Obama Takes Over

by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700

Copyright January 19, 2009
All Rights Reserved.                    

           On the eve of his historic inauguration as the 44th president of the United States, Prsdient-elect Barack Obama promised to bring the nation together.  Divided by red and blue states, by racial, regional and religious differences, his candidacy promises a new era of national unity, bringing the nation together under a common purpose.  Racked by the biggest financial crisis since the great depression, two divisive wars and pessimism around the land, the 47-year-old will try to turn a new page.  “Tomorrow, we will come together as one people on the same Mall where Dr. King’s dream echoes still,” said Barack commemorating Martin Luther King Jr. Day.  Millions of people, without inauguration tickets, have descended on Washington to witness firsthand an unprecedented event in American history:  The inauguration of the nation’s first Black President.

            When Supreme Court Justice John G. Roberts administers the oath of office, there will be no religious or racial test but a sober reality that a broken country needs to be fixed.  With soaring unemployment and a record $1.2 trillion deficit, Obama will have little time to whoop-it-up before getting down to business on Wednesday.  Much has been said about the $170 million inaugural extravaganza but the nation deserves to celebrate a remarkable feat.  So much rides on the expertise and wisdom of Obama’s handpicked team tackling the horrendous problems.  Two foreign wars threaten to hemorrhage the country into insolvency.  A once-in-a-century financial meltdown threatens to sabotage an ambitious domestic and foreign policy agenda needed to restore America’s promise.  Without a robust economy, Obama’s vast foreign policy and domestic goals can’t be reached.

            President George W. Bush finished his last day in office commuting the sentences of convicted federal border patrol agents Jose Compean and Igancio Ramos, both convicted Sept. 4, 2007 of shooting unarmed drug runner Osvaldo Aldrete Avila, a final act of mercy for a national cause celêbre.  Bush’s last act brought his pardon total to 189, commuting only nine others.  He surprised many on the left leaving alone the commutation of I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby, Vice President Dick Cheney’s former chief of staff.  Judging by the New York Times final approval rating of 22%, most Americans were ready for Bush to get out.  Despite touting his accomplishments in a nationwide speech Jan. 11, Bush leaves the country in shambles, a big mess for the incoming president.  Obama needs to celebrate before he feels the crushing weight of the nation’s many problems.

            Tomorrow’s pomp-and-circumstance begins with the Obama welcomed at the portico of the White House by the George and Laura Bush for a ceremonial tour.  Moving vans will be ready to move in the Obamas and transport the Bush’s to their new life in a posh Dallas neighborhood.  At noon, the Vice Presdident-elect Joseph Biden will take his oath of office from Justice John Paul Stevens.  Barack will follow, taking his oath from Chief Justice Roberts, after which Barack will give his inaugural speech, laying out his administration’s themes and goals.  “King was a life lived in loving service to others.  As we honor that legacy, it’s not a day just to pause and reflect—it’s a day to act,” said Barack commemorating the King holiday.  “Loving service” promises to be a theme repeated in Barack’s inaugural.  He’ll ask all Americans to put away partisanship for the good of the country.

            Barack believes government hasn’t worked because of too much partisanship.  His inaugural speech promises to hark back to President John F. Kennedy to broad themes, national goals and common heritage.  He’ll make national service, like Kennedy, as the highest calling, inviting a young generation, and those young at heart, to put service before personal agendas.  “I am making a commitment to you as your next president that we are going to make government work,” said Obama, reminding his growing army of supporters that country comes before self-ambition.  Despite the opulent festivities and balls, Barack will be all business when he steps up to the microphone to deliver the speech of his life.  Inaugural speeches set the tone for first 100 days, an ambitious agenda dominated by ending the Iraq War and working nonstop to fix the battered economy.

            Obama steps on the inaugural stage with the highest of expectations during a time of national peril, both domestically and overseas.  While he’ll no doubt enjoy a honeymoon, Barack will be forced to get down to business without delay.  Too many problems call for immediate action.  Unknown tests await a new president, ready to take power away from a White House plagued with broken promises and failed expectations.  Barack starts with soaring approval ratings, far more than Bush when he took the baton from President Bill Clinton.  Much has been said about Barack borrowing personnel from the Clinton White House, questioning what’s really new.  What’s really new is having a brilliant young orator at the helm, capable of motivating a new generation of Americans into service of their country.  Optimism has returned with doom-and-gloom taking a welcomed backseat.

John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news.  He's editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.

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