Hal Donahue

Hal Donahue

Posted January 23, 2009 | 11:30 AM (EST)

If You Don't Think it Was a Revolution -- You Were Not There

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Never in my wildest, most imaginative dreams did I envision the Washington DC that I saw on Monday and Tuesday. I know Washington. From LBJ and the antiwar sixties through the Carter, Reagan and Bush One administrations, this city rose and fell. But never, even during the love fest sixties, did I see the friendship and "oneness" of the people in this city. Complete strangers of all classes and shades hugged and talked and cried. On Tuesday, the immigrant cab driver taking us away from the mall to a hotel was literally crying with equal measures of joy and astonishment. This was massive change and everyone knew it. The road ahead will be long and uphill but for this one day; we celebrated the victory of our time.

Make no mistake. Tuesday was a revolution. We, the people, came together to make it very clear that this is a revolution. Monday, on Dupont Circle, a "15 foot blow up Bush" actually drew throngs of people throwing shoes at the bobbing and dipping effigy. Tuesday, on the national mall, a huge number of eyes followed the marine helicopter (no longer called Marine One) carting Bush from downtown DC and power, many people raised their arms with hands giving what Time magazine long ago called the "international symbol of derision." Revolutions are not always classy but they certainly seem to be clear.

The failed Bush government, which completely discredited Reagan conservatism, is now in the dustbin of history. People came from all parts of the nation and abroad to celebrate the change. At a Blue Star Families event at Fort Belvoir on Monday evening, I met people who meant a lot to me but who I had known only as electrons. From Texas and California and all over, the Blue Star folks came together. I can only thank them for their incredibly hard work in showing the nation that military families and troops supported President Obama.

People converged just to be there and to show support for the incoming administration. Incredibly, for one of the few times in history, the citizens of Washington DC and the entire metropolitan area joined wholeheartedly in the celebration. Oh yes, this was a revolution as certainly as if we carried pitchforks and torches.

Joy and enthusiasm were everywhere. But I am reassured that mixed with the strong positive feelings was a strong understanding that tough times are ahead. President Obama's call to service and his praise for our troops service made clear that we have a difficult road ahead.

"... Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends -- honesty and hard work, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism -- these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility -- a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task..." President Obama's Inaugural Address

The millions of people filling the Washington DC streets demonstrated that they too gladly seized the responsibilities to ourselves, the nation and the world. Time to get started fulfilling the promise given on Inauguration Day.

 
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- 1will I'm a Fan of 1will 33 fans permalink

And it will be another "Revolution" in 2010 when Obama's policies give the Republicans a majority in the House and Senate.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 09:58 AM on 01/24/2009
- Hal Donahue - Huffpost Blogger I'm a Fan of Hal Donahue 53 fans permalink
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That is a wager that I am willing to take. Near as I can tell the Limbaugh/Hannity branch of the Republican Party is going to make that party an endangered species.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 11:27 AM on 01/24/2009
- davism97 I'm a Fan of davism97 15 fans permalink

Januardy 20th seems to be pretty strong evidence that our democratic-republic really can last. Our founding fathers would've been proud to witness that.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 08:45 AM on 01/24/2009
- Romulus I'm a Fan of Romulus 10 fans permalink
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Revolution, huh? Did you all forget that 47% voted against Obama?

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 02:22 AM on 01/24/2009
- Hal Donahue - Huffpost Blogger I'm a Fan of Hal Donahue 53 fans permalink
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Yes they did but not with enthusiasm. Also, look at the local elections; look a the state elections. Clearly, the tide has turned. Finally check out President Obama's approval and disapproval ratings. The tale is very clear. If we return to "honesty and hard work, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism", then the country will recover stronger than ever. We are a moderate country we do not want the extremism and nastiness of the last, at least (being kind here), eight years of conservative rule.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 11:24 AM on 01/24/2009

"We reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals"

I could not have said it better. We who have served, are serving, and will serve in the future deserve better than the falied leadership of the last eight years. Hal summed up the pride and hope we feel now that we have national leaders who truly support those in uniform, and do not just treat them as props and tools. Thanks, Hal.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 11:19 PM on 01/23/2009
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I was as happy to see that helicopter take off from the Capital as I was to take off in the one that started my journey home from Vietnam. I never thought I would say that.

I want to see Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, and the rest of the band tried for war crimes. We will some have an empty prison at Guantanamo Bay to put them in. THey could be tried under the regulations they put in place.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 06:06 PM on 01/23/2009
- Hal Donahue - Huffpost Blogger I'm a Fan of Hal Donahue 53 fans permalink
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is there not a saying about revenge being best when cold.....

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 06:26 PM on 01/23/2009
- jimpwhite I'm a Fan of jimpwhite 3 fans permalink
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Aloha Hal and friends ,from Hawaii. Thank you Hal, the Blue Star gathering you described touched my heart. As you know I went from Blue Star to Gold Star parent and this week we had the swearling in cermoney at the state house where I was re-connected with so many friends, families of military and veterans who worked hard during the election cycle. Staying connected is our best ways and means today and a true investment in our nations future .Hal you keep many of us connected, Global Mahalos'

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 05:57 PM on 01/23/2009
- Hal Donahue - Huffpost Blogger I'm a Fan of Hal Donahue 53 fans permalink
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I know Jim and words fail. Staying connected is a must in this world and society and thanks for your help, hard work and compliment.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 06:24 PM on 01/23/2009
- ninetwelve I'm a Fan of ninetwelve 6 fans permalink
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it's the antithesis to my overwhelming anger at the process and our people after the last two elections.

how could the american people choose to elect george bush? how on earth did it happen?

just wait, in 8 years, after obama finishes, there will be some republican twit that divides people by sensibilities again, with immigration or gay rights, and we will be back to square one.

never underestimate the ignorance of people in our country. i'm betting that over half of the people that were on the DC mall crying with joy that obama was elected were the same idiots that were happy with the relection of bush even after his first term.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 04:18 PM on 01/23/2009
- Hal Donahue - Huffpost Blogger I'm a Fan of Hal Donahue 53 fans permalink
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I will take that bet but because I know it to be wrong. You are sounding like a conservative now - blaming others. If we work hard, organize and deliver then we will carry the day. if we go back to sleep, if we fail to build better local communities then your horror story can come to pass. Please work hard to make certain it does not. We lost those elections because we did not give it our all.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 05:34 PM on 01/23/2009
- Hal Donahue - Huffpost Blogger I'm a Fan of Hal Donahue 53 fans permalink
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Folks, regarding failed president Bush and his henchmen I think time will tell. As time passes and more and more comes to light who knows what could happen. My own opinion is that war crimes are possible but very unlikely. But "Crimes against Humanity" is definitely possible because Bush himself admitted that he directly ordered the water boarding of three individuals - that should be enough. In the mean time, let's not lose valuable time chasing a powerless ex-regime. The nation needs immediate attention.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 03:16 PM on 01/23/2009

Hal
Great post , I always enjoy blog ,
Lets get them at TH and not let them forget we are in this together
We fight the good fight ,for the greater good that is America

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 01:52 PM on 01/23/2009
- Rog49Thomas I'm a Fan of Rog49Thomas 192 fans permalink

A revolution results in real fundamental lasting change.

Let's see where the party this week and the Party lead to before we pronounce another 14 July.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 01:48 PM on 01/23/2009

Absolutely right! The old ruling class is as firmly in place as ever, albeit with a refreshing new and more respectable figurehead. Another comment on this post described 1/20 as a "happening." Donahue seems to confuse that with "revolution."

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 03:51 PM on 01/23/2009
- Hal Donahue - Huffpost Blogger I'm a Fan of Hal Donahue 53 fans permalink
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If you were in the streets it was indeed a revolution. Now will it succeed? Only time can tell that. Looking around the country it better

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 04:32 PM on 01/23/2009
- Rog49Thomas I'm a Fan of Rog49Thomas 192 fans permalink

Thanks yours.

I fervently hope we are on a different course.

But, this "revolution" is probably more about curbing excesses and incompetence than a fundamental change in direction.

When there is a change in our imperial foreign policy and our domestic corporate socialism that will be a revolution.

It will be good if we no longer torture, but if our imperial foreign policy remains in place
It will be good if we regulate business a bit more, but if at the end of the day we continue to run our economy for the benefit of corporations rather than people ...

There is a difference between 20 Jan 2009 and 14 July 1789..

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 01:52 AM on 01/24/2009
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It won't feel like a REAL revolution until Bush and Cheney are either impeached (no statute of limitations on that) or prosecuted.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 12:21 PM on 01/23/2009
- Rog49Thomas I'm a Fan of Rog49Thomas 192 fans permalink

impeachment is the process by which a government official is removed from office

when an individual no longer holds an office he cannot be impeached

an impeachment does not constitute a criminal conviction

in any case RHIP - so no trial for either of these two men

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 02:15 PM on 01/23/2009

I was there over the weekend and couldn't agree more...a "happening' in the truest sense. Obama's words, although not up to some folks' rhetorical expectations, nevertheless conveyed a sense of purpose and duty and reality as well as confidence for the way forward--the hallmark of leadership.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 11:37 AM on 01/23/2009

I am thrilled also, but, it will all be for naught without holding the war criminals accountable. I believe that a vast majority that were at the mall wants this as well as most of the rest of the world. President Obama must go forward with indictments, unless he made an agreement not to so he could get the nomination-looks like-maybe?

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 12:18 PM on 01/23/2009
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