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Obama era begins
Published January 20, 2009 - BizTimes Daily
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Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th president of the United States today. The historic inauguration of the first African-American to hold the office took place at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., where former Delaware Sen. Joseph Biden also was sworn in as vice president.
Obama enters office with an economy in deep recession and the nation at war in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"Today, I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious, and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time, but know this, America … They will be met," Obama said in his inaugural address. "Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off and begin again the work of remaking America."
Obama called for a renewed, bipartisan, unified sense of the American spirit to lead the world.
"To all the other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born, know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and we are ready to lead once more," Obama said to a crowd of millions of people gathered on a crisp, sunny January day in Washington.
"Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested, we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back, nor did we falter. And with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations," he said.
In an interview earlier this week, billionaire investor Warren Buffett predicted that Obama will be up to the daunting tasks that await him.
"You couldn't have anybody better in charge," Buffett, the chairman and chief executive officer of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., said in an interview on Dateline NBC.
As one of Obama's economic advisers, Buffett said the president-elect often listens to his advisers, but ultimately comes up with better ideas.
Buffett said Americans are in a cycle of fear about the economy, "which leads to people not wanting to spend and not wanting to make investments, and that leads to more fear. We'll break out of it. It takes time."
Buffet added, "It's never paid to bet against America. We come through things, but it's not always a smooth ride."
U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Janesville) writes in today's Milwaukee Biz Blog that on Inauguration Day, "We are all Americans."
Obama begins his administration with strong support from the American people, with an 83-percent public approval rating, according to the latest Gallup Poll on Monday.
Are you optimistic about Obama as president? Take the BizTimes Milwaukee poll and see the results so far at www.biztimes.com.
