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Written by Bill Hahn   
Tuesday, 20 January 2009 15:30

As Barack Obama is sworn in on this, his inauguration day, most of the media coverage is on the pomp and ceremony surrounding him as he finally takes hold of the reins of the executive branch. This once-every-four-years event is layered with tradition, especially when a newly elected president is sworn in. For those who are students of history, the event gives us a chance to look at the ceremony of the past and to learn more about the goings-on of Inauguration Day.

Barack ObamaFor those so inclined, the U.S. Senate’s website hosts the documentary, “So Help Me God: A Historical Look at the Inauguration.” This 33 minute video features a narration by Beth Hahn (no relation to the writer), Historical Editor at the Senate Historical Office. She offers historical insights on many of the presidents, including George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, Franklin Roosevelt and John Kennedy.

You’ll learn a bit about how the ceremony had to be moved due to the British invasion of the city and their subsequent burning of the White House and the Capitol in 1814, and of the talk of moving the capitol further inland to make future attacks harder to accomplish.

Did you know that President John Tyler was the first Vice President to become President? President William Harrison had been in office only one month before dying of pneumonia. Any idea which president was sworn in by his father? Or which president’s podium started smoking due to a short in a heater during the inaugural prayer? Or who started the tradition of thanking the previous administration?

Aside from these interesting facts, the day also reminds us of new beginnings, new hopes and of our everlasting duty to remain vigilant as keepers of the Constitution. Though it was President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden who took the oaths of office today, we, as American citizens, must realize that we are truly the last line of defense for the Constitution. We take our responsibility seriously. We elect officials who represent us and our ideals on the local, state and national levels. We regularly correspond with legislators regarding their votes. We gather with like-minded citizens and reach out to help educate others regarding the potential of America’s prosperity under the Constitution. We follow the wisdom of the founders and heed the words of George Washington about the Constitution, “… its only keepers, the people.” We seek limited government, more responsibility and — with God’s help — a better world.

We ask for your help in accomplishing this great task and urge you to be vigilant in the days, months and years to follow. We reach out to the new administration and implore them to protect and honor the Constitution. In his inaugural speech, President Obama talked about President George Washington during the days of Valley Forge and cited the Constitution. Let’s hope he remembers Washington’s advice:

“The Constitution is the guide which I never will abandon.”

So help me God.

(AP Photo/Robert Glass)

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112
RichardR369
January 21, 2009
143.166.255.42
Votes: +0
God

God let this country start dying off 35 years ago. That's why we're in this situation today. We left our Christian Constitution years ago.

0
DaveB
January 21, 2009
12.46.188.2
Votes: +4
Fighting the New World Order

The fight against the New World Order has moved into its final stage. The World Banking elite, thinks they already have checkmate, by taking full control of our currency through siphoning off 5 trillion through the Federal Reserve, and another 800 billion bailout money, plus Obama's new bailout. They believe they can blackmail Obama and our government at any time if we resist their end game.

We can't be afraid of this threat. Obama must take them down now, even at the risk of a threat to collapse our currency. 911 must be exposed, and the fight must be fought now. Call their bluff. We can still win this thing.

Save our republic and Constitution.

0
Tom W
January 21, 2009
38.100.149.130
Votes: +0
Do you really believe?

Do you really believe OBama will uphold the Constitution? I wish it were so, but he's going to bring socialism and that's nowhere to be found in the Constitution.

Let's stay on top of our representatives and try to elect good rep's.

0
Peter Steele
January 22, 2009
69.182.132.100
Votes: +0
RE: Peter Steele in 1956 - My father was 38 then when he did The Communist Menifesto: Blueprint For World Revolt

My lste father knew the founding fathers' sage words and deeds when he published his successful brochure The Communist Manifesto: Blueprint For World Revolt which sold 175,000 copies at 25 cents each. He spoke of our rugged Constitution and Bill of Rights in this document and told how Marx meant to replace God with man. This brochure along with a speech titled "Four Voices" got him the George Washington Valley Forge Freedom Foundation award as he was a servant of God. His speech was signed by Seldon E. Brown who gave him a Bible and was a Southern Baptist. Dad had the freedom to expose all kinds of socialism and communism which the work went to Barry M. Goldwater, Sr. and to The John Birch Society. F. Gano Chance of Associated Industries of Missouri came to see Dad in 1963 or 1964 and Mr. Chance was a Council Member of the Society then. We nailed LBJ for the man he was. I know the Bible-Based Constitution like a book after having been hurt very badly by the Carter Democrats in 1977! The NYT is Treason Fit To Print as a newspaper as it is the American version of Lenin's Pravda newspaper founded in 1902!! Human Events is God's Newspaper as I let Thomas Winter its publisher know....

5410
GaryRLewis
January 23, 2009
24.238.80.195
Votes: +0
My Predication

This is just my own personal opinion. I believe Obama will play concervative for a while, relaxing everyone's fears and thus divertering their attention to other things. I believe the economy will pick up and as people begin to slump back into their comforatble stages, enjoying their apathetic lives, something big will happen.

0
Cindy C
February 06, 2009
98.219.238.81
Votes: +0
WE THE PEOPLE

It's Time for WE THE PEOPLE to stand up and say ENOUGH is ENOUGH! We Need to PROSECUTE ANY Senator, Congressman, or Wall Stret Tycoon that Undermines Our Laws of the Land for Personal Gain. WE as Average Americans Can't get a Break No Matter How Hard We Work Or Try To Get Ahead. IF WE DID THE THINGS THAT THESE ELITISTS DO ON A DAILY BASIS ... WE'D ALL BE IN JAIL .. NOT IN OUR POSH NEW YORK CONDOS. I Say .. IF Our Leaders Aren't Doing the Jobs That We Elected Them To Do ... They Should ALL Be FIRED !!! PLAIN & SIMPLE !!! PATRIOTS UNITE ... It's Time to DEFEND OUR CONSTITUTION as Our Forefathers did. WAKE UP AMERICA !!!

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Our valuable member Bill Hahn has been with us since Wednesday, 16 April 2008.

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