What happens if it's Joe Biden?

I'm guessing it's Michele.

I'm guessing we'd all be wrong on our guesses (but I'm just guessing...)

1/20/17 - he was actually sworn in yesterday but they wanted all the festivities to coincide with MLK day (and didn't want to compete with football).

It's a Constiutional requirement that the President is sworn in on january 20th. Obama was sworn in yesterday in a private ceremony in his office. Today's swearing in was a public ceremony. The next elected president will be sworn in on 01/20/17.

Diane - keep in mind, it is always inspiring and incredible to see a peaceful transition of power in our great democracy.

It's a great day for everyone to celebrate just being American, celebrate America, celebrate our great history.

B. Dub - RE: public Inauguration on Mon 1/21:

Only six times in the nation's history has the constitutionally-mandated date for a Presidential Inauguration fallen on a Sunday. January 20, 2013 will be the seventh time, and following historical precedent, the public ceremony will be held at the U.S. Capitol on Monday, January 21, 2013. In a tradition that dates back to 1917.

The first time an Inauguration fell on a Sunday was in 1821 for President Monroe’s second swearing-in. Monroe decided, after consulting the Supreme Court, to hold the public ceremony on Monday since “THE COURTS AND OTHER PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS WERE NOT OPEN ON A SUNDAY.”

Both Presidents EISENHOWER and REAGAN, in 1957 and 1985 respectively, took the oath of office in private ceremonies at the White House on Sunday, January 20. On Monday, January 21, both Presidents took the oath in public ceremonies at the U.S. Capitol. President Eisenhower’s was on the East Front and President Reagan’s was moved indoors to the Capitol Rotunda due to extremely cold weather.

So, MLK day and football aren't considerations.

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Olivia. I can see what your saying... David`s st0rry is unimaginable... yesterday I picked up themselves a Renault 5 since I been making $4485 thiss month and-in excess of, ten thousand last-munth. no-doubt about it, this really is the coolest job I have ever had. I began this 6 months ago and pretty much immediately was bringing in more than $69, per hour. I follow this website,, ... http://xurl.es/4nfzj

My thoughts exactly! Couldn't bear to hear anymore of his lies!!!

Personally, I enjoyed all the Me's and I's Mitt and Ann Romney used in sharing their experiences and how those have shaped their lives and thoughts on governing this great nation. It's very humanizing to share these personal feelings/anecdotes, and shows a willingness to be open, and explain why it is they think as they do.

Statistically, the me's and I's are nearly the same as the POTUS and First Lady have used in speeches. Why is so different for you with the Obamas?

Yes Meredith and Dave....it was so so moving. I could feel my gastric juices beginning to rise in my throat! Obama can truly give a speech, but the problem is that he is an arrogant hippocrate that fills an empty suit. Less than four years ago he said he was not in favor of gay marriage. Now he is. And, there is nothing that the present laws forbid gay people form doing that married people can. They may have to go about it differently (medical and finacial powers of attorney and wills, etc.) but the abaility uis certainly there under current law. And..forcing people to wait for hours to vote? Where does that come from? I had to wait a long time in line as well, but that is a good thning because it indicates a greater number of people want to vote. I remeber my parents having to wait for hous to vote way back when as well in a time when people still felt compelled to excercse their right to do so. A better way of welcoming immigrants? Gee, what's the matter with asking them to, at the very least, do what millions have done decades ago...do it LEGALLY! Ask them to apply, come here, get jobs, pay their taxes, do not apply for welfare. etc. Yeah, the illegal immigration problem is one of too many "bright young studenst and enginneers" coming here. Get real Mr. Pres! And, PLEASE, get real Meredith and Dave....drink diet Coke and leave the kool aid alone.

Laplateau, we all find different things to be poignant and moving. I don't judge what other people find powerful; please don't judge me.

laplateau, maybe you should check your own cup for that kool aid. Whether or not he supported gay marriage 4 years ago is beside the point. Over ther past 4 years he has shown his support for equal rights. With all politicians, it's their actions/votes (not so much their words) that I watch. Have you heard of the Defense of Marriage Act? This law alone excludes gay couples from 1,138 federal benefits that they can't "go about [getting] differently" - Estate tax exemption, Social Security benefits, and FMLA leave just to name a few.

For the voting issue, did you see what happened in Ohio and Florida? Waiting between 5-7 hours to cast a vote?
http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2012/11/no-one-in-america-should-have-to-wait-7-hours-to-vote/264506/

The immigration comments (I believe) referenced the DREAM Act.
http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/05/30/11959331-almost-deported-valedictorian-daniela-pelaez-helps-introduce-immigration-reform-bill?lite

And yes, I agree that people need to come to this country LEGALLY, but there are plenty of people who are already here and we don't have the resources (or desire) to deport them all. So what to do? Regardless of what some states might say, their economies are pretty much built on immigrant labor.
http://www.policymic.com/articles/8272/alabama-illegal-immigrant-crackdown-destroys-farm-business

Immigration is more complicated than "deport them all". (Is that your response to the problem?)

Immigration is NOT more complicated than "deport them all". Deport anyone who has "snuck" into this country ILLEGALLY!!! If you parents brought you here illegally then -- too bad. Get in line like everyone else who has immigrated the "right way". My grandparents came here the right way and we have copies of their paperwork as a momento. My cousins wife came here from Seria the right way and is now a legal citizen.

"Moving" is reading between the lines and listening to the President say "...journey not complete....until the children from the streets of Detroit know that they are "cared for"..." Cared for how --- by raising my tax rates to pay for their handouts? I cannot stand how he feels that it is ok to play "Robin Hood".

Again -- my opinion....not pushing my thoughts on anyone -- just venting.

@Peter Griffin I agree that people need to come to the country legally, but in order to round up all of those here illegally & deport them would require a pretty hefty effort (aka more government workers) and cost about $285 billion over 5 years according to some estimates.
http://articles.businessinsider.com/2012-01-30/news/31004595_1_deportation-kumar-kibble-rob-paral

This would mean they would need to increase taxes even more to accomplish this. Not to mention we would lose about 11 million contributors to the economy. Even though they are "illegal", they are still consuming products and services and paying local and state taxes on those things. In the Southern and Western states, there is also a current dependence on this "cheap, unofficial" labor to pick crops. Farmers would prefer to pay workers under the table and get away with it, and the local economies won't fight to get rid of the labor, because they can't find replacements.

It's actually more economical to integrate these people into the general population and have them fully contribute to the country. If they refuse to do that or have committed a felony, then I have no objection to deportation. The current administration has nearly deported more people in the past 4 years than the last administration did in 8. In fact, I bet more of your federal taxes went to deportation than "Detroit welfare".
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2011/12/obamas-record-high-deportations-draw-hispanic-scorn/

Dave,
Isn't it a felony to enter the US illegally? Try entering Canada illegally and see how quick the boarder patrol is on your rear end (I know someone who tried, and failed, when I was in college). Why are we one of the only countries to make excuses for those who are here illegally and try to think up reasons to keep them here.

The main reason the current administration wants to keep the illegals here and "give" them amnesty is so that if the "undocumented" are "given" citizenship some day, they will vote for the party that sympathized with them.

I don't want my taxes going to entitlement programs, but would gladly accept a tax increase if it meant getting rid of illegals. Quit making excuses that we would lose cheap labor if we got rid of the illegals -- they are here illegally and shouldn't be here in the first place.

Wasn't the current administration considering having Obama-care cover illegals?? Why should someone who comes here ILLEGALLY have healthcare and I watch my paycheck get smaller as my premiums and taxes go up?? Before you know it, illegals will be lining up to get their Obama-phones that we all also pay for at a clip of $5 per line every month. Everyone does not deserve/need a cell phone. The President's administration (so I have heard) is trying to strike a deal with Apple to get refurbished older iphones for those who cannot afford a smart phone -- I pay for mine and my family's smartphones every month out of MY pocket.

@ Peter, again I agree with you. I'm not "making excuses to keep them here", I'm merely offering some of the reasons that there is not a bigger push to deport every person that is here illegally. As I stated before, the current administration has deported more illegal aliens than any other administration, but in the end it all comes down to the money (as with most things).

As far as "entitlements", most of that money is going to seniors, veterans, and children. It's consistent of you to say that you'd pay more in taxes if it meant being able to deport even more than the record number of deportations over the past 4 years. Based on your comments, however, I assume that you really don't understand the Affordable Care Act a.k.a ObamaCare. It sounds like you think it is government healthcare as opposed to a set of regulations for the private healthcare industry? If they can already purchase health insurance, the ACA would not do anything except extend the same protections (not being kicked off for getting sick, no rejection of pre-existing conditions, etc).

As far as the phone thing, if you follow the money, it is the cell phone companies charging us and not the government. The govenment sets up an arrangement with the companies and charges them for the program & servicing, and they line up to provide it. They then pass the cost on to us. I don't agree with it myself, I pay for all my own stuff as well, but I'm sure the private sector is making a profit on this too.

Doug - according to voters' wishes, the Dems should control the House.
Citizens cast 1.1 million MORE votes for Dems, than Repubs. But R's maintained their control of House due to gerrymandering.

"Republicans Won More Seats, Democrats Won More Votes"
http://go.bloomberg.com/political-capital/2012-11-16/republicans-won-more-seats-democrats-won-more-votes/

Most damning, this report from the Republican State Leadership Committee (RSLC) openly discussing their "REDMAP" strategy - boasting the only reason the GOP controls the House of Representatives is because they gerrymandered congressional districts in blue states:
http://rslc.com/_blog/News/post/REDMAP_2012_Summary_Report
RE: Michigan: "The effectiveness of REDMAP [strategy] is perhaps most clear in the state of Michigan. 2012 election was a huge success for Democrats at the statewide level in Michigan: But Republicans at the state level maintained majorities in both chambers of the legislature and voters elected a 9-5 Republican majority to represent them in Congress."

Now, It's really up to the R's to determine if that's also the strategy for Term 2, and thus subvert the clear wishes of the American electorate.

People have spoken, if the R's are not listening, they will lose the House in 2014. Although, instead of listening to the wishes of voters, 6 R-cont'd states (incl. MI) are looking to change how electoral vote are awarded to rig in favor of R cand's based on gerrymandered districts.

Erin: I disagree...The fact that democrats had more votes, yet don't control the House is not an issue if you believe that the House of Representatives is intended to represent all of America. Otherwise, a few heavily weighted urban areas would wipe out the Representation of millions of people in smaller communities.

President Obama won the election, but nearly half of America don't support his views. That is not a mandate. President Clinton and Reagan figured that out and found a way to work with the other party and accomplish things. This President has not.

How how quickly one forgets that if you said ANYTHING that opposed the Bush/Cheney presidency you were called ANTI AMERICAN.

A conservative?? Who do you have in mind? Until the Republican party realizes there are more than old white men in the US that vote, I don't think your wish will come true. They need to reign in the Tea Party and get their act together.

Yesterday, Paul Ryan tweets for a congrats of President Obama, some call Ryan too liberal and want to see him gone. Oh you mean that kind of conservative? Well, then good luck in 2016.

Guess that's what they mean when they say that a picture is worth a thousand words. Compare that image with Jackie Kennedy or Betty Ford. Here's what you voted for, people, enough said.

Im sure we'll see alot more rude behavior now, and a busy travel schedual for big M and the girls [on our dime].

John L - so?
http://www.cnn.com/2013/01/22/politics/michelle-obama-eye-roll/index.html?hpt=hp_t2
"If President Barack Obama's relationship with House Speaker John Boehner was contentious in the past, he certainly wasn't showing it while the two sat at the head table of a congressional lunch following Monday's inauguration.

The two appeared to have a lighthearted exchange that prompted an apparent eye roll from first lady Michelle Obama, who was seated between them."

By all accounts, a jovial and congenial luncheon. Why jump to the conclusion that an eye roll is a sign of disrespect, instead of, much more likely, gesturing in agreement with whatever the boys were joking about.

Someone sneezed and scratched their nose with their middle finger. Was that intended as disrepect? Or just normal human behavior?

How cute Beverly

Ok, I will bite.......too cold outside to walk the dog so will have to stay in here and fester. (Not something I am all that good at......)

I just have to say the 'Tea Party' MAY have had a chance had it not been hijacked by the Corporations and the 1% who don't want ANY regulations that will limit their profitability. The Original members will be quite distraught once they realize the fight is NOT really about them!

Regulations are NECESSARY to ensure that our government is looking out for the PEOPLE (protecting our land, water, air and food.....all necessary for LIFE) and all of those CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS that the Tea Party supposedly fights for.

'LIFE, LIBERTY and the PURSUIT of HAPPINESS!' Nowhere does it say....the pursuit of WEALTH......at the expense of LIFE.

The Tea Party is a tool of the 40-Billion-dollar Koch Brothers. One of my favorite bumper stickers sums it up quite nicely: "Tea Parties are for little girls with imaginary friends."

Your's is the party of take away...take away my health care, take away SS and Medicare, take away people's right to vote, take your money and hide it in the Cayman Islands, obstruct jobs for Veterans, force your religious views on everybody, dismantel the dept of education and the EPA, you start wars, believe in an economic system set upon survival of the fittest while ignoring the plight of the poor and disabled, you withhold help for needy children, you want to condem millions to live without health care. You profess to have religious views but by your actions only use that as a cover to your radical self-serving agenda. You will never step foot in the White House, the people have spoken. Until you realize that the President has to look out for the "Common good" and not pander to 18% of the population your party will fail to move forward and "That's a good thing"!

Donna -- the president wants to "take away" my income and give it to someone else. He wants to tax me because I worked hard in college to get an undergrad and 2 masters degrees and work for a place that has a "cadillac health care plan". He wants me to continue to pay into a "social security and medicade" system that will not be around in 20 years -- why can't I opt out and fund my own 401K (that, by the way, is doing very, very well).

I don't think the Tea Party is the party that "takes away" --- I think they are the party that wants you to keep what you EARN with no free handouts.

Peter,
I just have to wonder who will be paying for your brain surgery at age 60 with no medicare and possibly no job because you no longer have employer based health insurance? And how will you feel when you find out your neighbor, a former nurse, gets paid more than you in bonuses to deny you coverage for that surgery or worse yet, was responsible for denying coverage for those MRIs over the previous 10 year that could have caught that tumor in time for less invasive treatment options?

Oh, wait, your 67 and have Medicare?......(one of those handouts you paid for your entire life). Its your lucky day, because now the 'Government' will be 'giving' you a 300 dollar voucher to pay for insurance to cover your 'progressive' illness. Better hope those insurance companies are still complying by the rules of Obamacare and unable to deny you coverage for that pre-existing condition (doubtful because even that will be dismantled).

Sure hope you and your tea party friends have a cement pond with Jimmy Hoffa's body buried underneath. You are going to need the collateral!

I hear Buell Rd is a good place to start shopping!

Cheryl,
Your "logic" is adorable. I will be able to afford my own health insurance when I retire because of the nice 401K my wife and I have built up. We will retire very comfortably. It's called "planning" and providing for "yourself". Others should do the same. It's not my job in life to supplement incomes of those who don't plan. The President shouldn't say that since I make more than this guy, I "should" fund his handout. I cannot wait until social security is finally gone. My 401K could grow even more if I wasn't paying into that broken system and could keep that money. I would opt out in a second. President Bush was unfairly criticized for proposing that individuals could "opt out" of social security and invest that money on their own. When Social Security was started, it wasn't intended to be permanent.

People need to get by on their own merit! If you didn't plan for retirement, then too bad. I have almost reached my financial goals for retirement with 20-25 years still to work and accumulate more. I already have my kids planning for retirement -- since they have been born, we have been planning for them. By the time they retire, each one of them should be well set.

Translation: I've got mine.

Peter,
Do you know how many people I have known who have been diagnosed with brain cancer this month alone? And there are two that I can think of off the top of my head who's general physicians did not even refer them to neurologists in the early symptom stages presumably due to insurance limitations. Another, who had to see 5 neurologists before they were given an MRI. Needless to say, this patient's vision had decreased to 20/50 in both eyes by that point! ( An undeniable sign of neurological damage )

And you must know, these are the patients WITH insurance!

cont.

Believe me, many try to tap into their 401ks in times of trouble but rarely can they cover all expenses as their careers have taken a hit over the last 2-3 recessions.

To make matters worse, I have a relative (trained as a nurse) who makes more working for a health Insurance company denying coverage to patients based on test results that he is barely able to read. Believe me, I was dismayed when he asked ME to explain a simple visual field test used in most Opthalmologists' office to screen for bitemporal quadranopsias which is usually the first sign of a Pituitary tumor. (This is about the time his wife who works for a neurologist......rolled her eyes)

Believe me, many have tried to sell the Paul Ryan's voucher plan of 'choice'. I politely say no! My life should not hang in the balance as a commodity to be traded on the free market!

cont. 2

Under your plan, I would say 2008 would not have been a good year for a brain tumor.

I sincerely hope that you never have to face such a situation. I would never wish this on anyone. Nonetheless, I thought I would give you some food for thought. I usually don't like to use personal examples. But I just thought you should perhaps hear a little more about how the other half lives! Really, I dont like to play the 'class' card nor the 'wealth' card or even the 'socioeconomic' card. Because, in the end, we are all vulnerable.

AMEN to that..!

I agree Colleen.

..... and there you go again, Dano. Boo-hoo and blah, blah, blah.

you work that extra day a week because George Bush and Republicans tanked the economy, ended Clinton's deficit and started two outrageously expensive wars. To answer your question, "How do you deal with (living in an entitlement society)"? I would say, "Suck it up! You sound ridiculous. You do not 'go to work' to keep this country going."

I hear the Repubs complain about this all the time. What about Farm Subsidies for rich farmers, or tax breaks and loop holes for corporations ( making record profits these days, profits that were supposed to "Trickle down" to the workers. Only to be had by CEO's and their million dollar bonus). This is also a form of welfare for the rich. Only we call it a different name. No difference in my book.

A comment was deleted because it violates our terms of service. For terms visit whitelake.patch.com/terms

Just "a" comment was deleted? The usefulness of this thread seems to have evaporated, can it just be closed? It seems to have degenerated into the usual disappointing back and forth of ad hominem attacks and generally trollish nonsense. Great for "page counts" if that's what we're striving for, but not so great for enlighting folks.

Sue that is true and factual. Vehicular manslaughter.

Seriously sir, what did you expect? We have just spent the last four years listening to the guy train one half of the country to hate the other. Anyone who disagrees with him is an evil, heartless, self-centered, aparatchik of the dastardly corporations, bent on the destruction of various downtrodden victims. Have you really not been listening? You didn't hear him call on Latino voters to punish their enemies?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=riVzMzX4hiE

Enemies? Are you kidding me? An American president calling other Americans enemies? My God.

Spot on Darren, so sad.

John Lang:

65,899,660 Americans voted to re-elect President Obama. Democracy rocks!

Darren, you do realize that these guys are all hanging down at Mr. B's, elbows on table, downing a beer and waiting for you to come along and acknowledge their comments. They live on this stuff.....and sometimes even get paid for their provocative comments.....imagine that! They remind me of the guys in my 11th grade drafting class.........Oh Wait......They ARE the guys from my 11th grade drafting class................t-squares and all!

John, as opposed to 8 years of being told that we "support the terrorists" and are unpatriotic if we dared to exercise our constitutional right to criticize George Bush? That sort of hate? I think it is ridiculous for the right to spew hate and vitriol as if if were just plain common sense and then to have hernias when the left dare to roll their eyes.

Brad,
You are always right on! Actually, what a wise person once suggested to me.......'Perhaps this is more of Mars vs. Venus issue discussion'. Because, after all, we really don't know who irked her more. From a females perspective, I am guessing her husband.

And don't ask Boehner.........'He seems to have NO CLUE'........

John L - I've said it before, you can't get your "news" from edited viral videos on Youtube.

John Lang: Your comment fits my description to a T. No, I didn't hear our president say any of those things, and neither did anyone else without an agenda driven by fear and demagogic pundits. I have NEVER heard him say we should hate ANYONE. I DID hear him say, however, that corporations are not intrinsically evil, neither are profits or those who reap them. Several times, in fact. I've also heard him say (even in his inauguration speech) that we need to work together to solve our problems, not fight each other with rigid, partisan spew. He included everyone in the phrase, "WE THE PEOPLE". Were YOU not listening? Perhaps you were distracted by the incessant drone of your favorite talking heads...

Tell us Bill, what color is the sky in YOUR "real" world?

You are absolutely right! If it were only that simple! Many like to stir the pot just for kicks, some are truly sincere and others are actually 'paid' to stir controversy! The most provocative statements are more likely the 'latter'. Until, the American public can recognize the difference, it is not likely to improve! We need to turn off our media outlets and let our collective adrenal glands heal!

Amanda - you are so right! I've had family go to Inaugurations for both party's wins. It is an exciting day for Americans of any political persuasion.

I was at the Michigan Ball in DC on Monday night- the FULL Michigan delegation was there - Dems and Repubs Reps - all having a great time together.

You know Amanda, that is a very admirable goal. I feel the same way! We only have one life! I am learning daily that the only way to learn about our collective humanity is to 'engage'! ....... Which is why I am about to enter the freezing tundra........... to engage in conversation with other dog lovers on the trail......and to prevent the pooch from making a mess!
Have a delightful day!

Go look for a birth certificate with Donald Trump.

Thank you Colleen.

(and Lianne above)

Yep...

http://www.daysuntil.com/Inauguration-President-US/index.html

I'm an excellent driver. I'm an excellent driver...

john--

That's how many days until President H. R. Clinton is sworn in?

I'm still going with Michelle. Unless the 22nd Amendment is gone by then, along with the rest of the Constitution. No basketball on tonight?

John,
' I am sure there is someone out there who would love to drive cross country with the whitest woman(man) on the face of the earth, singing Carpenter songs(Frankie GTH) and reliving childhood memories, but it aint me'........

(Can you spot that one?)

Dan,

You obviously have not been ingesting enough Fox News. We are clearly on the brink of Marxist-Socialist oblivion.

HRC = woof....woof. Bleeechhhhh!!!!!!

Such is what passes as political debate in this country. We are all doomed.

James - every major news outlet is lauding her strong performance on the hot seat - in stark relief to the grandstanding, and often uninformed and unprepared GOP questioners. This from Fox News:

"One after another they lined up to ask the same tired old questions about timelines and talking points and cable traffic. They spent more time grandstanding than grilling. They looked like a bunch of Pygmies going up against the great Zulu warrior."

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2013/01/24/pygmies-vs-zulu-warrior-how-republicans-blew-it-when-questioning-clinton/#ixzz2IwCIcB37";

Erin, and everyone else that has participated in this thread for the last few days should pay attention to what Erin says here. Erin bases her decisions on what "every major news outlet" tells her. Think about that for a minute. This is very important. Here we have someone basing their opinions on what they are told by "every major news outlet". Don't know about you, but that scares the bejesus out of me.

Or is Erin a him? If so, I apologize. My bad.

John needs to put his big boy pants on and act like a gentleman. You too Peter.

John - I was simply making the point that the broad perception accross the board is that Sec. Clinton had a strong showing yesterday. That is all.

Although I read/view several news sources - I prefer to think for myself, thank you.