The past couple days have truly been amazing. As I've gone about my daily business (such as it is), the sun has seemed a little brighter, the air a little cleaner, the smiles on people's faces a little easier. There seems to be an overwhelming feeling of goodwill, not unlike that warm and fuzzy feeling you find around Christmastime.

This is what Democracy feels like, when the people speak and end up with the government they want (of the people, by the people, and for the people). Barack Obama is bring change to Washington, DC, and it already shows. He is opening the blinds and letting the sun shine in; he is opening the doors and letting us all see what he's doing.

Only two days after winning, he's created a couple websites that show how open he will be. First, is the Transition team website. It provides information on everything going on with the transition of power. It even includes an Org Chart for the Legislative branch, with the Constitution on top (lest we forget that that "damn piece of paper" is the source of all government).

More impressive is the website for the Office of the President-elect. Right there on the front page it says:

There's not a lot of stuff there yet (hey - it's only been two days) but the infrastructure is there for disseminating information to the country... and putting a "suggestion box" where anyone in the country can submit their ideas for policy agenda is unprecedented.

I think this openness is a good sign of things to come. It contrasts so sharply with the closed-door privacy of the current administration, one can't help but be reminded that Bush & Co have been hiding stuff.

He will also be replacing the White House fleet of SUVs with pluggable hybrids. How cool is that? I wonder if he'll put the solar panels back on the roof of the White House (the panels put up by Jimmy Carter and taken down by Reagan)?

Along with the open-door policy and the general feelings of giddiness is the realization that Obama will be putting people into positions of power that are actually qualified. It's become a kind of guessing game here on this blog and elsewhere trying to decide who he would and could pick for key spots. There's the realization that we have an embarrassment of riches when it comes to qualified, smart, dedicated public servants.

Contrast that with the Bush Administration's picking of a horse trainer to head up FEMA. The contrast couldn't be clearer.

It will also be nice to have a president that understands and empathizes with the situation in which many Americans find themselves. Yesterday, Bush shed crocodile tears while discussing the transition effort. He actually said "In January, many Americans will be looking at losing their jobs and wondering where they're going to live. *smirk* I know just how they feel". Asshole.

There has been some grousing in right-wing circles that Obama "bought" this election. The reality is that millions and millions of average Americans bought the job for Obama. One need only look at the way he is inviting us all in to have a look at what he's doing and asking for our suggestions and our help to know that he realizes it too.

The sun is shining in America people... it's a brand new day.