Depending On Your Perspective, Obama Gave a Shout Out to Either Frank Sinatra or Peter Tosh

The president's inauguration speech, and some speechwriter critiques navel gazing:



"Pick myself up /

Dust myself off /

Start all over, again."

His source material, perhaps, the coolest amongst many choices:

Read

Pick Myself Up Lyrics

here.

One Last Breakthrough from a President Obama

On this remarkable, historic day of the Inauguration of President Obama, many have pondered and discussed the meaning of having an African-American as our president and, essentially, as (once again) the leader of the free world.

But these pundits miss a bigger, more macro story because they're blinded by the president's skin color -- while they're talking about whether people will continue to be blinded by his skin color.

The bigger, more general breakthrough is this: not since the days of the founders of our country has a president been the child of a parent who was not born on American soil. The last possibility was Mike Dukakis, and we remember how that went.

That this president's father was born in Kenya -- or for our discussion, anywhere not America -- yet sired (and abandoned) a son who has personified the American dream, shows the progress that our culture has made:

* That a child of a single mother -- notwithstanding the ravings of a lunatic -- can do great things in America;

* That anyone's son, molded from our uniquely America melting pot, can become formed into something great.

So, despite the anti-immigrant hoo-ha that tends to be aimed toward our southern border -- that means you, Lou Dobbs -- it seems that America once again lifts its lamp beside the golden door of opportunity.

Inauguration = Cleaner Blog Layout

Woo-hoo!

The Bush countdown clock is toast.

It wasn't fun while it lasted.

The Definitive Political Song: Soundtrack for the Inauguration

Regardless of partisan positions, Pete and the boys remind us to stay wary:

"Meet the new boss /

Same as the old boss."

Because:

"I know that the hypnotized never lie /

Do ya?"

Plans A, B and C for Investigating the Bush Adminstration

While blogers debate whether Obama should or should not give Dubya a shout-out in his inauguration speech, I take solace knowing that even when I flake out and not post for a week, Paul Krugman will take up the slack.

Even if Obama does not want to look like a divisive meanie for prosecuting the prior administration for breaking laws, as a former constitutional law professor, he should insist that the rule of law be enforced.

Remember when Republicans relied on the "rule of law" when they impeached Bubba? Where'd that philosophical backbone go?

If there's no criminal prosecution, may I suggest a giving everyone immunity and doing a version of South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which they held to figure out what exactly happened during Apartheid?

The last alternative would war crimes charges against Dubya and Lord Vader Cheney from the UN's International Criminal Tribunal in the Hague, which even unveiled a new website last month, perhaps expecting a rush of interest.

The over/under on when charges would come? I give it two years.

But, truly, something has to happen on this.

Add: It turns out Uncle Keith agrees:

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Your Really Should Watch the Entire "I Have a Dream" Speech, so Here You Go

"Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children."

Which makes the "fierce urgency of now" all the more relevant today.

And how cool was it that Rev. King delivered and earlier version of his speech at Grosse Pointe High School?

Behold, and rejoice on this eve of an historic day: