On Monday, Jan. 21, Barack Obama will be sworn in as the nation's 45th president (*OK, technically he'll be sworn in Sunday, Jan. 20—see note below). Although there is much protocol and tradition that goes along with presidential inaugurations, history shows there's a bit of wiggle room when it comes to things such as fashion and parade behavior.
For instance, did you know ...
- John F. Kennedy was the last president to attend his inauguration ceremony in a stovepipe hat.
- More on hats: As a U.S. Representative, Abraham Lincoln attended the inauguration of President Zachary Taylor—where he lost his hat in the crowd and never recovered it.
- John Quincy Adams was the first president to wear long trousers to his inauguration ceremony (breaking a tradition of colonial breeches).
- President Adams also famously refused to attend the swearing-in of his successor—Andrew Jackson—after an epically brutal campaign.
- During his Inaugural Parade, President Eisenhower was lassoed by a cowboy.
Trivia courtesy of the Presidential Inaugural Committee 2013
What twists to the 57th Presidential Inauguration might we see Monday? A Gangnam Style flash mob on the steps of the Capitol? FLOTUS (First Lady of the United States) sporting a Presidential seal tattoo on those legendary arms?
*[A note about the actual swearing in date: Historically, Inaugural Ceremonies are not held on a Sunday because Courts and other public institutions are not open. This year, in accordance with the requirements of the United States Constitution, President Obama and Vice President Biden will officially be sworn-in on Sunday, January 20, 2013.]
Tell us about your Inaurguration Day plans in the comment section below.
Things could have very easily been very different. We could have quickly slid into a deep depression rivaling the great depression as economists feared, the war in Iraq could have escalated resulting in many more troupes being diploid and a draft being implemented, and unemployment could have been high double digits. But the debt would not have gotten much worst. Which of these two scenarios do you think the voters of American would like most?
However, his policies produced the slowest recovery since the Great Depression by a wide margin. The figures are above.
Under Clinton Federal spending was ~18% of GDP. Under Obama its 22-24%. Lower tax rates increase the reward for work, savings and investment. Higher tax rates reduce the incentive for work, savings and investment. While tax rates varied widely in the 20th century, tax revenue was remarkably constant between 15% and 20% of GDP. If your goal is more money for government, lower the tax rates and get 15-20% of a larger pie. In addition, economic growth is the best anti poverty program ever devised.
~30% are on some kind of welfare program. The welfare programs collectively cost > $1 trillion per year. Government welfare benefits including food stamps and Medicaid, if paid in cash would equal $30.60/hour for every household in poverty, (40 hours/week). The median income is $25.03/hour and that is taxed. Welfare benefits are not taxed. http://www.theblaze.com/stories/the-welfare-spending-chart-you-wont-want-to-see/ Free stuff is not the only reason Obama won, but it's a major reason exemplified by the Obamaphone lady.
What would have happened without TARP I think will be debated by economists and historians for years and decades to come. I believe that without TARP things would have been worse in the short run and better in the long run teaching the lesson that big or small you bear the risks of bad business decisions. The closest analogy is the crash of October 1929. There was no TARP or government bailouts. By December 1929, unemployment was in the 9% range, but by June of 1930, the economy was improving and unemployment was in the 6% range. Then the government decided it was going to help. By the end of 1930, unemployment was over 10% and would not get under 10% until WWII. Through the 1800s there were crashes called "panics" and economic downturns, but there was never a great depression until 1930s when the government decided to help the economy.
If given enough time, he'll bring America to her knees. He's working on it.
http://www.dailynews.com/breakingnews/ci_22424199/hicks-beyonce-lip-synched-national-anthem
I stated that the debt increased significantly due to bailouts which include the auto industry. The recovery is not the slowest since the Great Depression. The Great Depression started around 1929 and continued through WWII and contributed much to the start of the war. This is more than 10 years, a far cry from 4 years and no world war has started because of the last crash that was not caused by Obama. Unemployment is still high but much lower than when Obama first came to office. High unemployment did not start on Obama's watch. I only said that unemployment is now single digit. I made no claims that it has recovered. Thing could have been far worse than they are.
OBAMA - 'WHY STUPID PEOPLE SHOULDN'T VOTE.' It smacks of truth.
President Reagan made 243 recess appointments during his time in the White House, President Clinton made 140, and President George W. Bush, 171, according to Senate historian Donald Ritchie. Obama made 32 such appointments in his first term. President Obama made less appointments than Presidents Reagan, Clinton and Bush, Jr.
Do you feel better now that your God like King Obama broke the law fewer times. I thought Obama was a constitional scholar who was not above the law? Oh my...did your celestial immortal President let us all down?