Many believed this day would never come. Most of us hoped and prayed that it would, but few of us actually believed we would live to see it. Racism is an ugly thing in all of its forms and there is little doubt that if this man had moved into this house fifteen years ago, there would have been a great outcry – possibly even rioting in the streets.
Today, we can all be both grateful and proud that no such mayhem will take place when this man takes up residency in this house.

This man, moving into this house at this time in our nation’s history is much more than a simple change of addresses for him – it is proof of a change in our attitude as a nation. It is an amends of sorts – the righting of a great wrong. It is a symbol of our growth, and of our willingness to “judge a man, not by the color of his skin but by the content of his character”.

There can be little doubt now that the vast majority of us truly believe that this man has earned both his place in history and his new address. His time in this house will not be easy – it will be fraught with danger and he will face many challenges. There will be many times when he asks himself how in the world he ended up here and like all who have gone before him, the experience will age him greatly.

But do not waste an ounce of worry for his sake – because in every way a man can, he asked for this.
His whole life for the past fifteen years appears to have been inexorably leading this man toward this house.
It is highly probable that that in the past, despite all of his actions, racism would have kept this man out of this house.
Today, we should thank the lord above that we are Americans and that we live in a nation where wrongs are righted, where justice matters and where truly anything is possible.

The man being discussed:

Inaugural Fun Facts:
George Washington’s was the shortest inaugural address at 135 words. (1793)

William H. Harrison’s was the longest inaugural address at 8,445 words. (1841)

Abraham Lincoln was the first to include African-Americans in his parade. (1865)

Women were included for the first time in Woodrow Wilson’s second inaugural parade. (1917)

Lyndon Johnson was the first (and so far) only president to be sworn in by a woman, U.S. District Judge Sarah T. Hughes. (1963)

Ronald Reagan’s second inaugural had to compete with Super Bowl Sunday. (1985)

The first ceremony broadcast on the Internet was Bill Clinton’s second inauguration. (1997)

All but six presidents took the presidential oath in Washington, D.C.The exceptions were:
• George Washington-1789, New York City; 1793, Philadelphia
• John Adams-1797, Philadelphia
• Chester Alan Arthur-1881, New York City
• Theodore Roosevelt-1901, Buffalo
• Calvin Coolidge-1923, Plymouth, Vt.
• Lyndon Baines Johnson-1963, Dallas

Theodore Roosevelt’s 1901 oath was the only one not sworn in on a Bible.

Only four retiring presidents have not attended the inaugurations of their successors. Those who were absent:
• John Adams missed Thomas Jefferson’s inaugural.
• John Quincy Adams was not present at Andrew Jackson’s.
• Andrew Johnson was not at Ulysses Grant’s ceremony.
• Richard Nixon was not present at Gerald Ford’s inaugural.

Here we go once again America. Game on.

This is relevant because it’s imperative that you understand that the crowd was made up entirely of the cool kids. The hipster tastemaker, under 30 crowd. The crowd was incredibly diverse. Blacks, Hispanics and the additional mix of many other cultures that is the beauty of NYC.

And there were plenty of white boys & girls.

What you are about to read is absolutely NOT a pro-McCain piece by any means.

Definitely not a fan.

It’s also not an anti-Obama piece.

It’s simply an observation of pop culture written for the purpose of starting a conversation. That being said… the rap artists that performed were unabashedly pro-Obama. And there were MANY pro-Obama comments from the stage. And overwhelmingly, the previously-mentioned diverse crowd absolutely ate it up. And I’m here to tell you that it was DEFINITELY a “black thang.”

And let me be clear that is NOT a narrow-minded, race-specific observation. The hip-hop influence over popular culture in undeniable. So it’s absolutely a reality that a Chinese 20-year old, or a teenage white kid from Idaho can take part in a “black thang.” I’ve personally taken part in more than I can count.

If you’ve never witnessed Bootsy Collins live… you’ve never properly received the funk.

My point is that Barack Obama is deeply infused into pop culture. He has beyond all doubt connected. The handling and marketing of the Obama brand has been flawless. You simply have to give that machine some serious credit.

They’ve out-MTV’d MTV itself.

Here’s where I’m left scratching my head. Obama has made no bones about his intentions. Socialized health care. Re-distribution. Higher taxes. (Regardless of specifically to whom) Tax money give-aways. All of these things equal bigger government.

What absolutely drives a lot of conservative-leaning individuals crazy-nutz (myself included) is the amount that The Bush Administration has grown the Federal Government. And I absolutely acknowledge that EVERY administration has grown it in relation to the previous administration.

Even Reagan.

But the Bush Administration had hardly been an example of fiscal restraint.

And Obama has been looking right into the camera and telling America exactly what he wants to do. He’s not even trying to be vague or hide his intentions behind sales gimmicks. And people are cheering in droves.

Passionately. And the enthusiasm is very real. It’s very intense. And if I may quote one of the artists performing on stage at the event I attended:

“On November 4th we gonna make history. We gonna change this muthaf@%$*!”

Thunderous response. Cheers on-par with Super Bowl win.

Help me understand. How is continuing to grow the Federal Government beyond the bloated-dirty-swine that it already is worth cheering that passionately about?

How?

One of two things is happening here:
ONE – They really, truly believe that growing the Federal Government will benefit everyone and it’s for the greater good.

TWO- The fact that all this awesome stuff he is proposing (just socialized healthcare alone!) would grow the Federal Government to enormous size… is completely lost on them. They don’t even stop to consider that.

If #1 is true… how did we get this point?
If #2 is true… how is that possible? He’s been absolutely up front about his intentions. Is it simply that they got swept up in the “feel good” vibe of the campaign?

Is there another possibility?

None of this is relevant to the McCain Campaign. There’s close to zero genuine, street-level enthusiasm of any magnitude at all. But not Obama. The enthusiasm is undeniable.

Help me understand the change we need.

More importantly… help me understand how further bloating the size of Federal Government became cool and hip?

It clearly happened again with the Barack Obama brand.

A rookie voting record that shows marginal involvement or commitment to definition.

Close to zero actual non-scripted interviews

Close to zero actual non-scripted debate

Considerable & indisputable associations with advocates that most reasonable people would consider “radical” or at the very least… divisive

Now liberals definitely don’t have the market cornered on blind allegiance. But they definitely seem to excel at it and practice it regularly.

The Sarah Palin phenomenon is the perfect example. Look at how this woman has been attacked, smeared, doubted and generally run through the ringer. Did Joe Biden experience anything close to that when he was announced as the VP running mate? Of course he didn’t.

By the same token, look at the genuine excitement behind her. But “liking” or supporting someone doesn’t require the same amount of effort and due diligence as purposely attacking them does. It’s easy to fall for someone or something. Dislike or hate takes more of an attempt.

It’s basic psychology. Negativity requires a lot of energy.

Let’s be honest. Most of America hasn’t known (or known of!) Sarah Palin long enough to form such passionate opinions for or against her. Yet look at how the lemmings are behaving. On both sides.

By the same token, look at all the blind allegiance to the Barack Obama campaign.

Two years in the U.S. Senate. Seven years in the Illinois Senate. One loss in a primary election for the U.S. House of Representatives. One stirring keynote address at a Democratic National Convention. Two best-selling books.

That’s Barack Obama’s political résumé. Is it enough to qualify him to be president?

That’s debatable. But it’s interesting to consider that 95% of the experience he does have was completely off the radar of the vast majority of his current supporters. Yet they‘ll cast they’ll cast their vote for him and smear Sarah Palin… and do both with the greatest of ease.

Could either action possibly be that well researched or thought out?

Not anymore than last season’s vote for American Idol.

No disrespect to David Cook. He rocked. But we just met him not too long ago as well.