Your humble Blog Goliard loves Inauguration Day. It is a day of hope and goodwill and unity. Of democratic pomp, of solemn civic liturgy. Of marveling at the regularly-occurring miracle of an outgoing President peacefully departing amid smiles and embraces, and his successor promising continuity with America’s greatest traditions and dearest principles.

God bless President Barack Obama. May his administration keep us safe and renew our prosperity. May those of us who spent Election Night on the brink of apoplexy be serene and of good cheer; and may the next four years give us plenty of sound reasons to admire the man.

And God bless America. May none of us fail to appreciate our outrageous luck to be able to live in this land…or the incalculable efforts and sacrifices that were required to make it the envy of the world.