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The AJC says Forsyth County police have arrested the President Barack Obama supporter who claims she stopped short a trip to the inauguration after her home was set on fire. Police said “racially-charged graffiti” was also spraypainted on her fence.

Turns out she’s now a suspect in the crime.

Investigators arrested the homeowner Pamela Graf and her boyfriend late Tuesday, while executing a search warrant as part of their investigation into the Jan. 18 fire, said Steve Anderson, chief of investigations for the Forsyth County Fire Department.

“She is a suspect,” Anderson said today , “I look for something to be coming in the next day or two.”

“We were in search of fruits of the crime of arson,” the chief said. He declined to discuss specifics.

Graf was charged with possession of cocaine, and her boyfriend, identified as Steve Strobel, was charged with obstruction for giving statements “that were not truthful,” Anderson said.

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Jan. 20, 2009, 11:51 a.m., at East Capitol and First Streets N.E., Washington, D.C.

Neither the cold nor the crowds were as bad as people projected. Sure, the lines stretched for city blocks. Yes, the temperature was well below freezing. But, this was history. Frosty fingers and long wait times would not deny me the right to say in my old age “I was there.”

I decided on November 4 that I would be in Washington D.C. on January 20. I didn’t know how I would get there, where I would stay, or if I could get remotely close to the main action. During the months in between, I begged, borrowed, and dealt my way. By a few days before the inauguration I had hopped in a backseat of a car headed to D.C., commandeered a couch in Georgetown, and found a gleaming golden ticket to one of the closest sections to the capitol. I felt like Charlie in the chocolate factory, or rather in the Chocolate City.

Armored with several layers, I went into the cold on the big day. The trains were crowded but not impossible. I waited in line not too far from Chris Tucker and his mother. Throughout the festivities (and I do mean festivities) you could smell alcohol on the breath of some, reaffirming the sense that this was a college homecoming. When Bush came out, the people closest to the Capitol building sang out “na na naa na, hey hey hey, good bye.” Like Obama who would take Bush to task later, we let him know once and for all how we felt, dismissing him to irrelevance.

Looking down the Mall to the Washington Monument, I felt a like a drop in a powerful sea, turning the tide of change and roaring “O-BA-MA!”

(Photo by W. Hassan Marsh)

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Forsyth County fire investigators confirm the January 18 fire that destroyed Pamela Graf’s home was indeed arson.

Because graffiti reading “beware bitch your black boy will die” was found on a fence next to Graf’s home, and because Graf had an Obama campaign sign in her front yard, local and federal investigators are trying to determine if the arson was politically motivated.

If the fire was motivated by Graf’s support for Obama, the attack would appear to meet the U.S.’s legal definition of terrorism.

The term “terrorism” means premeditated, politically motivated violence perpetrated against noncombatant^/*/ targets by subnational groups or clandestine agents, usually intended to influence an audience.

At the time of the fire, Graf was in Washington, D.C. for events marking President Barack Obama’s inauguration. She has three children. No one was injured in the fire.

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• Did CNN catch a UFO over DC during the inauguration? About 8 seconds in…Now we can say everyone was watching… (I dunno, tho, might be seeing things, I am on my seventh cup of coffee…)

• White House clears way for stem cell research … sends message via 56k fax modem.
• Peanut butter popularity throws a wrench in the ongoing salmonella investigation … and yet, almost all workers at Southwest Georgia plant suspected as the source of the outbreak are laid off.
• When you can legally auction off your virginity, then you know its 2009.
• More and more trees are dying off at a faster rate in the Western U.S..
• Iceland government on the brink of collapse, victim of the financial crisis.
• Fidel Castro doesn’t expect to outlast Obama’s first term … now if we could just smoke a couple of Cohibas, we’ll bid him farewell in style.
• Are blogs the future of Newspapers? (What is this, 2005 or something? Someone oughtta tell that dude about 8020 publishing.)

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Yesterday, the nation’s first African-American president was sworn into office. Today, a chance to reflect on the moment.

Here’s a glimpse:

For older blacks, inauguration a dream fulfilled (Associated Press)

Across Atlanta, a sense of pride and deep reflection (Wall Street Journal Blogs)

Metro Atlantas celebrate Obama inauguration (AJC)

Watching change (Gawker)

News sites see massive demand for online news (The Boston Globe)

Today’s front pages from around the country and world (Newseum)

A tale of two prayers: Rick Warren’s and the Rev. Joseph Lowery’s (Crooks and Liars)

The first blog entry at the White House’s official website (WhiteHouse.gov)

Bush to Obama: A private letter (Los Angeles Times)

Bush daughters offer advice, in the form of a letter, to Obama daughters (Associated Press)

After a day of crowds and celebrations, Obama turns to a sober list of challenges (New York Times)

And finally, a view of yesterday’s ceremony, from way up high, in breathtaking detail (Popular Science)

(Photo from Popular Science)

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>> Washington City Paper, CL’s sister in news awesomeness, was on the front lines of yesterday’s joyful madness. Check out their twitter feed and uber blogging that captured Obamania in D.C.

>> Plus, Flickr photos of all the festivities from readers and images from the WCP staff photog.

>> Thoughts from the Chicago Reader, Obama’s old ‘hood…

>> CL Charlotte had Inauguration covered from all angles in their Obama-Rama blog…

>> Civil rights leaders share their experiences and thoughts on the historic Inauguration — Andrew Young, John Lewis and the Rev. Jesse Jackson.

>> And, in case you were wondering why your internet kept crashing yesterday, you can already blame something on Obama.

>> Crazy!: So many people were gathered to watch the Inauguration in D.C. that the masses could be seen from satellite (i.e. space).

(Photo by Joeff Davis)

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One of the lines that stuck with me from Barack Obama’s Inaugural address, one that I’ve heard repeated several times today, came when he said, “Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.” Something about the words rang a bell, and after a little Googling, I realized they echo the song “Pick Yourself Up,” a show tune/jazz standard sung by the likes of Frank Sinatra and Diane Krall. Apparently lyricist Dorothy Fields and composer Jerome Kern wrote it for the Fred Astaire/Ginger Rogers musical Swing Time (which, appropriately enough, dates back to 1936, when the United States was still struggling to get out of the Great Depression). Here’s the clip from Swing Time: listen out for the line “Pick yourself up, Dust yourself off, Start all over again:”

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Not a bad look for the White House’s home page:

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Gov. Sonny Perdue on President Barack Obama’s swearing-in ceremony:

“Today’s inauguration of President Obama marks yet another peaceful transition of power in our nation’s great history. Mary and I were honored to attend today’s ceremony and our prayers are with President and Mrs. Obama as they take on this awesome responsibility. Georgia looks forward to continuing to work closely with the incoming administration as we address our softening economy and the impact it is having on our citizens. I also want to thank President Bush for his service to our country and for his support and friendship during his time in the White House.”

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As Paul noted in the comments of CL’s inauguration live blog, President Barack Obama’s speech is now online.

The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because We the People have remained faithful to the ideals of our forbearers, and true to our founding documents.

So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans.

Read the entire speech over at CQPolitics.

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President-elect Barack Obama is scheduled to be sworn in at noon, a little less than two hours from now. If the Supreme Court is going to declare that he’s not actually a U.S. citizen, it’d better get a move on.

But seriously, I was just thinking this morning about how weird this all must be for one of those people unable to appreciate what’s happening today. You’d think the mere fact that we’ll soon be rid of George Bush and Dick Cheney would be exciting to anyone.

And yet, “PersecutedPatriot76″ is planning to protest the Obama inauguration today in Atlanta. Here’s his Craig’s List notice:

attention ron paul supporters, libertarians, market anarchists, agorists, minimists, porcs, free staters, bob barr lovers, and PEOPLE WHO CELEBRATE THE VALUE OF THEIR INDIVIDUAL SOVEREIGNTY OVER GOVERNMENT:
there will be a PEACEFUL anti-obama demonstration in downtown atlanta on the date of the inauguration.
native georgians, and other descendants of the colonials (white and black), have allowed the federal government to pervert many of the basic ideas our not-too-distant forefathers died to ensure for us. it is time we say “NO MORE”.
banners and protesters needed! come one come all!!!

Although I haven’t contacted PP76, I gather from his wording that he doesn’t oppose Obama himself, but rather the federal government and the presidency in general. From the fact that PP76 doesn’t announce the time and place of his protest — and from his web handle — I’m also guessing he’s aware that he’s advocating a fairly unpopular cause.

I just have one question: What’s an “agorist?”

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>> Since no one is talking about anything else this morning, let’s join the Obamania! … A schedule of inauguration events in D.C.

>> What you would see if you were in D.C. right now …

>> What people overseas have to say about the whole thing…

>> Oh, the excitement! A collective breath is held as America awaits the unveiling of Michelle Obama’s inaugural gown! Um, let’s get the collapse of America under control before we worry about the First Lady’s fashion, shall we?

>> And finally, after today is over, there is still tomorrow. The business of fixing the nation commences.

Back to the rest of the world…

>> Contemplating the ridiculous — who is “victorious” in the Israeli/Hamas conflict?

>> The Bush legacy: No loud talking or lip-locking and heaven forbid you punish your children on a plane. The Patriot Act is watching.

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While she was in D.C. last weekend celebrating the inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama, Pam Graf’s Cumming home burned in a fire Forsyth County officials have deemed suspicious. The words “your black boy will die” were spray-painted on Graf’s fence. Graf had at least one Obama campaign sign in her yard.

The Gainesville Times and Forsyth-based blog Tondee’s Tavern have the details.

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1) Join local feminist groups Georgia WAND and Charis Circle at Kavarna for Celebrating Change: A Feminist Inauguration Day Gathering.

2) Carolyn Jessop discusses Escape at the Decatur Library.

3) Historic Sweet Auburn celebrates Inauguration Day with live music and entertainment.

4) The Thrashers play Montreal Canadiens at Philips Arena.

5) Cirque du Soleil’s Kooza continues at Atlantic Station.

(Photo by Joeff Davis)

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NOT FUNNY Aides recently told Obama about our unicorn cover

Tomorrow, CL staffers will hunker down in front of TVs and laptops to witness and participate in a historic moment in our nation’s history — Rick Warren leading a large crowd of people in  prayer. No wait, I mean, we’ll be liveblogging the inauguration of Barack Obama, the nation’s first African-American president!

If you’re stuck at work or sitting at home and looking for a place to comment, make snide remarks, celebrate, or even commiserate, this is it. We go live at 10:45 a.m. and plan to type until we’re so full of hope and change we’re inspired to become decent, law-abiding citizens.  We’ll have polls, funny photos of large men on mopeds, and maybe even some special guests. (Vernon Jones, call us back!)

It’s been a long eight years. And the next four — hopefully eight? — will be tough. But regardless of your politics, it’ll be a ceremony you won’t want to say you missed.

(Photo by Joeff Davis)

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Barack Obama, flanked by Dexter King, visiting the Martin Luther King Jr. memorial January 20th, 2008.

The Newsdome takes a few links of its daily pessimistic rundown to honor the man about to become our 44th President in light of this historic day:

• AJC’s Martin Luther King Jr. page.
• ABC News interviews various civil rights leaders: From ‘I have a dream’ to Obama Inauguration.
• The view from abroad: Obama honours Martin Luther King on last day before presidency begins.
• Schedule of events for tomorrow’s inauguration.
• Lifehacker’s guide to catching the inauguaration from anywhere, from your phone to your desktop … this time, productivity can take a backseat to a good cause.
• Just because: The Obama inauguration … in Legos!!!

As for the rest of the news:

• More join milittary as job prospects dwindle.
• A Windows worm affects 8 million business PCs.
• Gaza in relative calm after both Hamas and the Israeli army hold ceasefire — relative being the operative word. A mere day later, European leaders are all smiles with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert … Meanwhile in Gaza, there are more than 1,000 civilian casualties, of which, 315 are children…
• On this side of the pond: In the last three months, at least 24 detainees have been declared improperly held at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba (that’s nearly 10 percent of the population in detention, where about 245 men remain).
• Finally: Revisiting The Onion’s predictions for a Bush presidency in 2001 … not funny haha, funny holy shit.

(Photo by Joeff Davis)

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