Hey, OS friends,

I guess I'm cheating, but since I failed to land tickets through any of my less-than-deep connections, I am watching the Inauguration from the comfort of my couch.

So, please join me with your comments, thoughts, humor, whatever...

At 10:48 a.m., President-elect Obama and outgoing President Bush have just entered the limousine for the short ride to the Capitol.

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10:50 still on MSNBC

- crowd shots & entering the Capitol west balcony

Dorothy Haight (sp?) - great civil rights leader in her wheelchair

Earlier, we saw outgoing VP Dick Cheney in his wheelchair. Apparently, he'd hurt himself moving boxes.

10:59 a.m. - still on MSNBC, the motorcade is travelling past the Canadian embassy

Chris Matthews keeps repeating that the Bushes are "like the Romanoffs"

now they are arguing over this point

KO - it's showtime, folks 

the motorcade has arrived at Capitol Hill

 Mrs. Bush & Mrs. Obama arrive

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11:02 am  - switch to CNN

A bit of sartorial aside

Mrs. Obama's sparkling gold sheath is a design of  Isabel Toledo, a Cuban-American designer

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W. and Obama walk in

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oh, gosh, there's Ray Nagin & he looks like he's about to cry!!

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11:07 a.m. VIPs arriving....

former VPs - Al Gore, Dan Quayle, Walter Mondale and their wives

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back to MSNBC

11:13 a.m. - KO & Gene Robinson thinking out loud. They are actually echoing my thoughts regarding how Al Gore must feel such a burden, and something we can't imagine. What would the world be like if things were different?

Chris Matthews  - Gore  took responsibility himself and "never blamed it on Joe Lieberman, who was a terrible running mate, terrible "

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11:15 a.m. - Former Presidents entering

George H.W. Bush - "walking old" according to KO - with Barbara

Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter

Bill Clinton & Secretary of State Hillary Clinton  - President Clinton looking unusually somber - KO

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oh, gosh, I think I might have just spied sandra_nolonger_miller among all the Bush family -  doubtful, but I know they got pretty good  seats from Speaker Pelosi

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11:26 a.m. Sasha & Mahlia with their grandmother - omg, they are adorable and seem like such self-assured little girls

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11:29 - the political red carpet? - per dh

Wow - everyone looks so happy, even Laura Bush & Lynne Cheney - or should I say, especially Laura & Lynne

11:31 They are about to introduce Michelle Obama and Jill Biden

btw - there sure are ALOT of people

President Bush - wearing his trademark smirk & flag pin

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11:35 am - now watching on WETA/PBS

Hail to the Chief

honorable George Walker Bush & Vice President Dick Cheney

for the record, this is the LAST TIME that music, Hail to the Chief will be played for George W. Bush

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11:40 a.m. Vice-President Elect Joe Biden

smiling, "I made it" looking very Biden-esque

President Elect Obama - looking very serene & Presidential

as cool as ever - David Brooks

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11:44 The President-Elect of the United States - Barack H. Obama

goosebumps & a little raised flag; crowd is chanting Obama, Obama is shaking hands all-around

being seated for Introductions - Dianne Feinstein, Chair of Inaugural Ceremonies Committee

the world is watching today as our great democracy engages in this peaceful transition of power

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11:53 Methinks that the choice of Rick Warren was a mistake in more ways than have been discussed. That was the most wooden, uninspiring prayer I've ever heard & I have heard preachers & rabbis of all stripes. AMEN!

11:55 Thank you, Lord, for Aretha!

goose bumps!

11:58 please stand for honorable Associate Justice JP Stevens to administer the Oath of Office to Joe Biden

Yeah, one down! one to go!

 12:00 NOON - under the Constitution, Barack Obama is NOW President of the United States

12:06 - he is now sworn in, with only a mild hiccup from Chief Justic Roberts

perhaps he had trouble with the defending and upholding the Constitution part - Roberts, not Obama

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12:10 Obama's Inaugural speech

every so often, the Oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms...America has carried on...because WE THE PEOPLE have remained faithful to the ideals of  our forebearers and true to our founding documents

 our collective failure to make hard choices

 challenges are real...know this, America, they will be met

so far, an elegant, but solid rebuke of the outgoing administration

12:19 for we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength...we are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus, and non-believers

more solemn words about our fighting forces, fallen heroes, broken levees, firefighters  & values - return to truths, new era of responsibility

quoting George Washington 

carried forth the gift of freedom

no mention of good & evil

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& ooh,ooh, there's Rahm, about four rows back!

12:33 - simple & powerful poetry

What if the mightiest word is LOVE?

& now, more prayers - the Benediction - from a very old Rev. Joseph Lowery - we pray for...

Barack Obama, the 44th President of the United States

we pray for NOT ONLY our nation, but the community of nations

Not a big fan of public prayer, but I don't recall hearing that in the last eight years

and we seek forgiveness... we come in solidarity to give our support to our President

Help us to make choices on the side of love, inclusion, not exclusion, tolerance, not intolerance

Now, that is an appropriate prayer for the public square, if there must be one

ok, and some bad poetry too!

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National Anthem - always gives me chills

stand up now "OHHHH!"

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12:48 - whew! what a glorious day! Thank you all for sharing this day with me!

I'm going to take a break - I'll be back in a little bit for analysis & later for the parade. Thanks for coming by & ya'll come back or hang around & chat.

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12:53 the Obamas & the Bushes

the Cheneys and the Bidens - this is funny a reminder, he was lifting some boxes... some secret boxes - this on PBS with Shields & Brooks

 and another sartorial note, from this camera angle, it looks like Dubya is wearing blue jeans

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Marine One just took off

all together now - NAHNAHNAH, NAHNAHNAH, HEY HEY HEY, GOODBYE!!

 the crowd on the mall started singing it as I was thinking it

I'm back on MSNBC for my daily dose of Rachel & the loonies

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3:01 p.m.  -

I'm back - (break for gym & lunch) - not sure if any of you are still around, but come back if you want

Trying to get an update on Ted Kennedy's condition

Both Senator Kennedy and Senator Byrd were stricken with illness. Kennedy went into convulsions & was removed on a stretcher by ambulance.

Byrd had trouble eating at an earlier event.

CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta - seizures were a sign of Sen. Kennedy's brain tumor. The Dr.'s will look at brain scans, blood levels for medication to ensure it's right levels.

3:09 p.m. update from MSNBC - from Senator Hatch - Sen. Kennedy had a seizure, he seemed to be in pain, but was not unconscious and able to communicate somewhat

3:19 p.m. Parade is late, but events to proceed - will keep you posted as my friends on the news do - on Sen. Kennedy

President Obama reviewing the troops

The troops look very cold

3:28 pm on CNN now; Obamas in the Cadillac limo - USA1 - Candy Crowley expects him to get out & walk at some point

CNN's map with the flashing light is quite disturbing

facts & figures - 13,000 people participating IN the parade

parade route - 1.7 miles long

Reagan's second Inauguration was so cold they cancelled the outdoor ceremony & parade (it was 7 degrees) 

QUESTION of the Day - will the parade finish before it gets dark?!

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3:35 p.m. An aside - a reminder of why I have a massive crush on Anderson Cooper - a phalanx of police motorcycles and sidecars in a V-formation

Parade route crowd in front of the museums looks a little thin to me...

David Gergen pointing out that most of the people watching the parade will not have been at the Mall for the actual Inauguration because of logistics and crowds

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4:03 p.m. - OMG - this is the slowest parade in history

ok, President Obama just GOT OUT OF THE CAR!! Michelle is also out & they are walking up Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the Navy Memorial, around 7th or 9th Street

MSNBC is amusing me. Rachael is "dorking out" on the car & thinks the Obama girls might be loving being on their own in the tricked out car.

KO appreciates Barack's "Puckish" sense of mischief

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4:11 pm - President & Mrs. Obama are back inside the car. 

I also note that the crowd is deeper here. The temperature has dropped to about 25 degrees. 

ooh, ooh, Rahm has just entered the Reviewing Stand.

KO - Reuters is reporting that Sen. Kennedy is alert, answering questions & being assessed. And, apparently, he had been in Florida getting a round of chemo-therapy prior to coming to DC for the Inauguration.

4:24 pm - The bleachers look almost empty. That's sad, but it looks like the sun is going down and I bet it's freezing with those federal buildings blocking the sun. Quite a few federal employees, I'm guessing, on the balconies.

 4:31 pm - The President just said hello & "it's warm" to Al Roker

President & Mrs. Obama are walking again with huge smiles on their faces.

My favorite part is when the military salutes as he goes by. 

The Trading Spaces Presidential team has apparently moved all their stuff into the White House & gotten the girls' rooms ready.

The Reviewing Stand is apparently an enclosed building that is heated. 

There are VP & "Dr. Jill Biden" also walking.

BTW - I just love Joe Biden's affability. He is running to catch up with his wife and just seems so delighted with all of this. 

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4:44 Wide shot of the White House

How great to see it without wanting to protest out front!

& now, the actual parade begins...with horses & marching bands 

please, no half-naked girls

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5:23 update from MSNBC on Senator Kennedy - statement released by his family - they believe the incident was brought on by simple fatigue. He is up, conversing, and will rest and be kept overnight for observation. So, good news so far.

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6:17 pm - for the record, this damn parade is still going on.  Troops are marching by - President & VP are saluting. It looks like almost every one else in the Reviewing Stand has bailed.

Quincy Jones is talking to CNN about his proposed recommendation for a Secretary of Culture & Arts.

The White House sure looks pretty.  The Obamas are expected at the Eastern States ball (I think this is the one that our friends Liz & Sandra are attending at Union Station) at 2:35 a.m.  

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Thanks all for staying with this & reading & commenting.

I will probably post separately on the Inaugural Ball Red Carpet & sartorial splendor, including Mrs. Glambama's fashion choices, in true Joan Rivers tradition.   I may even bring darling daughter (dd) down here for her input. Don't worry - no Botox in this house!

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Good night!

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LIVE BLOGGING CONTINUES IN A SEPARATE POST! 

GO HERE http://open.salon.com/content.php?cid=88025

Put up your feet, grab a beverage, channel Joan Rivers and join me for Live Blogging the Inaugural Balls & Parties

ciao,

Lisa