Brussels January 20, 2009
The dateline is important - no way I'd let this long-awaited Inauguration Day go by without at least a little congratulatory post to honor the 44th President of the United States, Barack Hussein Obama.
I just returned from the party organized by my friends at Democrats Abroad Belgium, a good bash at the local Hilton. As might be expected, a very international crowd, all overjoyed that new American leadership is at the helm.
Earlier, I had the distinct pleasure of referring to "President Obama" at a conference on prospects for change in US Middle East policy. No more "President-Elect" stuff. And it was almost a bigger kick to refer to "former President George W. Boosh" (no, I pronounced it correctly).
More on the Mideast conference in a future post, but it being late, and my stamina being no where near that of our new President, I am going to say good night, and good luck. President Obama will need lots of the latter, to accompany his good sense and his great communication skills.
And, just as a parting gift, I recommend Bob Herbert's Op-Ed "I wish you were here" in today's New York Times. Bob speaks of his own family's experience with the struggle for Civil Rights, and provides a rare tribute to one of the men who made today possible - President Lyndon B. Johnson.