2009-02 GEORGETOWN

An historic day, and one would hope seminal as well, predictive of more genial times ahead. The day is reminiscent of January 20, 1981, when another President destined for greatness took the reins from an extremely unpopular predecessor. Would that our new leader enjoy the success of our 40th President, and the world prosper under him as it did nearly three decades ago.

An historic day, not perhaps in the words of Oprah Winfree “the best day in the history of the world.” The birth of Christ, July 4, 1776, and Columbus’ first glimpse of the Americas come to mind, but an historic day indeed. A day for pride, for hope, for reflection on both our progress and our promise.

And yet, George Washington was assigned a single military aide at his Inauguration, whom he dismissed as unnecessary. So near and yet so far.

The obvious cordiality among the incoming and departing Presidents and the First Ladies, and the warm embraces exchanged by Bush 41, Barbara, Hilary, and Bill Clinton. Then an MSNBC commercial break promoting Keith Olbermann’s upcoming program urging criminal prosecution of Bush, Cheney, and their aides for war crimes. So near and yet so far. Sad that great promise cannot seem, even for a moment, to overshadow intense hatred.

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On the stroke of noon the nation greeted a new President, yet at 12:06:23, with a simple “so help me God,” we reached the watershed. And now the hard work begins. Someone who counts such things has noted that our new President in his campaign made more promises that our past 3 Presidents combined. It is certainly a time for promises, many and great. But as not all can be fulfilled, prioritization becomes more than an abstract concept. As governing begins, so does the process of making difficult choices, which will tell us much about political courage.

Perhaps no better example exists, floating high behind the legislative floodgates, than the misnamed “Employee Free Choice Act” which would remove the secret ballot from union organizing elections. It will be swiftly considered by the House of Representatives as an acknowledged and unapologetic payoff for unwavering union support, and will be a powerful indicator of whether the call to great national purpose truly heralds an era of positive change or is simply another in a depressingly long string of empty promises and steely partisanship.

If the process is flawed, it should indeed be fixed. But it should not be trashed by removing one of the great cornerstones of egalitarianism. After a week of ceremony glorifying the greatness of America, the strength of its founding principles, and the enduring durability of its traditions, to cast aside a keystone of American democracy will be telling indeed. President Obama was elected by secret ballot, likewise all 535 members of Congress who will decide this matter. To suggest that the ACT will redress unfair tactics perpetrated by American business but will not be replaced by unfair tactics on the part of American Unions is not naïve but crass.

A case can be made, though surely rejected by many, that some actions of these past 8 years, however flawed, were the reaction of a nation in shock after the first devastating attack from beyond our shores. We did some bad things based on good intentions but flawed reasoning. And as we now move to correct injustices and mistakes, will we commit others of the same stripe and form. We’ll see.

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And a sobering footnote to a glorious day as the Dow Jones Industrials dropped 332 points. Fat cats getting theirs, it might be suggested, but those who fail to recognize that Wall Street and Main Street are indeed joined at the hip will feel pain not of their own making, but searing and intense nonetheless.

As the Nation’s Capital shivers in near zero wind-chill, the adventure continues under deep blue sky, brilliant sunshine, and near record high temperatures…