Obama Inauguration Speech Video

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Change of Power in America

People all over are amazed at the almost simplistic transition of power from one outgoing United States President to a new incoming President. Stories go that George Washington, our first President, could have become a King for life but chose to walk away at the end of his term as President. In some respects it took a ton of personal will power for Washington to do that but he did and so has 43 other Presidents to date.

I’m by no means a George W. Bush fan but I mean him no ill will. Regardless of my thoughts and hopes for our new President Barack Obama, it was sad to see W go bye bye. Mind you, I would have been more than happy to drive them back to Texas if they needed a ride. His political philosophy never matched my thoughts but he was still my President. He left the highest office in the land with the least amount of approval rating in history and that alone may be why the 44th President was taking his place. Did I mention I would have driven him and Laura to Crawford? History may give a kinder version of President Bush but I find it hard to believe how. There was large gasp of relief at 12:05 PM on January 20th that was the relief valve of the American people as Barack Obama was officially sworn in as President.

Today I was drawn to the television by seeing our past President’s coming together for a historic event. Each one of them was once the most powerful leader of the free world in their time and now are just citizens of America.

Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalyn were there and for his age, Carter looked damn good. Habitat for Humanity must keep him in shape. Then when I saw Bush the father come in shuffling with the assistance of a cane and what looked like he was in pain, my heart went out to him. I did not know that he was in ill health. Then Bill and Hillary Clinton came in and that was my generations President. The bad boy of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue was back and allegedly President Carter ignored him and Hillary and rushed by them to get to their seats. Former President Carter denies the snub. He spent some times with the Clinton’s earlier.

We now have a new President, times will be tough for Obama but the honeymoon is on and by all means he should take full advantage of it politically. If he has any political capital he better spend it fast, the way things are looking economically, he needs to go on the offense and tackle that situation with the teeth of a lion.

It will be interesting to see how things work out with a Democrat controlled White House, Congress, and Senate. President Obama will either get his initiatives through or his own party will sink him and the nation.

Papamoka

Obama Egg Salad Inauguration

We buy eggs by the 18 count at the grocery store simply because we have five baby girls to feed. Depending on what supermarket we go to, the eggs in the 18 count pack will be brown or white. Makes no difference to me, eggs are eggs, the kids just love eggs for breakfast, lunch, or anytime. Over easy with buttered toast and bacon, hard boiled straight out of the shell, egg salad sandwiches, egg and cheese breakfast sandwiches, omelets with ham and cheese, and of course, our family favorite, Westerns with ground up ham and onions and the rest of the desired additional ingredients served up personally by Papamoka aka Daddy for each member of the family. Most of all they love egg salad sandwiches. Mom makes it one way and Dad another. End result, full bellies, happy bellies, and happy children. Eggs are just eggs no matter the color of the shell.

Over at Reuters they have this on race relations and the incoming 44th President of the United States…

Obama inauguration turns page in race relations
Sun Jan 18, 2009 1:18pm EST

By Matthew Bigg
ATLANTA (Reuters) - Anyone looking for evidence of the change represented by the United States electing an African-American as president could start with the White House itself. It was built 200 years ago using black slave labor.

Tuesday's inauguration of Barack Obama marks a feel-good moment for the country. Many hope it is a sign that America's travails over race, older than the country itself, are being resolved.

Outgoing President George W. Bush was quick to make the point in his farewell address, saying that Obama's story -- his black father was from Kenya, his white mother from Kansas -- represents "the enduring promise of our land."

For black Americans, the moment is particularly poignant.

"When Barack raises his hand, every black person in the nation should raise their hand because there's a new sense of pride that we have in being an American that we've never had before," said Lawrence Carter, dean of the Martin Luther King International Chapel at Atlanta's Morehouse College. - Reuters

Racism in America makes about as much sense as segregating brown eggs from white eggs while you are boiling eggs for egg salad sandwiches for lunch. Just today we had half a carton of white eggs and half a carton of brown eggs in the fridge. All of them went into the same boiling hot water and it came to me that I was making an Obama egg salad! Politically, he has brought the racism out of politics and turned a page on how our future will be for all people in America. We are all in the same melting hot pot together in today’s economic crisis and the only difference between us all is the color of the shell on the egg. And what do we all do with the shells of the eggs when we peel them away to reveal the gem underneath to make egg salad? We toss the shells in the damn trash. All eggs are the same, and so are all people. Especially here in America.

Much like snowflakes, nobody makes egg salad the same but we all love it! I wonder how Martin Luther King Jr. would have liked his egg salad on Tuesday? I’m pretty sure he would have loved to taste a bite of the Obama egg salad sandwich.

Happy Birthday Doctor King. Your work and tragic loss made this all possible. Have a sandwich, all we have is egg salad! Your dream has come true and it comes with a mix of special ingredients we all call Americans. And my congratulations to Barack Obama for having a job that nobody in their right mind would want during these difficult days. Grab an egg salad sandwich Barack, you are going to need to keep your strength up my friend.

Papamoka

President Elect Obama’s First News Conference

Thankfully, President elect Barack Obama’s first news conference was not like an Emmy Award ceremony. We did not have to here all the people that he had to thank for winning the Presidency. What he did have to say was right on task for the next President of the United States. After meeting with a slew of people knowledgeable about the economy and how to fix it he entered the room confidant and determined to hit the ground running for the American people. The economy is his first priority and will be a continuous priority till our nation gets out of this weak period of time in the economic engine that is America. Matter of fact he threw the gauntlet down to George Bush to act or he will as soon as he is President in January. Check it out over at the New York Times and what Jeff Zeleny has to say…

“I do not underestimate the enormity of the task that lies ahead,” Mr. Obama said, his voice slow and controlled. “Some of the choices that we make are going to be difficult. And I have said before and I will repeat again: It is not going to be quick and it is not going to be easy for us to dig ourselves out of the hole that we are in.”

Mr. Obama called on Congress and the Bush administration to pass an economic stimulus package. If an agreement cannot be reached this month in the lame-duck Congressional session, he said, it will be his chief goal when he takes office on Jan. 20.

He said it was an “urgent priority” to extend unemployment insurance benefits for workers who could not find jobs in the bleak economy. He also said he would give aid to states, create new jobs and move forward with his tax-cut plans for middle-class families. - New York Times

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If you missed the news today, another 250,000 Americans lost their jobs in October which bumped the unemployment rate to 6.5%. The highest unemployment rate in almost twenty years. Lame duck session my ass! Congress and the current President need to act quickly to stem this crisis as soon a possible. When it comes to jobs being lost there is no such thing as a red job or a blue job. It’s an American job!

To sum up, President elect Obama has put the word out to all, you are either with us or against us when it comes to restoring the economy of America. What say you President Bush?

Papamoka

Obama Transition Selection

President Elect Barack Obama (I'm so happy to be able to type that) has to be very careful who he picks for his cabinet and transitional teams. As politics goes, he owes some favors to some people and he does not owe favors to others. That is just how the political system has always worked. Early reports are out that some of the star power he will be tapping have some serious credentials to back them up and it appears that President Obama (I love writing that by the way) is not just selecting Democrats and left wing liberals.

Colin Powell’s name has come up on various sites for either an education position or Secretary of Defense position. Former Congressman Rham Emanuel has been selected as President Obama’s (did I tell you I love writing that) Chief of Staff.

Anywho, election night television and internet reporting burned me out for most of the day today and I needed some serious veg time. Countdown had this to say on the transition to an Obama Presidency… (I still like writing that by the way)

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It isn’t hard to believe that President Obama (still like writing that) will not surround himself with people that yes him to death. If you followed his campaign over the last year or more he has said that would be how his cabinet would be formed. The best, the brightest, political affiliation did not matter, and the best man or woman would fill out his administration. I’m just guessing but I’m pretty sure that your qualifications to run an organization like FEMA would have to have more than just raising horses in it? You just might have to have some serious experience with disaster management. I’m just guessing though.

We can all be pretty confident that President Obama (you know, I like how that sounds) will surround himself with people that can get the job done in the areas of leadership he places them. He has to come out with a first rate team to manage the details of the respective government organizations so he can concentrate on the legislation and changes in our federal government that have been ignored for almost a decade. In the coming days and weeks very well qualified people will either accept his request for service to our nation or beg not to be chosen. We have a rough road ahead of us and some of the best and brightest paths may move them to decline the offer. I could actually see President Obama (I like typing that) offering Senator Hillary Clinton the position of Secretary of State and she could not decline such a high profile post. I could actually see former Mayor Rudy Giuliani asked to fill the position of top gun at Homeland Security.

In a separate thought, John McCain was a true American gentleman in his concession speech on election night. Honestly, I thought it was the best speech he ever gave. In my eyes he will always be a true American hero but we just disagree on politics and the issues and the election results showed that too. Now is the time for all America to come back together and face the problems front on! Even if the houses that govern us are lopsided we still need to have them work together for the betterment of the people of America and McCain nailed that in his speech. Check it out…

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Side bar thought, don’t be surprised if President Obama (Liking that more and more) might just tap Senator John McCain for a very high profile post. I could be wrong but it would be a ball hit out of the park if President Obama (Yup, that sounds so good) embraced John McCain and asked him to help us all though the many challenges we now face. That would heal many wounds in this long and nasty election and be a true unifying offer to the political party of John McCain.

Just to let you our readers know, President Elect Obama is not getting a freebie on this website, if he screws up then we will voice our honest and heartfelt opinions on it. We are Americans first here at Papamoka Straight Talk and if our newly elected leaders pull the same crap as Bush then God help them.

Papamoka