It was nice to see Avril Haines be confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the new Director of National Intelligence in an overwhelming 84-10 bipartisan vote. It was the first roll call for freshman senators Jon Ossoff, Raphael Warnock and Alex Padilla. Of course, there were many enjoyable things about the first day of the Era of No Malarkey. Did you see that fireworks display? Holy Moly!
The 17 Executive Orders were nice, but I think the thing I enjoyed most, surprisingly, was watching White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki’s debut press conference. Just seeing a friendly face at the podium was comforting, and that she knew what she was talking about and wasn’t bullshitting anyone was almost disorienting. It’s been so long since we’ve seen competence and honesty from anyone in a real position of power that it almost seems like something is wrong. I also loved it when Biden told his new workforce what he expected of them:
JOE BIDEN: But I’m not joking when I say this. If you’re ever working with me, and I hear you treat another colleague with disrespect, talk down to someone, I promise you I will fire you on the spot. On the spot. No ifs, ands, or buts. Everybody, everybody is entitled to be treated with decency and dignity. That’s been missing in a big way in the last four years.
There were plenty of firsts to celebrate, including the everything Kamala Harris represents, not to mention the novelty of having a Second Gentleman in Doug Emhoff. We have our first Jewish Senate Majority Leader and the first Jewish senator from Georgia in Ossoff, who is also the youngest senator since Biden was elected in 1972. Warnock is the first black senator from Georgia and Padilla the first Latino senator from California.
The choreography and production values of the various events were extraordinary, and the themes were both reflective of Biden’s vision and yet not overly focused on him. A lot of attention and respect was paid to ordinary Americans, including teachers, health care workers, and even children. Amanda Gorman, only 22, delivered a beautiful poem at the inaugural ceremony that will be long remembered.
Of course, Biden’s inaugural speech was the main event. I’ll tackle that topic tomorrow, but the main focus was on national unity in the pursuit of solving the huge challenges we’re facing as a nation. In his typical fashion, the new president exhorted us to follow our better angels, find the best in each other, and work collectively. The contrast to Trump couldn’t be starker or more refreshing.
It was a very strong and cathartic first day of his presidency. I’m looking forward to Day Two.
My wife kept crying, in a good way, all day. She was in tears during Biden’s speech and watching Kamila Harris and watching the press secretary. Just pure relief in her soul. I guess because I follow politics more carefully, I was focused on details like whether all the rumored executive orders would materialize. So no tears for me. But I’m so relieved. 2021 is kicking 2020’s ass and it’s only January!
Today was overwhelming for me. It’s like the stench of the last four years is gone and I’m learning to smell again. I actually took a nap in the afternoon, I think the last few weeks were mentally dragging me down, as I’m sure they were for most of y’all. The press conference was fantastic, and so many good things happened it’s hard to fathom just how nice it is to be proud of this country again. We made it possible. Let’s not give it away.
Since reading Martin’s article, I’ve been catching up. Had caught Biden’s speech this morning but missed most of the other festivities. The press conference was great. The poet laureate, amazing. Listening to her, I felt actual pride in being an American, something I’ve not felt in a long time. I used to sometimes get that feeling during the Obama years but not with any other administration, Democratic or Republican. Biden really is picking up where Obama left off. I’m beginning to feel optimistic. Not that Republicans won’t try to obstruct in every way possible. But that we have an administration that will behave in ways that try to cut through the noise and nonsense and speak to the truth of who we are at our best.
Listening to that poem, and the little bit of trivia that she finished writing it on the eve of Jan 6th after seeing the capitol riots I just know that it will live on in infamy. It mirrors, in so many ways, the writing of the Star Spangled Banner during the 1812 war.
I was thinking of the Nina Simone song all day yesterday:
Birds flying high, you know how I feel
Sun in the sky, you know how I feel
Breeze driftin’ on by, you know how I feel
It’s a new dawn
It’s a new day
It’s a new life for me, yeah
And then John Legend brought it home!
Will this be the nadir of American politics? Let’s hope so!
It really felt like it was a day-long shower of soul cleansing for me. Every single thing that took place yesterday washed away from my psyche another small part of the stench and trauma of the last four-plus years. It is becoming apparent to me now just how much of a prisoner of war mentality I had taken on during the trauma of the Trump years. That press conference left me feeling almost giddy with excitement, just from the simple display of intelligence and competence. I am probably going to continue to have a hard time wrapping my mind and emotions around this newfound sense of liberation from the abuse we have all endured.
I haven’t been on my Facebook page for 8 months, but I went over there just to see what all my Trumper family and friends were saying, and the hatred and ignorance I found was just what I expected. I’m done with that platform and interacting with those people over there. Life’s too short. I’m moving on. They can have the swamp.
I had a semi-busy day and didn’t watch. Part of that was by design: after four years (and 2.5 months of nonsense) I decided to give myself a break for the day. A small luxury.
Utterly delighted to see our new president is a decent human being.
So….Brendan. Missing you on Twitter. Did you go and hurt someone’s fee-fee’s over there?