Thomas Fitzgerald reports:
12:07 p.m.
This internet meme will not die. An earnest young man in a ball cap asked Barack Obama where he stood on the plan to unite Canada the U.S. and Mexico, with a new currency, the "amero." The man also asked if it was true that Obama was a member of the "globalist" Council on Foreign Relations?
"With all due respect," Obama said, "I see no evidence...there is no conspiracy to create one continental government." He also said that he has spoken to the Council on Foreign Relations, which ihe said is not a nefarious group, but does not think that makes him an official member. "I don't have a membership card and there's no special handshake or anything," he said.
10:46 a.m.
Barack Obama, the candidate of hope, the self-described "hopemonger," starts off with a real bummer. The economy "teetering on the edge of chaos," college unaffordable, 47 million without health care, an endless and wrong-headed war, "the people who killed 3,000 Americans still plotting against us because we are distracted."
Somehow, I think that the hope will come. Here it is: "I'm here to report that the American people are ready." For change, to come together politically and racially.
10:33 a.m.
Barack Obama has begun speaking at Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology in Lancaster, but he's inaudible due to the cheering, kicking off the fourth day of the 6-day busathon.
"I'm having a great time," he said. "We played some basketball with Bob casey and neither of us got injured. We stopped by some sports bars and had, I admit, a few beers. I fed a calf with a big bottle and theat went alright and then we went bowling, which didn't go so well. There was an 8-year-old giving me tips."
I met Obama on Saturday, and he was a down to earth person, like me. I am having 2nd thoughts on voting for Hillary.— lexus817
Comment removed.- A few beers, huh. That red phone at 3:00 am is flashing, and he has beers.— Tammie
- Obama has depth that we have not seen in some time with these people that have been running for prez. That red light flashes, and I want someone like Obama who is not quick to pull the trigger unnecessarily. Thank God he is human, not fake, and can have a couple of beers too!— psubrian
- Jfnikki Please stop withthe youtube madness, we are soooo past that. Find another way to attack Obama.— smcclair
- Germans drink beer and are quite sober. Obama / Casey 2008!— Peter of Manassas
- WE can all drink to that, psubrian!— Peter of Manassas
- jfnikki... Are the Clintons guilty by Association by endorsing Farrakhan in 1995? If not, then you need to stop the stupid posting of what his FORMER pastor said.— prez_beck
- If all we have on Obama is some stupid comments made by a ex pastor, then we have nothing on him! Lets judge him on what HE SAYS only. Unlike Hill and Bill, they have LIED LIED LIED LIED and still LIEING!— lexus817
- YOU NEED TO POST EVERYONE's post...what is wrong with you?— stev
Hopefully Pennsylvania,the part Philadelphians never see,will get to know BarackObama better than they know Phila. Maybe even attacking>> Nutter.
WHEN IS HE COMING TO PHILADELPHIA AND WHEN WILL WE GET A CHANCE TO PERSONALY HEAR HIM SPEAK?— Sadler48- Yes, He can! Yes, You can! Yes, We can! Hail, Philadelphia! Barack, oh please do a rally in City Hall courtyard--a fav place of mine--right under the tower, Billy Penn watching, and the big clock sounding.— CA Hope
- City Hall what a perfect opportunity to ATTACK the political MACHINE that gave us MICHAEL NUTTER.
- I like Michael NUTTER. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRrDlEVRguk— mjn
The Inauguration: Jan. 20 blog brings you coverage of President-elect Barack Obama's transition into office.
It's written by political journalists from the Philadelphia Inquirer. Send us your comments -- and news tips -- at this address.
Thomas Fitzgerald joined The Philadelphia Inquirer in 2000, and has covered Harrisburg as well as city, state and national politics for the newspaper. He was a “boy on the bus” in the 2004 presidential campaign and during primary contests in 2000 and 1996.
Nathan Gorenstein has covered politics and government in the city, state and nation for the Inquirer. He's worked in the city hall bureau, had a stint on the business desk, and once covered the suburbs. After serving as assistant regional editor, he was named editor of the "Politics" web site.
- News | Sports | Business | What's Happening | Restaurants & Food | Entertainment | Living | Marketplace | Jobs
