Friday in Obama-land

I really only have one question this morning. Has Obama fixed it all yet?

After talking with folks returning from the inauguration event in D.C., I'm stuck by how much they remind me of love-struck teenagers. I find it part inspiring and part creepy. Mostly creepy. I love the optimism that is in the air, it certainly is refreshing. But I'm also certain that extreme optimism is dangerously close to denial.

I found President Obama's speech on Tuesday to be excellent. He sent clear messages and underlined the maturity that we as a nation will need to face the challenges in front of us. I believe that we will be able to look back at that speech in years to come and marvel at how accurate that message is. But the crowd didn't seem to be embracing that message. In fact, when Obama mentioned that terrorism is a real threat and that America must persevere, the crowd seemed somewhat surprised by the reminder that we are still a country at war. It was almost as if some supporters had been hoping that an election victory would solve that pesky little problem.

Here are two quotes from the president's speech that I think say quite a bit:
1) We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.
2) At a moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people: "Let it be told to the future world...that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive...that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet [it]."
America. In the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words.

These quotes provide me with the most hope I have yet held for Obama. But will his supporters feel the same?