Northeastern University Graduation

Friday, May 1, 2009

TD Banknorth Garden

Boston, MA

The Graduate

Bachelor of Science

Political Science

Inauguration of a President: The Day After

Since early 2007 when Jacob urged me to get on the "Obama Train," I've read Obama's novels and most of his major speeches, supported the candidacy as much as I could, and followed all the primary and general election polls via RealClearPolitics and many other sources, right up until the night of the election and the ultimate victory. Still, I waited until this morning to believe the other guy was back in Texas and President Obama had secured his place in history.

This morning my first words to Beth were "Is Obama still president?" My lingering disbelief is partly a reflection of the overwhelming feeling that the "W" administration would never end, especially in light of his 'disastrous presidency,' and the convincing precept of my friend Dave Lentz's novel, AmericA, Inc., in which President Bash, nearly at the end of his legal term, incorporates the US government, circumventing the limit of his power, and thereby preserving his hold on America. I read an early draft before the novel was published, but have avoided it since, for fear reading it might make it true. I believe only now, that I'll be able to read it solely as a work of fiction.

Yesterday's Inauguration itself comes at the intersection of so many historical vectors, and although certainly President Obama's full impact on America will be shaped by the coming weeks and years, I share the feeling of hope and promise reflected by the campaign that brought him to The White House. Noting all he accomplished today (and wondering how much more he'd have accomplished with a full night's sleep instead of attending all those Balls), the slogan has become a reality and I feel a part of it.



Yes, we can!

Leinster House, Dublin Ireland

Jacob's home away from home this fall has been in Dublin where he's studying Irish history, literature and politics in a program called the Institute of Public Administration. A fourth component of the program involves interning in the Dail Eireann, the Irish Parliament.

The Dail meets in the Leinster House on Kildare, not far from Trinity College and St. Stephen's Green in downtown Dublin.

He works for Timmy Dooley, a TD from County Clare in the west of Ireland. Timmy is a member of the ruling Fianna Fail (Republican) Party and serves as Vice-Chair on the European Affairs Committee and it's the latter that is of special interest. Ireland is the only EU member to have not ratified the Lisbon Treaty and Timmy's committee involvement has given Jacob a window on Ireland's struggle to position the country within the EU, maintaining their historic independence and taking economic advantage of their membership. Timmy has been an awesome mentor while keeping an extremely busy schedule during the Dail's Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday weekly schedule.

Judging from Jacob's comments, Timmy has also kept him pretty busy as well, and hopefully it has been a mutually beneficial arrangement.

During our visit, Timmy treated us to dinner at the members-only dining room at the Dail. He arrived well after we were seated due to a meeting commitment, but we had plenty of time to observe his outgoing and gregarious personality and enjoy an outstanding dinner. After dessert we were treated to a gallery-view of a budget vote in the Dail, finishing just after 10PM. Fianna Fail prevailed, though the difficulties in the global economy have certainly complicated the process in Ireland.

Dinner with Timmy Dooley, TD representing County Clare in the Dail Eireann.