ONE WEEK AND COUNTING!

This entry is by Rich. It has now been one week since WE inaugurated President Obama! Reflecting back it is obvious that it was the most profound political event of my life, including President Kennedy's assassination. It was not because he is the first African-American president, or because he was going to be so profoundly different than George Bush, or even because of the overwhelming size of the crowd.

What was truly mind-boggling was to be in what would normally be uncomfortably close proximity with a huge crowd of people of every race, creed, age, whatever and yet not feel the slightest fear or threat. In fact, the overwhelming, dominate emotion was a sense of oneness with everyone around me. Just after the oath of office was administered, I hugged an elderly Oriental woman behind me who I had never seen before and I am sure will never see again. I witnessed the same thing going on around me everywhere.

Which brings me to the real point of this entry. It is abundantly clear that while President Obama is a remarkable politician, it is also clear that for him that is merely a means to an entirely new end-or beginning. I am sure that most traditional Democrats and many of us who are just plain sick and tired of Republican ideology, might be scratching our collective heads at what President Obama has been doing "courting Republican support" over the last few days. After observing Obama over these last months and years, one thing I think I know about him is that he NEVER wastes his time or intellect on pointless endeavors. The Congressional Republicans don't realize that they have already been had by Obama!

My final comment is addressed to any Republicans who may be reading this. If you are a member of the "hard right" most likely you will spend the next 4 or hopefully 8 years being as frustrated as I was at Bush. The good news is that you will have a restored Constitution and nation of laws at the end of that time. If you are any other kind of Republican, I think President Obama will surprise you as much as he will surprise (maybe disappoint) traditional Democrats. At least nine Democrats and one Republican underestimated Obama over the past two years. This will be quite a ride!