Congratulations, Mr. President.
One way or another, we all knew, George W. Bush would be on his way to the dregs of American history this day, and so you are in that sense merely lucky to be the man who got to show him the door. One way or another, we all knew, the balance of power would shift away from the party of Hoover, Nixon, Reagan and Bush and return to the party of Truman, Johnson, Carter and Clinton, and so you are in that sense merely lucky to have chosen sides wisely. One way or another, we all knew, change would be vowed by the person who would stand this morning before the world and receive the mantle that empowers that promise, and so you are in that sense merely lucky that no one who ever makes those vows is held to account for them.
And yet there you are. If so much luck was borrowed, it must be acknowledged that you made much luck yourself. A year ago it seemed beyond belief that it would be you on that platform. A generation ago it seemed beyond belief that a person of your color would ever be on that platform. You have demonstrated your own ability and promise so much that you were able to completely reverse those seemingly immutable convictions. In a nation which continues to define itself through polar oppositions, that speaks volumes to your personal strength and courage.
As you transform now from blank slate upon which a desperate nation projects its hope into a visionary who must project a course of action to a nation cast into despair, luck will not likely be your ally. Here, Mr. President, you will need to rely on your own ability and trust that your ability is as sufficient to achieve something positive for all of us as it was to achieve this shining moment for you.
So many people have thrown in their lot with you because you have given them hope. Others, like myself, because the alternatives were too terrible to contemplate. Nevertheless, you have us all in your charge, even those who will continue to actively work against you (and they are nearly as many as we are). The cheering will subside, the tides of public opinion shift, and not everything you do will work out for the best. But we will all still be here and will need you until your turn to relinquish this role comes, as inevitably as Mr. Bush’s turn today. Your potential to do well is enormous and deserves as much support as possible. I look forward to your successes, and offer you the sincere wish that your mistakes and failures are few and insignificant.
