Inauguration 2009: Before the Fact

Prior to the Inauguration yesterday there were a number of moments over the past week that gave a sense of what all this was really about. Off the top of my head here were the things that struck me as important- whether materially or symbolically.

• The train trip from Philadelphia to Washington on Saturday. Yes, he was specifically invoking Abraham Lincoln's (secret) trip in 1861. But to many of us it was also reminiscent of the trip that Bobby Kennedy's casket took from New York to Washington over 40 years ago. It was the same kind of grass roots movement as the people stood along the tracks and waved. In 1968 it was in deep grief for the passing of a leader and potential President as well as the passing of an ideal. On Saturday it was a celebration that this ideal may have finally been reborn.

• Starting Sunday morning at Arlington Cemetery was a fine way for the future Commander-in-chief to begin. It was a clear message that even if he was opposed to the war in Iraq he was not about to be seen as anti-military or even a strong military used in support of hope and peace.
  

• The Lincoln Memorial celebration set another tone- a tone of celebrating something never before occurring in all our years as a nation. Who else could bring Bruce Springsteen, Jack Black, Tom Hanks, Garth Brooks, Stevie Wonder, etc. into one place with such diverse and eclectic joy?
  

• A day of service on Monday for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was more than appropriate. But to roll up one's sleeves and paint walls? Quite a statement.
  

• Honoring McCain the night before the Inauguration showed the bi-partisan class that Obama has been living since, well, since he broke into the news at the 2004 Democratic Convention, and probably before. He has an obvious respect for McCain and also knows the importance of building these bridges if he is to get done what needs to be done in these difficult times. He really does want to get away from the unyielding partisan politics that has been causing us so much pain for so many years.
  

Beyond the specific events, though, there was the atmosphere and style he brought to the transition and planning. He made it clear from the start that he was in charge and had a vision for his job and administration. He did this by:

• Maintaining a sense of balance and calm exuded the confidence that he showed over and over from the start. No wonder his approval rating skyrocketed. You felt he was the real thing and would not crumble if things got tough.
  
• Acting Presidential even when not the president... yet. He affirmed over and over that there is only one President at a time and he was not him. He did not criticize the Bush administration during this time and worked to maintain the solid American front that the world needed to see.
  

But over and over what struck me in the days before the Inauguration:

• People, people, people streaming into DC for the Big Day. Whether it was stories on the national news about the expected crowds or the local news stories about local people making the trip and why, it was clear that this was a "people's" Inauguration. Excitement grew and grew. Even though I saw a FoxNews story on the 'net yesterday morning trying to deflate the numbers as hype, from all I was seeing and hearing (and feeling) was that this would be truly historic. No one can ever take that away.