The Torch Has Been Passed
Barack Obama
44th President of the United States

Born in 1961 and sent to Washington from the great Prairie State, only the second Illinoisan and first Chicagoan to become President, Barack Obama became the 44th President of the United States.

I watched the inauguration from my office computer and was really taken aback by the massive crowd. Inaugurations are always inspiring occasions but none, in my lifetime, more so than this. I say this, having not voted for Obama but happily among the 83% of the American people who wish–and pray him well.

His speech was great. As the first member of the legislative branch elected President since JFK, he was not at all senatorial in his speech. Thank God. It was an inspiring, reconciling speech. I also appreciated the statement he sent to the rest of the world that, sorry conservatives, America is back. President Reagan was the last person to announce that.

The pageantry, symbolism, and the witnessing of the new President and family entering and the outgoing President and his family quietly taking their leave was touching to watch. I sense, politics aside, the Obama’s and the Bush’s are fonder of each other than either of them is of the Clinton’s. Mrs. Obama and Mrs. Bush seemed to genuinely like each other. Obama’s daughters are adorable and are well on their way to beloved status by the American people.

Two criticisms. First, Rev. Rick Warren, Purpose drivin, saddle backin, bible huckster who gave the invocation. Any seminarian worth their salt knows that when you are asked to give an invocation to an interfaith group, you do not pray in the name of Jesus. The ProConPundit is very fond of Jesus. Not sure if the feeling is mutual. Not the point. You don’t pray in the name of Jesus at a national event. It’s insulting to people who are not Christian. If you think that’s picky just imagine the furor had someone prayed in the name of Buddha or Allah. He went on to effectively invite the country to join him in The Lord’s Prayer, a prayer Jesus taught his first followers to pray. Apart from the exclusive nature of using a prayer so exclusively tied to one faith tradition, insult is added injury because it’s poor to have a prayer recited when a copy of it is not available for people to follow. There are mucho inactive/disaffected Christians who don’t know it by heart, let alone people who are not Christian. It was poor.

Second, poorer still was the "Nana hey hey hey GOODBYE" song being sung by the crowds as President Bush entered the inauguration site and again as his helicopter took off. Memo to white trash and their counter parts in other races: it’s not a sporting event. No one wanted Bush gone more than Bush...notice how fast he walked, ahead of wife and daughter, to airplane from helicopter. It was a failed presidency. I also support investigating torture and war crimes. Whatever. Don’t boo the guy at a national ceremony. It was a poor side show to an otherwise spectacular national event.

God bless America. God bless President Obama and former President Bush.