The Constitution of the United States requires that the President be sworn into office on January 20th every four years. As a result, President Obama officially took the oath of office yesterday in the Blue Room of the White House. Supreme Court Justice John Roberts administer the oath of office to the President.
At the Vice Presidential residence, Vice President Joe Biden was officially sworn-in by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor earlier in the day. Here are photographs from both events.
Commentator and Author Robert Shrum writes of a new ideologue civil war that is gripping America. In his latest Daily Beast column, Shrum writes that with the extreme right in total control of the House of Representatives that the nation's Capital faces and endless battle by extremists to stop President Obama at any cost. Forget the needs of the nation, forget the unemployed and forget those programs which will make America great again and because the hardliners will just focus on the harming the President and his programs.
Shrum writes:
"Obama and Biden face a far more hostile, far less amenable Washington—not only without a super-majority in Congress, but with a filibuster-infested Senate and a Republican House, many of whose members seem hell-bent on crashing the economy. The vice president does deserve credit for getting the nation off the fiscal cliff—and the president deserves credit for sending him to the cliff without worrying that he would kick over the traces and without begrudging him the limelight. Biden was comfortable in a powerful but subordinate role and the modern Senate was comfortable with his activist intervention in legislative affairs.
He did a lot of good for the country and his own future as a potential 2016 candidate. But it’s important to remember what he did—which was not to secure a landmark advance of the kind Kennedy sought and Johnson got after he was president, but to staunch a big self-inflicted wound that would bleed the economy and the markets. This was truly consequential, but it was less a matter of making progress than of preventing retrogress. And as we look ahead, it’s illusory to suggest that Obama can magically work his will if he just becomes a pol-friendly operator—or if he lets Biden act like the mythical version of a pre-presidential LBJ.
The problem that may blight the next four years is an ideological chasm where the president’s attempts at reasonable compromise are routinely rebuffed, where a polarization to the right among Republicans is reinforced by resentment and a refusal to accept the results of the 2012 election. Or to put it plainly, they can’t believe Obama is still there—and they’re more than ready, or forced by their own extremists, to obstruct him at almost any cost."
Shrum continues with the fact that all the President's appointments are being endlessly attacked in Congress and by the right wing media outlets. Mother Theresa would have a hard time getting approval from this crowd of Republicans in the United States Senate. Shrum writes:
"Maybe the Republicans will attempt to decapitate the federal government by leaving it without major cabinet officials. In the end, they’ll fail—and thanks to the drafters of the Constitution, at least the deranged GOP House has no say in the confirmation process. But what’s happening is more proof that what we have in Washington is not a functioning Congress, but a one-ring circus on the far right.
And watch the freak show when the president proposes comprehensive immigration reform and moves forward on gun control. Already, Iowa Rep. Steve King has introduced a bill—which happens to be unconstitutional—that would deny citizenship to immigrant children born in this country. The only part of the Constitution that King and too many like him in the House seem to revere is the Second Amendment—in absolute and absolutely distorted terms. A week ago, I argued that it would be a mistake to bet against Biden’s chances of achieving progress on guns. After listening to the GOP stooges for the NRA—think of Texas Rep. Louis Gohmert, who said that a “hammer” could be “an assault weapon”—I’m ready to bet that not much gun legislation of any kind can get past Boehner’s brigades.
When the vice president said that Obama might act by executive order, the Drudge Report went into a frenzy, complete with pictures of Hitler and Stalin, apparently since taken down. The episode not only reveals the limitless shamelessness of Drudge, but the ugliness that pervades the opposition to Obama. And if you want to see it get even worse, just wait until the president selects someone to fill the next Supreme Court vacancy.
I hope I’m wrong—that somehow Boehner locates his conscience; that enough Republicans decide to do what’s right rather than far right; that the GOP heeds Chris Christie’s counsel that “compromise [is] not a dirty word.” But it’s more than possible that Christie will become an exile in his own party—and that the greatest nation on earth may become a hobbled, dysfunctional democracy.
If so, Americans will settle the issue at the polls in favor of progress—unless a dwindling, demographically depleted Republican Party succeeds for a while in imposing new Jim Crow–like restrictions on voting. But long-term, that’s a losing game. And today, the GOP is the party that won’t compromise; the party that threatens economic chaos; the anti-Medicare, anti–Social Security, anti-women, anti-Hispanic, anti-gay, anti-young party. There’s no future in that.
Barack Obama and Joe Biden may now have to prove their mettle as never before. The vice president has to be himself, not a reprise of a miscast LBJ. And the president has to be himself too, not the sudden apparition of an inauthentic pol.
Yes, it’s going to be not just a bumpy night, but probably a long, bumpy ride."
There are a number of combinations where Mitt Romney and President Obama could tie in the Electoral College. BusinessInsider.com has worked out one very scary scenario where neither candidate would have enough electoral votes to be elected President. They both remain at 269 - just one short of victory! You have to go to the site to find out the ending but here is excerpts from the beginning!
The site begins the story:
It's the night of Election Day, and, as predicted, Pennsylvania is called for Obama relatively quickly, and North Carolina — where, let's say the Obama campaign pulled out in October, is summarily called for Romney.
But, after shifting around resources and coughing up a swing state to reallocate resources, Romney outperforms expectations in adopted home New Hampshire. Florida — while still very close — is leaning Republican.
Obama, who needs some good news, picks up Virginia in the early evening. But then, there's a shift. The Midwest Republican turnout was high, and Ohio and Iowa are called for Romney, but Obama keeps Wisconsin.
Now, the western states are phoning in the results, and after a blistering air war in Nevada, it looks like Romney is going to win it. Still, a tight race in Colorado has Obama in the lead.
By midnight, all the races are called. Romney has picked up North Carolina, Florida, New Hampshire, Iowa, Ohio, and Nevada — all well within his reach. Obama has scored Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Colorado and Virginia. It's settled.
Neither of the candidates have hit 270. They're tied at 269.
Then what happens?:
What the hell happens now? It goes to Congress. The incoming House of Representatives holds a special session where each state delegation gets a single vote. California's 55 member House delegation gets together and picks which candidate they will give their one vote to, just as Wyoming's single House Representative picks who gets his state's vote.
The House votes in January until one candidate gets 26 votes, an outright majority of the fifty states.
So nobody in the country knows who the president is going to be until the House meets and votes after 1:00 PM on January 6th, two weeks before the man is due to be sworn in.
But here's the scariest possibility.
Let's say that after a drubbing on the presidential level, the house races are an abject catastrophe, and a many are still too close to call the morning after — six have already entered automatic recount mode, and attorneys for another four races have already filed court papers.
Now, House delegations with an outright, non-threatened one-party majority — the New Yorks, the Alaskas — would bring the total of Obama 14, Romney 20. But let's say several tossup house races and seats make it so that states with a split majority, like Iowa, Florida, and North Carolina shift to the left. When a dozen specific final races are called for Democrats — presumably after being caught up in months of litigation and recounts — the state delegations from a number of crucial swing states are split, with some a hair for the Democrats. Democratic Delegations Republican Delegations AZ CA CO CT DE FL HI IA IL ME MD MA MI MN NH NJ NM NY NC NV RI WA VT WI AL AK AR GA ID IN KS KY LA MS MO MT NE ND OH OK PA SC SD TN TX UT VA WY WV
Final tally? 25-25. To select the President, someone has to give. And with congress as entrenched as it is right now, and with the stakes as high as they are, there isn't a President, and there will not be a President.
-Lots of news coming out of the Democratic National Committee about the Democratic Convention. The most important and extremely historical news is that the Democratic Party will officially include full marriage equality in its National Platform. This is an amazing victory and another indication how far we have come.
-Also the DNC announced that former President Bill Clinton will nominate President Obama for a second term - what a powerful moment. By the way, the latest Gallup Poll has Clinton with his highest approval rating since 1993! A full 66% of Americans approve of the former President.
-Just before President Clinton nominates President Obama, Democratic Senatorial candidate Elizabeth Warren will speak to the Convention. Can't wait to watch it and cheer loudly.
-Who is Larisa Latynina? She was the Soviet gymnast who won a total of 18 medals in the Olympics between 1956 and 1964 for the most wins ever. If Michael Phelps wins two more medals of any type before the Olympics is over, he will replace her in the record books forty-eight years later!
-Speaking of the Olympics, did you know that the Olympic Torch was put out for about 80 hours (actually still lighted in a little lantern) while they moved the cauldron to another location in the Olympic Stadium? It is still on the floor and not visible from anywhere in the Olympic Park. They then quietly brought the torch back to life.
-Ed Kennedy of "Morning MeMe" on AfterElton.com brought to my attention the wonderful article by Conor Gaughan about the Chick-Fil-A battle. Here is the part that I just love but you must read his entire article on "Huffington Post"
When gays get so angry about a chicken sandwich, it is because Chick-fil-A has given around $5 million to fight to discriminate against us. When we praise brave Eagle Scouts who give up their badges in protest of the Boy Scouts of America's prejudice, it's not about scoring political points; it's because there are kids in dens who are being taught to believe that they are less than equal. When we rant about the pastor who preaches that gays should be thrown into a concentration camp, we scream out of fear. And our fears are justified -- in the last seven days, a lesbian in Nebraska was carved with a knife, a gay man in Oklahoma was firebombed, and a girl in Kentucky was kicked and beaten -- her jaw broken and her teeth knocked out -- while her assailants allegedly hurled anti-gay slurs at her.
-The Glass House Tavern had another busy week! Cybril Shepherd, Judy Kaye, Molly Price, Nigel and Cristen Barker, Director Gary Ross (the Hunger Games) and Disney Chairman Alan Horn were all seen having fun and making deals!
-More than 65,000 people packed Cowboy Stadium in Dallas to listen to Glenn Beck do his rap. Sigh.
-Econimists are saying that if the poverty rate increase just 0.1% from its current 15.1% it will be the highest poverty rate since 1965.
-Playbill.com reports that a musical on President Kennedy will come to Broadway in November, 2013. "Kennedy will open on the 50th anniversary of his death in Dallas.
-Speaking of Broadway, you can't get more excited about actors Henry Winkler and Cheyenne Jackson opening on the Great White Way this November. They will star in "The Performers". The show opens November 14th at the Longacre Theater. What a treat!
-Hollywood is opening its pocketbooks for our President. Besides the one million dollar donation by Morgan Freeman, you can find Bette Midler and her husband contributing $110,000 so far. Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson have donated $71,000 to the effort. You can find the entire list here. Oh, by the way, Scott Baio, has given $12,5000 to Romney. Does that mean if Romney wins we will have to listen to Scott Baio sing with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir?
-You can go to this site and find any panel on the AIDS Memorial Quilt.
-Queen Elizabeth II met with four British Prime Ministers over lunch at Number 10 Downing Street. Joining her was current Prime Minister Cameron and former Prime Ministers Major, Blair and Brown.
-That very articulate young man Zach Wahls has endorsed our President. It is will worth the listen!
-dlisted.com has a tape of an interview with Prince Albert and Princess Charlene which is one of the most awkward interviews I have ever seen. You must watch it.
-There is nothing more important than electing our own. The Victory Fund has just endorsed sixteen more candidates including candidates for mayor, judges and school boards.
-An incredible essay on Bruce Springsteen at 62 years in the New Yorker. One of my favorite singers with a full profile in the prestigious magazine.
-How ironic that the day after Mayor Bloomberg endorsed Republican Scott Brown against Elizabeth Warren because Brown was 'good' on gun control the Republican Brown came out against a national assault rifle ban.
-The new Lesbian Super PAC - LPAC - raised $200,000 in its first day!
-Couple of the year! Who wouldn't be excited about David Beckham and Prince William together at one of the Olympic events. Thanks to socialite.com but can we have more pictures, please?
-Speaking of Princes, evidently Prince Andrew is furious with Prince Charles for being kept off the Royal Balcony at Buckingham Palace. The MailOnline says that Prince Charles just wants the next in line folks standing with the Queen.
-Towleroad.com has run a story about the possibility that bone marrow transplants could possibly eliminate HIV/AIDS. This is an important breakthrough and deserves to be moved on rapidly by the scientific community.
-You have to be one cold S.O.B. not to adore this next video of a Baby Walrus separated from its mother.
-Americans want Mitt Romney to release those tax returns by 54% to 37%. Independents by 53% to 36% want them released. Even 30% of Republicans want they released according to Gallup Polling. Actually 44% of Americans believe there is information in those tax returns damaging or extremely harmful to Romney's campaign.
-The polls in the battleground states are really starting to tighten up according to the Purple Strategies polls. Our President has been leading in most of those states but clearly the economic problems facing the country are taking a toll. However the national polls continue to show the race as tied with one candidate leading one day and the other the next day. There has been very little shift in those polls.
-The most concerning poll is the Quinnipiac Poll in Virginia. The latest results have our President and Mitt tied at 44% each. In March, Obama had an eight point lead and the state was considered relatively safe for the Democrats. Other polls also show the race tightening in the Old Dominican State.
-Where the race is closer in Nevada, two polls show the President still leading. The Magellan Strategies Poll shows Obama with 50% and Romney with 46%. In the We Ask America Poll, Obama leads by 6 points.
-Talk about fickle friends! Republicans have turned their backs on Chief Justice John Roberts of the United States Supreme Court. Gallup Polling shows that among Republicans that Roberts only receives a 27% approval rating (down from 67% a year ago) and a disapproval rating of 44%!
-President Obama, according to Public Policy Polling (PPP), still leads Mitt in Iowa with 48% to Romney's 43%. The 5 point margin is down 10 points in the previous poll.
-There is great news in a Latino Decisions Poll which shows President Obama taking the Latino vote by a margin of 70% for Obama to 22% for Mitt. Wow.
-Despite reliable rumors that Bully-In-Chief Governor Chris Christie might be the keynote speaker at the Republican Convention in Tampa, New Jersey is safe and sound for the President. The latest Quinnipiac Poll has Obama at 49% and Romney at 28%.
-The same polling showed that New Jersey Democratic Senator Robert Menendez has opened up a 13% lead over Republican State Senator Joseph Kyrillos.
-Again in the same poll, a large 40% of Republicans in New Jersey say Christie would be a bad choice to be Romney's Vice Presidential running mate.
-PPP shows a closer race in New Mexico. Obama continues to lead but is down from a 14 point lead to just a five point lead.
-The Quinnipiac Poll shows that Democratic United States Senator Mark Warner is the most popular elected official in Virginia with a 57% approval rating
-Good news in Wisconsin in that the President is holding steady with a 7 point lead according to recent polls.
-Every place should be like New York State with the President at 61% and Mitt only at 34%. Without a doubt it is the President's best large state. The Siena Poll also gives Governor Andrew Cuomo a favorability rating of 69%!
-Siena also gives Democratic Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (above with Secretary Clinton) a huge 55% to 28% lead over Tea Party favorite Wendy Long.
-The WMUR Granite State Poll shows the President clinging to a slight lead with Obama at 49% and Romney at 45%.
Carl Siciliano and Mildred Ramos at White House
The White House has created "Champions of Change" which picks the best Americans working on a particular issue and honors them by giving them a platform at that historic edifice.
New York's Carl Siciliano was among only a dozen in the entire nation picked for his work with homeless LGBT youth at the Ali Forney Center. At the White House, these dozen outstanding Americans exchanged ideas with the Administration and others that will greatly advance the cause of young people who are roaming the streets without a home.
Ciciliano's remarks and thoughts were placed on the White House Blog:
When the Ali Forney Center first opened its doors ten years ago, there was simply no safe shelter for homeless LGBT kids in New York City. With nowhere safe to turn, many kids slept in parks and in the subways. Many turned to survival sex – trading sex for shelter. These young people struggled to survive in dangerous, squalid, humiliating situations.
Ali Forney was a gay youth who was rejected by his family and forced to live on the streets of New York City at the age of 13. I was the director of a drop in center for homeless youth and met Ali when he was 17. In December of 1997, Ali was murdered on the streets. He was 22 years old.
My central inspiration for doing the work we do has been enduring the tragic deaths of Ali and six other homeless LGBT youths during a time when NYC had no safe shelter for LGBT youth; I never want to see that happen again. When the Ali Forney Center opened its doors in June of 2002, I had no idea if we would survive. We had just one donor and a church offering us free use of their basement, where we provided six cots. Since we opened our doors there have been no murders of homeless LGBT youth on the streets of NYC. Ali’s murder was never brought to justice, but his spirit lives on in our work and in each of the lives we transform.
Ten years later I am filled with gratitude for the response we have received from the LGBT community, and many of our allies. This response has allowed the Ali Forney Center to become a remarkable success; we have become the largest and most comprehensive organization dedicated to homeless LGBT youth in the country. We now offer emergency shelter and longer term housing with a combined total of 77 beds in eight different residential facilities. We also offer two drop-in centers where we provide food, clothing, showers, free medical and mental health care, and educational and vocational assistance, helping thousands of kids who have flocked to us for help from all over the country and the world. And, after these ten years, I am full of pride for the success of so many of our kids. I rejoice in seeing how with the proper nurturing and support they are able to find the strength to overcome the most terrible mistreatment. Seeing many go to college, get jobs, and move out on their own is nothing short of a triumph over the most toxic effects of rejection.
This prestigious award is one symbol of how far we have come in addressing this issue. I am truly grateful to receive this honor and to give a voice to the hundreds of thousands of homeless young people who are abandoned by their families and forced to do what they can to survive the streets.
The White House wrote of Siciliano on its site:
Carl Siciliano is a nationally recognized advocate and provider for homeless LGBT youth and has been dedicated to this population since 1994. He began his career helping to manage shelters, soup kitchens, and residential programs for homeless individuals in New York, Washington, D.C., and Connecticut. His programs have been widely recognized for their quality and innovation. In 2002, Siciliano founded the Ali Forney Center (AFC), which has grown to become the nation’s largest and most comprehensive housing program for homeless LGBT youth. In 2002, he was named by OUT Magazine as one of the 100 Outstanding Gay Achievers. His work was recognized by the Stonewall Democrats of NYC in 2006, and in 2007 he was awarded the Brooke Astor Service Award, which is given to those who are relentless in their dedication to the city of New York and who have contributed substantially to its enrichment. Today Siciliano continues to fight for the rights and empowerment of homeless LGBT youth through the growth and outreach of the Ali Forney Center
New York City is bursting with Pride today as the news was announced that one of our own is being honored by the White House as a "Champion of Change". Executive Director of the Ali Forney Center, Carl Siciliano, will receive the honor at the White House on July 12. Everyone who knows Carl know that no one deserve the honor more for his work with homeless LGBT youth. He is a fierce less fighter for their well being and rights.
The Ali Forney Center is one of the nation's largest organizations working on behalf of homeless LGBT youth.
In a press release Siciliano express his appreciation and the work still needing to be done:
"It is thrilling that as we celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Ali Forney Center, we are also being recognized by the White House for our pioneering work on behalf of homeless LGBT youth. When we opened the Ali Forney Center, the challenges we faced were daunting; there was very little awareness of the plight of homeless LGBT youth, especially on the federal level, and it was difficult to obtain support for our work. I am very grateful to President Obama for recognizing the needs of homeless LGBT youth and incorporating their care into his vision of ending youth homelessness. I am also grateful to the White House for recognizing the quality, innovation, and importance of the Ali Forney Center, which is a testament to all of the individuals who have served on the board, staff and as volunteers."
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