Salon.com > inauguration 2013

Must-see morning clip

Sun, 27 Jan 2013 12:37:00 +0000

From Saturday Night Live, Vice President Joe Biden hosts an inaugural bash at the local motor speedway:

Obama was lip-synching too

Sat, 26 Jan 2013 18:00:00 +0000

Confronted with the devastating news that Beyoncé maybe or probably lip-synched her killer rendition of the national anthem at last week’s presidential inauguration, I then had to ask myself whether I cared, or why. Performing outdoors in cold weather is famously challenging, and “The Star-Spangled Banner” has defeated many singers over the years. I’m not a huge Beyoncé fan, but she’s a long way from being Milli Vanilli, or even Madonna, meaning the kind of pop act where the packaging is more important than what’s inside. No one doubts that the lady can sing, and the voice we heard was hers, even if it wasn’t live. I don’t recall any outrage about Yo-Yo Ma and Itzhak Perlman playing along to a recording of that John Williams quartet at President Obama’s first inauguration in 2009.

Obama to America: Work Harder

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 19:53:00 +0000

Liberal pundits and Republican congressmen agree: Barack Obama’s second inaugural was the most liberal speech of his presidency. They may be right. But just what kind of liberalism is this?

The speech’s claim to liberalism rests on at least three grounds. First, Obama spoke with unusual urgency about the threat of climate change — a pleasant surprise given his recent reticence on the topic. Second, he argued for a role for government in a mixed economy, including the need not to scrap Social Security or Medicare (though he also praised “initiative and enterprise,” and reiterated his call for “hard choices” to attack the deficit). And third, the president celebrated the role of collective action and organizing in American history, including by militant queer activists – making Obama’s the first inaugural address to acknowledge the existence of gay people.

Michelle Obama’s bangs ruled the inauguration

Tue, 22 Jan 2013 15:28:00 +0000

There were many highlights from yesterday's inauguration: The event hosted its first Latino and openly gay poet, Richard Blanco; the nation's first black president was sworn in again; and Beyoncé sang the national anthem. But none of those events compared to the real headline news of the day: Michelle Obama's bangs.

The president joked about the first lady's chic haircut, saying, "And to address the most significant event of this weekend, I love her bangs," and the media went wild:

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In case you are worried that her hair got too much attention, don't worry -- her eyes made headlines too.

“We are made for this moment”

Mon, 21 Jan 2013 19:59:00 +0000

An older, wiser, tougher and stronger President Obama celebrated the Martin Luther King holiday with a speech King would have applauded. Four years ago he promised to put away “childish things” like partisanship and mostly sounded high notes of harmony; this time he committed himself and the nation to making good the promise of the founders by fighting for it. And that sounded even better.

Like most liberals, I loved his invocation of our great civil rights struggles in “Seneca Falls, and Selma, and Stonewall,” knitting together battles for women’s rights, African American equality and gay rights in a righteous quilt of justice. But my favorite moment was when he practically called out Paul Ryan and Mitt Romney by name, denouncing their effort to pit American “makers” against so-called “takers:”

The commitments we make to each other – through Medicare, and Medicaid, and Social Security – these things do not sap our initiative; they strengthen us. They do not make us a nation of takers; they free us to take the risks that make this country great.

Eric Cantor is not impressed

Mon, 21 Jan 2013 18:25:00 +0000

While many thousands of people were moved by Richard Blanco's inauguration poem , "One Today," a message of equality and shared experience and struggle in contemporary America, the camera fell unfortunately (brilliantly) on Eric Cantor's grimace during the delivery.

The Twittersphere was quick to wonder whether Cantor was hoping for rhyming couplets, or hated poetry in general, has a grumpy resting face or perhaps was just cold:

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Even some ghosts of the White House past weighed in:

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“Seneca Falls, and Selma, and Stonewall”

Mon, 21 Jan 2013 17:06:00 +0000

The address Obama will deliver Monday at the U.S. Capitol:

Vice President Biden, Mr. Chief Justice, Members of the United States Congress, distinguished guests, and fellow citizens:

Each time we gather to inaugurate a president, we bear witness to the enduring strength of our Constitution. We affirm the promise of our democracy. We recall that what binds this nation together is not the colors of our skin or the tenets of our faith or the origins of our names. What makes us exceptional – what makes us American – is our allegiance to an idea, articulated in a declaration made more than two centuries ago:

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”

Today we continue a never-ending journey, to bridge the meaning of those words with the realities of our time. For history tells us that while these truths may be self-evident, they have never been self-executing; that while freedom is a gift from God, it must be secured by His people here on Earth. The patriots of 1776 did not fight to replace the tyranny of a king with the privileges of a few or the rule of a mob. They gave to us a Republic, a government of, and by, and for the people, entrusting each generation to keep safe our founding creed.

Inauguration — live!

Mon, 21 Jan 2013 15:30:00 +0000

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Obama starts Inauguration Day with visit to church

Mon, 21 Jan 2013 14:21:00 +0000

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama and his family are beginning inauguration day by attending services at St. John's Episcopal Church near the White House.

The presidential motorcade arrived shortly after 8:30 a.m. under crisp, cold skies outside the sanctuary. The president and first lady Michelle Obama emerged to pose briefly for photos with their daughters Sasha and Malia before entering the church. The first family sometimes attends Sunday worship at the church, which is across Lafayette Park from the White House.

Vice President Joe Biden and his family also were attending.

Meanwhile crowds were gathering at the National Mall to watch Obama take the oath of office later in the morning for his second term.

Obama II: Older, wiser, stronger

Mon, 21 Jan 2013 12:00:00 +0000

You don’t have to like everything President Obama did in his first term – or anything he did, actually – to acknowledge he did a lot. He signed the largest stimulus bill in American history and the Affordable Care Act; ordered the killing of Osama bin Laden and ended George W. Bush’s disastrous war in Iraq, just to name a few accomplishments.

But he’s never had a month like this last one. In January alone, over the final three weeks of his first term, the president faced down three of the most toxic forces in American politics -- call them the three Ns: the National Rifle Association, Norquist (as in Grover) and the neocons – and won crucial battles, if not the war.

On Jan. 2 he signed a deal that raised top tax rates on the wealthiest Americans, winning the first GOP votes for a tax hike since 1990, despite their solemn vow otherwise to Norquist. On Jan. 7, he appointed former Sen. Chuck Hagel his Secretary of Defense despite once-fatal charges that he’s anti-Israel -- or worse, anti-Semitic -- from neocon bullies. On Jan. 16, he rallied the nation behind a gun control agenda and issued 23 “executive actions” that shouldn’t be controversial but are, thanks to the way the NRA has controlled gun politics in the last 20 years.

Obama sworn in at White House ceremony

Sun, 20 Jan 2013 19:23:00 +0000

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Stepping into his second term, President Barack Obama took the oath of office Sunday in an intimate swearing-in ceremony at the White House, the leader of a nation no longer in the throes of the recession he inherited four years ago, but still deeply divided.

The president, surrounded by family in the ornate White House Blue Room, was administered the oath by Chief Justice John Roberts. With Obama's hand resting on a Bible used for years by Michelle Obama's family, the president vowed "to support and defend the Constitution of the United States," echoing the same words spoken by the 43 men who held the office before him.

"I did it," Obama whispered to his youngest daughter, Sasha, as he wrapped her in a hug moments later.

The president said the oath in just minutes before noon on Jan. 20, the time at which the Constitution says new presidential terms begin. There was little pomp and circumstance Sunday - Obama walked into the room flanked by his family and exited almost immediately after finishing the oath.

He'll repeat the swearing-in ritual again Monday on the west front of the Capitol before a crowd of up to 800,000 people.

Obama, Biden sworn in at intimate ceremonies

Sun, 20 Jan 2013 14:34:00 +0000

WASHINGTON (AP) -- On the cusp of his second term, President Barack Obama solemnly honored the nation's fallen soldiers Sunday before taking the oath of office in an intimate White House ceremony, a swearing-in ritual he will repeat 24 hours later before a massive crowd at the Capitol.

The day began with a morning swearing-in ceremony for Vice President Joe Biden, committing him to four more years as the nation's second in command. Biden then joined the president at Arlington National Cemetery for a wreath-laying ceremony on a crisp, sun-splashed January day.

Obama and Biden jointly placed a large wreath, adorned with red, white and blue ribbon, in front of Arlington's Tomb of the Unknowns. Placing their hands over their hearts, the two leaders stood solemnly as a bugle played "Taps."

Shortly before noon, Obama was to be sworn in for his second term in office. Only a small group of family members was expected to attend Obama's Sunday swearing-in, including first lady Michelle Obama and daughters Malia and Sasha.

Biden was surrounded by family and friends for his brief swearing-in at the Naval Observatory, his official residence in northwest Washington. Justice Sonia Sotomayor, appointed by Obama as the first Hispanic to serve on the Supreme Court, administered the oath of office to Biden, who placed his hand on a Bible his family has used since 1893.

Slideshow: The most random 2013 inauguration merchandise

Thu, 17 Jan 2013 22:38:00 +0000

President Barack Obama's inauguration ceremony will take place Jan. 21, 2013. But thanks to enterprising merchandisers, you can buy random and occasionally useless commemorative memorabilia to remember the day forever. Here are the seven best options:

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Slideshow: The most random 2013 inauguration merchandise

Thu, 17 Jan 2013 21:12:00 +0000

Seven things you can buy to commemorate Barack Obama's 2nd Inauguration Day

Obama releases official inauguration playlist

Thu, 17 Jan 2013 20:04:00 +0000

NEW YORK (AP) — President Barack Obama is preparing for all the musicians set to perform at his inauguration festivities by releasing an official playlist.

He released the 16-track playlist, which also includes music by some of his favorite artists, through the digital music service Spotify on Thursday. The list includes jams by Stevie Wonder, Beyonce, Usher and fun. They will all perform at different inaugural events, which start Saturday in Washington, D.C.

Obama's list also includes John Legend's "Ordinary People," ''Firework" by Katy Perry, James Taylor's "Your Smiling Face" and the "Glee" cast version of Lady Gaga's "The Edge of Glory."

Other artists include Marc Anthony, Alicia Keys, Brad Paisley, Far East Movement, Kelly Clarkson, Nick Cannon and Mindless Behavior.

Inauguration Day is Monday.

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Online:

http://open.spotify.com/user/barackobama/playlist/3DYdRhM1VrOkNNPPaYnkLc