Up, Down and Around Our Town

From anticipation to reality. The best way to bookend the week that was. From far and wide, the inauguration of President Obama was more like a Super Bowl celebration than an election conclusion. However, it was, no matter where you lean, a sight to be seen, heard and digested. Moreover, it still points out our ability to transfer power from one leader to another without blowing each other up. That's always been a Hallmark of our country and this past week, it played itself out tremendously.

Amidst all of the gala and the dances, the new President arrived for work on Wednesday morning. First came the lobbyists. Continue to play, boys and girls, but there is now a caveat to your political quid pro quo's. Now, if you are lobbying for a cause, you can't bid on that ultimate cause for a couple of years. My, now doesn't that change the landscape and if this is a sign of things to come, perhaps Washington as we knew it will work differently. Let's hope better as well.

The prison in Cuba. Closed within a year. The real question is what we do with the trash we have locked up for the last 7 years. Some just need to go, but most of them were detained for a real reason. The President's message to the world is that we will play by a high standard of rules; play with us and we'll be your ally. There are criminals in Cuba; let's be real careful how we shake them out.

Since we live and die with approval ratings, the new Chief Executive certainly hit a home run his first week. All of the usual people were thrilled and even the grizzled right had to admit that it was a good show. It does point to the coming controversy with the Right Wing talkers, who are now looking at probably an eight year term and public opinion much on the side of the current party. Perhaps re-engineering that entertainment would be a good thing as well.

And now back to Illinois. Home of Governor Rod Blagojevich. Even Mayor Daley repeated his description that the guy is "coo-koo" and nothing would deviate from that thought. Now his own high-priced lawyer has abandoned him and he will now take his claims to the bench on the View and ABC this morning. The facts are simple; he is dirty, corrupt and unstable. The sooner he is gone from the Chicago office of the Governor, the better. Here's hoping that the trial in the Senate is swift and we can look to this idiot in the rear-view mirror. As anyone who is working or providing a state-sponsored service in Illinois, the business of the Land of Lincoln has ground to a halt. All because of the moron at the top of the ticket.

Now a few words on the 43rd President. He became such a target for everything that is wrong in America that the backlash probably went too far. What legacy he is looking for will be a long-time coming and for one, he was probably not up to the job at hand - in these times. He was playing with an old playbook and those days are over. Ronald Reagan and Jerry Falwell are both dead. Reaganomics and the Christian Coalition no longer can command the work that was once the property of the GOP. Sorting out who the GOP is and what they truly stand for must be a priority. Attracting young people to a platform that has some meat to it other than the age-old anti-abortion and pro-Christian stand. Those days are over.

George Bush in front of a microphone was scary. It is the one striking difference between he and his successor. As a result, he was blamed for Katrina, Abu Grabe and jock itch. In reality, the presence of the government got locked into a blinding patter of losing by attacking Iraq. Then add the Wall Street greed to the mix, the housing collapse and the climbing in unemployment and George W. Bush became an easy target. And he was. It happened on his watch. But George Bush was not and never will be the devil-incarnate. He kept his pants on for 8 years and never once disgraced the office. That is not a small item. But, he did lose track of his direction and I honestly feel he knew he was in over his head and waited until this month to simply walk away. Defending the man isn't easy; defaming his effort seems to be popular.

And that is where we are. Now led by a populist statesman in Barack Obama. He is unbeatable. He is Black, he is not George Bush and he is young. And I for one am happy that such has occurred. He can articulate, he has already started the ethical reform on Capitol Hill and will probably undo much of the Bush residue in short term. But, we now are looking at the prospect of an economy that needs big help, unemployment at record highs and the continued war in Iraq. If all of the 2 million who were at the inauguration will get involved and own his leadership for reasons other than race and anti-Bush, we have a real chance to grow and redefine ourselves. If not, we will slip back into the abyss of politics as usual. I'm hoping for the former.

Arizona and Pittsburgh in the Super Bowl. The former Ram is on a roll - let's pick the Gridbirds 33-21. Why not? Plus, I'll snuggle up with a big bowl of chili and my little hero and try to explain what is going on. That is, if we can survive the onslaught of babble before the big game. And, it is not too late to get you :30 ad in the game. It is not sold out and for as little as $2.3 million, you can be heard on the Super Bowl. Or look at it this way, for the same amount that the corrupt FORMER head of Merril Lynch passed out to his buddied before they dove into the National Debt, you can advertise. Ah, what a country.

So, till next week and as always, I remain....