I’d forgotten I wrote an entry the days after the election four years ago. That can be paired with its ending when this election was called for Biden and Harris. The wait is over.
Wed 20 Jan 2021, 8:04 AM
T**** about to leave the White House on Marine One on his way to AF1 at Joint Base Andrews. If he waited to leave after the swearing-in, when all other (modern?) presidents had left, he would have had to request Biden for the use of AF1. Such a #FourYearOld, but consistent.
Gloves are off at CNN as they describe his actions. And I mean off. “Disgraceful.” “Doesn’t have the strength of character.” “Inappropriate.” “Repulsive.”
152 years since a President hasn’t attended his successor’s inauguration.
8:32 AM
Crowd at AF1 is… anemic. No Pence, which is expected after T**** basically put a hit out on him. Blaring music like it’s a rally.
“[if taxes increase] I told you so.” wow. Declares that the pandemic cases will “skyrocket downward.” Closing with wishes for everyone to “have a good life.” :/ It was incredibly difficult to watch that speech, not for its idiomatic gaffes but for its boastful mendacity.
The Bidens and Harrises wait for T**** to leave before making an appearance and the Bidens head off to church. St. Mark’s Cathedral.
10:18 AM
(This is an insane day of meetings at work. Trying to speak while listening to the ceremony on CNN. It’s… working? I honestly never have this many meetings queued up. ugh)
11:09 AM
11:41 AM
The speech was powerful and healing and powerful and realistic. He never said “I” when discussing achievements to be made; he always said “we”. Much was said of the lies of those in power and in the media. “Unity” was a keyword. Rejoin the world “not [with] the example of our power but the power of our example.”
12:19 PM
Poem by Amanda Gorman: The Hill We Climb. Eloquent and performative. Alliteration and internal rhymes. Affective. 23-years-old.
12:56 PM
wow
6:20 PM
A self-ugliness I can’t get away from: I wish the absolute emotional worst for Mike P****. He has some modicum of self-awareness and so understands, having been complicit and then seeing the replacement, the depths he fell morally. And his inclusion in the inauguration, though traditional, must have been a knife in his character-compromised heart. The sincerity and morally weighted content of Binden’s speech was no better mirror on P****’s spiritual vulgarity. And I hope, and it is likely, he realizes it.
10:06 PM
Post inauguration celebration.
This was like the Democratic Convention with pitch-perfect social-distanced and remote celebration. Hosted by Tom Hanks. Music acts (Springsteen, Foo Fighters, John Legend, Demi Lovato, …) and local heroes (UPS delivery man, nurses, chef Andres, grade school philanthropists, …) and speeches of sincerity and humility. The previous three presidents (of character) waxing about the weight of the passing of the torch. Closing with fireworks and Katy Perry. Moving. Again, like the Democratic Convention.
Finally:
Yes, Crow stayed with me for this event also. How could he not? He was there for election night and the day it was called for Biden. And he’s here now.
As did Fearless Girl for the first of many successes.
