, with the use of Lincoln's bible.

After repeating this Oath he will step into history as did his predecessors:

"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States."

The President and new first lady are expected to stroll down Pennsylvania Avenue as a gesture of thanks to his constituents.

Security will be extremely tight as more than two million people are expected to attend.

Mr. President God Bless you and your family.

We wish you well Sir.

President Obama takes the Oath of Office.




View Larger Map

Sources: Huffington Post, MSNBC, CNN, National Geographic News, Wikipeida, BBC News, Google Maps, ABC News, C-Span

Obama's Election & Inauguration Pays Homage to King's Dream (Videos of King's & Obama's Speeches)

Across the nation in honor of slain Civil Rights Leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday, a Federal holiday, many American citizens are not only enjoying the day off from work, but many are also gearing up for Barack Obama's (our nation's first African-American President-Elect) official Inauguration ceremony.

Since being elected into office with 365 Electoral votes, there has been much talk about how Obama's win was in essence the resolution King was seeking to bring about in this country as it relates to his struggle for Equality and positive Racial Relations.

Today Obama paid homage to King via acts of Public Service by visiting wounded troops at a Military Hospital and by rolling up his sleeves to help paint a wall at a Homeless shelter for Teens.

When questioned about his tribute to King by displaying acts of Volunteerism and Kindness for his fellow man Obama commented, "there can't be "idle hands" at a time of national hardship." "Tomorrow, we will come together as one people on the same Mall where Dr. King's dream echoes still."

Does Obama's election into the highest office on American soil mean there is no longer a need for Civil Rights laws to be enforced or revised?

Why don't you ask the hundreds of thousands of Minority students attending Segregated, Poor Performing Public Schools or citizens who currently reside in regions where even in 2009 Racism still rings loud and ugly.

We're still waiting to overcome.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech in D.C. at the Lincoln Memorial. (circa August 28, 1963)



Obama's "A More Perfect Union" Race Speech in Philadelphia, PA. (Circa March 18, 2008_



Sources: Youtube, BarackObamadotcom, Huffington Post, Wikipedia, Tributes Sportswear, MSNBC, Google News, Politico

Obama' s Historic Pre-InaugurationTrain Tour! Photos! Video!

Today President-Elect Barack Obama embarked on a journey to Change via a Whistle Stop Train Tour.

The 150-mile excursion in route from Philadelphia, PA to Baltimore, MD, then on to Washington, D.C. (stopping on the way in Wilmington, D.E. to pick up the Bidens) was the first time a President-Elect has made such an effort to remain connected to his constituents prior to his Inauguration Ceremony since President Lincoln.

Obama's train the Georgia 300, was crafted in 1939 by the Pullman Standard and is ten cars long, (the length of two-and-a-half football fields).
The train is now privately owned by the man who acquired it in 1985. It has a kitchen, two living room areas and a small bedroom.

A few carefully selected members of the Press will be sitting in the front four cars, while 16 specially-invited families (41 people total) are riding in a car of their own.

Due to obvious Security reasons no word where the President-Elect or his family will be sitting or if he will walk through the aisles.

His Inaugural committee confirms that there will be two "slow rolls" in which onlookers will get to wave at the train crawling by their windows.

Obama states he that he is bringing to our country a "New Declaration of Independence." "One free from of Small Thinking, Prejudice and Bigotry."

Amen to that!

10:05 a.m. - Philadelphia, PA
The President-elect will hold an event in Philadelphia, PA before boarding a train headed toward Washington, D.C. Tickets are required for the event and have been distributed to the public.

1:00 p.m. - Wilmington, DE
The President-elect will stop for a public event with the Vice President-elect in the back of the Wilmington Train Station, 100 South French Street. Doors open at 9:30 a.m.

4:15 p.m. - Baltimore, MD
The President-elect and Vice President-elect will make their last stop in Baltimore for another public event at the War Memorial Plaza, 101 N. Gay St., Baltimore, MD. Doors open at 1:00 p.m.

CNN reports on Obama's historic train ride.



Sources: Huffington Post, Pic2009.org, NY Times, ABC News, CNN, Youtube

President George W. Bush's Legacy: Fact or Fiction?

Earlier in the week outgoing U.S. President George W. Bush graced us with his final White House Press Conference.

Last night he addressed the nation with his Farewell Speech.

The speech lasting just 13 minute was Bush's way of thanking the American people and the U.S. Military for allowing him the opportunity to play "Russian Roulette" with our Economy and National Security.

He of course defended all of his Presidential decisions and even looked a little sad while speaking.

As it relates to his High Disapproval Ratings he responded with this statement:

"You may not agree with some of the tough decisions I have made, but I hope you can agree that I was willing to make the tough decisions."

Bush also gave a "thumbs up" for Barack Obama's election, calling his upcoming Inauguration a "moment of hope and pride" for America.

All hoopla aside now comes the "Fact Checking" as it relates to the 43rd President's Legacy.

These are comments he made during his last Presidential Press Conference at the White House on January 12Th.

Let's compare what President Bush said about his Legacy versus what REALLY happened.

On the Economy Bush said:

"Look, I inherited a recession, I'm ending on a recession. In the meantime, there were 52 months of uninterrupted job growth."

Fact Check:

There have been two recessions during Bush's time in office. The first was a relatively mild downturn that began in March 2001 and lasted eight months, ending in November 2001. Since the first one did not begin until after he took office in January 2001, it is not strictly accurate to say he "inherited" it.

The second downturn began in December 2007 and has already lasted longer than any recession in a quarter century.

A staggering 2.6 million jobs disappeared in 2008, the most since World War II, and unemployment hit a 16-year high of 7.2 percent in December.

Overall, during Bush's eight years in office, a net total of 3 million jobs were created. In the two terms of his predecessor, President Clinton, roughly 21 million jobs were generated

On Hurricane Katrina and FEMA Bush said:

"You know, people said, well, the federal response was slow. Don't tell me the federal response was slow when there was 30,000 people pulled off roofs right after the storm passed. ... That's a pretty quick response."

Fact Check:

The president's defense is based on one very narrow measure in the 2005 storm's immediate aftermath. He ignored numerous other facets that depict a more sober picture.

There were 9,000 Louisiana families still living in trailers as of Sept. 1, 2007, and more than 30,000 residents of Gulf states receiving disaster housing assistance. Five of 23 acute-care hospitals in the New Orleans area remain closed.

Bush noted that $121 billion in federal aid was approved. But much of that went to rescue operations and other short-term needs. The Louisiana Recovery Authority estimates that about $15 billion has been spent on rebuilding in the state.
Bush said New Orleans schools have improved, which is true. But of 125 public schools in New Orleans before Katrina, only about 85 remain.

On Peace in the Middle East Bush said:

"In 2002 ... I gave a speech about a two-state solution -- two states, two democracies living side by side in peace. And we have worked hard to advance that idea. ... Most people in the Middle East now accept the two-state solution as the best way for peace."

Fact Check:

Bush's 2002 speech calling for an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel did mark a surprisingly explicit and detailed endorsement of that idea by an American president. But he didn't mention that in those early years his administration put active peacemaking in a deep freeze and only tried to restart negotiations late in his term.

By the time the U.S. made Mideast peace a diplomatic priority, conditions were changing.

Hamas is now in control of the Gaza Strip, splitting the territory and people Abbas theoretically governs.

Bush sponsored a high-level peace conference in late 2007, and visited Israel and the West Bank in early 2008. current U.S Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice stopped by often to check on secret negotiations between Abbas' West Bank leadership and Israel.

Hamas is now at war with Israel in Gaza.

Israel may succeed in wounding Hamas leadership and its ability to fire rockets into Israel, but it probably cannot defeat the well-organized group outright. In the meantime, civilian deaths in Gaza erode Palestinian support for negotiations.

On the War in Iraq Bush said:

"Putting a 'Mission Accomplished' on an aircraft carrier was a mistake. It sent the wrong message."

"... Abu Ghraib obviously was a huge disappointment ... Not having weapons of mass destruction was a significant disappointment. I don't know if you want to call those mistakes or not, but they were; things didn't go according to plan, let's put it that way."

Fact Check:

The "Mission Accomplished" banner incident happened in May 2003, less than two months after Saddam Hussein was ousted.

The abuse of prisoners at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq was blamed by administration officials on low-level soldiers. But a Senate report last December concluded that such abuse "cannot simply be attributed to the actions of 'a few bad apples' acting on their own.

The fact is that senior officials in the United States government solicited information on how to use aggressive techniques, redefined the law to create the appearance of their legality, and authorized their use against detainees."

The accusation that Saddam had and was pursuing weapons of mass destruction was Bush's main initial justification for going to war. The administration used intelligence that later was found to be false.

On Prisoners at Guantanamo Bay Bush said:

"I understand that Gitmo has created controversies. But when it came time for those countries that were criticizing America to take some of those -- some of those detainees, they weren't willing to help out."

Fact Check:

At Guantanamo, the administration defied international treaties governing the treatment of war criminals to indefinitely detain, and without charges, terror suspects captured overseas.

The suspects won the right to challenge their detention in a Supreme Court ruling last June. In November 2007, federal courts began ordering some suspects released after ruling that the U.S. had no right to hold them.

Officials from France, Germany, Portugal and Switzerland have all recently said they are looking into accepting detainees from the U.S. prison. Australia has refused.

On Security and Personal Freedoms Bush said:

"In terms of the decisions that I had made to protect the homeland, I wouldn't worry about popularity. ... All these debates will matter not if there's another attack on the homeland. The question won't be, you know, 'Were you critical of this plan or not?' The question is going to be, 'Why didn't you do something?'"

Fact Check:

The administration authorized a secret surveillance program to let investigators eavesdrop on terror suspects in the U.S. without first obtaining a court warrant. A federal judge in Detroit ruled the so-called Terrorist Surveillance Program unconstitutional and the Justice Department scaled it back to bring it under the review of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court.

He signed an executive order in 2007 deeming it compliant with a law requiring all detainees to be treated humanely, and in March 2007 vetoed an intelligence authorization bill that would have limited the CIA's interrogations to only those methods approved by the U.S. military.
Terrorists have not struck the U.S. since 2001. Bush's central promise to get al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden "dead or alive" remains unfulfilled.

On Climate Change Bush said:

"I guess I could have been popular by accepting Kyoto, which I felt was a flawed treaty, and (instead I) proposed something different and more constructive."

Fact Check:

Most developed countries signed the 1997 Kyoto accord on climate change, which requires signatories to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and other gases tied to warming.

Bush was not alone in his criticism of Kyoto -- Senate Republicans and Democrats unanimously refused to endorse it because China and India were not required to cut emissions. But over the years many Democrats came to see the Kyoto process as worthy of pursuing, and they urged the Bush administration to rejoin international talks.

Bush instead argued for voluntary steps by nations and companies, and started a separate series of climate talks.


President George W. Bush giving his farewell speech from the White House before a small crowd of 200 carefully chosen attendees and the Press.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Sources: MSNBC, AP, CBS News, Gothamist

BART Officer is Charged with Murder after Senseless Racial Profiling Shooting!

The BART Officer charged with the senseless killing of an UNARMED African-American Passenger (22-year old Oscar Grant) at 2:00am on New Years Day, was arrested and extradited from Nevada back to California to face Criminal charges.

After appearing in a Nevada court and waiving extradition Johannes Mehserle, sat behind bars in a Bay Area Santa Rita Jail Wednesday night, charged with murder.

Alameda County District Attorney Tom Orloff, filed the charges against Mehserle after weighing the compelling evidence of the situation.

Orloff explained his reason for filing Murder charges against Mehserle with these comments:

"At this point, what I feel the evidence indicates, is an unlawful killing done by an intentional act and from the evidence we have there's nothing that would mitigate that to something lower than a murder."

Following the fatal shooting Violent Protests and Riots broke out in the Oakland area from crowds angry over not just the Grant killing but also other previous complaints of Police Racial Profiling and Abuse inflicted upon Minority citizens by BART Officers.

Video of the actual shooting incident.



Sources: Insidebayarea.com, Mercury News, CNN, SFgate, Youtube

Roland Burris is Sworn into the U.S. Senate

On Thursday, Jan. 15, 2009 @2:00pm (ET) Roland Burris, recently impeached Gov. Blagojevich's pick for Obama's Senate seat, was sworn into the U.S. Senate.

Due to Blagojevich being accused of trying to sell Illinois' Senate Obama's seat, Burris was blocked a week ago by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid who was accused of practicing Racism, from joining his colleagues on the Senate floor for the Official swearing-in ceremony of the 111Th U.S. Congress.

Roland Burris the ONLY African-American U.S. Senator, refused to back down from his appointment stating it was a totally legal political move, and threatened to sue the U.S. Senate in Federal Court for his right to serve.

Senator Burris was sworn in by current Vice-President Dick Cheney.

Roland Burris discussing his being blocked from entering the Senate Floor with the Media.



Sources: CNN, Political Base, Examiner

Obama's Official Presidential Photo Released!

Barack Obama's official Presidential photograph taken by Pete Souza with a digital camera, has just been released.

This is the portrait that will be displayed in the White House, Military Bases, official documents, etc.,

I'd say this photo represents the beginning of a new era in American History wouldn't you?

Wow!

Sources: Huffington Post

Bin Laden Calls Obama's Bluff! Urges Jihad! Raw Video Footage!

In a new audio and video recently released by Osama Bin Laden, leader of the Terrorist Organization Al Qaeda, challenges Obama's ability to keep America safe after President Bush leaves the oval office.

A Senior U.S. Official has disclosed to ABC News that the authenticity of the tapes are real since they highly resemble those of previously released tapes by Bin Laden (51), whose last message was released on May 18, 2008.

The tape which urges Muslims everywhere to launch a Jihad against Israel over its recent conflict with Gaza, was posted Wednesday on Islamic militant Web sites where al-Qaeda usually issues its messages.

Bin Laden who has been in hiding since the U.S. Assault on Iraq & Afghanistan, was responsible for the September 11, 2001, attack on the United States that killed 2,751 people.

The U.S. government is offering a $25 million reward for information leading to his capture.

Check out the raw video footage below of Osama Bin Laden's message.




Sources: Youtube, CNN, Huffington Post, ABC News, CBS News, AOL

Rachel Maddow Interviews Burris and Blago (SNL Parody)

On Saturday Jan. 10th, the cast of SNL performed their usual Parodies and Political Satire that made Tina Fey Entertainer of the year while portraying Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin last year.

This time they made fun of recently impeached Ill. Gov. Rob Blagojevich (played by Jason Sudeikis) and his Senate pick Roland Burris (played by Keenan Thompson).

The skit comprised of a fake interview hosted by MSNBC's Rachel Maddow (played by Amy Elliott).

The production was extremely funny with the exception of the gay bashing jokes made towards Maddow's character by Sudeikis's.

What do you think?

Check out the clip below and judge for yourself.



Sources: Huffington Post, CBS News, CNN, SNL, MSNBC, NBC, MaddowFans.com

Sarah Palin Slams Everyone in New Documentary! Media, Bloggers, Obama, McCain, Fey, Couric, etc.,

Once again Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is talking. This time she expresses her true views in an upcoming documentary called "Media Malpractice", in which she slams and blames everyone for her failures.

The Media, Bloggers, the McCain Campaign, Katie Couric, Tina Fey, Obama, Caroline Kennedy, etc.,

Poor Sarah.....Waah! Waah! Waah!



Sources: Youtube, Howobamagotelected.com, Flickr, Blogger

Obama's Economic Stimulus Package Proposal Speech (Full Transcript)

Remarks of President-Elect Barack Obama
As Prepared for Delivery
American Recovery and Reinvestment
Thursday, January 8, 2009

Throughout America’s history, there have been some years that simply rolled into the next without much notice or fanfare. Then there are the years that come along once in a generation – the kind that mark a clean break from a troubled past, and set a new course for our nation.

This is one of those years.

We start 2009 in the midst of a crisis unlike any we have seen in our lifetime – a crisis that has only deepened over the last few weeks. Nearly two million jobs have now been lost, and on Friday we are likely to learn that we lost more jobs last year than at any time since World War II. Just in the past year, another 2.8 million Americans who want and need full-time work have had to settle for part-time jobs. Manufacturing has hit a twenty-eight year low. Many businesses cannot borrow or make payroll. Many families cannot pay their bills or their mortgage. Many workers are watching their life savings disappear. And many, many Americans are both anxious and uncertain of what the future will hold.

I don’t believe it’s too late to change course, but it will be if we don’t take dramatic action as soon as possible. If nothing is done, this recession could linger for years. The unemployment rate could reach double digits. Our economy could fall $1 trillion short of its full capacity, which translates into more than $12,000 in lost income for a family of four. We could lose a generation of potential and promise, as more young Americans are forced to forgo dreams of college or the chance to train for the jobs of the future. And our nation could lose the competitive edge that has served as a foundation for our strength and standing in the world.

In short, a bad situation could become dramatically worse.

This crisis did not happen solely by some accident of history or normal turn of the business cycle, and we won’t get out of it by simply waiting for a better day to come, or relying on the worn-out dogmas of the past. We arrived at this point due to an era of profound irresponsibility that stretched from corporate boardrooms to the halls of power in Washington, DC. For years, too many Wall Street executives made imprudent and dangerous decisions, seeking profits with too little regard for risk, too little regulatory scrutiny, and too little accountability. Banks made loans without concern for whether borrowers could repay them, and some borrowers took advantage of cheap credit to take on debt they couldn’t afford. Politicians spent taxpayer money without wisdom or discipline, and too often focused on scoring political points instead of the problems they were sent here to solve. The result has been a devastating loss of trust and confidence in our economy, our financial markets, and our government.

Now, the very fact that this crisis is largely of our own making means that it is not beyond our ability to solve. Our problems are rooted in past mistakes, not our capacity for future greatness. It will take time, perhaps many years, but we can rebuild that lost trust and confidence. We can restore opportunity and prosperity. We should never forget that our workers are still more productive than any on Earth. Our universities are still the envy of the world. We are still home to the most brilliant minds, the most creative entrepreneurs, and the most advanced technology and innovation that history has ever known. And we are still the nation that has overcome great fears and improbable odds. If we act with the urgency and seriousness that this moment requires, I know that we can do it again.

That is why I have moved quickly to work with my economic team and leaders of both parties on an American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan that will immediately jumpstart job creation and long-term growth.

It’s a plan that represents not just new policy, but a whole new approach to meeting our most urgent challenges. For if we hope to end this crisis, we must end the culture of anything goes that helped create it – and this change must begin in Washington. It is time to trade old habits for a new spirit of responsibility. It is time to finally change the ways of Washington so that we can set a new and better course for America.

There is no doubt that the cost of this plan will be considerable. It will certainly add to the budget deficit in the short-term. But equally certain are the consequences of doing too little or nothing at all, for that will lead to an even greater deficit of jobs, incomes, and confidence in our economy. It is true that we cannot depend on government alone to create jobs or long-term growth, but at this particular moment, only government can provide the short-term boost necessary to lift us from a recession this deep and severe. Only government can break the vicious cycles that are crippling our economy – where a lack of spending leads to lost jobs which leads to even less spending; where an inability to lend and borrow stops growth and leads to even less credit.

That is why we need to act boldly and act now to reverse these cycles. That’s why we need to put money in the pockets of the American people, create new jobs, and invest in our future. That’s why we need to re-start the flow of credit and restore the rules of the road that will ensure a crisis like this never happens again.

That work begins with this plan – a plan I am confident will save or create at least three million jobs over the next few years. It is not just another public works program. It’s a plan that recognizes both the paradox and the promise of this moment – the fact that there are millions of Americans trying to find work, even as, all around the country, there is so much work to be done. That’s why we’ll invest in priorities like energy and education; health care and a new infrastructure that are necessary to keep us strong and competitive in the 21st century. That’s why the overwhelming majority of the jobs created will be in the private sector, while our plan will save the public sector jobs of teachers, cops, firefighters and others who provide vital services.

To finally spark the creation of a clean energy economy, we will double the production of alternative energy in the next three years. We will modernize more than 75% of federal buildings and improve the energy efficiency of two million American homes, saving consumers and taxpayers billions on our energy bills. In the process, we will put Americans to work in new jobs that pay well and can’t be outsourced – jobs building solar panels and wind turbines; constructing fuel-efficient cars and buildings; and developing the new energy technologies that will lead to even more jobs, more savings, and a cleaner, safer planet in the bargain.

To improve the quality of our health care while lowering its cost, we will make the immediate investments necessary to ensure that within five years, all of America’s medical records are computerized. This will cut waste, eliminate red tape, and reduce the need to repeat expensive medical tests. But it just won’t save billions of dollars and thousands of jobs – it will save lives by reducing the deadly but preventable medical errors that pervade our health care system.

To give our children the chance to live out their dreams in a world that’s never been more competitive, we will equip tens of thousands of schools, community colleges, and public universities with 21st century classrooms, labs, and libraries. We’ll provide new computers, new technology, and new training for teachers so that students in Chicago and Boston can compete with kids in Beijing for the high-tech, high-wage jobs of the future.

To build an economy that can lead this future, we will begin to rebuild America. Yes, we’ll put people to work repairing crumbling roads, bridges, and schools by eliminating the backlog of well-planned, worthy and needed infrastructure projects. But we’ll also do more to retrofit America for a global economy. That means updating the way we get our electricity by starting to build a new smart grid that will save us money, protect our power sources from blackout or attack, and deliver clean, alternative forms of energy to every corner of our nation. It means expanding broadband lines across America, so that a small business in a rural town can connect and compete with their counterparts anywhere in the world. And it means investing in the science, research, and technology that will lead to new medical breakthroughs, new discoveries, and entire new industries.

Finally, this recovery and reinvestment plan will provide immediate relief to states, workers, and families who are bearing the brunt of this recession. To get people spending again, 95% of working families will receive a $1,000 tax cut – the first stage of a middle-class tax cut that I promised during the campaign and will include in our next budget. To help Americans who have lost their jobs and can’t find new ones, we’ll continue the bipartisan extensions of unemployment insurance and health care coverage to help them through this crisis. Government at every level will have to tighten its belt, but we’ll help struggling states avoid harmful budget cuts, as long as they take responsibility and use the money to maintain essential services like police, fire, education, and health care.

I understand that some might be skeptical of this plan. Our government has already spent a good deal of money, but we haven’t yet seen that translate into more jobs or higher incomes or renewed confidence in our economy. That’s why the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan won’t just throw money at our problems – we’ll invest in what works. The true test of the policies we’ll pursue won’t be whether they’re Democratic or Republican ideas, but whether they create jobs, grow our economy, and put the American Dream within reach of the American people.

Instead of politicians doling out money behind a veil of secrecy, decisions about where we invest will be made transparently, and informed by independent experts wherever possible. Every American will be able to hold Washington accountable for these decisions by going online to see how and where their tax dollars are being spent. And as I announced yesterday, we will launch an unprecedented effort to eliminate unwise and unnecessary spending that has never been more unaffordable for our nation and our children’s future than it is right now.

We have to make tough choices and smart investments today so that as the economy recovers, the deficit starts to come down. We cannot have a solid recovery if our people and our businesses don’t have confidence that we’re getting our fiscal house in order. That’s why our goal is not to create a slew of new government programs, but a foundation for long-term economic growth.

That also means an economic recovery plan that is free from earmarks and pet projects. I understand that every member of Congress has ideas on how to spend money. Many of these projects are worthy, and benefit local communities. But this emergency legislation must not be the vehicle for those aspirations. This must be a time when leaders in both parties put the urgent needs of our nation above our own narrow interests.

Now, this recovery plan alone will not solve all the problems that led us into this crisis. We must also work with the same sense of urgency to stabilize and repair the financial system we all depend on. That means using our full arsenal of tools to get credit flowing again to families and business, while restoring confidence in our markets. It means launching a sweeping effort to address the foreclosure crisis so that we can keep responsible families in their homes. It means preventing the catastrophic failure of financial institutions whose collapse could endanger the entire economy, but only with maximum protections for taxpayers and a clear understanding that government support for any company is an extraordinary action that must come with significant restrictions on the firms that receive support. And it means reforming a weak and outdated regulatory system so that we can better withstand financial shocks and better protect consumers, investors, and businesses from the reckless greed and risk-taking that must never endanger our prosperity again.

No longer can we allow Wall Street wrongdoers to slip through regulatory cracks. No longer can we allow special interests to put their thumbs on the economic scales. No longer can we allow the unscrupulous lending and borrowing that leads only to destructive cycles of bubble and bust.

It is time to set a new course for this economy, and that change must begin now. We should have an open and honest discussion about this recovery plan in the days ahead, but I urge Congress to move as quickly as possible on behalf of the American people. For every day we wait or point fingers or drag our feet, more Americans will lose their jobs. More families will lose their savings. More dreams will be deferred and denied. And our nation will sink deeper into a crisis that, at some point, we may not be able to reverse.

That is not the country I know, and it is not a future I will accept as President of the United States. A world that depends on the strength of our economy is now watching and waiting for America to lead once more. And that is what we will do.

It will not come easy or happen overnight, and it is altogether likely that things may get worse before they get better. But that is all the more reason for Congress to act without delay. I know the scale of this plan is unprecedented, but so is the severity of our situation. We have already tried the wait-and-see approach to our problems, and it is the same approach that helped lead us to this day of reckoning.

That is why the time has come to build a 21st century economy in which hard work and responsibility are once again rewarded. That’s why I’m asking Congress to work with me and my team day and night, on weekends if necessary, to get the plan passed in the next few weeks. That’s why I’m calling on all Americans – Democrats and Republicans – to put good ideas ahead of the old ideological battles; a sense of common purpose above the same narrow partisanship; and insist that the first question each of us asks isn’t “What’s good for me?” but “What’s good for the country my children will inherit?”

More than any program or policy, it is this spirit that will enable us to confront this challenge with the same spirit that has led previous generations to face down war, depression, and fear itself. And if we do – if we are able to summon that spirit again; if are able to look out for one another, and listen to one another, and do our part for our nation and for posterity, then I have no doubt that years from now, we will look back on 2009 as one of those years that marked another new and hopeful beginning for the United States of America. Thank you, God Bless You, and may God Bless America.

Sources: Change.gov, MSNBC