Right now im joined by msnbc contributor jerry bernstein. Former chief economist and policy adviser for Vice President biden. And new york tannen. Former domestic policy direct or four the obama biden campaign. And jen saki and former Obama White House Deputy Communications director now seep your Vice President and manager director at global strategy group, i Public Affairs and Research Firm and back at the table, democratic governor mallory of connecticut. Good to have you back, governor. Good to be back. Were going live to the Vice President s residence of the naval observatory in washington by his swearing in of Supreme Court Justice Sonya Sotomayer and the vice presidency is a job biden said he didnt want. In 2007, he told a reporter in iowa and this is an amazing quote which somehow doesnt get played enough i absolutely can say with certainty i would not be anybodys Vice President , period, end of story, guaranteed, will not do it. In the spring of 2008, according to the atlantic
Speakers on my computer on my desk at work because the buzzer that i have set to go off every time a top tier breaking news alert crosses the wires started to seem like it was just stuck on, it was sounding so often today. It was that kind of day. So well have updates for you this howerton riveting turn on capitol hill from secretary of state Hillary Clinton today. And remember the debt ceiling thing that everybody has been fighting about for months. That finally happened today. The stealth story that we have been covering about republicans in the states changing the rules for president ial elections to make it harder for Democratic Candidates to win, that story moved forward today in a big way, and is getting increasing national attention. There is a lot going on. This was a big news day. Were going to be getting to all of that. But none of those stories were the biggest, most surprising thing that happened on this big, surprising day of news. That story is our lead story tonight, and
Capit capitol, that familiar scene before the eyes of the nation and tens of thousands there to glimpse history in person. The president will raise his right hand in a moment for the ages. Good afternoon, everyone. Im alex witt. We are live from washington, d. C. In this next hour and a half, well try to bring perspective and context to the second inaugural and this historic presidency. My panel is joining me right now from Washington Post, the columnist sally quinn, nbc news president ial historian Michael Beschloss, james peterson, director of Africana Studies at lehigh, and joey grio, msnbc contributor. Now the program is over. Long intro because you all deserve it. Sally, i read through your article, and it was a wonderful one here talking about its not just for washington, its all about americans when it comes to what happens in the second inaugural. Tell me, why do we need a second inauguration . There are many twwho wonder whe its the same president why bother . Of course our fa
Holds very near and dear to his heart. And the president hopes to make this really an event that will be associated for time to come with the inauguration weekend. Again, this national day of service, the president there trying his hand with his wife at painting or varnishing i wish i were more handy. I am not. But anyway, the president there at the Burrville Elementary School. He plans to be there with his wife, also the girls, we understand, are there. Good afternoon to all of you. Welcome to weekends with alex witt. Were live here from the Nations Capital. It is just the beginning of this historic weekend. The president s second inaugural. Lets go to Nbcs Kristen Welker whos joining me live from the white house with more on this. Kristen, as we look at you and the president with his painting job, i know the white house is getting ready for this big weekend. But it is in the middle of this very important its personally oriented, this day, for the president and his wife, isnt it . Rep
Caught up. But this is one of those days when i had to turn off the speakers on my computer on my desk at work because the buzzer that i have set to go off every time a top tier breaking news alert crosses the wires started to seem like it was just stuck on, it was sounding so often today. It was that kind of day. So well have updates for you this hour on the riveting turn on capitol hill from secretary of state Hillary Clinton today. And remember the debt ceiling thing that everybody has been fighting about for months. That finally happened today. The stealth story that we have been covering about republicans in the states changing the rules for president ial elections to make it harder for Democratic Candidates to win, that story moved forward today in a big way, and is getting increasing national attention. There is a lot going on. This was a big news day. Were going to be getting to all of that. But none of those stories were the biggest, most surprising thing that happened on this