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Bush's Flight Home

January 20, 2009 6:51 PM

From an aide on board former President Bush's flight to Texas:

"We watched a video that was put together for the flight. About 30 minutes long, covering POTUS speeches, event, photos and comments, funny and sad, by staff and friends. The video was a surprise for President and Mrs. Bush. We ate crab cakes. President Bush and Mrs. Bush were walking around the cabins talking to people most of the flight."

January 20, 2009 | Permalink | User Comments (31)

Green Mountain Miracle

January 20, 2009 6:22 PM

A short time ago I watched the marching band from Brattleboro, Vermont file past the president.  It was about as close as any Vermonters have been to a president in quite some time.  You see, Vermont was the only state in the Union that former President Bush did not visit during his eight years in office.  Eight years, and not so much as a cup of coffee. I guess maybe the overwhelming margins of defeat Vermonters lobbed at Bush might have had something to do with that.

But isn't it time for a presidential visit to Vermont?  I challenge the new president to go north as soon as he can.  We will start an official count for days not traveled to Vermont.

It now stands at one.

January 20, 2009 | Permalink | User Comments (3)

Dow Says 'O No'

January 20, 2009 5:24 PM

My friend Dan Arnall of the ABC News Business Unit reports:

"The Dow Jones confirms: worst Inauguration Day performance in the DJIA's history. Today's close is the lowest close since November 20, 2008."

The Dow lost 332.13 points or 4.01 percent, closing below 8,000.

Welcome to the White House, President Obama!

January 20, 2009 | Permalink | User Comments (11)

Meanwhile, in New Mexico...

January 20, 2009 3:55 PM

So Bill Richardson wanted to be president, then vice president, then secretary of state.  He was picked as secretary of commerce, for about ten seconds before that fell apart.  So how is he spending this historic inauguration day?  Delivering the State of the State address in New Mexico.  This is what the governor said today:

"Now I know there are some legislators who were looking forward to my departure, and not having to deal with me this session.  I'm sorry to disappoint. I'll try to make it up to you somehow."

At this moment we are trying to figure out how John Edwards is spending the day.

January 20, 2009 | Permalink | User Comments (4)

Kennedy at the Convention

January 20, 2009 3:20 PM

It was August when Sen. Ted Kennedy bravely took the stage at the Democratic convention. It wasn't at all certain he would be well enough to speak that day.  He was battling kidney stones on top of the debilitating treatment for a cancerous brain tumor.  He came from the hospital to deliver the speech, and when he electrified the crowd from that stage he promised it wouldn't be his last, he promised that he would make it to today to see the inauguration of Barack Obama. 

He said, "I pledge to you -- I pledge to you that I will be there next January on the floor of the United States Senate when we begin the great test." 

Well, he was there today to see the inauguration.  He did make it.  And now an entire nation is praying that he keeps on making it for some time to come.

January 20, 2009 | Permalink | User Comments (3)

Concern for Senator Kennedy

January 20, 2009 3:01 PM

The day has taken on a decidedly somber tone, with everyone, including the new president, waiting for news on the condition of Senator Ted Kennedy. 

Stay tuned to ABC News for all the latest.

January 20, 2009 | Permalink | User Comments (4)

Shameless Self Promotion

January 20, 2009 2:10 PM

It is kind of a strange quiet period at this very moment; the new president and Congress are behind closed doors eating weird foods and waiting to watch marching bands.

It would be a great time to take a look at a few of the new residents of the White House.  One that we know about, Marian Robinson, and the other, the still unknown First Dog.

Learn all about them in these ABC News videos!

January 20, 2009 | Permalink | User Comments (18)

Bush Staffer: 'We're Ready' to Go

January 20, 2009 2:07 PM

From a longtime Bush staffer getting ready to fly home on the big plane formerly known as Air Force One. 

I asked, how's the mood?

The response? 

"Great. 43 walking around, shaking hands, hugging. We're ready."

January 20, 2009 | Permalink | User Comments (6)

Powell 'Thinks' He's a Republican

January 20, 2009 1:24 PM

Biggest hedge of the day? When Charlie Gibson asked Colin Powell, "are you still a Republican?"  Powell answered in a tone of voice loaded with uncertainty:

"Yes, I think I am still a Republican."

January 20, 2009 | Permalink | User Comments (3)

More on Malaise

January 20, 2009 1:21 PM

Before I am too badly beaten-up for comparing President Obama to Jimmy Carter, despite how history has treated the Carter "malaise speech," in truth it was a powerful call to action, laced with what he believed to be sober truth.  Not unlike the speech today.

More from Carter:

"We've got to stop crying and start sweating, stop talking and start walking, stop cursing and start praying. The strength we need will not come from the White House, but from every house in America."

And how about this from President Obama?

"Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America."

I think what is remarkable is how America seems to be ready to hear about reality in more real terms.

January 20, 2009 | Permalink | User Comments (2)