Governor Paterson, You Owe Us $19,350

The general fund of New York will take that money in hundreds and fifties, or a check will suffice, but that money is owed to us Governor. When you talk a great game of dire budget deficits, shared sacrifice for all* and the need for fiscal responsibility, billing taxpayers for your trip to Obama's inauguration is absolutely obscene.

From The Poughkeepsie Journal:

ALBANY - Gov. David Paterson and three aides billed New York taxpayers $19,350 for their four-night stay at an upscale Washington hotel for the presidential inauguration, despite the governor's repeated warnings about the state's fiscal troubles.

Paterson and three top aides stayed at the luxury AKA White House hotel two blocks from the White House during the inauguration, with the governor billing taxpayers an average of $1,280 a night, according to records of state-issued credit-card expenses.

In total, taxpayers were charged about $4,800 a night for the hotel stays of Paterson, chief of staff Charlotte Hitchcock, special assistant David Johnson and secretary William Cunningham, records obtained from the state Comptroller's Office show. Paterson's bill was $5,123 for the four nights.

So do you think the Governor apologized for this trip he took on our dime, without asking permission? Nope, try again:

Paterson's office defended the spending, saying hotels for the inauguration required a four-night minimum stay and prices were inflated because of the event.

The charges were billed in December in advance of the Jan. 20 inauguration. The governor's office did not provide details on other expenses incurred on the trip.

"Governor Paterson, like many other governors from across the country, represented his state at a moment of national importance," spokeswoman Marissa Shorenstein said.

I'm sure there are plenty of hotels he could have stayed at that didn't cost $19,350 for four days. He certainly did not have to go with three other taxpayer-funded officials with their own $1,000+ per night rooms. When you ask your constituents to go without essential programs, with additional taxes and fees on the middle class, do not stay at a luxurious hotel two blocks from the White House at our expense. "Tasteless" and "insulting" only begins to describe this action by Mr. Paterson.

Obama Breaks Online Records

Barack Obama has already broken through so many barriers, you could write a book on them. The inauguration two days ago in and of itself would be a chapter. Upwards of two million people showed up, millions more watched on television, polls show that six in ten watched him being sworn in and the enthusiasm was overwhelming. It wasn't rowdy like Andrew Jackson's 1829 ceremony, but much more positive (and definitely a lot less cronyism). Anyways, there was another record broken on Tuesday that wasn't noticed by the live crowd or the TV audience.

From The NY Times:

Internet traffic in the United States hit a record peak at the start of President Obama’s speech as people watched, read about and commented on the inauguration, according to Bill Woodcock, the research director at the Packet Clearing House, a nonprofit organization that analyzes online traffic. The figures surpassed even the high figures on the day President Obama was elected.

“The peak is the highest measured to date, and it appears to be mostly a U.S. phenomenon,” Mr. Woodcock said, adding that it did not appear that global records would be set.[...]

Data from CNN.com captured the uniqueness of the online surge. CNN said it provided more than 21.3 million video streams over a nine-hour span up to midafternoon. That blew past the 5.3 million streams provided during all of Election Day. At its peak, CNN.com fed 1.3 million live streams simultaneously, according to Jennifer Martin, a spokeswoman for the site.

Damn, he even broke his own record from early November, not bad Mr. President!

Now as the article highlights, there was still plenty of problems with the web stream for many viewers. I myself saw a few frozen images during the ceremony but overall it came through pretty well. Considering the amount of traffic and the fact that streams would fail in the last couple years with a fraction of users, things are getting much better for this technology.

Barack Obama Becomes President, Chief Justice Roberts Forgets Constitution

I have to admit I teared up watching the inauguration of our new President. What a tremendous moment it was for all of us that worked to get him elected, voted for him and the country as a whole as we unify as a nation. Yet as the all important oath of office began, there was a little mix up in the ceremony. It seemed as if Barack Obama had trouble repeating the beginning of the sacred oath. Conservatives are already pouncing on him for it but of course, the truth of the matter escapes them.

From DailyKos:

Actually, it was Roberts that screwed up (23+ / 0-)

... he left out the part about defending the Constitution "against all enemies foreign and domestic".

Just wait: wingnuts will seize upon that to try to cast doubt on the legitimacy of Obama's presidency. "He didn't take the whole oath", they'll scream, "so he's not the President!!!"

by bustacap on Tue Jan 20, 2009 at 12:10:42 PM EST

And lo and behold, they already are.

I must say, it makes for an interesting start of the Obama Presidency to see the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court make a mess of the Constitution. Perhaps Roberts didn't want to talk about the enemies of the Constitution here at home, such as himself needs to brush up on his Constitutional knowledge..

Update: To respond to R Bent, he is correct, the quote to the DailyKos does not suffice, but the Frontpaged post does...and is still correct, it was Roberts that screwed up.

What A Difference An Inauguration Makes

I hate to infuse negative feelings on this glorious day, but do you remember where you were eight years ago, when George Bush became our 43rd President? Crying in the fetal position, yelling obscenities at the television, locked in a dark room or maybe being as pro-active as you could and protesting Bush as he cowardly hid in his limo for the parade down Pennsylvania Avenue...all things that many Americans did to pass the time on January 21st, 2001.

It was a sad day for many, joyous for his supporters of course, but a tragic day for our democracy, regardless of party. Not even Republicans could imagine the damage he'd do...and now they get it, as Bush leaves with an approval rating in the low 20s, worse than any other President since public opinion polls were created. Even before the wars, the economic meltdown and evaporation of international goodwill, the nation was bitterly divided during the last inauguration.

From Democracy Now:

More and more, Independent Media Centers around the world are a component of progressive activism. A Washington, DC-based IMC is providing up-to-date information and live coverage of inaugural and counter-inaugural events.

On their home page, this morning they write: "The inauguration of George W. Bush comes during a resurgence ofpolitical activism in America and throughout the world and is bringing more and more groups together in the strugglefor democratic and progressive change. Bush’s rapid effort to assemble one of the most pro-corporate cabinets inhistory has led to increased opposition by labor and environmental groups, students and social justice organizations.

“Moreover, mounting evidence that the GOP stole the presidential election by denying African-Americans their right tovote has created public outrage and is leading to a grassroots revival of the civil rights movement. With the Jan. 20 inauguration only [hours] away, thousands of people are mobilizing to protest.”

It was the largest Presidential inauguration since Nixon's second coming. Activists on the left had some idea that bad things were on their way, but could not even fathom the amount of destruction Bush-conservatives would inflict on our country. The passion to fight him was there though, and it culminated in the overthrow of conservative government (to a large degree) throughout the country.

Now eight years later, minus one day, we have one of the greatest displays of hope and exuberance for the future of the nation. Two million or more are braving the cold and wintry D.C. weather, merely for a glimpse down the Mall to see Obama being sworn in. The parade will be a celebration for everyone there and not one that helps to divide us. Sure, there'll be detractors, that is what happens in any large country. Yet we have not been united to such a degree in a very long time. All you need to do is turn on the TV, the radio or the webcast to see it in the crowds down in our capitol.

Good Morning Hope, Good Morning Change, Good Morning Barack!!!

There's a light blanket of snow outside my window but I feel as happy as if it were a warm sunny day in May. January 20th has finally come! No longer must I have to see those "1-20-09" stickers in windshields, on bumpers or billboards. The day of change has arrived! Millions went to D.C. for the festivities, millions and billions more will watch from home, whether here in America or abroad. It is truly a momentous occasion for not only our country, but the planet as well.

Now Obama isn't going to solve the world's problems with a snap of his fingers. That isn't what I am suggesting by any means. What is important though, is that as the leader of the free world (that title has been tarnished by Bush I know) he can set the tone of many things to come home here at home and on the world stage.

Expanding health care coverage to those in need is a change. Providing economic stimulus to Main Street instead of Wall Street is a change. Rebuilding our nation's infrastructure is a change. Putting people to work is a change. Having the humility to listen to the American people on how to proceed with all of those initiatives is a change we have waited eight long years to finally grasp in our democracy-starved hands.

The world is also overjoyed. Last night, Al Jazeera's Washington bureau chief Abderrahim Foukara told Jon Stewart that many of his viewers are warmed up for the 44th President. The world is going to be able to see the United States not torture people, that'll be a change. Getting out, instead of barging into Iraq will be a change. Signing on to global treaties fighting the climate crisis will be a change. Working with other nations instead of forcing them to do this and that...that'll be a change.

There are so many changes that we looking forward to. Both grand in scope and courageous in purpose. For right now though, on this January 20th, 2009, it is a time to celebrate one simple yet awe-inspiring change, that Barack Obama, an African-American from Hawaii, will take the oath of office in less than four hours from now.

Obama To Place His Hand On Lincoln's Bible

With all the controversy surrounding the Rick Warren choice for the inauguration, the soon-to-be Obama Administration sought to put out some good news today. Good news would mean not bringing up the homophobic pastor. So, for Obama, this is definitely a welcome change in the events leading up to the big day next month.

From Bloomberg News:

Dec. 23 (Bloomberg) -- President-elect Barack Obama will take the oath of office on the same Bible that President Abraham Lincoln used when he was inaugurated in 1861.

“The president-elect is committed to holding an inauguration that celebrates America’s unity, and the use of this historic Bible will provide a powerful connection to our common past and common heritage,” said Emmett Beliveau, executive director of the Presidential Inaugural Committee.

Obama, who will be sworn in as the 44th president on Jan. 20, will be the first to use Lincoln’s Bible at his inauguration. The Bible is part of the collection of the Library of Congress, the inaugural committee said in a release.

Not only does this small detail convey a powerful message relating the 44th President to the 16th, it deflects from the Warren fiasco. Whether that is good or bad overall is still up for debate, especially in the GLBT community. Nevertheless, the special bible ties into his message of unity and as long as he keeps up that theme...and eventually shuns Warren's anti-gay message with a powerful push for equality in our country....then he'll have a large contingent of support when he is ready to take the helm officially in four weeks from now.

Obama Has This Homophobe Giving The Inaugural Invocation?

I know Obama likes reaching out to both sides of the aisle in order to bring our politically fractured nation back together, but having Warren in the ceremonies is ridiculous. Getting rid of the hate has to come first as to bridge that divide and Rick Warren is a "man of the faith" that tries to divide our country even further.

Here is one of many clips showing Warren's compassion towards his fellow man:

Paterson's Inaugural Speech

Welcome Governor Paterson, this progressive and many, many others in New York salute, and support you as you start your gubernatorial duties.

Part 1:


Part 2:


Very nice Governor, talking about unity, progress and even a few jokes thrown in as well.

While The Snakes Are Imbibing, NY Swears In Its Next Governor

Today is St. Patrick's Day and if you are anywhere in America (and especially the Northeast) you will see plenty of drinking going on today, not to mention the ridiculous amounts consumed over the weekend. While the intoxicated crowds swell, one crowd should be mostly sober up in Albany as they watch David Paterson being sworn in as our state's next chief executive.

From The NY Times:

As New York reeled from revelations that Gov. Eliot Spitzer was under federal investigation for his links to a prostitution ring, Mr. Paterson wanted his swearing-in ceremony to convey a sense of coming together.

So when he steps into the baroque chamber of the State Assembly here at 1 p.m. and is sworn in by the state’s chief judge, Judith S. Kaye, he will do so in the presence of members of both houses of the Legislature and the state’s highest-ranking elected officials — with Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo expected to be among them.

To dispel any notion that the event has a celebratory tone, Mr. Paterson and his staff are carefully referring to it as a swearing-in, not an inauguration.

Semantics aside, this is still a big deal and Paterson is making sure everything goes well. He wants to start off on the right foot and in politics, first impressions are always important. Due to his disability, he has memorized his speech and is expected to create an air of harmony instead of the discord and harsh tones of the previous Administration.