Wed, 21 Jan 2009 03:03:20 +0000 – By Christopher CoffeyRepublican Political Consultant
Republican or Democrat, liberal, conservative or moderate, there is much in which our nation can take pride today. One of our greatest traditions -- the peaceful transition of power--continued with great fanfare, and we have a president who stands poised to return optimism to a nation that has recently come to embrace irrational pessimism.
President Barack Obama's inaugural address did not disappoint. He proclaimed a new era. It is one of peace, and responsibility, and from the tone of the speech, he believes this era to be imminent.
Like his many orations, this speech was inspiring. Gifted eloquence should be the defining characteristic of the Obama presidency.
More than anything, President Obama attempted to repackage American politics in his address.
His agenda is not liberal, but the quest for government that "works." His opponents are not conservatives, but "cynics." Whatever the case, his legislative agenda must beg the question of whether our nation can build a government that "works," irrespective of cost.
Obama assured us that challenges will be met. Nonetheless, the greatest challenge facing our new president, is the one he did not mention, but about which he must be keenly aware: The expectations our nation places in President Obama are as great as those challenges confronted in his speech. He has a difficult road ahead, but I believe that everyone wishes him good fortune as president of the United States.
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