My Inaugural Day

I successfully avoided seeing any of the official swearing in of the new President on Tuesday.

Instead, I tuned in to see George Bush's last moments prior to heading back to Texas. It was very emotional for me.

The pain and shock of seeing a stalwart, effective President leave office, to be replaced by a totally inexperienced charlatan, made it a very depressing day.

Seeing Bush board the helicopter and, then, enter the hangar at Andrews AFB, and, again, his plane home, was very moving.

Something that Democrats, and the First Rookie, never really understood, is that Bush didn't lose the election.

The new President may have fooled his own party and many voters, but the truth is, he didn't run against George Bush. He ran against an inept campaigner, John McCain.

Bush was relieved and happy at the inaugural on Tuesday because he knew he was leaving on that day, no matter who won.

Back in 2004, Bush joined a very select group of men. Only a third of our Presidents have won two terms (or more). Something the Illinois Rookie is extremely unlikely to do.

That is, I believe, part of the reason why Bush has been so magnanimous with his successor. The Rookie doesn't fully comprehend this yet.

He will.