You don't have to be mad to work here, but it helps
Just a short one today chaps, as I fear the world's media has done more than enough salivating about, fawning over, and generally 'bigging up' (to show you how 'down with the kids' I am) President Barack Obama, so I'm certain you don't need to hear it all from me. Please! We're British, we don't do all this overt and public displays of adoration stuff.
Much as I'm pleased for him (and I'm sure he's pleased that I'm pleased) for already making history by becoming the first black president of the USA, it's also the feeling of hope with an edge of realism that he's inspiring in people that seems to be doing some good, even before he took the oath. The fact that he won the election fair and square, was blatantly the best candidate for the job (despite only having made it as far as 'Senator' and not having a massive amount of experience, he still stood out a mile) and seems to have some amount of savvy about him can only stand him in good stead. I also like the way he's not parading in like he's just scored the winning touchdown at the Superbowl (see, I can even do international sporting metaphors) and promising to be the saviour of the world. (Though I'm sure some dopey Americans think he will be.)
Sensible chap that our man Barack is, he's attempting to start as he means to go on: planning to do good things, but warning people that the route to getting them done (they love that phrase on The West Wing, so it must be used in the White House) might not be a swift and easy one. My only hope at this point, is that people give him time to get settled into the job and that those pesky Republicans (especially those at Fox News) don't judge him too quickly. And as I mentioned two days ago, he's got to find time to fit in those global dance lessons. Might drop him a line about that actually. Do you think it's barack.obama@thewhitehouse.org?
In any case, if it all goes wrong early on, as one comedian put it the other day, he can just say, "it's not my fault; it was like this when I got here!"
PS even if you have no interest whatsoever in the inauguration, Barack Obama or the USA, I just know you're dying to find out what they had for lunch yesterday. Well, now you can. Pippa - if you haven't finalised your menu for the next 'Come Dine with Me' dinner, they've even included the recipes! Result!
PPS having just watched the inauguration speech in full just in case there were any gems that needed to be shared (see how good I am to you??), my favourite part was about three minutes in when some old duffer, clutching his camera, inched his way down the steps behind Obama, one at a time like you do when you're old. Just as he reached the bottom, he gave the TV camera a furtive glance, as if to say, "wonder if anybody noticed me" - don't worry old dude, I'm sure no-one was tuned in to this random guy's speech... (For some reason, this incident wasn't an option on The Times Online's 'What was your favourite part of President Obama's speech?' poll. Rubbish.)
