Inauguration Day 2013: Obama 2.0 & Congress 113

Congratulations and best wishes to President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden as the Obama Administration begins its second term leading America.

President Obama officially sworn-in
for second term on January 20, 2013.
(Photo: White House)

The President and Vice President were officially sworn in Sunday in accordance with the Constitution.  Today, we’ll all watch as the ceremonial events take place in Washington, DC.

I sincerely hope and pray that all of our elected officials in Washington will keep in mind that they are in DC to work—not for themselves—but, for us.

I sincerely hope and pray that the President and his team at the White House; Speaker John Boehner, Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and their teams in the House of Representatives; and Majority Leader Harry Reid, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and their teams in the Senate will keep in mind that none of them will get everything they want, nor should they.

Compromise is not a dirty word.  It is—in fact—necessary and expected.  The petty partisanship of politics-as-usual is not acceptable.

The name of the game is moving America forward.  Democrats, alone, don’t have all of the answers.  Republicans, alone, don’t have all of the answers.  But, between them and various independent voices, America can flourish under the leadership of men and women who know and understand that we rise, we fall; we sink, we swim; we, as Americans, meet our fate together.

Godspeed to the Obama Administration and the 113th Congress as they work together to meet America’s challenges in 2013 and beyond.

Team USA Olympic Uniforms

Team USA Opening Ceremony Uniforms for 2012 London Olympics.
Photo: Ralph Lauren

I will be the first to admit that I wouldn't be caught dead in the Ralph Lauren designed Team USA opening ceremony uniforms to be worn at the 2012 Olympics in London.  Just not my style and I thought we were Team USA, not Team Britannia!  (Don't they look better suited for the UK athletes?)

I'm a bit put off by all the political heavyweights bitching and moaning about the uniforms, not because they look whack, but because they were manufactured in China.  Listen to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's indignation.

Yes, Chinese-made uniforms for Team USA also seems a bit odd to me considering the Olympics is all about national pride and athletic superiority.  But, don't you have more important things to groan about, Sen. Reid?  Don't get me wrong.  I agree that there are unemployed textile workers in this country who would love to have made the uniforms.  But, they would also like to have jobs BEYOND just making a set of uniforms!!!  Why throw your political weight behind groaning about the outsourcing that sent Ralph Lauren's manufacturing operations to China in the first place?!?!?  And, to be fair, the same criticism goes to House Speaker John Boehner, House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi, and any other politicos who shared their indignation over the uniforms.