It’s been about four full business days since Barack Obama took office. How’s he doing so far? Well with a 67% approval rating, an Executive Order to close the GITMO Torture Enhanced Interrogation Indefinite Detention Center in Guantanimo Bay , Cuba…you know, our friendly Communist neighbors a few clicks south of Florida in no later than one year, a Presidential Memorandum to temporarily freeze all military tribunals conducted at the facility, a complete reversal on the Bush energy abuses policies, appointment of a special peace envoy to the Middle East with a proven track record of diplomacy in those situations, reversing the policies of withholding funding from any AIDS organizations that used anything other than abstinence only education as preventative measures, and an EO releasing the presidential records to the public by reversing a policy started by the Bush administration once Rent-Boy Gannon was exposed, I’d say we’re off to a good start!
The good fact-checking folks at PolitiFact.com have started a new program called the Obameter to track How he’s doing on fulfilling those lofty campaign promises. So far so good from there too!
Scorecard as of 1-26-09
PolitiFact has compiled about 500 promises that Barack Obama made during the campaign and is tracking their progress on our Obameter. We rate their status as No Action, In the Works or Stalled. Once we find action is completed, we rate them Promise Kept, Compromise or Promise Broken.
Check out this “warm departure” left by the crowd.
Bush actually began the first few minutes as an ex-president listening to a musical prelude at the swearing-in ceremony. Obama had not yet taken the oath of office, but while the musicians played, he became president at 12 noon EST, according to the Constitution.
Some in the crowd, weary of Bush’s eight years in office, booed the president when the large viewing screens near the World War II Memorial flashed an image of the exiting president arriving at the swearing-in. Moments later, rounds of cheers welled up as the same screens showed the incoming first lady, Michelle Obama, and her two daughters, Sasha and Malia.
Unfazed by his unpopularity, Bush smiled and waved throughout the day’s activities. He blew a kiss out the window of his limousine as he left the White House with Obama.
After the inauguration ceremony, some in the crowd waved at the aircraft in the sky. Others, however, cheered when they heard a television broadcaster announce, “George Bush is no longer president of the United States.” Still others in the crowd, broke into chants of “Na-na-na-nah, hey, hey, hey, goodbye.”
The LGBA last performed at Bill Clinton’s inauguration, not marching, but playing while President Clinton passed by.
New York, NY – December 8, 2008 – The Lesbian and Gay Band Association (LGBA), a musical organization comprising marching and concert bands from across the United States and around the world, has been chosen to perform in the parade for President-elect Barack Obama’s inauguration on January 20, 2009. This is the first time in history that a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender group will march in a Presidential Inaugural Parade.
The 177-piece LGBA band will join groups from across the country as well as from the Armed Forces in the historic parade down Pennsylvania Avenue, which follows President-elect Barack Obama’s swearing-in ceremony on the steps of the Capitol.
“I am honored to invite these talented groups and individuals to participate in the Inaugural Parade,” Obama said in a news release. “These organizations embody the best of our nation’s history, diversity, and commitment to service. Vice President-elect (Joe) Biden and I are proud to have them join us in the parade.”
Of course, Peter LaBarbera can’t let that happen. Check out his latest missive. (emphasis Peter’s)
Bob oh boy! A band created by the Lesbian and Gay Band Association — built around men and women who share disordered sexuality and, for some, gender confusion — is marching in Barack Obama’s inaugural parade — the first ever “gay” Inaugural marching band! What a civil rights achievement — the Democrats should be so proud. Despite the enormity of this “progressive” milestone, apparently it is only somewhat of a technical “first”: the Aberrant Sex Band played twice for Bill Clinton but reportedly never marched for the … Aberrant Sex President.
In a statement, President-elect Obama said, “”I am honored to invite these talented groups and individuals to participate in the Inaugural Parade … These organizations embody the best of our nation’s history, diversity, and commitment to service. Vice President-elect (Joe) Biden and I are proud to have them join us in the parade.”
Questions: what deserving, hard-working high school band from Anytown, USA was bumped out by the homosexual marchers in the intense competition to march in the Inaugural Parade? We’re also wondering: do the bisexual LGBT band members get to march in any direction they want? (Sorry, couldn’t resist.)
Well here we go again. Did we really just vote for “business as usual” in Washington or did we vote for change? I’m starting to think the former.
It was reported today over at Pam’s House Blend that Rick Warren, the mega-pastor at the mega-church who wrote the mega-best-selling book The Purpose Driven Life, has been asked by the Obama transition team to do the invocation at President-elect Barack Obama’s inauguration on January 20th, 2009.
This is the same Rick Warren who has, on numerous occasions defended the passage of Proposition 8 in California, and compared gays and lesbians to zoophiles, pedophiles and polygamists.
(listen around the 2:10 mark)
The last time the President-elect was confronted with this sort of situation it was almost forgivable because the person was rather obscure. In particular I’m talking about the Rev. Donnie McClurkin, an ex-gay pastor who would sing at Obama campaign rallies.
