How I Know Things Are Different: Way #247

For the last eight years, every morning, I'd sit down to breakfast, crack open the newspaper, roll my eyes for my kids' amusement and say, "Okay, let's see what our president's doing to us today!"

And it was never good.

"He's declaring war. On the wrong people."

"He's not telling us the truth."

"He's daring people who already hate us to "bring it on."

"He's thinks we should put more arsenic in our drinking water."

"He's actually stopping people from trying to clean up the planet."

"He's physically annoying the chancellor of Germany."

Every day it was something.

And knowing that it couldn't last forever, we tried to find the lighter side of "How is this guy the leader we have?"

Now, I open the newspaper, and I'm smiling. Not at the news necessarily, but I'm genuinely looking forward to seeing what our new president is at least trying to do.

Let's hold aside for the moment the issue of whether his plans will work, or if he'll get to even attempt them all. I know better than to expect a magician. But man oh man -- it sure feels good to believe again. To believe that we have someone working for us, not against us. That we can let go of the cynicism and distrust. That the guy in that office isn't there just to run the agenda of some huge, unseen political machine. That he's not pillaging our resources and goodwill to do favors for his friends or to comfort his "base." Our new president is actually turning his talents and wisdom and courage to try to fix things. Can you believe it? I had forgotten what it feels like to even expect that.

For that alone, on this Thanksgiving day, I say a hearty "Thank you."

Read more Thanksgiving posts from HuffPost bloggers

Comments

[demographx]

Paul must have a view into our breakfast room as well. I could not agree more. It's a new day.

[cutandpost]

Paul Reiser is cute, and yes I agree with him too, but he sure is cute.

[dutch163]

I'm with you Paul
and let's not stop with "let's see what our president elect is trying to do"
let's each do something too
like write to our reprsentatives
contribute to a food bank
SOMETHING!

[katrap40]

You are not reading the same news I am reading. The day after the election I had a smile on my face. Even the week after. But now I just feel despair, because we all did what we could and it wasn't enough. The administration is moving so far to the right so fast it's scary. We need to figure out a way to derail this runaway train before we're looking at Palin in 2012 and genuine fascism (as opposed to the pseudo kind we have now).

[rshrink]

Amazing, the man hasn't even taken office yet and you are already despairing. How does that happen? Are you starting to buy the b s being put out by FOX? I do think we all need to hold every politician accountable by writing and I think if you are not a member of move on or one of the other organizations that petition the legislators routinely, then it is time to get involved. Be clear however, Obama is not going to be another Bush.

[Oonagh]

Obama has not even been inaugurated yet and you can see a runaway train from your doorstep..... we are all going to have to develop patience because the last eight years has put our country in a very poor spot and it is going to take time to turn it around again. Take a breath..... relax.

[dc2nm]

You need serious professional help.

[DogTown]

words never so true!

[Arielman]

Nice to hear from Mr. Reiser, not the character in "Alien" who wants to keep the creature for the industrial-military complex (the newer world order reverses the warning by Eisenhower, once president of Columbia University) in the film I saw way down in Alabama working in nearby Mississippi in 1979 on the clearance archaeology of the being built Tenn-Tombigbee Barge canal. "One Nation Under Laws" a neighbor's bumper sticker reads. It runs through Columbus, MS home of "Tennessee" Williams connecting with the Gulf off Mexico in Mobile, AL. Congress chose it over an "energy island" for NYC which needed more tech than was available at the time, like the Pyramids. If I was going to "film the wind" I would use the Waverly Mansion in West Point, MS.

I enjoyed it , my dad worked the night shift for UPS furniture delivery in NYC, and his breakfast was often in the afternoon after school. Here's to all the night-shif­ters...Tha­nks!

[rshrink]

I have watched all of the Mad About You shows many times. Paul, your words are also worthy of reading many times. You have hit the nail on the head.

[JEP57]

Since we haven't had a single terrorist attack on our shores since 9/11, I would like to give a hearty "thank you" to our president, George Bush for taking a decisive stand against these people. They now know that if we're attacked, the response will be swift and sure. That's nothing to roll you eyes at Paul.

[sansone12]

By the same logic, the 9/11 attack occurred on Bush's watch. Is that something we should thank Bush for?

[BeaglesRule]

Now why'd you have to go and bring logic into it? ;o)

[prostock69]

I'm thankful for a President who doesn't put he thinks God wants first but what the people who elected him into office wants first. How refreshing!

[Einstein44]

Thanksgiving:I ability to hope again for our country to survive and thrive during these uncertain times.

[Einstein44]

Correction- Thanksgiving:The ability to hope again for our country to survive and thrive during these uncertain times.

[devans00]

I'm with you, Paul.

As long as things are moving in a positive direction, I'm satisfied. I know there will be mistakes and set backs, but I appreciate the effort to do the right thing. I hope people have the patience to wait for results to pay off.

[toypiano]

I know what you mean, it's a refreshing change already. No, he's definitely not trying to comfort his base, LOL, but he's addressing problems in a thoughtful way and that's encouraging.

I'm thankful for the chance to be optimistic again.

[BigHeadTodd]

1> I am thankful for a president-elect who can use a noun and a verb in the same coherent sentence.

2> I am thankful that even if the patient (America) is bleeding, the president-elect at least knows that it's time to get to the hospital.

3> I am thankful that whatever misguided agenda that was so very ill-conceived for eight long, arduous years will be over in just over 50 days.

[alieninvader]

Are you Big Head Todd of The Monsters?

[IndependentLass]

AMEN.
I couldn't have described it better myself!

[wezcoz]

Obama's Inauguration Day Poem, (click or copy/paste address) Go to:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57ZRYgX_F6Y



(You may have to hit refresh-if you get an unavailable message)