I’m not much for pomp & circumstance but I do love a parade, especially the bands. Plus, it’s hard not to perceive the presidential inaugural celebration as an historic occasion, even if you abhor politics, as I do.

When I learned from a friend of mine, who is definitely not an Obama admirer, that he was paying no attention whatsoever to the inauguration, I felt sorry for him. He’s missing a very special Washington, D.C. occasion, a spectacle that ought not be ignored just because one is a right winger. As the coverage unwound all day on CNN, I observed only one sour note. Even the President’s archest antagonists who attended avoided saying anything negative when interviewed. But former Bush staffer Ari Fleisher, ever the strident voice of Republicanism, referred to the President—on his inauguration day! – as “the most divisive President in history.” Geez, at first I thought he’d had an epiphany and turned on Bush! Then I realized he was talking about Obama. The guy is not only wrong, but he has no class.

The President’s Inauguration speech was packed with specific notes on key issues. He seemed to be setting the tone for his next four years. He even referenced global warming, possibly the principal issue of our time, which has been almost totally ignored by politicians on both sides of the aisle for too long. He spoke protectively of our social safety nets Medicare and Social Security; in my view, these are things seniors have earned and they are mislabeled as “entitlements.” He openly poked the right: “We cannot mistake absolutism for principle, or substitute spectacle for politics, or treat name-calling as reasoned debate.”

The scene from the podium, what the President looked out at as he spoke, was spectacular. At the end, after he’d ascended the stairs to leave for the next event, he turned and took a last look out over the enormous crowd. He should be allowed to savor the moment, and he did seem to be savoring it all from beginning to end.
And how can anyone not like Joe Biden. The guy is 100% politician but his demeanor is so refreshing and appears to be genuine. The President has clearly recognized his VP’s assets and taken advantage of them so that Biden has been more than the typical VP non-entity.

Good luck to all of us over the next four years.