Barack Obama...bid for change speech falls on deaf ears at Stock exchange. Dow drops 300 points...

In spite of the fact thousands braved a wintry blast on Capitol Hill today - to warm-up to the 44th President's promise of "change" for Americans across the Nation - the stock exchange turned a cold shoulder.

Same old, same old?

After hearing the new President's inaugural address, investors went back to selling stocks - promptly sending the major indexes down sharply - according to New York Times newsies who have been monitoring nervous markets in recent days.

"Traders on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange paused at times to watch the inauguration ceremony and President Barack Obama's remarks, but the transition of power did not erase investors' intensifying concerns about the struggling economy," one reporter astutely noted.

At the close of the day, the Dow Jones Industrial average plummeted more than 330 points (about 4 percent).

Elsewhere on the economic front, Standard & Poor's 500-stock index fell 5.2 percent.

Does this telling turn-of-events bode well for middle America's great white hope, Barack Obama?

News at 11!

http://www.julianayrs.com

Barack Obama...large turn-out hinders newscaster efforts. Port-a-potties good sound barriers...

Thousands braved the bitingly cold Washington weather this morning to witness the swearing in of Barack Obama as 44th President of the United States.

There were a number of familiar faces in the crowd - Steven Spielberg and former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor - for instance.

The turn-out was so large that disc jockeys complained on morning talk shows that when their newscasters called in to broadcast their assignments, the noise level was so high around 'em that their voices amounted to mere mumbles.

One platter-slapper joked that their reporter was inclined to take refuge in a port-a-potty in a sly effort to muffle the hub-bub a tad - and likewise - beat out the competition hindered by the same exasperations.

Under his breath, I expect he was muttering:

"It's a shi**y job, but someone's got to do it."

At the inauguration ceremony just after high noon, Michelle Obama held the bible, as her husband was sworn in.

Then, Mr. Obama stridently spoke his first words as President of the United States.

"Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America."

Mr. Obama was scheduled to meet Congressional leaders and other dignitaries at a luncheon in Statuary Hall after the swearing in.

That formality was to be followed by a review of the troops, his first as commander-in-chief.

A round of formalities will fill out the Barack roster until late in the day, I expect.

At which point, Michelle and her hubby will finally rest their weary heads behind White House doors.

In the Lincoln room, perhaps?

http://www.julianayrs.com

Barack Obama...the irony of his candidacy. Old guard thwarts plans for change...

Just a regular American who likes to play ball!

I laughed-out-loud yesterday when I stumbled on a post by a blogger who whined that a nod to Hillary Clinton in the important role of "Secretary of State" amounted to a renege on the Obama promise for "change".

Contrary to his campaign platform, the president-elect appears to be turning to a tired old regime for candidates that voters were anxious to be rid of in the new administration, was the gist of the disgruntled supporter's plaintive wail.

In reflecting on the issue, I recalled another irony, too.

When Barack was tustling with his opponent on the campaign trail, there were times when voters accused Hillary of playing the race card.

The whole can of worms squirmed around the country ad nauseam for a few weeks - at which point - it was stressed way-back-when (by voters, republicans and democrats alike, and the media) that Barack was not a "Black" candidate!

No Sir.

Mr. Obama was just another hopeful from the Democrat camp with an eye on the big brass ring.

Funny, that!

When John McCain tossed the towel in - and conceded to Obama that dark and moody night - the press reported in a news flash (that ziz-zagged around the world in about two seconds flat) that the young upstart from places hither-to-unknown had become the 1st Black President of the United States.

Ah, they slipped, didn't they?

If the media outlets truly believed back in the summer of 2008 that Barack was not a black candidate, as alleged, they would have reported without hesitation on the eve of November 4th - that Obama had won the election to become the "44th President" of the United States - not the 1st Black President.

Yes, the whole political scam was just a lot of smoke and mirrors, wasn't it?

Undoubtedly, there are a few surprises yet to unfold in the future.

As Bette Davis's character once hissed in "All About Eve":

"Fasten your seat belts, it's going to a bumpy night!"

Barack Obama...George Bush photograph at White House amounts to intriguing symbology!

In the morning paper I was quite taken with a photograph which was shot in the Oval Office of the White House when Barack Obama met with George Bush this past week to discuss the transition of the reins of power in January (2009).

Barack and George (who were were photographed from behind) sat in two easy chairs half-turned to each other - and in the distance - the President's chair sat empty.

Symbolically, the imagery inferred that both men were turning their backs on the past and looking forward into the future.

If anything, the dramatic still left a lingering question.

What does the future hold?

Barack Obama...44th President of the U.S. Political rival John McCain concedes race in surprise end scenario!

Barack Obama is to become the 44th President of the U.S.

After suffering significant deadly blows shortly after the polls closed back East - which myself and others reported on throughout the evening - John McCain threw in the towel a few minutes ago and conceded the spirited race to his worthy opponent, Barack Obama.

Now, Barack stands before the Nation, ready to lead the U.S. to change.

Amen!