Red Bluff Daily News

January 21, 2017

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ByJuliePace TheAssociatedPress WASHINGTON Pledg- ing emphatically to em- power America's "forgot- ten men and women," Don- ald Trump was sworn in as the 45th president of the United States Friday, taking command of a riven nation facing an unpredictable era under his assertive but un- tested leadership. Under cloudy, threat- ening skies at the West Front of the U.S. Capitol, Trump painted a bleak picture of the America he now leads, declaring as he had throughout the elec- tion campaign that it is be- set by crime, poverty and a lack of bold action. The bil- lionaire businessman and reality television star — the first president to have never held political office or high military rank — prom- ised to stir a "new national pride" and protect America from the "ravages" of coun- tries he says have stolen U.S. jobs. "This American carnage stops right here," Trump de- clared. In a warning to the world, he said, "From this day forward, a new vision will govern our land. From this moment on, it's going to be America first." The crowd that spread out before him on the Na- tional Mall was notably smaller than at past inau- gurals, reflecting both the divisiveness of last year's campaign and the unpopu- larity of the incoming pres- ident compared to modern predecessors. Demonstrations un- folded at various security checkpoints near the Cap- itol as police helped ticket- holders get through. After the swearing-in, more pro- testers registered their rage in the streets of Washing- ton. Police in riot gear de- ployed pepper spray and made numerous arrests af- ter protesters smashed the windows of downtown busi- nesses, denouncing capital- ism and the new president. At least one vehicle was set afire. Short and pointed, Trump's 16-minute ad- dress in the heart of Wash- ington was a blistering re- buke of many who listened from privileged seats only feet away. Surrounded by men and women who have long filled the government's corridors of power, the new president said that for too long, "a small group in our nation's capital has reaped the rewards of government while the people have borne the cost." His predecessor, Presi- dent Barack Obama, sat sto- ically as Trump pledged to push the country in a dra- matically different direc- tion. Trump's victory gives Re- publicans control of both the White House and Con- gress — and all but ensures conservatives can quickly pick up a seat on the closely divided Supreme Court. Despite entering a time of Republican dominance, Trump made little mention of the party's bedrock prin- ciples: small government, social conservativism and robust American leadership around the world. He left no doubt he con- siders himself the prod- uct of a movement — not a party. Trump declared his mo- ment a fulfillment of his campaign pledge to take a sledgehammer to Washing- ton's traditional ways, and he spoke directly to the alienated and disaffected. "What truly matters is not which party con- trols our government, but whether our government is controlled by the people," he said. "To all Americans in every city near and far, small and large from moun- tain to mountain, from ocean to ocean, hear these words: You will never be ig- nored again." But the speech offered scant outreach to the mil- lions who did not line up be- hind his candidacy. Trump's call for restric- tive immigration measures, religious screening of im- migrants and his caustic campaign rhetoric about women and minorities an- gered millions. He did not directly address that op- position, instead offering a call to "speak our minds openly, debate our disagree- ments honestly, but always pursue solidarity." While Trump did not detail policy proposals Fri- day, he did set a high bar for his presidency. The speech was full of the onetime showman's lofty promises to bring back jobs, "com- pletely" eradicate Islamic terrorism, and build new roads, bridges and airports. Despite Trump's omi- nous portrait of America, he is taking the helm of a growing economy. Jobs have increased for a record 75 straight months, and the unemployment rate was 4.7 percent in December, close to a 9-year low. Yet Trump's victory un- derscored that for many Americans, the recovery from the Great Recession has come slowly or not at all. His campaign tapped into seething anger in working class communities, particularly in the Midwest, that have watched factories shuttered and the certainty of a middle class life wiped away. Trump's journey to the inauguration was as un- likely as any in recent U.S. history. He defied his par- ty's establishment and be- fuddled the news media. He used social media to dom- inate the national conver- sation and challenge con- ventions about political discourse. After years of Democratic control of the White House and deadlock in Washington, his was a blast of fresh air for mil- lions. At 70, Trump is the old- est person to be sworn in as president, marking a gener- ational step backward after two terms for Obama, one of the youngest presidents to serve as commander in chief. INAUGURATION Tr um p ta ke s ch ar ge a s as se rt iv e bu t un te st ed 4 5t h pr es id en t MATTROURKE—THEASSOCIATEDPRESS Donald Trump is sworn in as the 45th president of the United States by Chief Justice John Roberts as Melania Trump looks on at the U.S. Capitol Friday. By Josh Lederman The Associated Press WASHINGTON Closing out a barrier-breaking chap- ter in history, former Pres- ident Barack Obama left the White House on Friday much the way he entered it eight years ago: insisting Americans have reason for optimism despite the na- tional sense of unease. He was gracious to Pres- ident Donald Trump to the end, warmly welcoming his successor to the home where he raised his daugh- ters. Yet to those fearful about Trump's presidency, Obama suggested it would be a mere blip. "This is just a little pit stop," Obama told support- ers just before departing Washington. "This is not a period, this is a comma in the continuing story of building America." Obamaleavesthenational stageasawidelypopularfig- ure, with his poll numbers approaching 60 percent. He's being replaced by the least popular president in four decades, polls show — a reality on display in Trump's low-key inauguration. On the National Mall, far fewer showed up than the throng that attended Obama's 2009 inauguration, and some pro- testers downtown hurled bricks and broke windows in a show of defiance. Many others demonstrated peace- fully. Left unspoken in Obama's final hours was the unpleasant reality that his successor has pledged to reverse much, if not most, of what he accomplished. That has raised the prospect that Obama's major lasting leg- acy may be as a cultural icon: the first black presi- dent, who ushered the coun- try into a new era in which gays can marry, marijuana is legal in more places than ever and white people will soon be a minority. Yet inside the White House, the Obama imprint that once appeared indelible suddenly seemed more fleet- ing. Photos of him and his familyweretakendownfrom the walls, leaving big, white voids that seemed to beckon the new president to make "the people's house" his own. Obama's staffers left one reminder on the wall near a West Wing entrance: a col- lection of newspaper front pages from Obama's proud- est moments, including the day he signed the Affordable Care Act and the day the Senate confirmed his nom- ination of the first Hispanic Supreme Court justice. Speaking to his former aides at Joint Base Andrews after Trump's swearing-in, Obama sought to reassure those who toiled on his be- half that it was all worth it, no matter what Trump might do. He said his sup- porters had defied the skep- tics who "didn't think we could pull it off," invoking themes from his campaign. "You proved the power of hope," Obama said. If there were hard feel- ings toward Trump, Obama didn't let on. He sat stoically as Trump, in his inaugural address, offered a bleak as- sessment of the state of the country after eight years of Obama's leadership. And at the White House, he and Mrs. Obama tried to gently coach Trump and his wife on the mechanics of presidential pageantry. When Melania Trump pre- sented Mrs. Obama with a gift just as they were ex- pected to pose for photos, Mrs.Obamalookedleft,then right, for someone to hand it to before Obama himself eventually walked it to a nearby aide. WHITE HOUSE Obama exits presidency voicing optimism for the future, encourages supporters Wednesday, January 25 • 6pm intheFairgroundsCafeteriaduringtheBuyer&ConsignorDinner NewYork Steak Dinner$20 No Host Bar6:00PM. Dinnerat 7:00PMYouthActivity Fund Raffle: 7:30PM 300 raffle tickets sold, $100 each CalcuttaAuction of Red Bluff's Buckin'Best Bull Riders following raffle Red Bluff Bull & Gelding Sale "YOUTH ACTIVITIES RAFFLE" Elite Automotive Fisher Oil Company/Redding Oil Applebee's Coastal (Klamath Falls, OR) Les Schwab - Red Bluff Wright's Shavings Red Bluff Round-up Clear Creek Sports Club & Outfitters Shasta Farm & Equipment Northern California HERO Ride for Life Alsco A & R Custom Meats Golden State Farm Credit Branco Ranch Wink Fashion & Salon Rustic Road Designs- Elizabeth Mendenhall Plum Crazy Cornerstone Community Bank Studio 530 Photography Buckaroo Bistro & Bargains Sunsweet McCoy's Hardware & Farm Supply Girls with Guns North Valley Hat Co. 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Rockin R Restaurant Kent's Meats 2017 BULL SALE YOUTH RAFFLE DONORS TOP PRIZES • Redding Yamaha Seadoo - New 2017 Can Am Defender Two Yamaha Generators model EF2000iSC • I-5 Tire Factory- Set of 4 Goodyear Wrangler All Terrain Tires • C ustom weld ing projects by local FF A C hapters • $ 50 0 C abela' s G ift Certificate For Raffle & Dinner tickets call 527-2045 or come by the office in the Don Smith Pavilion | NEWS | REDBLUFFDAILYNEWS.COM SATURDAY, JANUARY 21, 2017 6 A

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