Obama bids farewell, Trump awaits

If you caught President Barack Obama's emotionally charged Farewell Address last night, you likely cried of joy or sadness depending on your political affiliation.

I don't want to get in the weeds of politics in this post.

Instead, I want to drive home the point that whether you love Obama or hate his guts -- whether you agree or disagree with him on issues of great significance ranging from the economy to healthcare -- you have to concede that he is classy, eloquent, and boasts a beautiful family.

Most people on both sides of the aisle would acknowledge that while President-elect Trump is also bright and has a lovely family, he's nowhere near as polished and articulate as the outgoing president.

But as the outcome of the 2016 election clearly demonstrated, many people are tired of political correctness. They're willing to excuse Trump's bombastic, unfiltered style so long as he makes good on his promises -- creating jobs, building a wall, and so on. Whether he'll deliver remains to be seen, but he's earned the opportunity to give it a shot.

For all his failures and successes, nothing will change the fact that Barack Obama was the nation's first African American president -- a historic milestone in itself. And even though at times he made decisions that left many of us utterly bewildered, I believe his heart was in the right place. He aimed to do what he thought was best for the country.

No matter who occupies the Oval Office, it's incumbent upon us to put politics aside and wish the president well. If he does a lousy job, it's up to the American people to choose someone else for the post in four years. That's what living in a democracy is all about.

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