It's Inauguration Day 2009.  Time to reflect.

Two years ago I dropped by that little park in L.A. next to Dorsey High to hear Barack Obama speak.  I blogged about it.  I'd read both of his books and I was intrigued by the idea of an American politician who was so fluent in English.  I bought into his speech that day, purchased a t-shirt and started ObamaFest.com, a pro-bama blog with a Los Angeles slant. 

Two years later, my work here is done.  Bush is flying back to Texas, Karl Rove is passed out drunk in a 14th St. cathouse, and Dick Cheney is rolling around in his wheelchair, finally looking exactly like who he reminded us of all along, old man Potter from the Bedford Falls Bank:

So today I am retiring the Obama '08 t-shirt that I purchased way back in '07.  It was in heavy rotation and will need to be replaced.  I scoured my closet and found a big t-shirt that I haven't yet worn.  I bought it a while back but when I brought it home I had one of those, "What was I thinking?" moments.  It seemed a bit flashy for the suburbs, so I tucked it away. 

Well, that shirt comes out today, for I am emboldened by this defining moment and by the words of President Obama:

"Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America — they will be met.

On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.

On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn-out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.

We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness."

I wear Tupac with pride and hope and love, and I say to all da tru down azz bitches who tried to derail the Obama Express, I aint mad at cha.