So here we are. Inauguration Day. The end of the Bush presidency. The beginning of the Obama one.
Part of me is hopeful — yes, the sort who imagines Obama as charging in on a White Unicorn, smiting evil and bringing puppies and flowers to a world grown tired and dark through the machinations of the current administration.
Part of me is cynical — waiting for Obama to reveal himself as another politician with feet of clay and a weakness for special interest spending, a return to business as usual with a Donkey in charge instead of an Elephant.
Much of me is pragmatic, realizing that Obama cannot live up to anyone’s expectations, my own included, let alone everyone’s. He will certainly make decisions that disappoint me — perhaps because of weakness, perhaps because he knows something I don’t, perhaps for good reasons, perhaps for bad. But I think, based on what I’ve read and heard of the man that he will do more things that impress me, that inspire me, that make me as glad that he is our president as I was embarrassed and increasingly angry that Bush was. I think he will, net-net, be just what this country needs.
I don’t envy him his job. Between cleaning up the mess and setting the federal government back to right — both full-time jobs — will he have time and energy and opportunity to make some positive changes, not just fix the negative ones? What will be done, what will be tried, and what will be left undone? How much time will he have?
(Though I’ll note that, despite very earnest and heartfelt fears on some folks’ parts, the Bush Administration did not run Bush for a 3rd term, did not fake a major terrorist attack, did not cancel the election, did not pull Osama bin Ladin out of a hat, did not declare martial law before the inauguration, did not disappear Obama before he could take office. Yes, today is not yet over, but I don’t see any of that as likely to happen today.)
I don’t have any magic advice for the new president, save to stay grounded in what’s real with his family, to keep an eye on the goals and not on the day-to-day drudge, to listen as well as speak and to consider before action. I think all of those are behaviors Obama has already shown, which is promising.
I keep him, his family, and our nation, in my thoughts and prayers.