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Well, it is done! The first black President, as we have been told over and over, ad infinitum, ad nauseam, by the Obama – adoring press, has finally been sworn in as the 44th President of the United States.
(As you’ll recall in Chapters 1 through 8, if you have had the opportunity to read them, I related the story of my little black cat getting accidentally elected to Congress from my district in California. Haven’t read them? You simply must to catch up on this incredible adventure. This is another chapter in her exciting life.)
There were many firsts in this celebrated moment not the least of which was the attendance of Ms Kitty Kitty Kitty at the ceremony. She also made history in that she is the first black cat to ever attend one of these affairs. In fact, she is the only cat. And not merely at the ceremony, but on the inauguration stage! Yes, in a very prominent seat, too. Not far from the exalted Hillary Clinton. You had to have seen this precocious feline on television. Maybe you wondered “What’s a cat doing seated on that stage? Is it Barack’s?” Oh, she was ‘class in a black fur coat!’
It was a brisk but sunny day in Washington DC as the ceremony proceeded. First there was that gay preacher saying a short prayer. You’ll recall the uproar from the likes of Rachel Maddow (MSNBC) over the selection of the ‘not – so – fond of the gay lifestyle’ Reverend Rick Warren to deliver the invocation at the inauguration. Barack, attempting to assuage the hubbub, chose a gay reverend to also offer a prayer. I guess the new President is already counting the votes for reelection by trying not to tick off any segment of the population especially those very vocal gay folk. They can be as brutal when things don’t go their way as the worst spoiled child you’ve ever seen. Why, they had a hissy fit over Barack allowing Reverend Warren anywhere near the swearing in platform. It was almost as if he had invited Reverend Wright to the gala. (Did you notice the uncomfortable stature of Barney Frank during the nongay reverend’s prayer? Very fidgety in his seat.)
There was an excited crowd in the gallery. It was more like a football game type of celebration than a Presidential swearing in thing. First time I’ve seen high fives rendered during what is normally a very formal affair. You know, the excitement of the era of ‘change’ having arrived in Washington via train from Philly on Saturday morning. That and Lincoln’s own swearing in bible.
Did you notice the obligatory smiles on Bill and Hillary’s faces? That wasn’t the cold causing those grimaces as Barack gave his speech. No, there was an undercurrent of “Damn, that should be me up there!” during his crowd rousing eloquence. I saw Hillary nudge Bill once when President Obama spoke words to the effect that foreign policy was now his priority and he would do it his way. The nudge was acknowledged by a sly grin on Bill’s face – you know the one I mean.
All went well as the crowds roared, the television commentators swooned, and the likes of Chris Matthews actually had tears in their eyes over nearly every sentence the new President uttered. Why, it was astounding to watch and listen to the overly kind language from the media talking heads – not a disparaging word was voiced. It was all love and such.
After all, you can’t blame the media for their exuberance, can you? They had been highly prominent in electing Barack as President – after they rat-like jumped ship on Hillary and joined up with Barack in a not so inconspicuous fashion. The press, in their mind, had a right to their day in our nation’s capital having done so – and they took full advantage of it.
Back at the White House, President Bush watched on television from the Oval Office as his furniture was being carted out and new furniture replaced it. He had that GW grin on his face all through the speech. I guess he may have been thinking “Brother, you don’t even know the ‘change’ you’re in for! Wait til Hillary doesn’t follow your directives and goes off on her own – and Bill’s – foreign policy trail!”
First Dog Barney took a final tour around the White House. He’d ruled that place for eight years. Now a new dog would take over. This did not please Barney any; word is he left that interloper a little house warming ‘present’ behind the desk of the new President.
As for Ms Kitty during all this hoopla and hype – she took it in stride. After all, she had been in Washington long enough to know that all is not peaches and cream all the time. She knew instinctively that time would take its toll, the new day would dawn cold and harsh, and that dogs don’t rule. Never has been a dog elected to Congress!
As a gesture of kindness to her, President Obama invited Ms Kitty to spend the night at the White House since their new dog was not yet acquired. Her staff accepted the invite and she did go there to have her favorite dinner – Friskies Chicken and Gravy, Prime Fillets only.
It is a good thing First Dog Barney wasn’t there. Back a few months earlier, Ms Kitty Kitty Kitty had been invited to the White House for a visit. She was after all a Congresscat, as I have explained in previous chapters, accidentally elected to Congress from my district. When she came to the White House for her prior visit, she and Barney got into a dustup and she really came down hard on the poor little Scott Terrier. Why, she even gave him a crude colonoscopy with that ‘Barneycam’ he trotted around with. It wasn’t pretty. He wore kilts for months to cover up his bandages.
Ms Kitty did not attend the gala balls which were scattered all throughout the capital and were going on til 3am it is said. No, she curled up after dinner at the White House for a nap. It had been a long day.
However, she was rudely awakened when a loud and contentious squabble broke out in the Lincoln Bedroom. It seems invitees, the Reverends Al and Jesse, were fighting over who would have to sleep on the hide – a – bed and were quite disruptive in their vocal arguments over who had earned the right to the more prestigious – and comfortable – Lincoln bed. Reverend Al claimed he had been instrumental in electing President Obama as he had run the latest campaign as a black candidate and softened the ‘enemy’ – white folk – for the final assault by Barack. Reverend Jesse countered that by his successfully shaking down two thirds of the large corporations in America, he had done more to instill fear in the corporate world that not supporting a black man for President could cost them big money – again! The argument went on and on until the Secret Service intervened with milk and cookies for the aging reverends which calmed them down and finally got them to sleep. Who got the hide – a – bed, I don’t know.
So Ms Kitty Kitty Kitty was again in the limelight in Washington, DC and made the best of it. From all that could be discerned, she enjoyed the event even if it was a bit over the top and considering the press had made fools of themselves.
Post Script: After the President’s inaugural speech the TV cameras zoomed in on a gentleman in the audience. He was dressed in an old, worn camouflaged military jacket. He appeared to be in his late fifties. Perhaps a Vietnam Vet? Under the military garment he wore a t-shirt. On it were the words “At Least It Isn’t Hillary!”
