Obama Takes Office

Today, Barack Obama became the 44th President of the United States. Whatever your political stripes, it is hard to deny the excitement, anticipation and history surrounding this day in our country.

Yes, Presidential Inaugurals happen every four years, but this man is not just any President. This is a man whose story, personality, and ideas have energized and inspired people in a way not seen in a long time, if ever. In only a few short years, he catapulted from the Illinois Statehouse to the US Senate and now to the Presidency.

How interesting it was to watch the transition of power play out with much pomp and circumstance today. But in the morning, the party will be over and the real work will begin for our new leader and his team.

This is a time of great concern in our nation. I believe our new President is equipped to meet the challenges he faces. It will not be easy, and things may not improve as quickly as some people would like. He is after all only one man, and not a perfect man...there will be missteps along the way. Still, I have reason to hope that the next four years will be good for America.

Bye, George!

Well, the Bush Administration is almost over...finally. Just a few more hours, and Dubya will go back to Texas and become part of history.

It's almost sad that a presidency that could have had promise descended into such lows. He squandered every bit of goodwill he had and leaves office with a 22 percent approval rating. We're in two wars, the economy is a mess...things are just bad.

Here was a man who surrounded himself with the wrong people, and made a lot of bad decisions. Maybe he thought he was doing right...sure would be interesting to see what goes on in that man's head.

He won't go down as the worst, but certainly far from one of the best.

Happy Trails, Mr. Bush...I hope we do not "meet" again for a long time.

2009 Begins

Well, a new year is upon us. 2008 started pretty well for me, but by the end I was not much further ahead than I had been in 2007. I am hopeful that the mixed back of the past year will give way to personal and professional success in the coming one.

Here's hoping for good things in 2009!