I had the pleasure of watching President Obama's (so nice to be able to say that after 8 years of daily despair) inauguration speech last night.
I thought NPR, to whom I listen daily, completely missed the ball yesterday. Struck out. Fouled out, actually. They seemed to have completely missed that this was one of the most inspiring speeches we have heard the President give in the last four years (only the DNC speech 4 years ago comes close I think).
It was sober, reasoned, biting (in its implicit criticisms of the Bushites failures), and a call to action. Really first-rate. No, it wasn't Churchill but it was possibly the best inauguration speech since JFK.
The question on most people's mind, those who haven't beatified the man yet, is whether he and his administration can deliver. Though we should say, he, his administration, and that largely useless waste of space called the legislative branch.
Time will tell, but I feel hopeful for the first time in eight years that this country is finally led by a man up to the task.
Posted by artandscience at January 21, 2009 10:58 AM