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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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  • maplefish wrote...
    I'm betting on a
    January 21, 2013 9:21 am
    $22 TRILLION Deficit by 2016 & unemployment at 10%. I really hope I lose this bet.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • wsualumn wrote...
    Maple
    January 21, 2013 9:47 am
    I will bet that you are correct on the debt amount. I read back in 2008 that they predicted a $15 trillion dollar debt under Obama and a $17 trillion under McCain. We are currently at about $16. $22 Trillion doesn't seem out of line. I'll bet under Romney it would be higher. Massive military spending, a thirst for more influence in The Middle East, and talk of war with Iran would set us back even more. They talk about spending cuts, yet they spend in other areas. Romney would have probably gotten unemployment down more with the massive spending on the military complex just as Reagan did. That, however, is money that doesn't have the return that a jobs will would to rebuild our infrastructure. That is where we need to go. It will cost money, but it will increase the size of the middle class and prepare our country for the future.
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  • HLC wrote...
    Wake up CH. Come out of the smoke.
    January 21, 2013 9:46 am
    The house has passed a budget. Can Obozo or the limpy senate say that? Not lately.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • flipper wrote...
    Passing of Power
    January 21, 2013 10:40 am
    From himself to himself? Why not just say, Dave, that you and Linda are nothing more that pom pom holders for Baraque "I never met a contribution I didn't like" Obama and his wife Michele "Bangs" Obama.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Forrest wrote...
    Quit blaming democrats for something that the republicans did first.
    January 21, 2013 12:28 pm
    http://fpc.state.gov/documents/organization/137175.pdf

    Congress has adopted 39 budget resolutions during the 35 years that the congressional budget process has been in effect. At least one budget resolution has been adopted every year except 1998 (for FY1999), 2002 (for FY2003), 2004 (for FY2005), and 2006 (for FY2007).

    The republicans were the first not to adopt a budget in 1998 as they controlled the senate then.They also controlled it in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006.

    http://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/history/one_item_and_teasers/partydiv.htm

    Cranky old conservative republicans. It's not just the democrats that have gotten us into this mess.

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  • ron prevost wrote...
    Forrest, you've just hit on one of my main complaints against Obama.
    January 21, 2013 1:40 pm
    Just because 'Bush did it' does not, repeat DOES NOT, mean its okay. .... A screw up is a screw up. and of Oz makes the same mistakes as Bush, THEY ARE STILL MISTAKES. ....... Somewhat akin to driving drunk because others drive drunk.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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