This is the second best day of my life. This is the day on which I am more proud of my country, fellow countrymen, and democratic government than I have ever been before. Michelle was right, when she uttered the words that were so dramatically misconstrued to paint her as unpatriotic. Today, we all truly can be proud, because we have inaugurated a smart, idealistic yet realistic, open-minded, good-humored, forward-thinking, diplomatic man as our 44th President.
I'm not African American, but I'm the granddaughter of a Mexican immigrant, and the inugural ceremony, with its hopeful prayers, songs, poetry, and oaths, helped me feel that our country to which my family pledges allegiance--even though it hasn't always treated my grandfather with the respect he deserved--truly IS our country. We have peacefully shifted power from a man who probably would've governed for life if not for the rules of tenure set in the Constitution.
The world is celebrating with us today. Well... maybe not the whole world. According to the "Daily Beast," Ralph "Sour Grapes" Nader said he spending today:
I’ll be working. Just like there’s a slaughter in Gaza day after day. We’ll see what he [Obama] does about that. We’ll see what he does about withdrawing soldiers from Iraq. He’s using a lot of the same words Bush has been using."
Seeing as how many of us hold Nader at least partially responsible for sabtoging the 2000 election and bestowing at least the first four years of W upon us, he's really one to talk about Obama's plans for Iraq. But I digress.
And with the pride and the glory, there is the fear for Ted Kennedy's health. But this day is such a proud day for Ted. Despite his medical distress, all you have to do is revisit the footage of him taking his seat on the steps of the Capitol to see how much this day means to him, a man who has dedicated his life to serving his country... the way we need to dedicate all of ours to getting our country back on track.
President Obama. It feels very good to say, doesn't it?
Congrats, fellow Kossacks. Yes We Did.