Where is Obama?

Today is the two year anniversary of Obama's inauguration. One question: Where is the guy that I froze my ass off for over six hours just to watch on a jumbotron? Two years ago I went down to the National Mall at about three in the morning with five layers of clothes and about eight hand warmers. I forced my way onto an already full subway car and stood so close to someone that I was not only in front of them, but behind them as well. I then walked two miles to the Capitol only to go into the beginning stages of hypothermia within two hours.

Several hours later the inauguration began and people that I would normally punch in the face in any other situation hugged me as if I was a long lost brother when he finished taking the oath of office. I went home freezing, hungry and seriously wondering if my bladder was going to rip open at the seams. I walked eight long miles back to my house and you know what...I felt great. Not only did I watch history unfold, I actually believed in Obama. Not like, "hey he's a nice guy and I like him" but more like, "HE CAN CATCH BULLETS WITH HIS TEETH!"

My question to you is: Where the hell is that guy at these days? This isn't an Obama bashing post. I have a lot of respect for him, I just notice a change. Realistically, it will take years for things to improve in this country. There is no magic wand that he can wave to make things better, but dammit the guy who I froze my ass off to see on his first day of work had the gift to at least make me think that there was a magic wand.

The dude that I see on TV these days looks just as beaten down as the rest of us. He went from being Bruce Leroy to Lamont Sanford real quick. I've never done anything nearly as prestigious as President of the US, but I was SGA President back in high school and let me tell you: I see similarities.

I ran for President promising a bunch of things that I thought were within my scope of power. "I'm going to work with the principal to get better lunch options." It turned out that the city government budget decided long before I took office that we were only going to eat two-day old pizza and tater tots. Breakfast would be a hybrid bastardization of the two. "I'll take your issues to the teachers and school administrators!" Yeah I'll bitch and moan on your behalf but they won't listen to me either. By the end of my presidency, I just wanted to graduate and hand the pretend position to someone else. I feel your pain Obama.

He really believed the stuff he was saying, now he has to keep saying it to make us believe. It's like Santa Claus. Each iteration of new parents keeps the myth alive with their kids because they remember what it was like to actually believe in something. The truth is that Obama can only do so much and the few things he can do get pounced on as soon as he lifts his finger.

I feel for you Obama...still, can I get a good old fashioned "Yes we can" with some feeling...just for old times sake. You've been saying it in your press conferences, but I'm not buying it. Pretend I'm Joe Clark and you're singing the school song. Sing it with some feeling and sing it expeditiously!

Fair East Side, by thy side we'll stand and always praise thy name...YES WE CAN!
All aboard...