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Rep. Schultz: 'My way or the highway politics need to be put aside'
Justice Sonia Sotomayor made history yesterday when she swore in Joe Biden to another four years as vice president, becoming the first Latina jurist to administer an inaugural oath.
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz was present at the ceremony, which she describes as "warm and intimate" on Starting Point this morning, saying that both Sotomayor and Biden appeared thrilled during the occasion.
Rep. Schultz, who is the chairman of the Democratic National Committee, also explains what she expects to hear later today during President Obama's inaugural address.
"I think what the president's goal will be is trying to use the inaugural address to unify the country," Rep. Schultz explains. "We should start this new term trying to put away the divisive fights... We all have to recognize that our challenges are significant and we can all give up a little and it’s okay."
Creating an historic moment: Presidential Inauguration Committee's Brent Colburn explains logistics
The focus all over the country today is on the inaugural ceremony and parade in Washington. Tonight it will be all about the parties. Big name artists including Katy Perry, Brad Paisley, Stevie Wonder, Alicia Keys and John Legend are all expected to perform. But the celebration is somewhat scaled back from four years ago. The presidential inaugural committee is hosting just two official inaugural balls this year compared to 10 official balls in 2009. Brent Colburn is Communications Director for the Presidential Inauguration Committee. With more on the logistics of the festivities, he joins us on “Early Start” this morning.
Colburn describes the differences between the first and second inauguration’s programming. “Obviously second inaugurals are a little different than first inaugurals,” he says. “[They] tend to be a little bit smaller, but they’re a really important moment. It’s an important moment for the president to look back at where we've gone as a country, and for the country to look forward.”
Vision, unity should be themes in President Obama's inauguration speech – fmr. campaign messaging director Brett O'Donnell explains
In just a few hours, the country will watch as Barack Obama is inaugurated for a second term as President of the United States. Washington is abuzz in anticipation for the big ceremony and the president’s big speech as he embarks on the next four years in office.
Brett O'Donnell was the Messaging Director for John McCain's 2008 presidential campaign. In the last election cycle, he worked for both the Michele Bachmann and Mitt Romney campaigns. This morning, O’Donnell offers his thoughts on what the president has to accomplish in speech today.
O’Donnell says inaugural addresses are about two things. “They're about vision and they're about unity,” he says. “The challenge for the president is really to bring the country together, to sound a vision for the country that is eloquent and that will inspire Americans to come together and get behind him and get behind our elected leaders to work for the good of the country.”
Will President Obama's second inaugural address be memorable?Ana Navarro and Roland Martin weigh in
Washington is abuzz with Americans excited to see the president’s second inauguration festivities today. Many are speculating what President Obama might say in his speech. CNN Contributor and Republican Strategist Ana Navarro and CNN Political Analyst Roland Martin weigh in on what to expect from the president’s second inaugural address.
Securing the inaugural parade route; Former Secret Service Agent Dan Bongino on planning for the 'big 6' scenarios
Every four years the inaugural parade kicks off the biggest party in town. And when the president is the center of the celebration, it means a big logistical challenge along the parade route.
Former Secret Service Agent Dan Bongino is familiar with the entire operation. Four years ago he headed up security for President Obama's first inaugural parade. Agent Bongino describes the planning behind the monumental task of securing the president, block by block.
Cycling analyst Eustice weighs in on Armstrong-Oprah interview part one: ‘a brave first step’
For years Lance Armstrong cheated. For years Lance Armstrong lied. But the first time he came clean was in an interview with Oprah Winfrey broadcast on Thursday night. In the first of his two-part interview the disgraced cycling legend told Oprah that he was indeed involved in a sophisticated doping program where he had multiple blood transfusions in addition to using a “cocktail” of drugs, including testosterone, cortisone, human growth hormone and the blood booster EPO.
Armstrong, who was recently asked to return his bronze medal from the Olympics, was also stripped of his seven Tour de France titles after the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency raised accusations against him last October. This morning two-time U.S. professional cycling champion, cycling coach and analyst John Eustice weighs in on the first 90-minute interview and what we can expect to learn from the second installment set to be broadcast on Friday night.
Eustice comments on Armstrong’s responses and attitude during the first part of the interview with Oprah. According to Eustice’s knowledge of Armstrong, he will never express “weepy, I’m sorry emotion,” because he’s naturally a “tough, hard guy.” “For Lance, that was pretty good,” he says about how Armstrong came across to viewers. “But I think he made his best efforts to put the truth out there.”
Eustice considers this interview Armstrong’s coming to terms with his life after the fallout. “He tried to explain and admitted his own doping. He tried to explain the doping culture of, not only cycling, but I’d like to say for, professional sports. And I think it’s not what everybody wants, but it’s was a very, very good, and a fairly brave first step for him.”
What really happened in Manti Te'o girlfriend hoax? Ted Rowlands has the latest
(CNN) - Now, this is a weird one.
On Wednesday, Manti Te'o was a well-liked college football star. A day later, he was the butt of the latest Internet fad - posting pictures of yourself with your arm around an imaginary girlfriend. They call it "Te'oing."
The nation was abuzz Thursday with talk of Te'o after the sports website Deadspin reported Wednesday that the girlfriend Te'o said died as his team marched toward the BCS National Championship Game not only didn't die - she never existed.
Te'o, 21, said Wednesday that he'd been tricked into an online relationship that ended with him being told the woman had died from leukemia. He said he'd been taken in by a "sick joke."
Notre Dame said Te'o was the victim of an "elaborate hoax."
But many fans, sports experts and media critics took to the airwaves and the Internet, questioning that someone could pull the wool over Te'o's eyes for so long, and saying he had to be in on it.
This morning on "Early Start," CNN's Ted Rowlands reports on the latest in the Manti Te'o girlfriend hoax.
READ MORE: Fans question what is behind Te'o girlfriend hoax
Algerian hostage crisis enters 3rd day with 'ongoing activity' – Matthew Chance reports
(CNN) - Two days after Islamist militants abducted an undetermined number of hostages - including Westerners - at a gas plant in a remote section of Algeria, "ongoing activity at various locations" was continuing, a British official said Friday.
It was not clear whether that activity represented "mopping up and checking" or "something more active" being carried out by Algerian forces against the abductors, the official told CNN.
Algerian forces launched their operation upon noticing the hostages being moved toward "a neighboring country," where kidnappers could use them "as a means of blackmail with criminal intent," Algerian Communications Minister Mohamed Said told state television on Thursday.
The British official said there was a "significant" number of British victims and others were unaccounted for.
This morning on "Early Start," CNN's Matthew Chance reports on the latest efforts to end the hostage situation in Algeria.
READ MORE: Algerian hostage crisis enters 3rd day with 'ongoing activity'
MYB: Intel profit falls sharply
Christine Romans is minding your business with the latest on world markets and U.S. stock futures. “Intel, after the bell, had disappointing earnings report,” Romans says. “Its profit fell sharply.” It could direct trade in the morning.
Washington preps Presidential inauguration part two – Athena Jones reports
The nation's capital is abuzz with final preparations for President Barack Obama's inauguration to a second term on Monday at noon. Hundreds of thousands are expected to turn out on Capitol Hill, the National Mall and Pennsylvania Avenue for the parade.
Athena Jones is in Washington for us this morning with the latest on the preparations and the events scheduled for Monday.
While many are looking forward to the president’s second inauguration address, countless numbers are also looking forward to discovering what the First Lady is wearing to the ceremony. One thing we do know is that Michelle Obama has a new hairstyle.
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