Bye-bye, Bush! 1.19.09

For almost four years now, since the depressing result of the `04 election, I've been wearing a pin on my backpack that says simply "1.20.09." Now that that wonderful day of liberation is finally at hand, I've been doing a few things to mark the occasion.

On Friday night, my partner and I hosted a Bye-bye, Bush party. We served pretzels, hung an image of Bush to throw shoes at, handed out Bushisms, offered guests the chance to write down their least favorite moments of the past presidency (to shred) as well as their hopes for the new Obama administration.

This weekend I also watched a documentary called No End in Sight, which lays out exactly how the Bushies got us into the quagmire of Iraq. What was so staggering about watching this film was to see obvious misstep after obvious misstep committed by the president and his top advisors, none of whom had actually served in a war. The incompetence was so pervasive, it was actually impressive. No wonder this is also the president who presided over the Katrina mess, the economic meltdown, the ballooning of the deficit, etc., etc.

And I read the novel Election by Tom Perrotta, which has no explicit link to this day, but is damned funny and a good read. (You may have seen the film with Reese Witherspoon and Matthew Broderick.) Why is it that so many literary novels are written at such a soporific pace? Why can't they be bright, funny, and smart like Tom Perrotta's writing? Instead so many of these books have this somber, earnest tone, trudging from one carefully chosen word to the next. Nothing ever happens. Everything gets described. People, about whom we couldn't care less, say things. Ruminations unfold. You get the picture.

Finally, I made a donation to the Human Rights Campaign to help them fight for gay equality. Consider it my personal tribute to Rick Warren, Tim Kaine, and a host of others.

A few people I know have remarked on how silly the coverage of the transition has become. The Obama Express! The Obama concert! The Obama dildo! (No, I didn't make up that last one.) Well, maybe we're due for a little euphoria. It's been a long eight years of the American people having an enemy in the White House.

This weekend I removed the "1.20.09" pin from my backpack. I don't need to wear it anymore.