The Inauguration

I watched, along with many other millions of people worldwide, the Inauguration. I know some folks who went down to watch this in person, but, not unlike watching a sports event in winter, in person, I certainly would not like to freeze the rest of my toes off. Television is oh so much more comfortable.

Here are the memorable things for me. First, I did not like the color of Ms. Obama's dress. Just a weird color- didn't know if it wanted to be green, or yellow, it was sort of pukey. Bad choice- and it looked like upholstery.

It is great seeing the former Presidents and past and present dignitaries, and naming them off as they walk by. Seeing a group of former presidents together is pretty neat.

I did notice the cold shoulder given by Jimmy Carter to the Clintons. It was brrrrr cold. But, not everyone can get along with everyone, right?

The benediction was well, how do I put this? Um, well, it was something that I would imagine a 5th grader could write. If it was supposed to be funny, it missed the mark, and furthermore, I don't believe a benediction should include cutesy rhymes.

The oath? Both the assignor, and assignee bungled it badly. Did either practice this even once? Come on.

I thought the speech was good, but a bit heavy on parroting some statements made by other very well known equal rights orators. I didn't get any sense of WHERE this country is going, save for up, basically, it was an get the vote election speech, that at this time is moot. Devil is in the details, I know.

I did love to see the older folks out there just taken so far aback by this momentous occurrence, and for them I am very happy. This country has done an amazing thing be being the first highly industrialized country to elect a person of color. Let's see if any of the other countries who are so duly impressed by this follow suit.

I was un-impressed, but not surprised by the heckling that George Bush, our President received as he approached the dias, and as he left. Nice, people. The panning of the video of the crowd showed a crowd heckling Mr. Bush, and smiling and laughing. How old are these people? I am embarrassed.

Then of course, the poor folks who had tickets to see this historical day, who were funneled into a subway, and never escorted out to see the event. Sucks to be them, eh? Well, that just goes back to the TV reference I made :)

I fervently hope that our President Mr. Obama can indeed effect change. That a new broom sweeps clean. But, I worry that since he has installed mostly Clinton staffers, that this may not happen. But, that's the pessimist in me, or, is that the realist?

I hope that since both the senate and the house are now Democratic majority, that they can indeed implement good policy changes, and that this wrangling that went on for the past 8 years is finally over. I hope that all the vitriol spewed by the anti-Bush camp can finally be rinsed out of every one's mouths, and that we can now swish a bit of Listerine, and re-set the pH to that of a nice neutral 7. I don't know? Can we?

I am not excited about our New President. I am cautiously optimistic; I am waiting to see what will happen. I never believed any one person (other than Moses) could actually part the waters, and bring peace across the land. Even if he has all the momentum from so many millions of people behind him. He is our President, and he has a job. He is human. Until and unless I see the big changes (for the better- that's the hard part) I will remain a non-believer, reminded of the phrase "Meet the new Boss, same as the old Boss".