I can’t wait to see Obama get sworn in. The last time I was excited about watching a Presidential inauguration was 1993.
Supposedly, all hotels/motels in a 100 mile radius from the Capitol are booked. I live in Baltimore, which is close to D.C., and the rooms in this town are filled.
I imagine this is the excitement and hope people felt when John F Kennedy was President. Obama spoke in Baltimore on Saturday, and thousands of people came out on a cold, cold day to see him. Several exits of I-83 were closed, along with many other roads. I feel like this is how it should be when the President or President-elect comes to town. We should all be excited. The inauguration should be a huge deal.
I know there may be some people saying and wishing some nasty things upon him, but for the most part people are optimistic, from what I can tell. I am really proud of this country for choosing who I think will be a great President. I know this sounds corny, but I keep thinking about a lyric Tupac Shakur said in "Changes" – "We ain’t ready to see a black President". If Tupac was still alive today, he would have seen this happen. I know, it’s a random thing for me to think. But the thing is, most of the people who voted for Obama didn’t vote for him because they just wanted a black President in office. They wanted a great President in office and he just happened to be black – just like one candidate may have blue eyes and the other brown.
This inauguration today isn’t just historic because he’s African-American, although it is undeniable the importance of that fact. The underdog won. The one who actually seems to be making good on his word. Someone with amazing eloquence. A politician who has been putting partisan issues aside and appointing those he thinks will do the job right. Someone who understands and acts upon the importance of science and technology. And this shows that a grassroots movement can work.
Months ago, when I had decided to vote for him, I thought to myself that he probably wouldn’t be as amazing as everyone projected he would be if elected. I figured he probably is just another politician but that he was the best choice out of the two. But I feel like he really will be a great President. He’s already been taking lots of steps as the President-elect that have impressed me. I really hope that I am right. I have been watching some of his podcasts and I think it’s great how much he wants us to be informed about what he’s doing. I don’t think anyone is making him do this. I read the letter he wrote to his daughters about why he’s taking his family on this journey, and it really touched me. I rarely ever feel like that.
I know that Rush Limbaugh outright said he hopes Obama fails. I think that’s absolutely absurd. If McCain had won, I wouldn’t hope he failed. I would want him to still make the best decisions. It’s not about this side vs. that side at this point. It’s about America not failing. If you hope that Obama does a bad job, then you are hoping that America fails.
I just hope people will realize that we have a lot of huge messes to get through. We didn’t get into this overnight and it’s not going to be fixed overnight. We might not see dramatic changes in the first year or even in the first term. But I do believe that Obama is really focused and determined to get as much done as he can.
I am listening to the inauguration video on Facebook/CNN while working from home.