Barack Obama, Mere Hours from Becoming Our 44th President of the United States, Change Has Come

Barack Obama is on the verge of making history in America and the world at noon tomorrow. I can only express my deep gratitude to all the people who realized that a change was desperately needed in America. All I can do is echo the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., during that historic speech in Washington, and I will put the words into my own thoughts:

Free from Bush,
Free from Bush,
Thank God Almighty we are free from Bush.

I will be happy when I see President Bush, First Lady Laura and First Dog Barney board the plane that will whisk them away from Washington D.C. Yes, we will be free at last from eight years of Bushanomics.

On a serious note, Barack Obama and his family have made history in a major way. I pray for his success during the next four years. Yes, indeed, a change has come. January 20, 2009, will indeed be a good morning.

Barack Obama, Mere Hours from Becoming Our 44th President of the United States, Change Has Come

Barack Obama is on the verge of making history in America and the world at noon tomorrow. I can only express my deep gratitude to all the people who realized that a change was desperately needed in America. All I can do is echo the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., during that historic speech in Washington, and I will put the words into my own thoughts:

Free from Bush,
Free from Bush,
Thank God Almighty we are free from Bush.

I will be happy when I see President Bush, First Lady Laura and First Dog Barney board the plane that will whisk them away from Washington D.C. Yes, we will be free at last from eight years of Bushanomics.

On a serious note, Barack Obama and his family have made history in a major way. I pray for his success during the next four years. Yes, indeed, a change has come. January 20, 2009, will indeed be a good morning.

Dr. Jill Biden Says Joe Biden had His Choice of VP or Secretary of State Position, She Committed a Major Faux Paus

Normally, Joe Biden is the one to put his foot in his mouth, but this may be a family thing, after all. Today during an appearance on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" Jill Biden took those honors. She said that her husband had the choice of being Barack Obama's running mate or the secretary of state. Really Jill, did you have to say that?

"Joe had the choice to be secretary of state or vice president," she said. Her husband turned to his wife with his finger to his lips and a "Shhhh!" that sent the audience into laughter. "OK, he did," Jill Biden said in her defense. Source: The Huffington Post

Joe Biden blushed, grimaced, squirmed and gave his wife a hug while the audience continued to erupt in laughter. Yep, he and his wife just proved that you can't tell them any secrets. "That's right," he finally said to his wife. "Go ahead." Mrs. Biden said she told him vice president would be better for the family."If you're secretary of state, you'll be away, we'll never see you, you know," she said. "I'll see you at a state dinner once in a while."

Of course, amnesia set in after the show as Biden spokeswoman Elizabeth Alexander denied Jill Biden's account in a statement e-mailed to reporters. "To be clear, President-elect Obama offered Vice President-elect Biden one job only -- to be his running mate," the statement said. "And the vice president-elect was thrilled to accept the offer." Psst, President Obama, you can't tell Joe Biden any secrets. He or his wife will blurt it out!

Dr. Jill Biden Says Joe Biden had His Choice of VP or Secretary of State Position, She Committed a Major Faux Paus

Normally, Joe Biden is the one to put his foot in his mouth, but this may be a family thing, after all. Today during an appearance on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" Jill Biden took those honors. She said that her husband had the choice of being Barack Obama's running mate or the secretary of state. Really Jill, did you have to say that?

"Joe had the choice to be secretary of state or vice president," she said. Her husband turned to his wife with his finger to his lips and a "Shhhh!" that sent the audience into laughter. "OK, he did," Jill Biden said in her defense. Source: The Huffington Post

Joe Biden blushed, grimaced, squirmed and gave his wife a hug while the audience continued to erupt in laughter. Yep, he and his wife just proved that you can't tell them any secrets. "That's right," he finally said to his wife. "Go ahead." Mrs. Biden said she told him vice president would be better for the family."If you're secretary of state, you'll be away, we'll never see you, you know," she said. "I'll see you at a state dinner once in a while."

Of course, amnesia set in after the show as Biden spokeswoman Elizabeth Alexander denied Jill Biden's account in a statement e-mailed to reporters. "To be clear, President-elect Obama offered Vice President-elect Biden one job only -- to be his running mate," the statement said. "And the vice president-elect was thrilled to accept the offer." Psst, President Obama, you can't tell Joe Biden any secrets. He or his wife will blurt it out!

Mississippi Paper, Meridian Star, Offers Apology for Its 'Gross Neglect' During Civil Rights Struggle

Funny, it seems that since Barack Obama will be inaugurated as our our first African American president, everyone is suddenly getting a conscience and apologizing for past racist behavior. Well, in a remarkable turn of events, one day before the birthday holiday for Martin Luther King Jr. is celebrated, -- Mississippi-based Meridian Star has, in an editorial, offered an apology for its past coverage of civil rights issues. Really, why did it take them so long to get a conscience and admit to their racist behavior? It took them to do so after 43 presidents have been inaugurated. Well, at least they have admitted the error of their ways and have set the record straight.

The full editorial written by Editor Fredie Carmichael

Tomorrow, as the nation celebrates the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., we also pause to remember those in East Mississippi who were integral in the American civil rights movement. We pause to honor them through vowing to never forget their struggle, their passion, their persistence, their courage -- and what these human qualities have meant to our community.

We pause to remember James Chaney, Obie Clark, Polly Heidelberg and others so important to the struggle for equality who are no longer with us. And to honor those who are still with us like Rev. Charles Johnson and State Rep. Charles Young.

We pause to remember so that we never go back; so that we always move forward for social justice and human rights. We vow to be their voice. We vow to embody their passion. It is also important, and historically significant, that today marks the start of official inauguration events for Barack Obama, the country’s 44th president and the first black person elected to that highest of political offices. His swearing in Tuesday will, in a special way, fulfill the dream of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., James Chaney, Obie Clark, Polly Heidelberg and the countless other front-line soldiers in the fight for civil rights across America.

The same as Americans put aside political ideology in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on our soil on Sept. 11, 2001, to support President George W. Bush, we should now respect and rally to the historical significance and symmetry of the civil rights movement and Barack Obama’s inauguration as president.

The civil rights pioneers of East Mississippi helped build the foundation of human values that made this milestone inauguration possible. So it is especially important that our communities come together at this moment. It is also important that we not forget our past failings to live up to those values. There was a time when this newspaper – and many others across the south -- acted with gross neglect by largely ignoring the unfairness of segregated schools, buses, restaurants, washrooms, theaters and other public places. We did it through omission, by not recording for our readers many of the most important civil rights activities that happened in our midst, including protests and sit-ins. That was wrong. We should have loudly protested segregation and the efforts to block voter registration of black East Mississippians.

Current management understands while we can't go back and undo some past wrongs, we can offer our sincere apology -- and promise never again to neglect our responsibility to inform you, our readers, about the human rights and dignity every individual is entitled to in America -- no matter their religion, their ethnic background or the color of their skin.

It seems to me that they should not have waited until we have our first African American president to apologize for their racism. If anything, Barack Obama has shown that the American people can transcend race and vote for a candidate on the basis of their platform. Not on the color of their skin. The Meridian Star and all those newspapers that promoted racism should be ashamed of themselves. The news media should see no color, but sadly, that pattern of racism still continues today, albeit subtly.

Mississippi Paper, Meridian Star, Offers Apology for Its 'Gross Neglect' During Civil Rights Struggle

Funny, it seems that since Barack Obama will be inaugurated as our our first African American president, everyone is suddenly getting a conscience and apologizing for past racist behavior. Well, in a remarkable turn of events, one day before the birthday holiday for Martin Luther King Jr. is celebrated, -- Mississippi-based Meridian Star has, in an editorial, offered an apology for its past coverage of civil rights issues. Really, why did it take them so long to get a conscience and admit to their racist behavior? It took them to do so after 43 presidents have been inaugurated. Well, at least they have admitted the error of their ways and have set the record straight.

The full editorial written by Editor Fredie Carmichael

Tomorrow, as the nation celebrates the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., we also pause to remember those in East Mississippi who were integral in the American civil rights movement. We pause to honor them through vowing to never forget their struggle, their passion, their persistence, their courage -- and what these human qualities have meant to our community.

We pause to remember James Chaney, Obie Clark, Polly Heidelberg and others so important to the struggle for equality who are no longer with us. And to honor those who are still with us like Rev. Charles Johnson and State Rep. Charles Young.

We pause to remember so that we never go back; so that we always move forward for social justice and human rights. We vow to be their voice. We vow to embody their passion. It is also important, and historically significant, that today marks the start of official inauguration events for Barack Obama, the country’s 44th president and the first black person elected to that highest of political offices. His swearing in Tuesday will, in a special way, fulfill the dream of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., James Chaney, Obie Clark, Polly Heidelberg and the countless other front-line soldiers in the fight for civil rights across America.

The same as Americans put aside political ideology in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on our soil on Sept. 11, 2001, to support President George W. Bush, we should now respect and rally to the historical significance and symmetry of the civil rights movement and Barack Obama’s inauguration as president.

The civil rights pioneers of East Mississippi helped build the foundation of human values that made this milestone inauguration possible. So it is especially important that our communities come together at this moment. It is also important that we not forget our past failings to live up to those values. There was a time when this newspaper – and many others across the south -- acted with gross neglect by largely ignoring the unfairness of segregated schools, buses, restaurants, washrooms, theaters and other public places. We did it through omission, by not recording for our readers many of the most important civil rights activities that happened in our midst, including protests and sit-ins. That was wrong. We should have loudly protested segregation and the efforts to block voter registration of black East Mississippians.

Current management understands while we can't go back and undo some past wrongs, we can offer our sincere apology -- and promise never again to neglect our responsibility to inform you, our readers, about the human rights and dignity every individual is entitled to in America -- no matter their religion, their ethnic background or the color of their skin.

It seems to me that they should not have waited until we have our first African American president to apologize for their racism. If anything, Barack Obama has shown that the American people can transcend race and vote for a candidate on the basis of their platform. Not on the color of their skin. The Meridian Star and all those newspapers that promoted racism should be ashamed of themselves. The news media should see no color, but sadly, that pattern of racism still continues today, albeit subtly.

Obama Express Rolls Towards Washington D.C., Starts Historic Train Journey With Powerful Speech in Philadelphia

BAMTRACK Rolls To Washington D.C.

No matter how much you disagree with President-elect Barack Obama's positions, you have to admit that this is a poignant moment in American history. I know tears of joy will flow from my eyes and millions of other people in America on Tuesday. It is no small coincidence that he is being inaugurated one day after the Martin Luther King Jr. public holiday. It is the culmination of the struggles of so many people, both white and black, to end racial injustice in America. Dr. King did not die in vain. His dream has in fact been realized. Barack Obama's historic win has given hope to many, where there was hopelessness. Here is the text of his speech at the start of his journey by train to Washington D.C. in Philadelphia this morning.

Remarks of President-Elect Barack Obama - As prepared for delivery Inaugural Whistle Stop Tour Philadelphia, Pennsylvania January 17, 2009

We are here to mark the beginning of our journey to Washington. This is fitting because it was here, in this city, that our American journey began. It was here that a group of farmers and lawyers, merchants and soldiers, gathered to declare their independence and lay claim to a destiny that they were being denied.

It was a risky thing, meeting as they did in that summer of 1776. There was no guarantee that their fragile experiment would find success. More than once in those early years did the odds seem insurmountable. More than once did the fishermen, laborers, and craftsmen who called themselves an army face the prospect of defeat.

And yet, they were willing to put all they were and all they had on the line - their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor - for a set of ideals that continue to light the world. That we are equal. That our rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness come not from our laws, but from our maker. And that a government of, by, and for the people can endure. It was these ideals that led us to declare independence, and craft our constitution, producing documents that were imperfect but had within them, like our nation itself, the capacity to be made more perfect.

We are here today not simply to pay tribute to our first patriots but to take up the work that they began. The trials we face are very different now, but severe in their own right. Only a handful of times in our history has a generation been confronted with challenges so vast. An economy that is faltering. Two wars, one that needs to be ended responsibly, one that needs to be waged wisely. A planet that is warming from our unsustainable dependence on oil.

And yet while our problems may be new, what is required to overcome them is not. What is required is the same perseverance and idealism that our founders displayed. What is required is a new declaration of independence, not just in our nation, but in our own lives - from ideology and small thinking, prejudice and bigotry - an appeal not to our easy instincts but to our better angels.

That is the reason I launched my campaign for the presidency nearly two years ago. I did so in the belief that the most fundamental American ideal, that a better life is in store for all those willing to work for it, was slipping out of reach. That Washington was serving the interests of the few, not the many. And that our politics had grown too small for the scale of the challenges we faced.

But I also believed something else. I believed that our future is our choice, and that if we could just recognize ourselves in one another and bring everyone together - Democrats, Republicans, and Independents, north, south, east and west, black, white, Latino, Asian, and Native American, gay and straight, disabled and not - then not only would we restore hope and opportunity in places that yearned for both, but maybe, just maybe, we might perfect our union in the process.

This is what I believed, but you made this belief real. You proved once more that people who love this country can change it. And as I prepare to leave for Washington on a trip that you made possible, know that I will not be traveling alone. I will be taking with me some of the men and women I met along the way, Americans from every corner of this country, whose hopes and heartaches were the core of our cause; whose dreams and struggles have become my own.

Theirs are the voices I will carry with me every day in the White House. Theirs are the stories I will be thinking of when we deliver the changes you elected me to make. When Americans are returning to work and sleeping easier at night knowing their jobs are secure, I will be thinking of people like Mark Dowell, who's worried his job at Ford will be the next one cut, a devastating prospect with the teenage daughters he has back home.

When affordable health care is no longer something we hope for, but something we can count on, I will be thinking of working moms like Shandra Jackson, who was diagnosed with an illness, and is now burdened with higher medical bills on top of child care for her eleven year-old son.

When we are welcoming back our loved ones from a war in Iraq that we've brought to an end, I will be thinking of our brave servicemen and women sacrificing around the world, of veterans like Tony Fischer, who served two tours in Iraq, and all those returning home, unable to find a job.

These are the stories that will drive me in the days ahead. They are different stories, told by men and women whose journeys may seem separate. And yet, what you showed me time and again is that no matter who we are or what we look like, no matter where we come from or what faith we practice, we are a people of common hopes and common dreams, who ask only for what was promised us as Americans - that we might make of our lives what we will and see our children climb higher than we did.

We recognize that such enormous challenges will not be solved quickly. There will be false starts and setbacks, frustrations and disappointments. And we will be called to show patience even as we act with fierce urgency.

But we should never forget that we are the heirs of that first band of patriots, ordinary men and women who refused to give up when it all seemed so improbable; and who somehow believed that they had the power to make the world anew. That is the spirit that we must reclaim today.

For the American Revolution did not end when British guns fell silent. It was never something to be won only on a battlefield or fulfilled only in our founding documents. It was not simply a struggle to break free from empire and declare independence. The American Revolution was - and remains - an ongoing struggle "in the minds and hearts of the people" to live up to our founding creed.

Starting now, let's take up in our own lives the work of perfecting our union.

Let's build a government that is responsible to the people, and accept our own responsibilities as citizens to hold our government accountable.

Let's all of us do our part to rebuild this country.

Let's make sure this election is not the end of what we do to change America, but the beginning.

Join me in this effort. Join one another in this effort. And together, mindful of our proud history, hopeful for the future, let's seek a better world in our time. Thank you. Source: McClatchy DC Bureau

Obama Express Rolls Towards Washington D.C., Starts Historic Train Journey With Powerful Speech in Philadelphia

BAMTRACK Rolls To Washington D.C.

No matter how much you disagree with President-elect Barack Obama's positions, you have to admit that this is a poignant moment in American history. I know tears of joy will flow from my eyes and millions of other people in America on Tuesday. It is no small coincidence that he is being inaugurated one day after the Martin Luther King Jr. public holiday. It is the culmination of the struggles of so many people, both white and black, to end racial injustice in America. Dr. King did not die in vain. His dream has in fact been realized. Barack Obama's historic win has given hope to many, where there was hopelessness. Here is the text of his speech at the start of his journey by train to Washington D.C. in Philadelphia this morning.

Remarks of President-Elect Barack Obama - As prepared for delivery Inaugural Whistle Stop Tour Philadelphia, Pennsylvania January 17, 2009

We are here to mark the beginning of our journey to Washington. This is fitting because it was here, in this city, that our American journey began. It was here that a group of farmers and lawyers, merchants and soldiers, gathered to declare their independence and lay claim to a destiny that they were being denied.

It was a risky thing, meeting as they did in that summer of 1776. There was no guarantee that their fragile experiment would find success. More than once in those early years did the odds seem insurmountable. More than once did the fishermen, laborers, and craftsmen who called themselves an army face the prospect of defeat.

And yet, they were willing to put all they were and all they had on the line - their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor - for a set of ideals that continue to light the world. That we are equal. That our rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness come not from our laws, but from our maker. And that a government of, by, and for the people can endure. It was these ideals that led us to declare independence, and craft our constitution, producing documents that were imperfect but had within them, like our nation itself, the capacity to be made more perfect.

We are here today not simply to pay tribute to our first patriots but to take up the work that they began. The trials we face are very different now, but severe in their own right. Only a handful of times in our history has a generation been confronted with challenges so vast. An economy that is faltering. Two wars, one that needs to be ended responsibly, one that needs to be waged wisely. A planet that is warming from our unsustainable dependence on oil.

And yet while our problems may be new, what is required to overcome them is not. What is required is the same perseverance and idealism that our founders displayed. What is required is a new declaration of independence, not just in our nation, but in our own lives - from ideology and small thinking, prejudice and bigotry - an appeal not to our easy instincts but to our better angels.

That is the reason I launched my campaign for the presidency nearly two years ago. I did so in the belief that the most fundamental American ideal, that a better life is in store for all those willing to work for it, was slipping out of reach. That Washington was serving the interests of the few, not the many. And that our politics had grown too small for the scale of the challenges we faced.

But I also believed something else. I believed that our future is our choice, and that if we could just recognize ourselves in one another and bring everyone together - Democrats, Republicans, and Independents, north, south, east and west, black, white, Latino, Asian, and Native American, gay and straight, disabled and not - then not only would we restore hope and opportunity in places that yearned for both, but maybe, just maybe, we might perfect our union in the process.

This is what I believed, but you made this belief real. You proved once more that people who love this country can change it. And as I prepare to leave for Washington on a trip that you made possible, know that I will not be traveling alone. I will be taking with me some of the men and women I met along the way, Americans from every corner of this country, whose hopes and heartaches were the core of our cause; whose dreams and struggles have become my own.

Theirs are the voices I will carry with me every day in the White House. Theirs are the stories I will be thinking of when we deliver the changes you elected me to make. When Americans are returning to work and sleeping easier at night knowing their jobs are secure, I will be thinking of people like Mark Dowell, who's worried his job at Ford will be the next one cut, a devastating prospect with the teenage daughters he has back home.

When affordable health care is no longer something we hope for, but something we can count on, I will be thinking of working moms like Shandra Jackson, who was diagnosed with an illness, and is now burdened with higher medical bills on top of child care for her eleven year-old son.

When we are welcoming back our loved ones from a war in Iraq that we've brought to an end, I will be thinking of our brave servicemen and women sacrificing around the world, of veterans like Tony Fischer, who served two tours in Iraq, and all those returning home, unable to find a job.

These are the stories that will drive me in the days ahead. They are different stories, told by men and women whose journeys may seem separate. And yet, what you showed me time and again is that no matter who we are or what we look like, no matter where we come from or what faith we practice, we are a people of common hopes and common dreams, who ask only for what was promised us as Americans - that we might make of our lives what we will and see our children climb higher than we did.

We recognize that such enormous challenges will not be solved quickly. There will be false starts and setbacks, frustrations and disappointments. And we will be called to show patience even as we act with fierce urgency.

But we should never forget that we are the heirs of that first band of patriots, ordinary men and women who refused to give up when it all seemed so improbable; and who somehow believed that they had the power to make the world anew. That is the spirit that we must reclaim today.

For the American Revolution did not end when British guns fell silent. It was never something to be won only on a battlefield or fulfilled only in our founding documents. It was not simply a struggle to break free from empire and declare independence. The American Revolution was - and remains - an ongoing struggle "in the minds and hearts of the people" to live up to our founding creed.

Starting now, let's take up in our own lives the work of perfecting our union.

Let's build a government that is responsible to the people, and accept our own responsibilities as citizens to hold our government accountable.

Let's all of us do our part to rebuild this country.

Let's make sure this election is not the end of what we do to change America, but the beginning.

Join me in this effort. Join one another in this effort. And together, mindful of our proud history, hopeful for the future, let's seek a better world in our time. Thank you. Source: McClatchy DC Bureau

A Montage--President Bush's "Historic Speeches," Compared to John F. Kennedy

I must admit, I am very sad to see President Bush go because the late night humor from Jay Leno, David Letterman, Conan O'Brien, Jimmy Kimmel and Saturday Night Live will change. He will no longer be the butt of so many hilarious takes on his speeches and his mannerisms. Barack Obama simply cannot rise to the level of hilarity as the outgoing president.

A Montage--President Bush's "Historic Speeches," Compared to John F. Kennedy

I must admit, I am very sad to see President Bush go because the late night humor from Jay Leno, David Letterman, Conan O'Brien, Jimmy Kimmel and Saturday Night Live will change. He will no longer be the butt of so many hilarious takes on his speeches and his mannerisms. Barack Obama simply cannot rise to the level of hilarity as the outgoing president.

Benjamin Haskell, Michael Jacques and Thomas Gleason, Charged with Torching Macedonia Church of God Hours Ater Obama Wins Election

Photo Source: Mass Live.com

As you will recall, I wrote about the torching of a historically black church in Springfield, Massachusetts, hours after Barack Obama was elected our next president. Well, police has arrested three white men -- Benjamin Haskell, Michael Jacques and Thomas Gleason -- for the crime. They are currently being held without bail after a hearing in federal court on charges that they deliberating torched the church.

Authorities say the men, all Springfield men in their 20s, initially denied involvement then blamed each other for the idea to burn down the Macedonia Church of God in Christ. A judge continued the hearing until Wednesday and said he is considering setting $100,000 bail with electronic monitoring for the men.

The Nov. 5 fire at the church, which was under construction, destroyed the building with $2 million in damage. The men were charged Friday in a criminal complaint with violating a civil rights conspiracy statute that makes it illegal to injure, threaten or intimidate anyone from exercising their civil rights. No pleas were entered at Friday's hearing.

There were some commenters who said that I was rushing to judgment and that this was not racially motivated. News flash -- it was!

Benjamin Haskell, Michael Jacques and Thomas Gleason, Charged with Torching Macedonia Church of God Hours Ater Obama Wins Election

Photo Source: Mass Live.com

As you will recall, I wrote about the torching of a historically black church in Springfield, Massachusetts, hours after Barack Obama was elected our next president. Well, police has arrested three white men -- Benjamin Haskell, Michael Jacques and Thomas Gleason -- for the crime. They are currently being held without bail after a hearing in federal court on charges that they deliberating torched the church.

Authorities say the men, all Springfield men in their 20s, initially denied involvement then blamed each other for the idea to burn down the Macedonia Church of God in Christ. A judge continued the hearing until Wednesday and said he is considering setting $100,000 bail with electronic monitoring for the men.

The Nov. 5 fire at the church, which was under construction, destroyed the building with $2 million in damage. The men were charged Friday in a criminal complaint with violating a civil rights conspiracy statute that makes it illegal to injure, threaten or intimidate anyone from exercising their civil rights. No pleas were entered at Friday's hearing.

There were some commenters who said that I was rushing to judgment and that this was not racially motivated. News flash -- it was!

President George W. Bush's Farewell Speech was Nothing But Spin to Influence How He is Treated by History

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

To echo the words of Arianna Huffington, President Bush, during his farewell speech last night, was delusional from the beginning to the end. So, as he was bidding us his "fondest" farewell on television, he was sticking us with a $20 billion, secret middle-of-the-night bailout for Bank of America and an additional government backstop of $118 billion for its assets — all on top of cutting a deal with Barack Obama to give away the second $350 billion of the TARP Big Business bailout. That's a helluva goodbye. At least Obama has committed, in writing, to using some of the funds to address the current mortgage foreclosure crisis.

President Bush is one of the most unpopular presidents in America's history, and certainly since I started voting in this country. He was classic Bush, unbowed as he defended his tumultuous two terms in a farewell address to the nation. He claimed a series of successes at home and aboard. Reaching back to the Sept. 11 attacks, when the public rallied behind him, Bush declared the United States will "never tire, never falter and never fail." Wait, where did the victims of Hurricane Katrina factor into his successes? It was a glaring failure and is still an albatross around the necks of the residents from Louisiana and the gulf coast.

He is leaving office with the highest disapproval rating since Richard Nixon, Bush said, "You may not agree with some tough decisions I have made, but I hope you can agree that I was willing to make the tough decisions." Really, President Bush, you hope we can see that you were willing to make these tough decisions? They did not benefit this country one bit. We are mired in an economic crisis of untold proportions and an unclear duration.

It is rather tragic, that he had to spend his farewell address to the nation, which I might add many people did not even bother to watch, defending his position. A clear sign that he is worried about his legacy and how he will be portrayed in the history books. Bush's eight-year term is indelibly marked by terrorism, two wars and recessions. He spoke from the East Room of the White House with just 112 hours left in office. I seriously doubt his farewell speech will do much to change the minds of Americans. President Bush spoke in glowing terms about our accomplishments in Iraq, as though we are best friends. But in reality, Iran is more likely the best friend of Iraq than America, which is reviled in parts of the Middle East. Afghanistan is a death trap, where no-one in their right mind would dare venture out without ample protection. News flash-- the Taliban is running around the country once again! What would Hamid Karzai do if his American bodyguards left? He'd be assassinated or would have to leave the country himself. President Bush claimed that America's "air, water, and lands are measurably cleaner." Really President Bush? Who is doing the measuring? I suppose the same eco-unfriendly companies to which he handed his environmental policies. We entered the Spin-Zone with President Bush's farewell speech.

This will be his final public appearance until he greets President-elect Barack Obama on Inauguration Day at the White House's North Portico. Thank God. Bush called the inauguration of Obama, the first black president, a "moment of hope and pride" for America. "Standing on the steps of the Capitol will be a man whose story reflects the enduring promise of our land," he said. That much I agree with him on. Sorry President Bush, I don't think that history will be as kind to you as you have been to us. I am being sarcastic of course. January 20th can't come fast enough for me. The real shame is that his father was a better president in his one term than he was in eight years. Thanks President Bush, for sticking it us one last time before you really say goodbye.

President George W. Bush's Farewell Speech was Nothing But Spin to Influence How He is Treated by History

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

To echo the words of Arianna Huffington, President Bush, during his farewell speech last night, was delusional from the beginning to the end. So, as he was bidding us his "fondest" farewell on television, he was sticking us with a $20 billion, secret middle-of-the-night bailout for Bank of America and an additional government backstop of $118 billion for its assets — all on top of cutting a deal with Barack Obama to give away the second $350 billion of the TARP Big Business bailout. That's a helluva goodbye. At least Obama has committed, in writing, to using some of the funds to address the current mortgage foreclosure crisis.

President Bush is one of the most unpopular presidents in America's history, and certainly since I started voting in this country. He was classic Bush, unbowed as he defended his tumultuous two terms in a farewell address to the nation. He claimed a series of successes at home and aboard. Reaching back to the Sept. 11 attacks, when the public rallied behind him, Bush declared the United States will "never tire, never falter and never fail." Wait, where did the victims of Hurricane Katrina factor into his successes? It was a glaring failure and is still an albatross around the necks of the residents from Louisiana and the gulf coast.

He is leaving office with the highest disapproval rating since Richard Nixon, Bush said, "You may not agree with some tough decisions I have made, but I hope you can agree that I was willing to make the tough decisions." Really, President Bush, you hope we can see that you were willing to make these tough decisions? They did not benefit this country one bit. We are mired in an economic crisis of untold proportions and an unclear duration.

It is rather tragic, that he had to spend his farewell address to the nation, which I might add many people did not even bother to watch, defending his position. A clear sign that he is worried about his legacy and how he will be portrayed in the history books. Bush's eight-year term is indelibly marked by terrorism, two wars and recessions. He spoke from the East Room of the White House with just 112 hours left in office. I seriously doubt his farewell speech will do much to change the minds of Americans. President Bush spoke in glowing terms about our accomplishments in Iraq, as though we are best friends. But in reality, Iran is more likely the best friend of Iraq than America, which is reviled in parts of the Middle East. Afghanistan is a death trap, where no-one in their right mind would dare venture out without ample protection. News flash-- the Taliban is running around the country once again! What would Hamid Karzai do if his American bodyguards left? He'd be assassinated or would have to leave the country himself. President Bush claimed that America's "air, water, and lands are measurably cleaner." Really President Bush? Who is doing the measuring? I suppose the same eco-unfriendly companies to which he handed his environmental policies. We entered the Spin-Zone with President Bush's farewell speech.

This will be his final public appearance until he greets President-elect Barack Obama on Inauguration Day at the White House's North Portico. Thank God. Bush called the inauguration of Obama, the first black president, a "moment of hope and pride" for America. "Standing on the steps of the Capitol will be a man whose story reflects the enduring promise of our land," he said. That much I agree with him on. Sorry President Bush, I don't think that history will be as kind to you as you have been to us. I am being sarcastic of course. January 20th can't come fast enough for me. The real shame is that his father was a better president in his one term than he was in eight years. Thanks President Bush, for sticking it us one last time before you really say goodbye.

Edward Vaughn, Head of Alabama NAACP, Wants Mobile's Azalea Trail Maids Disinvited from Inauguration, Says they Remind him of Slavery

Here's another group mad at Barack Obama and his upcoming inauguration. The head of the Alabama NAACP, Edward Vaughn, wants wants Mobile's Azalea Trail Maids to stay home on Inauguration Day, claiming the group reminds him of slavery. One hitch. They have been part of a long standing tradition that will soon become a part of Presidential history. Geez, where has he been all these years?

Vaugh said, "these are not just regular costumes. These are the costumes that remind someone of the plantation in Gone with the Wind." He went on to say the group would be the laughing stock of the Inauguration. County leaders say nothing could be further from the truth.

"We want everyone to know that these young ladies do not need to be identified with slavery," said Mobile County Commissioner Stephen Nodine. "I don't see what the dresses have to do with racism. I don't see it. It's just a regular dress to me. Just a dress they wore back in the day," said Carolyn Tius. Organizers stand behind the tradition, but opponents say tradition is the problem. "We needed something that could show Alabama's great progress rather than something that shows a shameful past," Vaughn said. Source: WFSA 12 News

Really, Mr. Vaughn? Where were you when Bill Clinton and George W. Bush were inaugurated? You didn't have a problem then, but you do now? You are fanning the flames of racism. This has no traction, at this point.

Edward Vaughn, Head of Alabama NAACP, Wants Mobile's Azalea Trail Maids Disinvited from Inauguration, Says they Remind him of Slavery

Here's another group mad at Barack Obama and his upcoming inauguration. The head of the Alabama NAACP, Edward Vaughn, wants wants Mobile's Azalea Trail Maids to stay home on Inauguration Day, claiming the group reminds him of slavery. One hitch. They have been part of a long standing tradition that will soon become a part of Presidential history. Geez, where has he been all these years?

Vaugh said, "these are not just regular costumes. These are the costumes that remind someone of the plantation in Gone with the Wind." He went on to say the group would be the laughing stock of the Inauguration. County leaders say nothing could be further from the truth.

"We want everyone to know that these young ladies do not need to be identified with slavery," said Mobile County Commissioner Stephen Nodine. "I don't see what the dresses have to do with racism. I don't see it. It's just a regular dress to me. Just a dress they wore back in the day," said Carolyn Tius. Organizers stand behind the tradition, but opponents say tradition is the problem. "We needed something that could show Alabama's great progress rather than something that shows a shameful past," Vaughn said. Source: WFSA 12 News

Really, Mr. Vaughn? Where were you when Bill Clinton and George W. Bush were inaugurated? You didn't have a problem then, but you do now? You are fanning the flames of racism. This has no traction, at this point.

President George W. Bush Gives Last Press Conference, Creates Buzz Around Use of Klieg Lights

I will always remember President George W. Bush for his final press conference. He shed light on a phrase that has been getting a lot of buzz since he uttered the words. Bush said he wouldn't speculate about any decisions Obama would make. "He'll make the decisions he thinks (are) necessary," Bush said. "When I get out of here, I'm getting off the stage. I believe there ought to be one person in the Klieg lights at a time and I've had my time in the Klieg lights." So, I pondered for a moment what exactly were Klieg lights. I did some research and came up with the following:

A Klieg light is an intense carbon arc lamp especially used in filmmaking. It is named after inventor John H. Kliegl and his brother Anton Tiberius Kliegl. Modern klieg lights use a tungsten-halogen filament. They usually have a fresnel lens or or ellipsoidal lens. The carbon-arc source was so bright that it allowed film directors to make "day" at night, which also heralded the era of blinding actors—a term coined as "Klieg eye." Source: Wikipedia

I have to give President George W. Bush credit for delivering a moving farewell press conference. Though I believe that he is one of the worst presidents in American history, I will miss him. After all, he was our president for eight years. I teared up a little when he started speaking because our favorite punching bag is about to take his final curtain call in a week.

President Bush said that his well-wishes to his successor isn't just a casual remark, saying he sincerely wants "all the best" for him. "It's not a throwaway line," Bush said. "The stakes are high. ... I'm telling you there's an enemy that would like to attack America -- Americans -- again. There just is. That's the reality of the world." Besides a terrorist threat, President-elect Barack Obama also faces a domestic economic crisis, Bush said. Yep, one he started.

Bush said he hoped the tone in Washington was different for Obama than for him. While noting that the White House and Congress "did find some good common ground ... the rhetoric got out of control." He said he considered himself "fortunate to have a front-row seat" for the historic inauguration of the first black president of the United States." "President-elect Obama's election does speak volumes about how far the country has come," he said. "It's going to be an amazing moment."

To echo Frank Sinatra's song "My Way," President Bush got us in a financial nightmare, his way. So, President Bush, I wish you all the best. It's been eight years of laughter, at your expense in most cases.

Frank Sinatra's "My Way"

And now, the end is near,
And so I face the final curtain.
My friends, I'll say it clear;
I'll state my case of which I'm certain.

I've lived a life that's full -
I've travelled each and every highway.
And more, much more than this,
I did it my way.

Regrets? I've had a few,
But then again, too few to mention.
I did what I had to do
And saw it through without exemption.

I planned each charted course -
Each careful step along the byway,
And more, much more than this,
I did it my way.

Yes, there were times, I'm sure you knew,
When I bit off more than I could chew,
But through it all, when there was doubt,
I ate it up and spit it out.
I faced it all and I stood tall
And did it my way.

I've loved, I've laughed and cried,
I've had my fill - my share of losing.
But now, as tears subside,
I find it all so amusing.

To think I did all that,
And may I say, not in a shy way -
Oh no. Oh no, not me.
I did it my way.

For what is a man? What has he got?
If not himself - Then he has naught.
To say the things he truly feels
And not the words of one who kneels.
The record shows I took the blows
And did it my way.

Yes President Bush, it was your way.

President George W. Bush Gives Last Press Conference, Creates Buzz Around Use of Klieg Lights

I will always remember President George W. Bush for his final press conference. He shed light on a phrase that has been getting a lot of buzz since he uttered the words. Bush said he wouldn't speculate about any decisions Obama would make. "He'll make the decisions he thinks (are) necessary," Bush said. "When I get out of here, I'm getting off the stage. I believe there ought to be one person in the Klieg lights at a time and I've had my time in the Klieg lights." So, I pondered for a moment what exactly were Klieg lights. I did some research and came up with the following:

A Klieg light is an intense carbon arc lamp especially used in filmmaking. It is named after inventor John H. Kliegl and his brother Anton Tiberius Kliegl. Modern klieg lights use a tungsten-halogen filament. They usually have a fresnel lens or or ellipsoidal lens. The carbon-arc source was so bright that it allowed film directors to make "day" at night, which also heralded the era of blinding actors—a term coined as "Klieg eye." Source: Wikipedia

I have to give President George W. Bush credit for delivering a moving farewell press conference. Though I believe that he is one of the worst presidents in American history, I will miss him. After all, he was our president for eight years. I teared up a little when he started speaking because our favorite punching bag is about to take his final curtain call in a week.

President Bush said that his well-wishes to his successor isn't just a casual remark, saying he sincerely wants "all the best" for him. "It's not a throwaway line," Bush said. "The stakes are high. ... I'm telling you there's an enemy that would like to attack America -- Americans -- again. There just is. That's the reality of the world." Besides a terrorist threat, President-elect Barack Obama also faces a domestic economic crisis, Bush said. Yep, one he started.

Bush said he hoped the tone in Washington was different for Obama than for him. While noting that the White House and Congress "did find some good common ground ... the rhetoric got out of control." He said he considered himself "fortunate to have a front-row seat" for the historic inauguration of the first black president of the United States." "President-elect Obama's election does speak volumes about how far the country has come," he said. "It's going to be an amazing moment."

To echo Frank Sinatra's song "My Way," President Bush got us in a financial nightmare, his way. So, President Bush, I wish you all the best. It's been eight years of laughter, at your expense in most cases.

Frank Sinatra's "My Way"

And now, the end is near,
And so I face the final curtain.
My friends, I'll say it clear;
I'll state my case of which I'm certain.

I've lived a life that's full -
I've travelled each and every highway.
And more, much more than this,
I did it my way.

Regrets? I've had a few,
But then again, too few to mention.
I did what I had to do
And saw it through without exemption.

I planned each charted course -
Each careful step along the byway,
And more, much more than this,
I did it my way.

Yes, there were times, I'm sure you knew,
When I bit off more than I could chew,
But through it all, when there was doubt,
I ate it up and spit it out.
I faced it all and I stood tall
And did it my way.

I've loved, I've laughed and cried,
I've had my fill - my share of losing.
But now, as tears subside,
I find it all so amusing.

To think I did all that,
And may I say, not in a shy way -
Oh no. Oh no, not me.
I did it my way.

For what is a man? What has he got?
If not himself - Then he has naught.
To say the things he truly feels
And not the words of one who kneels.
The record shows I took the blows
And did it my way.

Yes President Bush, it was your way.

Rev. Sharon E. Watkins to Deliver the Sermon at National Prayer Service

President-elect Barack Obama has selected the Rev. Sharon E. Watkins to deliver the sermon at the national prayer service that will be held on Jan. 21 at the Washington National Cathedral. I guess she is seen as a safe choice, considering that her views on same sex marriage aren't known and she will not cause the commotion Pastor Rick Warren did in the eyes of gays and lesbians across the United States. Though Obama's inaugural committee has said that the choice of Ms. Watkins was not an attempt to mollify his critics because she was selected long before Warren entered the picture, nonetheless, she won't ruffle many feathers. Her appeal is that she delivers a message of unity and inclusivity and tolerance and hope

Ms. Watkins, the first woman ever selected to lead the service, is the president and general minister of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), a small, liberal-leaning Protestant denomination with 3,754 congregations and about 690,000 members in the United States and Canada. Ms. Watkins was elected to the post in 2005, the first woman ever chosen to lead a mainline Protestant denomination.

But Ms. Watkins is not well known nationally. She came to the attention of Mr. Obama at a meeting he held during the campaign last summer to introduce himself to a politically and theologically diverse group of ministers. At that closed-door meeting, some of the conservative ministers bluntly questioned Mr. Obama on certain issues. Ms. Watkins was asked to give the closing prayer.

Ms. Watkins has spoken out against torture and the war in Iraq, but as church president she has not taken a position on same-sex marriage. Like many mainline Protestant churches, the Disciples is not unified on the issue. As a congregational church, each church in the denomination is free to set its own policies. Source: NY Times

Ms. Watkins said that the sermon will be 10 to 15 minutes and will not be vetted by the Obama team. The service is traditionally attended by the president and vice president; members of the Supreme Court, Congress and the diplomatic corps; and a host of clergy members and dignitaries.

Rev. Sharon E. Watkins to Deliver the Sermon at National Prayer Service

President-elect Barack Obama has selected the Rev. Sharon E. Watkins to deliver the sermon at the national prayer service that will be held on Jan. 21 at the Washington National Cathedral. I guess she is seen as a safe choice, considering that her views on same sex marriage aren't known and she will not cause the commotion Pastor Rick Warren did in the eyes of gays and lesbians across the United States. Though Obama's inaugural committee has said that the choice of Ms. Watkins was not an attempt to mollify his critics because she was selected long before Warren entered the picture, nonetheless, she won't ruffle many feathers. Her appeal is that she delivers a message of unity and inclusivity and tolerance and hope

Ms. Watkins, the first woman ever selected to lead the service, is the president and general minister of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), a small, liberal-leaning Protestant denomination with 3,754 congregations and about 690,000 members in the United States and Canada. Ms. Watkins was elected to the post in 2005, the first woman ever chosen to lead a mainline Protestant denomination.

But Ms. Watkins is not well known nationally. She came to the attention of Mr. Obama at a meeting he held during the campaign last summer to introduce himself to a politically and theologically diverse group of ministers. At that closed-door meeting, some of the conservative ministers bluntly questioned Mr. Obama on certain issues. Ms. Watkins was asked to give the closing prayer.

Ms. Watkins has spoken out against torture and the war in Iraq, but as church president she has not taken a position on same-sex marriage. Like many mainline Protestant churches, the Disciples is not unified on the issue. As a congregational church, each church in the denomination is free to set its own policies. Source: NY Times

Ms. Watkins said that the sermon will be 10 to 15 minutes and will not be vetted by the Obama team. The service is traditionally attended by the president and vice president; members of the Supreme Court, Congress and the diplomatic corps; and a host of clergy members and dignitaries.