What she said, part 2

As I said, there would be plenty of other people who would express their thoughts and feelings about Inauguration Day 2009 far better than I could ever dream - so here are some of their words:

Franklin Habit (love him!), The Panopticon:
"For eight years, I have watched the government–my government, the one I was always taught was of, by and for the people–do everything in its power to divide the country into us and them. I have listened, shattered, as my fellow citizens have questioned my loyalty, my liberty, and my right to exist.

Well, I'm still here and I'm still loyal. This place ain't perfect, but it's mine and I love it. In spite of eight years of misrule by as sorry a pack of weasels as ever held office, I still believe that America, at its heart, is a nation founded on noble instincts and good ideas."

Leonard Pitts (love him too), The Miami Herald:
"Every four years, America gets the option of reinventing itself. You wonder if Americans really appreciate what a miracle this is.

Maybe this year, they do. Maybe in this crisis moment, with the economy broken, with war on two fronts, with palpable fatigue of the lies, alibis, incompetence, and tolerance of incompetence that have characterized the last eight years, they have a renewed appreciation for their ability as Americans, when displeased, to choose something new."

Kathleen Parker (starting to love her), The Washington Post:
"For awe is the truest word to describe what transpired and what was inspired.

It is not only awe for Obama's meteoric rise to the highest human power. It is not only that so many trekked so far to be present for the moment. It is not even awe for the peaceful transfer of power for which Americans are deservedly proud.

It is awe for what is, in fact, not change, but the natural, if difficult, progression of an ideal that is true and good and transcendent through time. Barack Obama's presidency isn't a change from, but a continuation of the American experiment toward its hoped-for destination."

Crazy Aunt Purl (girlfriend makes me laugh):
"Even if you didn't like the guy and didn't vote for him, I'd imagine you have to be amazed and surprised at how he's bringing people together to feel good about our country, even on a cold January day (well, cold in Washington D.C. I live in Los Angeles where summer started two weeks ago and people are wearing flip-flops and tank tops.)"

John Kass (just learned of him but my friend Noelle loves him), The Chicago Tribune:
"Yet his speech was a success because it tapped into that identical nerve running through moderates, liberals, conservatives and libertarians: love of country. His speech clearly told us that Obama loves this nation as an immigrant's son, a kid who grew up with a funny name, a young man who accepted the American offer to reinvent himself."

Wow. What they said.