Out With the Old; In With the New

On this day, the inauguration of our forty fourth President, I find myself deep in thought or hope anyway. As I watch the hoopla build in anticipation of his presidency I can’t help but wonder what the next four years will bring. He wasn’t my first choice for the position, he wasn’t even who I voted for, but the people have spoken, the politicians have spoken and so being a believer in democracy I lend him my support. Last night as the festivities began I found myself praying for him, praying that in these times he will seek the counsel of wise men around him, that he will seek the counsel of an all powerful God, and that he will follow that counsel. I hope for the many Americans who are suffering at the hands of the economy that they will prosper, I hope for the many Americans who have sacrificed the past eight years of their life serving in the military for all of us that their service will not have been in vain with what he decides to do next, most of all I hope that every person gains whatever they thought he could do for them. God bless Barack Obama II, he’s going to need it.

And with that I can’t help but think about George W. I feel such deep gratitude for him. In my book he will go down as one of the great presidents similar to the likes of Reagan. After eight years the people have turned their backs to him and turned their back on him regarding him with hostility and disdain. Having received the highest approval rating of any president as well as the lowest approval rating only shows how many calamities he has had to deal with during his terms. Perhaps his public speaking skills could have been more polished but I always found his candor to be grounded and approachable lending to a familiarity that makes me call him George W. instead of President Bush. In his final weeks his athletic cat like ninja reflexes in ducking from the infamous “shoes” will forever cement his good standing in my eyes. Good luck to him as well in the upcoming years.