Good morning. President-elect Barack Obama travels to Bedford Heights, Ohio, today to talk about his plan for giving the economy a jump-start. Last night, President George W. Bush said goodbye to the American public. Also last night, the Obama family moved into Blair House -- the official guest residence across the street from the White House.
Here are some of the stories making headlines:
• USA TODAY -- Despite hard times, many Americans are confident in Obama: "Americans are as down as they've been in decades about the state of the country and its polarized politics, even as they express soaring confidence that Barack Obama will be able to turn things around. A USA TODAY/Gallup Poll finds stratospheric expectations for the incoming president that his own supporters acknowledge may be unrealistic. A majority of those surveyed say Obama will be able to achieve every one of 10 major campaign promises, from doubling the production of alternative energy to ensuring that all children have health insurance coverage."
Related: Obama tells USA TODAY he plans a quick diplomatic effort on Gaza and the Middle East.
• The Washington Post -- Obama plans "fiscal responsibility summit:" "President-elect Barack Obama pledged yesterday to shape a new Social Security and Medicare 'bargain' with the American people, saying that the nation's long-term economic recovery cannot be attained unless the government finally gets control over its most costly entitlement programs. That discussion will begin next month, Obama said (in an interview with the Post), when he convenes a 'fiscal responsibility summit' before delivering his first budget to Congress. He said his administration will begin confronting the issues of entitlement reform and long-term budget deficits soon after it jump-starts job growth and the stock market."
• Politico -- Obama will aim for a "soaring but accessible" Inaugural Address: "With at least three drafts behind him, (President-elect Barack) Obama is nearly done with his own speech, an aide said Thursday -– striving for a tone that's soaring but accessible, simple but inspiring, urgent and confident all at once. A competitive man by nature, Obama seems acutely aware that he's stepping into the ring with history itself Tuesday –- squaring off against not only the public's expectations for a voice-of-God moment, but also against the addresses that came before his, the formidable and the forgettable."
Related package by The New York Times -- William Safire and other former presidential speechwriters offer their suggestions for what Obama should say.
• Chicago Tribune -- Blagojevich won't be an the Inaugural: "Gov. Rod Blagojevich, worried he would be a 'distraction' given the impeachment and criminal charges against him, won't be going to Washington for President-elect Barack Obama's inaugural festivities, a spokesman said (Thursday). The governor was invited to several inaugural events, but won't make the trip, Blagojevich spokesman Lucio Guerrero said."
• President Bush -- After 9/11, most Americans were able to return to their previous lives, "but I never did:" In his farewell address to the nation last night, President George W. Bush spoke of the 9/11 attacks and his efforts to protect the nation since then. "As the years passed, most Americans were able to return to life much as it had been before 9/11," he said. "But I never did. Every morning, I received a briefing on the threats to our nation. I vowed to do everything in my power to keep us safe." The full text of the president's speech is posted here. And the White House has put the complete video here. The Associated Press has also produced this short clip from the speech.
Here are some of the stories making headlines:
• USA TODAY -- Despite hard times, many Americans are confident in Obama: "Americans are as down as they've been in decades about the state of the country and its polarized politics, even as they express soaring confidence that Barack Obama will be able to turn things around. A USA TODAY/Gallup Poll finds stratospheric expectations for the incoming president that his own supporters acknowledge may be unrealistic. A majority of those surveyed say Obama will be able to achieve every one of 10 major campaign promises, from doubling the production of alternative energy to ensuring that all children have health insurance coverage."
Related: Obama tells USA TODAY he plans a quick diplomatic effort on Gaza and the Middle East.
• The Washington Post -- Obama plans "fiscal responsibility summit:" "President-elect Barack Obama pledged yesterday to shape a new Social Security and Medicare 'bargain' with the American people, saying that the nation's long-term economic recovery cannot be attained unless the government finally gets control over its most costly entitlement programs. That discussion will begin next month, Obama said (in an interview with the Post), when he convenes a 'fiscal responsibility summit' before delivering his first budget to Congress. He said his administration will begin confronting the issues of entitlement reform and long-term budget deficits soon after it jump-starts job growth and the stock market."
• Politico -- Obama will aim for a "soaring but accessible" Inaugural Address: "With at least three drafts behind him, (President-elect Barack) Obama is nearly done with his own speech, an aide said Thursday -– striving for a tone that's soaring but accessible, simple but inspiring, urgent and confident all at once. A competitive man by nature, Obama seems acutely aware that he's stepping into the ring with history itself Tuesday –- squaring off against not only the public's expectations for a voice-of-God moment, but also against the addresses that came before his, the formidable and the forgettable."
Related package by The New York Times -- William Safire and other former presidential speechwriters offer their suggestions for what Obama should say.
• Chicago Tribune -- Blagojevich won't be an the Inaugural: "Gov. Rod Blagojevich, worried he would be a 'distraction' given the impeachment and criminal charges against him, won't be going to Washington for President-elect Barack Obama's inaugural festivities, a spokesman said (Thursday). The governor was invited to several inaugural events, but won't make the trip, Blagojevich spokesman Lucio Guerrero said."
• President Bush -- After 9/11, most Americans were able to return to their previous lives, "but I never did:" In his farewell address to the nation last night, President George W. Bush spoke of the 9/11 attacks and his efforts to protect the nation since then. "As the years passed, most Americans were able to return to life much as it had been before 9/11," he said. "But I never did. Every morning, I received a briefing on the threats to our nation. I vowed to do everything in my power to keep us safe." The full text of the president's speech is posted here. And the White House has put the complete video here. The Associated Press has also produced this short clip from the speech.
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