Ready for CHANGE

We watched history being made today. I don't have words to express the emotions and thoughts that churned through my brain today. Today, I read Don R. Hays and his words are much more eloquent than mine:

"We’re ready for change. This is coming from me, one of those citizens that still believes in George W. Bush and his Presidency. I consider him an honest, moral, spiritual, and very smart person, and the right man for the right job. I believe that world Democracy will come decades sooner as a result of those Bush-directed actions taken post 9-11. I certainly lost faith in the Republican Congress, and Congress in general, and was very disappointed that Republicans and Democrats alike were able to pretty much neuter his compassionate Republican plans in so many areas. But, I am ready for change. I’m ready for a unifier, and not a vindictive anger spouting rhetoric such as has become so popular. If you like Limbaugh, Pelosi, Boehner, Reid, Franks, etc., so be it, but my guess (prayer) is that you are ready for change as well.

Maybe—oh how I hope—that this black man can bring a calmness, a spirit of cooperation, a culture of responsibility (that’s his new theme, I understand) that Martin Luther King dreamed about for America as One Nation Under God. This great country, and this great world, is ready for it, and the lack of unification, and the political in-fighting since Reagan’s first term has put us many years behind in where we should be.

I’m not worried about the deficit, as crazy as that may be. I want the money to be spent wisely, of course, but if it is we will find a rejuvenated and re-energized industrial base that will be welcomed by the massive new consumer base being brought into the world Democracies. It will be very easy to repay that deficit with the economic reaction when technology and productivity meets those billions of world citizens waiting to get a job and earn a living.

Transcending to the last exciting 30 years, Nixon inaugurated in 1973, with Ford coming in at the bottom of that 1974 bottom to finish his term, then Carter in 1977, Reagan in January 1981, again in January 1985. In 1989, Bush I took over for one term, but then Clinton elected and inaugurated in 1993 and again in 1996. Bush II was inaugurated in the midst of a tough down-cycle in the economy, and then 9 months later 9-11. He has gone through a War and Cleansing of the Taliban in Afghanistan, the War with Iraq, the worst Hurricane hitting New Orleans in a 100 years, Alan Greenspan and a Republican Congress that had been there much too long. And today as he leaves the White House, he is ready for a rest.

So on this great day in history, Barack Obama takes office, and it is fitting that he has given so much due to Abraham Lincoln, and the great heritage of our rocky and turbulent past that has built this great nation.

I am one lucky guy to have been blessed to live in this country, and President Obama, who did not get my vote, now has my allegiance to do my best to help my family, my community, my state, and my nation to get back on a new path that will lead the next generation to the great opportunities I’m been given.

I thank you George Bush for your patriotism and hard work in one of the most difficult times in U.S. history, and I thank you Barack Obama for exciting a nation to be kinder and gentler and more responsible. It is a very valiant and grand mission, and my prayers are with you.

God Bless America."