He's Just... Patrick.

Congrats to Now President Barack Obama!! Welcome to your country, we're glad you're here ;)

This is the first Inauguration I've been really excited about, I remember being happy about Clinton's...I think...it was a while ago ;) I will admit that I got a little teary-eyed... This speech was one of his best so far, but seeing how they've mostly been awesome I'm sure there are more great ones to come.

I'm actually looking forward to the State of the Union. :D

Here are some of my fave quotes from his speech:

"We the people have remained faithful to the ideals of our forebears and true to our founding documents. So it has been. So it must be." -I totally said "so say we all" at the end of this line...from my brother's room came: "oh my GAWD!" haha

"We gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord. 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."

"All are equal, all are free, and all deserve the chance to pursue their full measure of happiness."

"Starting today we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America." -I love that throughout the speech he said "we" instead of "I", that he's put the responsibility of turning our country around on us as well as him. It's been a long time since someone demanded personal responsibility from the citizens. It feels good.

"We will restore science to it's rightful place." -DUDE!!! About time! I've been waiting and waiting...GO SCIENCE!!!!

"A nation cannot prosper long when it favors only the prosperous." -Right EFFING on, man!!

"We reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals." -This is something that has bothered me since 9/11...I believe in safety, but not EVER at the cost of our liberty and freedom as citizens of a FREE country.

"Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it allow us to do as we please." -Yay for diplomacy coming back to the White House!

"Know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy." -Very deep, and very true.

"To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history, but that we will extend a hand, if you are willing to unclench your fist." -I'm glad his speech didn't focus solely on us, that he reached out to the international community to remind them that we were once friendly first and to encourage them to believe that we can become that again.

"...those values upon which our success depends; honesty and hard work, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism. These things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history." -I love that he has a real grasp on our history, on what we can do if we work together. I love that he wants to help us all to remember that we are a nation built on thinking ahead to the future, of what we can be and not only what we are now, and of pulling ourselves up by our bootstraps to make life better for us and our children.

It's a wonderful feeling to be optimistic about politics and what the government can do for us and with us to make the world a better place to be.

Have a great night everyone.

EmmyHildy