It is the Dawning of the Age of Obama

The day eight years in the making has finally arrived: Bush is gone, and we can finally say PRESIDENT OBAMA!!!

For anyone who couldn't make the streaming video work, I've got the big moments off of Youtube. First, the oath:



According to CNN, that awkward bungling of the oath was Roberts' fault, not Obama's. Despite being Chief Justice, Roberts somehow messed up the order of the words and Obama paused to give him a chance to correct himself. Roberts will probably be around for another 30 years though, so maybe in 8 years he'll get it right.

Now the big speech. Part 1:



Part 2:



I have to say, the first thing I thought watching this was, "Man, I didn't realize how much I missed Obama's big inspirational speeches." Since the election, his public appearances have all been a little more downbeat and serious, as he has tried to make sense of the mess the country's in. But today he was back in peak unifying form, speaking of how we can meet our challenges, of choosing "hope over fear," and of an "era of responsibility." No disappointments here.

As happy as President Obama must have been today, I think former President Bush (it feels good to type that) was even happier. I think he looked a good five years younger than usual. All smiles and handshakes the message was clear: Bush could not WAIT to get the hell out of that White House. As Bush said his farewell to Obama at the helicopter, you got the sense he was saying, "Have fun with this mess. I'm out of here, bitches!"

Also making a strange exit was former Vice President Dick Cheney, in a wheelchair over a back injury. The chair just made him look all the more like Dr. Strangelove as he directed everyone around him. So maybe that makes him more like Driving Miss Daisy. Driving Miss Cheney?

Another source of controversy going into the morning was Obama's choice of Rick Warren to give the invocation. As he stepped up, you could hear the polite but unenthuasiatic applause. After his very nice speech, the applause was considerably greater. Watch it here:



So, to paraphrase Jon Stewart, President Gallant has replaced President Goofus, and we finally got to open that bike we've known was under the Christmas tree all month. Tomorrow President Obama will start the extensive amount of work he has cut out for him in the next four weeks. But tonight, enjoy the parties Mr. President to celebrate this important and satisfying day.