Yes We Did.

(EDITED! GO TO END OF POST)

Greetings! Today is finally January 20th, 2009 and the 44th President of the United States is Barack H. Obama. There are many thoughts going through my head, some I may not be able to put into coherent language, but I am sorting through it all as I type this. I will make another post later today about my thoughts and opinions and I hope those of you who are reading this will comment about your own experience.

This is a 'summary' of the important events that occurred during the Inaugural Ceremony. It's pretty in depth if I do say so myself =P It's in broken english of course because it was early and I had to do things quickly. All times are in Eastern Time. (Also, there may be random bits from MSNBC and bits about Rahm because I adore him so deal with it =P).

10:45am (EST)
- Jill Biden and Lynn Cheney enter limo from W.H. to Capitol

- Michelle Obama and Laura Bush enter limo from W.H. to Capitol

- Chris Dodd enters; John McCain follows and is almost unmentioned

- Joe Biden and Dick Cheney (in wheelchair) enter limo from W.H. to Capitol

10:48
- Barack Obama and George W. Bush enter limo from W.H. to Capitol

10:59
- Motorcade arrival at Capitol

11:01
- Rahm Emanuel enters Capitol closely behind Obama
Chris: "We just saw Rahm Emanuel - a very powerful man."
Keith: "ON THE PHONE!? WAS HE ON THE PHONE!?"

- Supreme Court Justice John G. Roberts – still wearing his robe

11:11
- Ex-VPs Mondale, Quayle, and Gore are introduced

11:13
- 41st George H.W. Bush and 39th Jimmy Carter about to be seated

11:15
- 42nd Bill Clinton and Sec. of State Hillary Clinton arrive to be seated
Panel swoons at his arrival

11:17
- Andrea Mitchell speaks about interview with Jon Favreau and writing

11:19
- Jimmy Carter and Rosalynn Carter introduced

11:20
- George H.W. Bush and Barbara Bush introduced

11:22
- Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton introduced (get ovation from crowd)

- Lincoln Bible arrives

11:26
- Sasha and Malia introduced

11:27
- Chris Matthews asks about those things that grow and Keith Olbermann incredulously answers “Chia Pets!?”

11:32
- Michelle Obama and Jill Biden introduced

11:35
- George W. Bush and Dick Cheney introduced

11:39
- Joe Biden introduced

11:42
- Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi introduced

11:43
- President-elect Barack H. Obama introduced

11:44
- Rahm Emanuel has to stand beside Al Gore

11:45
- Dianne Feinstein speaks

11:48
- Rick Warren provides invocation “Let us pray, Almighty God…” and ends with "Amen."

11:53
- Aretha Franklin sings

11:57
- Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens give oath to office to Joe Biden (Jill holding a huge ass bible)

12:00pm
- YoYo Ma performs along with others a John Williams piece

12:04
- Chief Justice John G. Roberts give oath of office to Barack Obama (Michelle holding the Lincoln bible)

12:07
- President Obama gives Inaugural Speech
- Not nervous at all during speech

12:21
“We are willing to extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist”

12:26
- Speech concludes.

12:28
- Elizabeth Alexander gives poem

12:32
- Rev. Joseph E. Lowery delivers benediction

12:38
- Star Spangled Banner

12:40
- Fmr. President Bush leaves with President Obama

12:50
- Bush leaves Washington for Texas in Executive One (not Marine One – only called that for President)

1:02
- President Obama signing what seems to be an endless amount of ‘important’ paper

Luncheon Time!

1:13
- Rahm Emanuel not on the phone

1:28
- Vice President Joe Biden and wife enter Luncheon Hall

1:29
- President Barack H. Obama and wife enter Luncheon Hall
- Hail to the Chief played for the first time for the 44th POTUS

(I will not chronicle the Luncheon because the press can't even be present when the food comes, totally sucks).
--------------------------------------
Some side info:

MSNBC was talking about how quickly the White House website changed once Obama became president. But what they didn't notice is that if you google whitehouse.gov (when I did it anyway) it still says:


“Whitehouse.gov is the official web site for the White House and President George W. Bush, the 43rd President of the United States”

So they didn't cover all grounds, tsk tsk.
--------------------------------------
I promise I will be back with my own opinion of it all before the night ends (unless someone flies me to DC to attend one of the balls *hint hint*)

Ciao for now!

- Franny.

(EDIT: Apologies to President Obama. When he took the Oath of Office, he didn't pause because he was too nervous and forgot the words. It was the fault of Chief Justice Roberts who read the words in the incorrect order. Sorry for doubting you calm demeanor Mr. President!)