I was trying to come up with my seemingly obligatory inauguration post and was struggling to describe my mixed feelings of resignation, trepidation and vague hope (in that order) attached to Obama's inauguration tomorrow. The NY Times did my work for me, though, by going to Tulsa, Oklahoma, and talking to the good conservative people there. A quotes like this says a lot about this country, and about how most conservatives and Republicans act on the patriotism and the profound love for this country that lies at the very heart of the conservative movement:
"Oklahomans understand and respect the elections process,” said Chris Benge, a Republican from Tulsa who serves as speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives. “Once the president has been determined, the vast majority of people are willing to get behind him."
A far cry from the "stolen election" and "let's flee to Canada" whining of 2000 and 2004, eh? And most conservatives of my acquaintance with a more or less fully lamped chandelier feel more or less the same way.
So I'll be watching tomorrow, with less joy and enthusiasm than most here in Boston, but with the same deep love for our country and awe for our system and constitution that I share with our next president, and his predecessor, and so many others.
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