MTV To Host Inaugural Ball For Obama

On Tuesday (November 25), MTV announced that it has partnered with ServiceNation to co-host the "Be the Change Inaugural Ball" in Washington, D.C., on January 20, 2009 — the same day President-elect Barack Obama will take his oath of office.

The event will celebrate the massive youth-voter turnout in this month's presidential election and an active commitment from America's youth to impart positive social change through volunteer service. ServiceNation is an organization that campaigns to increase support for expanding national service programs like the Peace Corps and Americorps. Read more here>

Related article:
http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1598633/20081105/puff_daddy.jhtml

Official Inaugural website:
http://inaugural.senate.gov/index.cfm

Photo courtesy of Essence

Michelle & Barack Obama Interview by Barbara Walters

President-elect Barack Obama and his wife Michelle Obama sat down for an exclusive interview with ABC News' Barbara Walters. They discussed a variety of issues.

Photo courtesy of George Burns/abc news

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Seeking Jobs In Obama Administration

The transition team has received 290,000 applications, and that's not including all the calls, e-mails and Facebook exchanges inundating its staffers.

Reporting from Washington -- One member of President-elect Barack Obama's transition team measures meetings by the number of resumes arriving on his BlackBerry. Another says job-seekers have offered him tickets to Redskins football games, which he has turned down. And yet another has given his mother in Chicago "talking points" to deal with people trying to get to him by going through her. [...]

Officials believe they could wind up with 1 million job-seekers by the time Obama is sworn into office on Jan. 20. By comparison, before President Bush took office in 2001, he received just 44,000 requests for political jobs. As former President Clinton assumed the White House in 1993, he had received 125,000 applications for jobs. Read more here>

The President-elect Thanksgiving address (Photo & Video)

Barack and Michelle Obama said they want to teach their daughters "to learn the importance of how fortunate they are and make sure they are giving back" and volunteering at a food pantry near their home on the South Side of Chicago on Thursday 27 November O8 was one way of doing that. The President-elect Obama has volunteered at St. Columbanus Church before.

The Obamas also visited the church's school where they met with hundreds of students as shown on the pictures below.

Photos courtesy of AFP/GEtty/AP/Huffinton Post

Below, the video of the President-elect Thanksgiving address:

AP: "In a Thanksgiving address, President-elect Barack Obama recognizes the importance of family, gives thanks to our troops and talks about the strength needed to get through economic hardship. (Nov. 27) "

77 Days of Prayer for the New President: Day 22-24

For the President- and Vice President-Elect’s families to be protected by God moment by moment
But let all who take refuge in You be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread Your protection over them, that those who love Your name may rejoice in You.
—Psalm 5:11

Holy Lord God, You alone are deserving of our complete faith and trust. You can do anything and Your plans cannot be undermined by even the wisest or cleverest of persons. As You showed Your faithfulness to the psalmist, You show Your faithfulness to us day by day.

Now, God, we ask that You will do the same for the families of Barack Obama and Joe Biden. In their positions they are vulnerable to attack from forces both literal and spiritual. Protect them, Lord, and keep them under Your mighty wings, that they may witness Your power and know that it is You, and You alone God, who is ministering to them. We pray this, O Lord, in the name of Your Son Jesus, amen.

By the Presidential Prayer Team

Obama Wows Them: The President-elect Economic Team Praised Across The political Spectrum

Barack Obama's economic team received enthusiastic welcome from most observers and insiders. Below are the video announcement of the team together with a short introduction of one member of the economic team, Melody Barnes.

President-elect Obama Annouces Economic Team

Melody Barnes Introduces Herself

And Below, A Selection Of Impressive Critics

The Economist:
"Mr Geithner brings two crucial qualities. First, he represents continuity...he is now a familiar face to the most senior executives on Wall Street and to central bankers and finance ministers overseas. Second, he represents competence. He has spent more time on financial crises, from Mexico and Thailand to Brazil and Argentina, than probably any other policymaker in office today."

Brad Setser, fellow, Council on Foreign Relations; former Treasury official who worked briefly for Geithner both there and at the International Monetary Fund:
"I am thrilled that Mr. Geithner looks to be Obama's choice for Treasury Secretary. I am also pleased that President Obama also found a way to pull Dr. [Lawrence] Summers...into the administration. The current, severe crisis will provide plenty of work for both....I hope that the combination of Dr. Summers' intellectual creativity and Mr. Geithner's disciplined analysis and political acumen proves fruitful."

Paul Calello, CEO, Credit Suisse Investment Bank:
"I think Tim [Geithner] is a great choice for the job. He has the intellect, the experience and the ability to work across many constituencies that you need in that job. It's also important to note that Tim has both the domestic and international experience that is going to be very important going forward."

Thomas J. Donohue, President and CEO, U.S. Chamber of Commerce:
"President-elect Obama has chosen a strong, experienced economic team. Restoring the nation's economic health must be our top priority and the Chamber stands ready to work with the new administration to spur growth and job creation. This team brings a wealth of knowledge to Washington and an understanding that any sustainable economic recovery will involve the business sector. Tim Geithner has a deep understanding of our capital markets and the experience and credibility to tackle our nation's biggest challenge -- restoring our economy and rebuilding our financial markets. He has been directly engaged in all the steps taken so far to address this unprecedented crisis and is well qualified to lead the Treasury Department. Larry Summers' knowledge of economic issues and past experience as Treasury secretary will serve President Obama well. Likewise, Christina Romer and Melody Barnes will bring an understanding that any sustainable economic recovery will involve the business sector."

77 Days of Prayer for the New President: Day 21

Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
—Hebrews 4:16

O Gracious God, I praise and thank You for the grace You give so freely to all in Your kindness, mercy and love. Thank You for the rich provision of Your Son, Jesus Christ who tore the veil and opened the way for us to approach You with our petitions and concerns.

Bless, O Lord, our new President with a constant awareness that You are present with him and long for him to turn to You, to bring his needs and concerns to You, and to willingly receive Your kind provision and answers. Draw him to Your Word as revealed in the Scriptures and cause him to come to You with his every concern so he will find Your help with confidence and peace. In Your loving name, amen.

By The Presidential Prayer Team