George Wenschhof
Obama, Biden Sworn In For Second Term - On the cusp of his second term, President Barack Obama solemnly honored the nation's fallen soldiers Sunday before taking the oath of office in an intimate White House ceremony, a swearing-in ritual he will repeat 24 hours later before a massive crowd at the Capitol.
The day began with a morning swearing-in ceremony for Vice President Joe Biden, committing him to four more years as the nation's second in command. Biden then joined the president at Arlington National Cemetery for a wreath-laying ceremony on a crisp, sun-splashed January day.
Sunday's centerpiece would be Obama's late morning swearing-in for a second term in office. Only a small group of family members was expected to attend Obama's Sunday swearing-in, including first lady Michelle Obama and daughters Malia and Sasha. A few reporters would also be on hand to witness the event. You can read more here.
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Obama Puts Finishing Touches on Inauguration Speech - President Barack Obama will lay out the values and vision for his second term in his Inaugural Address on Monday, setting up more detailed remarks on policy in his February 12 State of the Union.
He will speak about the division in Washington, the source said, but another official said Obama will not engage his political opponents by calling them out. He is expected to say that not all debates and political differences must be resolved, but that the country can act on issues where there is common ground. CNN.com has more here.
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Day of Service Kicks Off Inaugural Weekend - Three days of inaugural celebrations kicked off in Washington Saturday, with President Barack Obama heading up a National Day of Service ahead of his swearing-in for a second term. Politico.com has more here.
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Republicans Cave on Debt Limit - House Republicans on Friday said that they will vote this week to raise the government’s statutory borrowing limit for three months, along with a provision demanding that senators pass a budget this year or lose their pay.
“This was a major victory for the president,” said Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY). “Republicans now have twice lost out on fiscal issues in the last month: first the fiscal cliff and now this.”
Schumer added Senate Democrats will draft a budget blueprint for the first time in four years and use it to fast-track an overhaul of the tax code that is intended to raise significant revenue over the next decade. The NY Times has more here.
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At Least 23 Killed as Algerian Hostage Crisis Ends - The death toll in the bloody Algeria hostage siege is likely to rise, Algeria warned on Sunday as governments struggled to confirm reports 23 Western workers – including some Americans - had been killed.
A day after the desert crisis was ended by Algerian troops, 25 bodies were discovered inside the gas pumping facility that was stormed by Islamist militants on Wednesday, according to reports cited by Reuters and the Associated Press.
Confusion still surrounds the deadly incident, which has renewed global fears about the likelihood of terror attacks and the safety of Westerners around the world. MSNBC.com has more here.
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