The Note: A Participant, Not Just an Observer

— -- Inauguration Day

NEWS SUMMARY
The Note loves the history and pageantry of Inauguration Day and is settling in to watch ABC News' unprecedented high definition television coverage of the whole shebang.

But, as we create our traditional big-bowl mix (one half M&Ms, one half Coco Puffs), we can't help but Notice . . .

A blanket of snow and security, blah, blah, blah.

An ambitious second-term agenda, blah, blah, blah.

Washington is different than Austin, blah, blah, blah.

Karl Rove did an interview with the Washington Post -- so NOT blah, blah, blah.

Dick Cheney did an interview with Bob Woodward on presidential power -- so NOT blah, blah, blah.

Bill Frist, George Pataki, Adam Stoll, and Rod O'Connor were all smart enough to kiss the Rath, Young & Pignatelli ring last night -- also so NOT blah, blah, blah.

Also in the "so NOT blah, blah, blah" category: Vice President and Mrs. Cheney were guests on "Imus in the Morning" at 7:29 am ET. The Vice President discussed, among other things, the inauguration, the second term, and the Administration's concerns about Iran.

Starting at about the time you read this:

At 9:00 am ET, President and First Lady Laura Bush, and Vice President and Mrs. Cheney attend services at St. John's Church.

Also at 9:00 am ET, Senate Republican Conference Chairman Rick Santorum (R-PA) holds a media availability.

At 10:00 am ET, the Senate and House convene for the inauguration celebrations. The Senate convenes at 3:00 pm for business -- including possible votes on Mike Johanns as Agriculture Secretary, Margaret Spelling as Education Secretary, and Carlos Gutierrez as Commerce Secretary.

The inauguration ceremony:

--11:30 am ET: The U.S. Marine Band performs. Sen. Trent Lott (R-MS) delivers welcoming remarks. Rev. Dr. Louis Leon of St. John's Church delivers the invocation. Mezzo-soprano Susan Graham sings "Bless This House."

--11:45 am ET (approximately): House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL) administers the oath of office to Vice President Cheney.

Metropolitan Opera singer Denyce Graves sings "American Anthem."

--Noon ET: U.S. Chief Justice William Rehnquist is expected to administer the oath of office to President Bush. The Gang of 500 will pause to soak in the Look of the Chief.

Joining the President will be his family, members of the Cabinet and his administration, members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, U.S. Supreme Court Justices and invited guests.

Once the oath is taken, the military will render a 21-gun salute, the Army Herald Trumpets will play "Ruffles and Flourishes" and the U.S. Marine Band will launch "Hail to the Chief."

The President will then deliver his inaugural address, which is expected to run about 17 minutes long, after which the Chattering Class will pause to praise the Words of Gerson.

The U.S. Marine Band, the U.S. Army Herald Trumpets, and the U.S. Navy Sea Chanters perform "God of Our Fathers."

Pastor Kirbyjon Caldwell will deliver the Benediction.

Technical Sergeant Bradley Bennett will sing the National Anthem.

Following the swearing-in ceremony at 1:00 pm ET, the President will join invited guests in Statuary Hall for the congressional luncheon. After lunch, U.S. Army Major General Galen Jackman will escort the President to the east side of the U.S. Capitol for the pass in review, then onto the presidential motorcade for the start of the parade.

--2:30 pm-4:30 pm ET: inaugural parade commences down Pennsylvania Avenue.

And of course, don't miss a minute of the festivities on ABC News. After this morning's special three-hour "Good Morning America," Peter Jennings takes over through the afternoon, offering a look at the ceremony and the day along with George Stephanopoulos, Barbara Walters, and a host of others.

"Nightline" finishes off the day with a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the party. In addition, ABC News Radio, ABC News Now and ABCNEWS.com (complete coverage: LINK) watch the day wall-to-wall.

--7:00 pm-1:00 am ET: Nine separate inaugural balls, organized largely by state, will be held.

The Constitution Ball at the Washington Hilton (Arkansas, American Samoa, Connecticut, Georgia, Guam, Indiana, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, West Virginia and Wisconsin). President Bush delivers remarks at 7:45 pm ET.

The Freedom Ball at Union Station (Alaska, Alabama, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan and Diplomatic Corps). The President delivers remarks at 8:30 pm ET.

The Commander-In-Chief Ball at the National Building Museum

At the Washington, DC Convention Center:

--The Texas/Wyoming Ball. President and Mrs. Bush arrive at 8:45 pm ET.
--The Liberty Ball (Florida). President and Mrs. Bush arrive at 9:05 pm ET.
--The Independence Ball (Colorado, Delaware, DC, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont, Virginia and Washington). President and Mrs. Bush attend at 9:25 pm ET.
--The Stars and Stripes Ball. President and Mrs. Bush attend at 9:45 pm ET.
--The Patriot Ball (New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania) President and Mrs. Bush attend at 10:05 pm ET.
--The Democracy Ball (Arizona, California, Kentucky, North Carolina, North Dakota, South Dakota, Tennessee and Utah). President and Mrs. Bush attend at 10:25 pm ET.

Protest events:

--9:00 am ET: The DC Anti-War Network (DAWN) holds an anti-war rally and a march at Malcolm X Park
--10:30 am ET: The Billionaires for Bush hosts an "auction" of Social Security and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and a Re-Coronation Inaugural Ball at 8:30 pm ET.
--11:15 am ET: March toward the White House down 16th Street and ending at McPherson Square Park at approximately 12:30 pm ET. Marchers from organized by other groups will join the DAWN march at points along 16th Street.

Former Gov. Howard Dean holds a teleconference with 80 "house parties" of Democrats at 8:00 pm ET.

Sen. Joe Lieberman will be a guest on "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" to talk about the inauguration at 11:00 pm ET.

The inauguration:
The Washington Post's modern-day poet Timothy Dwyer sets the scene. LINK

Speech previews: LINK; LINK; LINK; and LINK

A Von Drehlian look at inaugural speeches. LINK

Not much room for the public along the parade route. LINK

Bush agenda:
Adam Nagourney and Janet Elder report the American public's feelings toward President Bush is a study in contradictions as a New York Times/CBS News Poll shows low expectations for President Bush's second term agenda.

"The Times/CBS News Poll offered the kind of conflicting portrait of the nation's view of Mr. Bush that was evident throughout last year's presidential campaign. Nearly 60 percent of respondents said they were generally optimistic on the eve of Mr. Bush's swearing-in about the next four years, but clear majorities disapproved of Mr. Bush's management of the economy and the war in Iraq." LINK

Likewise, John Harwood reports the Wall Street Journal's new poll shows "Lack of Support for President's Policies; But Respect for His Personal Traits, Especially in Crisis."

The Washington Post's Dan Balz and Michael Fletcher offer up a terrific examination of President Bush's approach and philosophy going into his second term, from the grasp of the office he has grown to have to the things he's said he would approach differently going forward, and what the actions he's already taken, including his Cabinet shake-up, might accomplish. LINK

John D. McKinnon and Christopher Cooper of the Wall Street Journal preview a second-term agenda that is as aggressive as the BC '04 campaign. "To overcome opposition to his program, Mr. Bush will turn to the same hard-charging machine that helped him win re-election. Republicans plan to stage what amounts to a permanent grass-roots campaign. Restructuring Social Security is now the president's top domestic priority."

Dean Broder looks at what Bush needs to do to avoid the "second-term curse." LINK

More Broder on what lies ahead: LINK

Peter Canellos also examines Bush's style going into the second term. LINK

The Washington Post's Dana Milbank and Chuck Babington examine the M.O. of the Bush second-term Cabinet: "no mistakes, no regret, no comment." LINK

On Inauguration Day, a Bob Woodward special on the Vice President. "Vice President Cheney said in an interview that the proper power of the presidency has finally been restored after being diminished in the wake of the Vietnam War and Watergate, and that President Bush contributed to the process by not allowing his narrow victory in the 2000 election to inhibit him during his first term." LINK

The Washington Post's Mike Allen previews Cheney's role in the second term. LINK

More on Cheney's power and influence, courtesy of USA Today's Richard Benedetto. LINK

The Washington Post's Helen Dewar Notes that Congress may prove tough on the President's agenda. LINK

As does the Wall Street Journal's Shailagh Murray: "Republicans held together remarkably well through Mr. Bush's first term. Conservatives swallowed hard to help the White House expand federal involvement in education and add a prescription-drug benefit to Medicare. Moderates mostly acquiesced on big tax cuts that contributed to swelling deficits."

The Los Angeles Times Notes Democrats power play on nominations just before the inauguration. LINK

Todd Purdum considers the complexities Laura Bush, a woman who is married to "the sweetest man you've ever known." LINK

Ann Gerhart looks at the First Lady's role in the second term in the Washington Post. LINK

Bush Cabinet: Condoleezza Rice:
One step closer to becoming Secretary Rice. LINK and LINK

AP's Barry Schweid leads with Senators making Rice promise to level with them when she takes over state. "And Rice seems agreeable, to a point." LINK

Maureen Dowd beats up on Rice. LINK

Bush Cabinet: Alberto Gonzales:
Gonzales gridlock: LINK

National security:
The Boston Globe's Suzanne Smalley wraps the dirty bomb threat and scare in Boston. LINK

Social Security:
The Washington Post's Jonathan Weisman plays catch-up on Rep. McCrery's comments, and looks at some of the Democratic ideas for Social Security. LINK

Although it is a busy day, read this story, because there might be a first-draft-of-history going on in this one. Ask yourself -- paragraph by paragraph -- which parts will make the White House (secretly) happy.

Treasury Secretary John Snow lays out the Administration's thinking on Social Security on the Wall Street Journal's op-ed page. LINK

RNC:
Now it's official -- congratulations, Mr. Chairman. LINK; LINK; and LINK

Dems regroup:
The Wall Street Journal's Jeanne Cummings looks at how Democrats are struggling to decide on a comeback strategy.

DNC chair's race:
AP Notes support for Roemer by California Reps. Eshoo and Tauscher, who are abortion rights supporters. LINK

2004 redux:
The Washington Post's Rich Morin and Claudia Deane wrap the report finding flaws with the 2004 exit polls -- the most inaccurate interviewing of any in the past five presidential elections. LINK

The New York Times' Jacques Steinberg: "These included the relative youth of the pollsters, who were more successful securing interviews with supporters of Mr. Kerry as they left polling places than with those of the actual winner, President Bush." LINK

USA Today's Mark Memmott details the report as well. LINK

Washington governor's race:
The Seattle Times' David Postman previews the day in court for Washington state Republicans as the Chelan County Superior Court hears their challenge to Christine Gregoire's election. LINK

2006:
David Yepsen looks at the field of possible contenders for Iowa governor in 2006. LINK

This could be the second-most important newspaper story of the day for Note readers.

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For those reading this on your BlackBerries on the parade route or at the Capitol outside -- we hope you wore a lot of layers, and, as tempting as that coffee seems, don't drink it; you will regret it later.

Have a great day.