Inauguration Day, Harlem, NYC, 2009

Inauguration Day was cold on 125th Street and Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard, and even though the country is gripped by an economic crises, not seen since the great depression, some supporters arrived early and sat in front of the large JumboTron wrapped in Barack Obama blankets. One supporter, wearing her 2009 New Year’s Eve glasses, with an Obama pin on the front of her hat, took time off work to see the first black president sworn in on the big screen.


There was a near equal mix of blacks and whites gathered in front of the Adam Clayton Powell building, no doubt a testament to the new more affluent Harlem tenants.

The mood was festive among the 200 or so people gathered to cheer on the first black president of the United States, as he took the oath of office. At noon, Obama placed his hand on Lincoln's bible and was sworn in as president. The crowd erupted, waving small American flags and hugging one another. I was tears roll down one woman's eyes.

The Obama supporters kept their loudest outburst for when Obama was sworn in as president. I saw tears rolling down one woman’s face, while moms hugged their young daughters. Everybody appeared to wave small American flags.

The crowd fell deadly silent when President Obama gave his inaugural speech urging responsibility, hard work, and change. After Obama's inauguration speech, the crowd slipped silently away without any fuss - headed back to work - as if the enormity of the crisis facing the US just set in.

Flight 1549 Ready for Removal from the Hudson River

On Friday, US Airlines 1549 still sat in the frozen brown Hudson River where a huge red and white crane was poised ready to haul it out of the water. The plane was supposed to have been taken from the water earlier in the day; placed on a barge and taken to a secret location. However, as of 8.30 p.m. the plane was still frozen in place.
The Airbus A320 has been tethered to pier17 in Battery Park City ever since it landed in the Hudson on Wednesday afternoon. Kitty Higgins from the National Transportation Safety Board, told reporters that the right engine was still attached to the wing of the plane - it was feared that both engines were sheared off in the crash. Federal Aviation officials will need the engines to confirm if a flock of geese were responsible for the accident.
The only people milling around Battery Park City this afternoon were New York City Police officers who oversaw the numerous television reporters and cameramen on hand. Some tourists turned up to take photographs of the plane’s white wing tip as it stuck out of the water, like a drowning man’s hand.

Miracle Flight 1549

US Airlines flight 1549 sits in the Hudson River at the bottom of Manhattan, hidden behind trees and protected by police yellow tape, as Federal Aviation officials begin their investigation into why a flock of birds brought down the flight.

The white tip of the wing from the miracle flight can be seen sticking out of the brown, freezing water, like the hand of a drowning man reaching out for help. Police blocked off the area with yellow tape and fire fighters sit in their red trucks, out of the cold air. Red Cross workers handed out sandwiches and coffee to the fire fighters as they wait.

Earlier in the day, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg paid tribute to the ferry workers who rushed to save the passengers and crew. He called Captain Chesley Sullenberger, the hero of flight 1549, an “incredibly brave” man and promised to give the Captain and his crew the keys to New York City.

Miracle on the Hudson, the Crash of US Airlines 1549

US Airlines flight 1549 crashed into the Hudson River after colliding with a flock of birds causing both engines to fail.

The Airbus A320 was taking off from La Guardia Airport for Charlotte, North Carolina, when the pilot, Chesley B. Sullenberger III, 57, told the control tower he needed to make an emergency landing, but not long after that call Sullenberger crash landed in the Hudson River.

A flotilla of river ferries descended on the crashed aircraft and helped evacuate all 148 passengers from the frigid waters. Passengers were seen lining up on the wing of the plane as New York water ferries lined up to pluck them from the downed aircrafts wing. All passengers and crew were safely evacuated from the plane, with no serious injuries.

The US Airlines pilot, Chesley B. Sullenberger III is being hailed a hero for landing the aircraft and evacuating the passengers and crew without any injuries. New York Governor, David Paterson, called the accident a “miracle on the Hudson.” In a news conference, Paterson said, "we had miracle on 34th Street," refering to the movie, "now we have miracle on the Hudson."

I live a block from the Hudson River, in Hoboken, New Jersey. As soon as I heard about the crash, I grabbed my camera, ran to the pier, and shot these photographs. You can see the tail fin with the US Airlines logo just above the water level.

Yes He Can

It is over. Change is coming to America. Last night, Americans turned their backs on the eight years of republican misrule. They elected Barack Obama, the first black president of the United States. The country drew breath and stepped back from the edge.

Senator John McCain conceded last night in Phoenix, defeated by overwhelming odds. The appallingly partisan tactics of the McCain campaign failed to move the American public. In his concession speech in McCain said, “My friends, we have — we have come to the end of a long journey. The American people have spoken, and they have spoken clear.” McCain recognized the significance of the result, “this is an historic election, and I recognize the special significance it has for African-Americans and for the special pride that must be theirs tonight.”
At midnight last night, President elect Barack Obama strode onto the stage in Chicago, in front of an estimated one hundred thousand ecstatic supporters, and no doubt, millions across the world. In his acceptance speech, Obama honored this historic moment in American history. “If there is anyone out there who still doubts America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our fathers is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer,” he said.
After sweeping away the partisan politics of the last eight years, in a single bound, Obama was pragmatic about American’s problems, “And I know you didn't do this just to win an election. And I know you didn't do it for me. You did it because you understand the enormity of the task that lies ahead. For even as we celebrate tonight, we know the challenges that tomorrow will bring are the greatest of our lifetime — two wars, a planet in peril, the worst financial crisis in a century.”

Obama promised change and that change was evident on my journey home on the ‘A’ train last night in New York. At 1.30 a.m., I was waiting for the ‘A’ train at 59th Street Station at Columbus Circle; as the train pulled into the station and the doors opened a spontaneous roar of ‘Obama’, ‘Obama’ came from the carriage full of twenty somethings. There followed spontaneous clapping and fist pumping in the air. One young woman shouted, “America has won.” The noise died down as the train left the station. Then as we pulled into 50th Street station, the roar started again, but this time people in the carriages behind joined in the cheers. I left the train at 34th Street as the uproarious choir sang on.

Angelina Jolie Attends NYC Premiere of the Changeling, 2008

Obama V's McCain in the First Presidential Debate

The first presidential debate got under way on Friday, in Mississippi. Senator John McCain and Senator Barack Obama had a frank and spirited discussion on the major issues of the day, including the economy, Iraq, Iran and Russia. The debate was billed as a foreign policy debate, however, the first 45-minutes was spent on the US fiscal crisis.

McCain the republican candidate came out fighting, accusing Obama of supporting $820 million dollars in pork barrel spending. In the beginning, Obama was forced onto his heels, and spent a precious time fending off McCain’s accusations, but gained his footing when he had a chance for rebuttal. For his part, Obama tied McCain to the administrations failed tax policy, accusing him of offering no new tax proposals. When asked what spending cuts the candidates would make to pay for the $700 billion dollar bail out, McCain appeared more decisive, offering a freeze on spending, while Obama struggled on specifics.

“Walking the walk and talking the talk. Look at records, who fought against ear mark spending,” McCain said. Obama said, “95% of all Americans would get a tax cut,” while accusing McCain of wanting to tax health care benefits.

On Iran, McCain scored points off Obama, accusing him of wanting to sit down with high-ranking Iranian leaders without pre-conditions. In turn, Obama attempted to tie McCain with the administrations failed diplomatic policies not just with Iran, but also on North Korea. Henry Kissinger, the former Secretary of State, played a pivotal role in the Iranian debate. Obama said Kissinger, a McCain advisor, supported diplomatic talks with Iran. McCain denied Kissinger approved Iranian talks. For the record, Kissinger agrees with diplomatic talks with Iran.

John McCain stressed his judgment and experience, while Obama stressed change from the status quo.

On Iraq, Obama pointed out that McCain supported the war in Iraq, emphasizing his bad judgment..
“John, you said the war was going to be over quickly. You were wrong. You said we knew where the weapons of mass destruction were. You were wrong,” Obama said.
For his part, McCain accused Obama of failing to support the troops by voting against financing the troops.

The two candidates did not hold back in an open debate on the issues. We learned the differences between the candidates for president. I thought Obama held his own against McCain whose specialty is foreign policy. I call the debate even.

The debate took place at the University of Mississippi or Old Miss. as it is called - made famous 50-years ago when two students died protesting the enrollment of the first black student in the college’s history. By hosting the debate, Old Miss. wanted to dispel its Southern racist past. It was not that long ago that Old Miss. allowed the flying of the Confederate flag at its football games. It still allows the playing of ‘Dixie’ at the games.