×
- Barack Hussein Obama was sworn in today as the 44th president of the United States, despite John Roberts' inability to properly memorize the oath of office he administered. In his inaugural address, the president justly criticized the foreign policy of the past eight years and was the first president to refer to Muslims and nonbelievers at an inauguration. The new White House Web site came online shortly after noon, laying out the presidential agenda and introducing a blog (without comments, though).
- Ted Kennedy suffered a seizure during a congressional luncheon following the inauguration ceremony, but it appears the Massachusetts senator is awake and talking at Washington Hospital Center. Sen. Robert C. Byrd also experienced discomfort due to longstanding health problems during the luncheon.
- John Cornyn has decided to delay Hillary Clinton's confirmation by one day, even as the Senate unanimously voted to confirm Steven Chu, Arne Duncan, Janet Napolitano, Peter Orszag, Ken Salazar, Eric K. Shinseki and Tom Vilsack.
- It would appear Norm Coleman's new strategy to keep his Senate seat is do another recount that includes about 12,000 rejected absentee ballots.
- Nelson Mandela is a fan of the 44th president.
- It's not an Andrew Jackson-level shindig, but the Obamas are opening the White House to the (limited) public tomorrow.
- Two vocal critics of the Bush administration's legal transgressions, Marty Lederman and David Barron, are heading to the Office of Legal Council, and Guantanamo Bay judge Pat Parrish hints that Obama could make good on his promise to close the notorious detention facility this week by executive order.
--Mori Dinauer
