Read the beginning of Maureen Dowd’s commentary in yesterday’s NYT. She, too, reflects on watching Marine 1 fly from Washington and the feelings of complete elation that it invoked in the throngs of people gathered on the mall.
-js

Time will tell. Obama’s only been President for 24 hours.

As a conservative/libertarian, I winced at a lot of what Bush did over the last 8 years, but he also accomplished some things that he can be proud of:

1. He took on terrorism with the conviction like no other. We have hamstrung them by taking out the leadership and putting a stranglehold on their money. They don’t have the know-how or the cash to pull off something like 9/11.

2. Bush has led the way with regard to the fight against global AIDS. Millions of people in Africa are getting treatment they otherwise would not, had it not been for Bush’s initiative in that regard. One has to see how ironic it is that the one place outside the US where Bush is seen as a hero and not some war-mongering cretin is Africa.

3. Bush didn’t buckle to pressure after appointing Justice Roberts to take over for Rehnquist by appointing a ‘moderate’ to replace Sandra Day O’Connor. Instead, he appointed Samuel Alito.

I’m sure there are those who think it will be nothing but puppy dogs, ice cream and rainbows from here on out, but let’s see what happens before bestowing sainthood on President Obama.

There are competent adults in charge of our federal government again! Its such a strange but wonderful feeling.

Nice to have you back, Steve. Can’t wait to read BP ‘09 and hopefully see you guys on the Boston leg of the book tour.