Governor Blagojevich ousted from office

The Illinois state senate on today convicted Governor Rod Blagojevich of abuse of power, removing him from office amid charges that he tried to sell the U.S. Senate seat once held by President Barack Obama. Not only did they remove him from office, they also put for a motion and voted to disqualify him from holding politicial office in the future in the State of Illinois.

The entire senate body voted to remove the Governor by a 59-0 vote. Gov. Blagojevich did make his appereance before the senate to make his plea and case that he was innocent. However I find it hard to believe the criminally charged Governor of any words that he is outputing to try and substain his innocent.

Now that the ousted Governor is removed from office, Lt. Governor Pat Quinn will officially become Governor and move the State of Illinois forward.

Our 44th President - President Barack Obama

Barack Obama was sworn in Tuesday as the 44th president and called on the nation to put aside greed, irresponsibility and "our collective failure to make hard choices" and turn back the "raging storms" of war and recession.

"On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord. On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas that for far too long have strangled our politics," Mr. Obama said. "The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit, to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness."

Mr. Obama stood opposite the Lincoln Memorial where 45 years ago, Martin Luther King Jr. called upon the nation to judge people by the content of their character, not the color of their skin. A strong, biting wind had the waving American flag two balconies above the ceremony taut and the crowd shivering.

At exactly noon, by law, Mr. Obama became president, the first African-American to hold the office in history. It wasn't until five minutes later, that the new president placed his hand on the Bible once used by Abraham Lincoln, and using his full name, Barack Hussein Obama, swore to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution.

Mr. Obama, acknowledged the special significance of the moment for a nation where race has provided a historic and often painful subtext. Mr. Obama, the son of a Kenyan father who once herded goats, has often said that in no other country on earth would his life story be possible. On Tuesday, he linked his father's immigrant story to the legacy of segregation experienced by many of the thousands of African-Americans who came from around the country to witness his inauguration.

"A man whose father less than sixty years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a sacred oath," Mr. Obama said.

"Because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace," he said.

Now that we have a new president, that stands with history. I really believe that "Change Is On The Way".

http://www.whitehouse.gov/

Bush 43rd President departs Washington

After heading to the Capitol for the swearing-in ceremony, the Bushes welcomed Obama and his wife, Michelle, to the White House. The Bushes, the Obamas, Vice President-elect Joe Biden, his wife, Jill, and leaders of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies had coffee in the Blue Room.

From the Capitol, Bush took a helicopter to Andrews Air Force Base, where he made private remarks inside a hangar.

The Bushes then flew to Midland, Texas, on the familiar blue-and-white presidential aircraft, although it will be called Special Air Mission 28000 instead of Air Force One because Bush is no longer president. While the inauguration frenzy continues in Washington, thousands of well-wishers are expected to greet the Bushes at Centennial Plaza in Midland — the same place the president stopped on his way to the nation's capital for his own inauguration in 2001. While Bush was born in New Haven, Conn., he spent his childhood in Midland. He returned there as an adult in the 1970s and met the future first lady.

After the rally, the Bushes are flying to Waco, Texas, on their way to their 1,600-acre ranch in nearby Crawford.

Former President Bush also left a note for our new President Obama in the oval office.