Today I’m going to be live blogging Inauguration Day. Today we will witness the peaceful transfer of power, a pretty amazing thing that you don’t see in many western democracies. Knowing how divisive this election has been and how many rallies are planned, I suspect there might be a few blips, but I don’t expect anything horrible to happen. In fact, in just watching a few minutes of the morning news show I am encouraged at how respectful most pundits are of President Elect Trump.

Live Blogging Inauguration Day

3:30 PM CST

Barron seems to be getting the hang of this…

President Trump Melania and Barron Trump Inauguration Parade

2:42 PM CST The parade is just getting underway. One side of the street is filled with supports, the other protestors, and then there are bikers there doing whatever it is they are doing. #GodBlessAmerica! split screen of Donald Trump and Barrack Obama 12:09 PM CST Obama making a “brief” statement. (Paraphrasing) “When we started this journey we did so to change things. Change happened from the bottom up….” Split screen with Obama saying goodbye and Trump about to sign some executive orders.  And NBC totally just cut off Obama as he was speaking…. How quickly he has become old news to the media. Everyone keeps telling Trump to use multiple pens. 12:02 PM CST Meanwhile anti-Trump protesters are throwing a fit….

Former President Obama Leaves on Executive One 11:45 AM CST Barrack and Michelle Obama board Executive One. It strikes me how quickly this transfer of power takes place. Obama and Michelle are embracing President Trump and First Lady Melania as they leave.  11:37 AM CST Obama and Trump, Pence and Biden getting ready to send off Former President Obama and Former First Lade Michelle Obama as they board Marine One and go on vacation. 11:22 AM CST Rev Graham says rain is a sign of blessing from God.  11:12 AM CST Just popped by social media to see people complaining about the dress Kellyanne Conway is wearing and how there are few people of color in the audience. Um, the last several weeks we saw some very high profile and popular people of color receive death threats for meeting with Donald Trump, what do they expect? I mean seriously, the campaign to vilify anyone who met with Trump, not necessarily supported him but just met with him, especially people of color was incredibly successful. Want it both ways much?

11:03 AM CST It’s beginning to rain as President Trump tells the audience how the power is going back to the people of the United States. “Politicians have prospered but not the people of our country….” “What truly matters is not which party controls our government but how they serve their citizens (I’m paraphrasing at this point, will update when the speech is published). 11:02 AM CST  President Trump thanks past presidents and addresses the nation. “We will face challenges, we will confront hardships….”  Click here for the video and text of President Trump’s inauguration speech.  Donald Trump taks Oath of Office 11:00 AM CST President Trump has just taken the oath of the presidency. Former president Obama is shaking his hand and smiling. 21 gun salute and Hail to the Chief. Mike Pence take oath of office, Shit eating grin on Paul Ryan as Pence takes Oath of Office 10:53 AM CST Clarence Thomas is administering the oath to Mike Pence. Ryan has a shit eating grin on his face. 10:51 AM CST Stopped by social media to see those who promised not to watch the inauguration are, indeed, watching it. They are not happy about it, but can’t help but watch. 10:49 AM CST Chuck Schumer is talking about the peaceful transfer of power and how we are a forward looking country.  10:45 AM CST Missouri State Choir is singing. Split screen with other view on Trump looking rather Trump-ish. The music seems to be softening his demeanor. The crowd looks pretty big, don’t even notice all the democrat elected officials who are missing.  10:43 AM CST Trump will take the oath using the same bible that Lincoln used and Pence will take the oath using the bible Reagan used. 10:40 AM CST  Panning the crowd – most people have their heads bowed in prayer, a few not so much and aggressively glaring at the cameras.  10:37 AM CST Cardinal Timothy Dolan, I love him, is giving invocation. Give us your wisdom, we’re mere mortals and none of us is perfect….. 10:17AM CST  Hurrying back from my walk at the Mall of America and listening to the festivities on the radio as they start introducing President Obama, Michelle, Melania, and Mike Pence’s wife whose name escapes me. What is that clicking? Is that Melania’s heals clicking? Don’t know, it’s the radio. 9:55 AM CST  I’m getting a barrage of text messages telling me how beautiful Ivanka and Melania look, as well as some updates about some rather petty status updates on social media.  8:55 AM CST Heading out to do my walk, will be back in an hour or so. Hopefully nothing bigly happens. 8:42 AM CST Trump and Melania arrive at the Whitehouse and are greeted by President Obama and First Lady Michelle. Everyone is smiles, joking, Melania has a gift for Michelle from Tiffany’s. Obama tells Trump he will get used to the protocol and to not sweat it. 8:31 AM CST  Nicole Wallace calls Trump the originator of the birther movement. 8:15 AM CST Tom Brokaw is doing a montage of past presidents and the scandals that plagued them. Kinda ironic, I guess. Obama’s scandal is Benghazi – interesting. 8:08 AM CST Today Show is talking about who will be in attendance and what a thrill it is to be there. Barely mention the 65 Democrats who are boycotting the event.