Entry for January 20, 2009

Call me a jaded, an old fuddy-duddy , a middle aged crackpot...

As I wandered about the house this morning, with all the TVs on so I could catch any moment that sounded interesting from the inauguration, I remembered back past inaugurations- though I undoubtedly saw them all on the news from Kennedy onward, I really remember Reagan in 1981, Clinton in 1993 and Bush in 2004 .

History was made whenever a president took office, not just the achievement later on in each presidency.

Reagan spent so much money on defense that the Russian empire went under trying to keep up(at least that's one version)...

Clinton presided over unmatched economic growth, which in some ways contributed to our current mess...

Bush in 2004...well, he got elected to some degree to end the mess in Iraq he started, and who knows what else..

As I listened to our new President give his address, I was not entranced by his oratory skills, which are very good...nor was I spurred on to seeking some new confidence.

Kennedy had asked us to not seek help from our country, but offer to provide service to it, and as his administration took off, so did the Peace Corps and other programs. He challenged those who saw America as a foe to do so with caution:

"Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty."

Obama on the other hand, has a different reality to confront, and addressed it:

"We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you."

Elsewhere he said "...know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman, and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and is ready to lead once more. "

Let us all sincerely wish this man well in achieving his lofty goals, for surely our common fate is made by his (administrations) success ..

CDM