An Unexpected Moment ~ Obama Pauses to Reflect on the Crowd

From Talking Points Memo

Departing the West Front of the U.S. Capitol after delivering his second inaugural address on Monday, President Obama wanted to take one last glance of the hundreds of thousands of Americans gathered to celebrate his second term. After all, it would be his last.
"I want to take a look one more time," Obama said, lingering for a few short moments to savor the view as the crowd shuffled past him. "I'll never see this again."

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

The Inaugural Poem by Richard Blanco

Poet Richard Blanco, son of a Cuban Exile from Miami, FL, made history today by becoming both the first Hispanic and openly gay man to read at a Presidential Inauguration.

"One Today"

One sun rose on us today, kindled over our shores,
peeking over the Smokies, greeting the faces
of the Great Lakes, spreading a simple truth
across the Great Plains, then charging across the Rockies.
One light, waking up rooftops, under each one, a story
told by our silent gestures moving behind windows.

My face, your face, millions of faces in morning's mirrors,
each one yawning to life, crescendoing into our day:
pencil-yellow school buses, the rhythm of traffic lights,
fruit stands: apples, limes, and oranges arrayed like rainbows
begging our praise. Silver trucks heavy with oil or paper—
bricks or milk, teeming over highways alongside us,
on our way to clean tables, read ledgers, or save lives—
to teach geometry, or ring-up groceries as my mother did
for twenty years, so I could write this poem.

All of us as vital as the one light we move through,
the same light on blackboards with lessons for the day:
equations to solve, history to question, or atoms imagined,
the "I have a dream" we keep dreaming,
or the impossible vocabulary of sorrow that won't explain
the empty desks of twenty children marked absent
today, and forever. Many prayers, but one light
breathing color into stained glass windows,
life into the faces of bronze statues, warmth
onto the steps of our museums and park benches
as mothers watch children slide into the day.

One ground. Our ground, rooting us to every stalk
of corn, every head of wheat sown by sweat
and hands, hands gleaning coal or planting windmills
in deserts and hilltops that keep us warm, hands
digging trenches, routing pipes and cables, hands
as worn as my father's cutting sugarcane
so my brother and I could have books and shoes.

The dust of farms and deserts, cities and plains
mingled by one wind—our breath. Breathe. Hear it
through the day's gorgeous din of honking cabs,
buses launching down avenues, the symphony
of footsteps, guitars, and screeching subways,
the unexpected song bird on your clothes line.

Hear: squeaky playground swings, trains whistling,
or whispers across café tables, Hear: the doors we open
for each other all day, saying: hello, shalom,
buon giorno, howdy, namaste, or buenos días
in the language my mother taught me—in every language
spoken into one wind carrying our lives
without prejudice, as these words break from my lips.

One sky: since the Appalachians and Sierras claimed
their majesty, and the Mississippi and Colorado worked
their way to the sea. Thank the work of our hands:
weaving steel into bridges, finishing one more report
for the boss on time, stitching another wound
or uniform, the first brush stroke on a portrait,
or the last floor on the Freedom Tower
jutting into a sky that yields to our resilience.

One sky, toward which we sometimes lift our eyes
tired from work: some days guessing at the weather
of our lives, some days giving thanks for a love
that loves you back, sometimes praising a mother
who knew how to give, or forgiving a father
who couldn't give what you wanted.

We head home: through the gloss of rain or weight
of snow, or the plum blush of dusk, but always—home,
always under one sky, our sky. And always one moon
like a silent drum tapping on every rooftop
and every window, of one country—all of us—
facing the stars
hope—a new constellation
waiting for us to map it,
waiting for us to name it—together.

Music of the Inauguration

Marine Corps Band "Liberty Fanfare"



Lee University Choir from Cleveland, TN



Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir:



James Taylor:



Kelly Clarkson:



Beyonce

Obama Begins his Second Term in Office

Inauguration Schedule

Source: NBC News via Instagram

It's a picture-perfect winter's day in Washington D.C. for the start of Obama's second term! I'm thrilled that the weather reflects the beauty of the reelection of a great President, the celebration of Martin Luther King's Legacy, and the fact that the people got the man they truly wanted in the White House. Politics doesn't get any better than this. A great day for our country.


Via Huffington Post

9.a.m.

Former presidents, House of Representatives members, senators, governors and Cabinet designees begin to arrive at the U.S. Capitol for the public, ceremonial inauguration of President Obama and Vice President Biden.

9:30 a.m.

Fifth-grade chorus from Public School 22 in Staten Island, New York performs

10 a.m.

U.S. Marine Band performs

11:14 a.m.

First lady Michelle Obama takes her seat

11:18 a.m.

Vice President Joe Biden takes his seat

11:20 a.m.

President Barack Obama takes his seat

11:35 a.m.

Myrlie Evers-Williams, widow of slain civil-rights leader Medgar Evers, gives the invocation

11:38 a.m.

The Brooklyn (New York) Tabernacle Choir sings "The Battle Hymn of the Republic"

11:46 a.m.

Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor administers the vice presidential oath of office to Vice President Biden

11:50 a.m.

Singer James Taylor performs "America the Beautiful"

11:55 a.m.

U.S. Chief Justice John Roberts administers the presidential oath of office to President Obama
11:56 a.m.

Trumpets perform "Ruffles and Flourishes" and the U.S. Marine Band performs "Hail to the Chief," followed by a 21-gun salute

12 p.m.

Obama delivers the inaugural address

12:21 p.m.

Singer Kelly Clarkson performs "America (My Country 'Tis of Thee)"

12:26 p.m.

Cuban-American poet Richard Blanco reads a poem

12:30 p.m.

Benediction is delivered by the Rev. Luis Leon

12:34 p.m.

Singer Beyonce sings the national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner"

12:39 p.m.

President Obama signs official documents. The Obamas then attend the inauguration luncheon at the Capitol with the Bidens

2:32 p.m.

Review of the troops

2:36 p.m.

The Obamas and Bidens begin the inaugural parade down Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House
6 p.m.

Commander-in-chief's inaugural ball at the Washington Convention Center with military personnel and their spouses. The Obamas and Bidens are scheduled to attend.

6:30 p.m.

Official Inaugural Ball, at the Washington Convention Center. The Obamas and Bidens are scheduled to attend.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 22

10:30

National Prayer Service at the Washington National Cathedral attended by President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden

CNN Inauguration Fun

Funny Moments from President Obama's First Term:




Who Aged Best in the White House?




Also From CNN ~ 100 Years of Inagurations in 2 Minutes:

Obama and Biden Sworn In

The official day for swearing in the President fell on the Sunday before the public swearing-in on Monday, so both President Obama and VP Joe Biden took their oaths more privately today as their terms came to an end. Biden was sworn in by Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the first Latina judge to do so. Obama had Chief Justice John Roberts, and unlike last time, Roberts didn't garble the Oath of Office. Justice Roberts will have to stay cool about it tomorrow, too, so "one more time."

Through the magic of video, we could still be there. Enjoy. :)

Inauguration Fever

President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden will both be sworn in during official but private ceremonies today, Sunday January 20, 2013. Tomorrow, Monday January 21 will be the public Inauguration with parades, speeches, music, poetry, and gala events such as parties into the night.

We also have the Monday holiday to honor Reverend Martin Luther King, which makes it nice for everyone because the whole family can watch the Inauguration at home together. At least that's what we'll be doing at my house.

Counting Down to the Inauguration

Here are some tidbits gleaned from the interwebs about President Obama's Second Inauguration on January 20th and 21st. I can't wait to watch all the pomp and circumstance! Rarely do we have an election that is so historical and full of meaning.

Schedule of Events

Press Releases

Sign up for Email Alerts Here

Long List of Inaugural Parade Participants

Official Inaugural Store

Rehearsals:





If you are attending, please note:

If you plan on attending any of the public events, please be prepared to be outside for a long period of time and dress warmly. A limited amount of food and beverage vendors may be available, but attendees are encouraged to bring snacks and beverages in order to stay healthy and hydrated.
The following items are prohibited and will not be allowed through any security checkpoints: aerosols, animals (guide dogs will be allowed), backpacks, bags larger than 6” x 4” x 8”, balloons, bicycles, coolers, glass or thermal containers, horns, laser pointers, mace/pepper spray, packages, structures, sign supports, weapons, and any additional items deemed a safety hazard by security.
During the inauguration, much of the National Mall and surrounding areas will be closed to vehicle traffic. You can get the latest on D.C. public transportation by visiting the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s website at www.wmata.com or by following @wmata on Twitter.