Live Blogging by John Berman

Bush's Flight Home

2009-01-20T18:51:20-05:00

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."

Green Mountain Miracle

2009-01-20T18:22:07-05:00

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.

Dow Says 'O No'

2009-01-20T17:24:06-05:00

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!

Meanwhile, in New Mexico...

2009-01-20T15:55:11-05:00

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.

Kennedy at the Convention

2009-01-20T15:20:18-05:00

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.

Concern for Senator Kennedy

2009-01-20T15:01:11-05:00

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.

Shameless Self Promotion

2009-01-20T14:10:27-05:00

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!

Bush Staffer: 'We're Ready' to Go

2009-01-20T14:07:46-05:00

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."

Powell 'Thinks' He's a Republican

2009-01-20T13:24:18-05:00

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."

More on Malaise

2009-01-20T13:21:07-05:00

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.