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President Barack Obama shakes hands with Chief Justice John Roberts after Obama was officially sworn-in in the Blue Room of the White House during the 57th Presidential Inauguration in Washington, Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013, as first lady Michelle Obama and daughters Malia and Sasha watch. (AP Photo/Larry Downing, Pool)

The peaceful transfer of power

BY Dave Ross  on January 21, 2013 @ 5:46 am (Updated: 11:47 am - 1/21/13 )

Monday's inauguration is a huge affair, but of course the real inauguration - as required by the Constitution, was Sunday at the White House.

It took exactly 33 seconds and was followed by the shortest inaugural speech on record, delivered to his daughter Malia, "I did it."

If you listen carefully you can hear her say "You didn't mess up."

Of course this being a re-election, he's peacefully transferring it to himself, but in this case that might be more significant than it seems. By all accounts the Obama of 2013 is not the Obama of 2009. The old Obama had this quaint idea about no red states or blue states, just the United States. The new Obama, according to former adviser Van Jones, is feeling more comfortable with power and partisanship

Said Jones, "I think he had a "come to Jesus moment" at some point in that presidency, where he said you know I'm going to stick with those who brought me.

And as Republican consultant Alex Castellanos said on CNN, he faces a much weaker Republican party, "In two years he's got that same awesome machine he just had that helped him get elected president. He could use that, possibly, to win the House. He could run the table."

So this inauguration may not be a "transfer" of power, but you can bet the president's supporters are hoping it signals the re-discovery of how to use it.

Dave Ross, KIRO Radio Talk Show Host
Dave Ross is co-host of The Ross & Burbank Show on KIRO Radio (weekdays 9-Noon) and never too far from the spotlight.
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Comments (33)


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  • CH wrote...
    yes "I" can -
    January 21, 2013 5:26 am
    kick republican booty!!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • SickofSeattleite wrote...
    he can re discover
    January 21, 2013 5:32 am
    how to waste more trillions....
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • fartforce1 wrote...
    I bet he will.
    January 22, 2013 3:32 am
    Need to change how the system is payed regardless of the players. One president is as good as another when it comes to fixing government. The questions really are - Is spending a benefit or not. How much spending is required to do everything required. How much garbage can you toss in for a good return of campaign donations.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Paul Kersey wrote...
    I did it! I did it!
    January 21, 2013 5:33 am
    It's all about me...me....me. Oh how I love myself.

    He actually had a come to Baraka moment.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • sohojo wrote...
    Yes he Can
    January 21, 2013 5:39 am
    For about 50% of the country. I think the other 50% would say, no he can't. United we stand divided we will fall. We are currently divided. good luck.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • fartforce1 wrote...
    Sohojo, listen to what you just said,
    January 22, 2013 3:42 am
    Paraphrasing, "Lets divide' and then say say, 'divided we fail."
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • ron prevost wrote...
    Dave, you are so caught up in your praise of the Wizard of Oz - you've fotgotten this is 50 years since The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. devivered the 'I have a dream' speech
    January 21, 2013 5:59 am
    The key to that historic speech (marking the then 100 years since the Emancipation Proclamation) was that one day in America the grandchildren of both slaves and slave owners would be judged by the content of their character, NOT the color of their skin. ... It spoke (and still speaks) to equality for all and NO reliance on race, neither for good nor bad.

    Dave, your post today is cutesy. But you've totally misses an historic point. ... It is commendable that a man of African parentage had been elected - and not re-elected - President. The Dream has come, at least partially, true.

    Therefor be it resolved for this 2nd term that references to race be TOTALLY avoided by ALL sides and ALL parties. ... And that this 2nd term, at least, be judged totally in its character - good or bad. ... We owe at least that to Dr. King.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Chuck Gould wrote...
    I disagree, Ron. Let it all hang out...
    January 21, 2013 8:53 am
    When there are still people among us who refer to blacks as "buckwheat", "obongo", etc etc etc (and some of them live in Sequim) it's probably better that they come right out and spew their venom. Once their ignorance and intolerance is displayed, that pretty well negates any other nonsense they might choose to spout.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • maplefish wrote...
    Chuck
    January 21, 2013 9:12 am
    The only people I ever hear using those words are black people themselves.....and you.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • wsualumn wrote...
    Maple
    January 21, 2013 9:36 am
    Really? You ONLY hear blacks calling this president "buckwheat" "obongo" and another one of Bill's favorites "monkey." Maybe Bill is black. I know some blacks and I sure don't hear them using those terms. Aren't you in Sun Valley now? Are there blacks in Sun Valley using that rhetoric? Also, go to The Faux News Blogs and see the garbage that they will more than willingly allowed to be posted, but make any critical comments about Faux News and it gets reviewed and not posted. So much for "Fair and Balanced." Let's not forget Palin's comment in regards to Obama "Shuck and Jive." And John Sununu referring to to the president as "lazy" rather than not prepared or tired for his first debate. Colin Powell evens points out how The Right Wing blatantly does this stuff and has no clue how they come across to others.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Paul Kersey wrote...
    you language Nazis are hilarious
    January 21, 2013 9:48 am
    with all your shuckin' and jivin' about code words. What kind of code is "cornball black"? Is that one ok to use?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • wsualumn wrote...
    Paul
    January 21, 2013 10:08 am
    No it isn't and what happened to that guy that chose to use those words? He is no longer employed by ESPN.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • maplefish wrote...
    WSU
    January 21, 2013 11:09 am
    Still the obsession with FOX News....pretty pathetic. And yes, there are black people in Sun Valley. I don't know what rhetoric they use, but if you tune into BET or Comedy Central or dozens of cable networks or movies or Internet sites and even some of my friends of color still use those terms....lovingly of course, but it's the double standard. BTW- hope you're enjoying you paid day off GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE? I'm on to you and your lass envy....
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • wsualumn wrote...
    Maple
    January 21, 2013 12:08 pm
    Really! You are onto me? You have me figured out. Class envy? Right. I am so angry at those that work harder than others. You have no clue. Keep up the rhetoric. By the way, I have had jobs in both the private and public sector. I see both sides of the story.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Chuck Gould wrote...
    maplefish...you either aren't very observant
    January 21, 2013 9:49 am
    or you are being less than honest.

    Those terms to describe African Americans have been used, repeatedly, on this forum, buy a regular poster.

    I'll go with not very observant.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • maplefish wrote...
    OK, Chuck
    January 21, 2013 11:12 am
    Fair enough, I may have missed a few derogatory statements. I was trying to point out the double standard. Which is real and I observe constantly.....
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • ron prevost wrote...
    And on the left, there are those who see any attack on the Obama agenda as 'racist' - and degrade Black conservatives as ' not black enough'.
    January 21, 2013 9:17 am
    My resolution would tell both (and all) sides to STOP their hate language. ..... While racists of all stripes and colors will always be with us, neither side should expect vindication for their hatred.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Paul Kersey wrote...
    I'm with Phil Mickelson
    January 21, 2013 6:21 am
    It is time to make some drastic changes. We are now in the era of "Ask not what we can do for our country, rather ask what our country can do for us". I'm not going to be the last one to the trough.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Cameron wrote...
    Dave ran once and lost, he's no Suzan Delbene.
    January 21, 2013 6:45 am
    Maybe he needs to take all of his ideas and try again? I am sure the Obama administration can appoint Dave to some media relations role so he can propagandize full time and not have worry about selling mattresses and prius automobiles.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • mnpat wrote...
    I'm sure your Gog of Gods
    January 21, 2013 6:50 am
    is looking for every loop hole to carve his face into the history books. Divide and conquer, he is very good at that.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • flipper wrote...
    I just...
    January 21, 2013 8:21 am
    ...threw up in my mouth..a little.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Forrest wrote...
    Aside from the politics...
    January 21, 2013 8:32 am
    He sure has a nice looking family.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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