By Magen Petit
Staff Columnist
YORK COUNTY —
A few days have passed since the inauguration of Barack Obama as the nation’s 44th President of the United States of America and most people are interested in what Pres. Obama has in store for the next four years.
As a country, we wanted change. As a country, we voted for Obama. As a country, we want to see relief from this horrific recession and depressing economic times. We want the country to turn itself around. We want something positive shed upon us. We want everything yesterday, but as with most everything else, time will tell all.
After arriving to the White House around 1 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 21 after all the celebrations from the previous day, Pres. Obama was reportedly in the Oval Office around 8:30 a.m.
Pres. Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama attended a prayer service at the National Cathedral. Following that, reports show Pres. Obama met with advisers to “discuss the variety of problems facing his administration and the country.”
Already, the President sought a suspension of the trial proceedings in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
According to reports from the Internet Broadcasting Systems, Inc. and the Associated Press, Pres. Obama is putting a freeze on the pay of White House employees who make more than $100,000 a year.
“The freeze would hold salaries at their current levels for about a hundred employees,” reported IBS and AP. “It was part of a presidential memorandum that was issued Wednesday when Obama attended a swearing-in for staff at the White House.”
Pres. Obama has begun supporting statements he made during his inaugural address.
The report goes on to say, “In a statement, Obama said ‘families are tightening their belts, and so should Washington.’”
Part of Pres. Obama’s speech read, “…the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.”
And so, we shall see what the future and Pres. Obama has in store for us as a nation, afterall we’re looking for a new era of peace and confidence.
Be sure to visit the special section of the historic 44th inauguration in this edition of The Weekly Sentinel.
