I've been waiting for this day for a very long time. Good bye, former President Bush.

I thought President Bush ran for office as a moderate, anxious to be sure the US did not play world policeman, prepared to balance spending and taxes, and with the conservative idea that people should be given the right to do their own thing. Instead, he turned into a monster--and the entire US will be paying the price. A couple of moments stood out for me in Obama's speech. First, he reminded us not to fall for the false choice between freedom and security. This really is no choice. Without freedom, we become Stalin's Russia, Hitler's Germany--where jackbooted troops are ever-ready to take away both freedom and security. Second, when he went down his list of religions and mentioned that there are those, in America, with no faith. Yes, it's likely that Thomas Jefferson was a president with no belief in an active and personal god, but since him, the idea that you can be a good American while still failing to believe in any god has become unthinkable. Perhaps we can think it again.

My friend Vicki held an inauguration party and Karen and I headed up to Richardson to participate. I've never been to an innauguration party before (I'm experimenting with the spelling to see if either looks right)--even when I worked in Washington DC, but I enjoyed this one. It was great to see all of the hope from so many people. Obama is so right when he says it's not about whether the government is big or small but about whether government programs help or hurt.

I'm sure I will disagree with many of Obama's policies. Still, I love the idea that we have a President who makes decisions based on facts, on evidence, on the real world rather than on his gut, his feelings and his fears. So, good bye, Mr. Bush. Welcome Mr. Obama. Do the best you can and know that many of us are behind you.

rob