Barack Hussein Obama claimed his place in history as America’s first black president Tuesday, summoning a dispirited and divided nation to unite in hope against the “gathering clouds and raging storms” of unfinished war and grave economic woe.
A jubilant crowd of more than a million waited for hours in frigid temperatures to witness the moment as a young black man with a foreign-sounding name took command of a nation founded by slaveholders. It was a scene watched in fascination by many millions — perhaps billions — around the world.
“We gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord,” the nation’s 44th president said.
The presidency passed to Democrat Obama from Republican George W. Bush at the stroke of noon, marking one of democracy’s greatest gifts: the peaceful transfer of power.
Buoyant and relaxed through the three days of pre-inaugural festivities, Obama seemed somber as he stood on the Capitol steps, placed his left hand on the Bible used by Abraham Lincoln and repeated the inaugural oath “to preserve, protect and defend” a Constitution that originally defined blacks as three-fifths of a person. A deafening cheer went up.
“What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility — a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly,” Obama said. “This is the price and the promise of citizenship.”
It was a day of high spirits — jarred by sudden concern about the health of Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, a legendary Democrat who is suffering from brain cancer and was rushed to a hospital from a Senate luncheon after the swearing-in. “My prayers are with him and his family and (Kennedy’s wife) Vicki,” Obama said. Later, fellow Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts said Kennedy was laughing and joking at the hospital and itching to get back to work.
On the inaugural parade route, Obama and his wife, Michelle, climbed out of the heavily armored presidential limousine and walked a few blocks along famed Pennsylvania Avenue, waving to adoring crowds under the watchful eyes of security agents.
Obama wove a thread of personal responsibility and accountability through his inaugural address, an 18-minute sermon on civic duty. A liberal Democrat proposing billions of dollars in new spending, Obama nonetheless spoke of the limits of government.
“It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break, the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours,” he said. “It is the firefighter’s courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a parent’s willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate.”
Obama’s 10-year-old daughter, Malia, aimed a camera at her father as he spoke. Michelle leaned onto the edge of her seat, body tensed and brow knitted.
“Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off and begin again the work of remaking America,” Obama said.
He alluded to the inability — or unwillingness — of Americans to adjust to the passing of an industrial-based economy. “Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age,” he said. With that, the 47-year-old former Illinois senator transformed himself — from a candidate claiming his campaign is about the voters to a president promising to put the nation in the people’s hands.
Unlike most predecessors, Obama takes office with his agenda in many ways set for him.
An economy that seems more foreboding than at any inauguration since Franklin D. Roosevelt took office in 1933, with some 11 million people now out of work, and trillions of dollars of stock market investments lost. Two wars, one in Iraq that most of the country has long wanted over and another in Afghanistan that is spiraling downward and needs an overhaul. The continuing fear that another calamitous terrorist attack is not out of the question.
More inspirational than prescriptive, Obama’s inaugural address only glancingly mentioned a series of promises from his campaign: to get the U.S. out of Iraq, stabilize Afghanistan, create jobs, “restore science to its rightful place,” boost the use of alternative energy, address climate change, transform schools, manage government spending wisely and oversee a more bipartisan, less-divisive approach to policy-making.
To a world eager for his leadership to replace Bush’s, Obama had welcome words: “We are ready to lead once more.”
The day began well before dawn as people made their way downtown to secure spots from which to witness history, and it was to extend well past midnight through a swirl of 10 official inaugural balls and many more unofficial galas.
— Associated Press
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Newspaper veteran name Publisher of Commonwealth Journal
SOMERSET — A fourth generation newspaperman has been named publisher of the Commonwealth Journal.
Rob McCullough, 50, who started working in a newspaper mailroom when he was 15, officially assumes his duties today. He succeeds Jack McNeely who has accepted a position with the Daily Mountain Eagle in Jasper, Alabama.
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Daryl Brunner seeking a better life
Like many non-traditional students, Daryl Brunner enrolled in classes at Somerset Community College seeking a better life for himself and his family.
“I’ve built homes, worked in factories and done the blue collar thing,” Brunner said. “I realized you can only go so far in that line of work.” -
Avery Countryman is first baby of 2012
One local couple welcomed a new baby into their family —and the community welcomed the first birth of 2012 as well.
Jessica and Hunter Countryman were excited to welcome Avery Countryman, who was born at 1:47 a.m. on New Year’s Day at Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital. Avery weighed 5 lbs, 9 ounces.
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Hog Wild
Numbers of wild hogs are increasing in Kentucky and the untamed porkers have been aggravating farmers in the western part of Pulaski County for the past four or five years.
“I saw six last Sunday morning,” said Eugene Harness, speaking from Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital where he was recovering from surgery resulting from a fall at his barn on New Year’s Eve.
Harness, a cattle farmer who lives on Carter Ridge Road, has been dealing with wild hogs for a considerable time. He trapped four wild hogs last spring, and, under supervision of a conservation officer, killed and cleaned the animals.
“You’re not allowed to turn them loose,” said Harness. “You have to kill them ... Kentucky Fish and Wildlife doesn’t want them. We don’t want them. They are very destructive.”
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It's Official
Andy Stephens can now call himself the Southwestern head football coach without ‘interim’ being in front of it.
After being hired as the new Southwestern Warriors football coach yesterday, Stephens can now remove the ‘interim’ tag from his name.
“I'm excited for the opportunity,” began Stephens, who becomes only the second coach in Southwestern High School football program history. “I feel like we have a great program and a great school. Anytime you have that many positives around you I think you have an opportunity to be successful.”
Stephens, who spent ten seasons coaching at Casey County High School, led Southwestern to their best season in school history this past fall. Stephens took over the head coaching duties midway through the season after the sudden resignation of long-time coach Dale Anderson.
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is Gas Price Rollercoaster ready to roll?
We haven’t heard anything official yet, but Iran’s threat this week to block the Strait of Hormuz was an uncomfortable reminder of the early 1970s when an Arab boycott caused a nationwide gasoline shortage.
Even the possibility –– the U.S. Government initially declined comment –– a threat to shut off one-fifth of the world’s oil supply makes Big Oil nervous, and those folks calm their jitters by raising the price of oil. Oil topped $100 a barrel after the threat.
And, with that happening, before you can say “fill’er’up,” gasoline at the pump likely will jump in price. It goes up in generous increments, but the price comes down a stingy penny at the time.
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A Hero's Welcome
Recent media attention to Dakota Meyer, the Greensburg native who recently received the Medal of Honor, whetted Clarence Love’s memory of a royal homecoming in Somerset for Caption George E. “Ed” Kiser, one of the most decorated heroes of World War II.
“I was there at the homecoming celebration,” said Love. The retired Somerset city clerk has a copy of the October 12, 1942 Life magazine in which Life photographer Eugene Smith has complete photographic coverage of the event. -
Invisible & Deadly Hazard
Brandon and Bethany Hughes both believe they have much to be thankful for this holiday season.
The young couple, both Pulaski County natives, are looking at Christmas with a new mindset — one brought about by a terrifying encounter with a wintertime danger that many people don’t even think about. -
SPD Officer Brooks Barleston honored
Somerset Police Officer Brooks Barleston was recognized recently for his part in DUI enforcement within the City of Somerset.
The Kentucky Governor’s Impaired Driving Enforcement Award is handed out each year to an officer from each Kentucky law enforcement agency that makes the highest number of DUI arrests. The awards ceremony was held this month at Embassy Suites Hotel in Lexington.
Officer Barleston has been with the police department since 2007 and serves in the patrol division.
The police department has made 229 DUI arrests so far in 2011.
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Somerset Refinery entering 80th year as Somerset icon
Despite changing names and management over the decades, Somerset's beleaguered Monticello Street crude oil refinery is most fondly known here as simply "Somerset Refinery."
The purchase of the refinery being announced to Commonwealth Journal readers in the accompanying article today marks another landmark in the history of the 80-year-old Somerset industrial icon. - More Features Headlines
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