By Yael T. Abouhalkah, Kansas City Star Editorial Page columnist
President Barack Obama was gracious in the opening minutes of his inauguration speech to President George W. Bush.
But that didn't last long.
Obama had to speak the truth, and he went on a short roll, setting up just how badly off the country is right now after eight years of Bush's leadership:
"That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred.
"Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age.
"Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.
"These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics. Less measurable but no less profound is a sapping of confidence across our land -- a nagging fear that America's decline is inevitable, and that the next generation must lower its sights.
"Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many."
Now, it will be Obama's duty to do a better job than Bush has in steering the country in a new, more positive direction.
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Not quite there
There's veto proof and there's filibuster proof, which we still don't have. See what happens in 2010.
of course
Bush holding veto power didn't have anything to do with anything either, hmm?
But you're right -- we'll see what happens now that they've got no excuses to give.
Of course,
The last couple of years, all we heard is how the THE MINORITY PARTY was blocking anything and everything the Dems wanted to do. You know the GOP was stopping legislation and, boy, in order for the Dems to govern they needed that filibuster-proof majority.
Guess when its convenient, its important to bring up who was in the majority. When you are in the majority, its important to complain about the minority.
I mean like DEMOCRAT Barney Frank
Architect of the current mortgage crisis.
You mean the Democrat Congress
that was in the minority during most of Bush's time in office?
You really don't understand how our country works, do you Dan?
Bush's failures? Don't leave out the Democrat Congress!
They played an EQUAL part in this mess!