Do you know how much I wish this were the official White House Presidential photo? Go here to read more about Baby the 3-legged poodle.
It’s funny—over the course of the past eight years, I have spent so much time counting down the months (days, minutes, seconds) until G.W.B. would be leaving office. That was what mattered to me for a long time, seeing him gone. (And today he leaves office with a 22% approval rating—the lowest in history.) At a certain point, though, my focus and concern shifted to where we were all headed once he left, and who was going to take his place. By the time Obama won the primary election, it was almost as though G.W.B. didn’t exist. And so, the celebrating I do today will not be to mark the end of Bush administration’s reign of terror, but to welcome Obama and his team to their new positions, and to mark the beginning of what I believe is the right path for this country.
Yesterday on WAMC I listed to Clarence B. Jones, a former speech writer and advisor to Martin Luther King, Jr., speak about his book, What Would Martin Say?. He concluded the interview by saying that the election of Barack Obama as the 44th president of the United States is a reflection less of Obama’s personal accomplishments than it is of where we have come as a country, together. He said this not to diminish Obama’s capabilities and potential for excellence as a president, but to remind us all of just how historically significant this moment is, and what it says about us as Americans. What a joyful thought!
Let’s savor that feeling today—we have a lot of work to do tomorrow.
28 Comments
At my job they sent out a mass email letting us know that whoever desires to watch the inauguration may do in some lounge or cafeteria here. You just have to get permission from your supervisor! I bet nobody will be at their desks today!
I am so happy this day is here. And I like you am even happier that GWB is leaving. This day is for the USA as it should be. So many people in DC today and that is what it should be like. I feel so happy and proud this day. Thanks for posting this!
Thank you so much for posting this, you’ve summed it up wonderfully.
I read this on facebook “Rosa Parks sat in 1955. Martin Luther King walked in 1963. Barack Obama ran in 2008. That our children might fly.” Arturo Urrutia
I’m watching in England, verging on tears of happiness – it’s such a thrill to witness such a great event!
Yes.
i cried through the entire inauguration. here’s to hope.
Best. day. ever.
happy inauguration day! as i canadian i say to everyone south of the border reading this “give yourselves a pat on the back america – you’ve done good!”
this is definitely a HUGE step in the right direction. what a feeling.
this picture made me very very happy!
What a wonderful day! America came through in the end, and we will all be, and hopefully do, better because of it. If only our politicians here in Britain had an ounce of the vision, integrity and charisma of Obama….
YAY for all you Americans. I even watched the inauguration and I don’t give a sh*t about Canadian politics, much less another country’s politics. It’s nice to finally see a president with brains. (As for the poor pooch, isn’t it a bichon frise? I grew up with one)
An amazingly wonderful day 🙂 I even stayed home from work til the inauguration was over.
I am so happy for America, I speak for the huge majority of Canadians who are just thrilled by this historic moment. Way to go! Now the rest of the world wants to know where is our Obama? 🙂
p.s. I’m also very happy for you about your floor and bathroom. I know the feeling, each time we get to a job like that at home we wish we had done it sooner, but there just aren’t enough days in the week.
xo
Congratulations, you’re a Bush Survivor! If that’s not on a t-shirt already, it should be – “I’m a Bush survivor.” – that’d sell like hotcakes!
There’s more than 1 person running our government. Approval of the Democratic Congress has dipped below 20% for only the fourth time in the 34 years Gallup has asked Americans to rate the job Congress is doing. The 18% score matches the record lows Gallup recorded in August 2007 and March 1992.
What a great day. I spent it sobbing alongside my coworkers while resisting the urge to dance around shouting ding dong the witch is dead!
Also, thank you for posting this photo and raising awareness of animal issues. 🙂
Malia, I’m not sure what your comment has to do with the inauguration of Barack Obama to the office of president, but let me ask you — why do you think the Democratic Congress is so unpopular right now? I expect the reason lies with the massive unpopularity of the policies and actions of the Bush administration (and yes, I am very well aware that there is more than one person running our government) and the unwillingness of Democrats to take a forceful stand against for what the party should represent. In fact, this disappointment played a huge role in Obama winning the primary over Hilary Clinton, who voted in support of the war in Iraq!
Again, I’m not exactly sure what the point you’re trying to make is, but suffice to say I don’t think it’s a huge secret that the majority of Americans have been terribly and increasingly frustrated with the US government over the past 8 years, and many of us are very hopeful that the willingness of the population to elect Obama is a signal that as a country we are ready for change in many ways.
Anna, I just love that photo. Today’s inauguration was very moving.
Thanks for posting that article about Baby and the puppy mills. That poor little dog.
Wonderful picture, wonderful man. To whoever thinks we shouldn’t be bashing the mess that was the Bush administration, I say three cheers for free speech and three cheers for Obama!
This has to do with OBAMA (wooo!) but not exactly this post (even though it has been quite an exciting day)… where did you get the red and blue OBAMA poster that hangs in your kitchen(?) I want one!
Melissa, the poster is in my dining room. I bought it from the Obama store during the campaign (they are long since sold out). You can see my post about the poster here — it includes a link to view all of the posters commissioned by the campaign.
That sounds right! I remember seeing it there now! I spend hours searching blogs and linking from page to page…. it makes it hard to remember where you find something sometimes. It may be sold out but there is always ebay!
I can’t wait to see what his designer does in the white house myself.
You want the truth? You can’t handle the truth!!!
Ha I knew you wouldn’t post my comment! Doesn’t quite fit in with your Obama worship, does it?
How sad that you all worship a man but actually know nothing about him. How superficial and pathetic! But you know what? You always have HOPE and CHANGE. Whatever the hell that means.
I’m not sure what on Earth you’re talking about, Jennifer, but there are probably better venues for voicing your anger over the politics of others than in the comments section of a month-old post on a personal weblog.
As for myself, I said nothing of worship (nor do I worship any being, object, or idea), and you know absolutely nothing about my personal beliefs. I am baffled as to why you would choose to suggest anything contrary based on what was expressed in this post (or, for that matter, anything I have ever posted on this blog), but if you have some sort of personal problem with ME, I suggest you take the time to sort your feelings out and express yourself in a more coherent manner.
Otherwise, enjoy traversing the internet and spreading your hostility around the globe from the the safety of your desk, sofa, or dining table.
There’s more than 1 person running our government. Approval of the Democratic Congress has dipped below 20% for only the fourth time in the 34 years Gallup has asked Americans to rate the job Congress is doing. The 18% score matches the record lows Gallup recorded in August 2007 and March 1992.
Ditto!!