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Posted on by Rick Steves

Flying to Washington — O Yes

Leaving Sea-Tac today, four extra police eyeball those of us boarding the plane. The cabin is filled with Obama pins, and lots of people reading Dreams from My Father. Flight attendants remark that the overhead lockers are filled not with bags but with the heavy coats of people expecting to spend most of Tuesday standing out in the cold. Following the Potomac River, chunky with ice, passing the hulking Pentagon, we touch down at National Airport. As soon as the wheels hit the tarmac everyone on the plane yells “Obama!” and chants “Yes We Can!” We take the Metro into our nation’s capitol, where absolutely everyone seems to be family, and feels ready to welcome a new president…and a new era. (tapped hurriedly on my iPhone)

Comments

14 Replies to “Flying to Washington — O Yes”

  1. I am a Barry Goldwater and a Ronald Reagan conservative, but I say without fear of contradiction, that I hope that Obama wins the next election unanimously. That would mean my Country would be in great shape four years from now.

  2. That’s an interesting comment, Jim, but I do believe we still need the two party system. Conservatives such as yourself may be in for some rough weather, what with the legislative branch and the administrative branch firmly in the hands of the Democrats, some of whom are very, very liberal.

  4. I am thrilled that you are in DC and will be sharing your experience with all of us. It is a joyous time for this country and the world.

  5. There is such good feeling in DC these days. I saw an article describing folks handing up their cameras to firemen who were on a firetruck, ten feet up in the air, and who could take pictures of the mall far above the heads of the mass of people gathered there. They did this for over three hours. Good luck, Mr. President Obama.

  6. Here’s a little song my mother-in-law, Marilyn Ellis, who is also an 87 year old prize winning poet/artist wrote to celebrate our new president. “Great men made our nation, and a great man set it free. Now another has been chosen to fulfill their prophecy. Yes we can – Obama promised. Yes we can, to you and me. Let our country be a beacon. Yes we can, yes, can, yes we can. Let’s all work together, to restore our country’s pride. Help Obama make the changes with our people by his side. I can do it, you can do it. We can do it if we try. Tell the world, sing out the promise, yes we can, yes we can, yes we can.” She even wrote the music for this little ditty.

  7. Today I tore off the second to the last page in my Bush-count-down-calendar and I feel so happy and free at last! I have been waiting for this day so much. The disgust for the last 8 years will be just a memory so very soon. I welcome our new president with open arms. No more idiot in the White House! No more misunderestimateds! I am so happy that we will have an intelligent, wellspoken president at last! Go Obama!

  9. What a momentous time to be alive; finally a Black President, swearing on the Lincoln Bible, in the shadow of an edifice built by slaves. I’ll never forget seeing him, of touching his hand for a brief few seconds. NOW THE WORK BEGINS. Game On!!!!

  10. It’s good to finally see Bush go, but Obama – our first “Black” president? Is he really? He’s our first African-American president (more technically true) of mixed race, but let’s not kid ourselves, he has not lived the Black experience. It’s a definitely a milestone in our country’s history but let’s keep all this in perspective. Also, why are we spending record $$$ on an inauguration when most of the country is facing hard financial times. Shouldn’t their be leadership by example? Peace.

  11. Rick thanks for bringing back alumni weekends. Yes, your pace raced nascar, but your super content and style won the race. For this traveler who has listened close for nearly a score of years, you are at the pole position start to finish. Thanks for the kind words and bubbly for this many toured one, during the last meeting of the day, and thanks for prompting stephen’s fine rendition of “johnny jump up,” which brought back glad memories of the ireland tour last year. Be joyful and thankful in D.C. traveling on…larry k

  12. Can’t wait for Obama to be finally sworn in. He will do everything for everybody. I know it will be hard for awhile but I won’t have to worry anymore.

  13. It was an exciting day to be an American and share the moment on a very cold day in Washington,D.C. I had the privilege of standing 4 hours beneath the Washington monument with my wife and son, gazing over the heads of 1.8 million of my closest friends. I’m glad that Rick Steves was one of them.

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