I’ve never been, but this might be my year. Tickets are $20. 

Washington trash trucks hauled away at least 130 tons of garbage after the inauguration ofPresident Obama, with more to go. National Park Serviceworkers picked up almost 100 tons on the Mall and near the White House.

Because most trash cans had been removed for security reasons and a record-breaking crowd gathered downtown, the mountain of rubbish left behind was of historic proportions.

“More than any Fourth of July, more than any event we’ve seen,” Park Service spokesman William Line said.

The detritus included handwarmer packets, bottles, food, newspapers, blankets, gloves, coolers and a table or two, in addition to items bought from street vendors.

“They left behind Obama hats, Obama bags, Obama socks,” said Mafara Hobson, spokeswoman forMayor Adrian M. Fenty (D). “People left behind a lot of trash. A lot of it was the vendors along the parade route, too.”

As a reminder, this makes George W. Bush the first President since Jack Kennedy never to propose or enact a tax increase (Ford proposed a tax increase, but it was never enacted; even Ronald Reagan proposed tax increases in 1982, and agreed to them in later years).

George W. Bush will be criticized heavily for excess spending - and rightly so - but as bad as things are, they would have been much worse with a tax increase.  Bush refused to do that, and we all owe him a debt of gratitude.

Meanwhile, he gives his thoughts on Presidential evaluations throughout history. 

We tend to forget how much perceptions of presidents can change with time.  Andrew Jackson was largely beloved when he left office in 1837; today the verdict on his two terms is mixed at best.  In 1849, James Knox Polk would leave office having accomplished each of his major objectives in one term, yet he is largely remembered more for helping destroy the country (by forcing a discussion of slavery in the Mexican conquest) than by enlarging it (just about everything west of the Rockies was acquired during his presidency).  Calvin Coolidge went from formidable to forgotten.  Even FDR, for years untouchable among historians, is coming under harsher review from those with some economic training for New Deal policies that are increasingly looking useless and even counterproductive.

Other presidents have seen their stature rise over time.  John Adams has been on a two-century long rehabilitation; his son regained is hallowed reputation while he was still alive (albeit for actions after his Administration).  Harry Truman’s reputation grew with every year after he left office.  His successor (Eisenhower) saw his reputation rise until his death in 1969, after which it began a glide downward.

Check out the rest of the post for D.J’s early thoughts on how history will judge Former President Bush.

Thank you, Former President Bush, for your eight years of service. I voted for you in 2004, and while I certainly have some major qualms about your presidency and fear that it will forever be tainted by some of your decisions, I thank you for your service and amazing sacrifice and for keeping our nation free of domestic threats. 

Congratulations to you, President Obama. Although I did not support you during the election and continue to have major disagreements with your proposed policies, this is your day. You are my commander-in-chief, and I pledge to discuss and oppose, and when warranted, support, your policies with respect for you and the high office which you hold. 

For those of you interested in reading more about topics discussed on the show but don’t have time to go to your local public library. A great first show; a little stumbling and I didn’t get to cover everything as well as I wanted, but still we had eight, count em, EIGHT listeners, and four people joined us in the chat room. So here is a recap, segment by segment:

A BRIEF HISTORY OF CRAIG

The 1996 Presidential Election

MONEY MONEY MONEY: The State Budget Shortfall

Governor Kaine’s State of the Commonwealth Address (Text, Audio)
Gilbert, Obenshain on Kaine’s Address
Cuccinelli on the Address:

Governor Kaine’s speech about the budget shortfalls facing Virginia was heavy on specific problems, but light on workable solutions.  Effectively bringing back parole and raising taxes will only hurt Virginia businesses, employees and taxpayers. 

The size of Virginia’s government has doubled in the last ten years, and yet I haven’t met many Virginia families whose income has doubled in that time.  I hope that the legislature will see fit to roll back the last few years spending increases, preserving transportation and not releasing criminals early.

McDonnell on the State of the Commonwealth Address

Gilbert’s Zero Based Budgeting and TABOR bills

Obenshain’s ABC Bill (Not yet drafted, but discussed here and here)

AG and LG Budget Cuts

STUMP THE CRAIGER

Only one question: Which five state’s capitols is Terry Kilgore able to get to faster than Richmond in his Jeep?

My Answer: Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia, and North Carolina
The Answer: Those Five plus Georgia and Alabama

Congrats to Ali Ahmad for (kinda) stumping the Craiger

SOMEBODY’S WATCHING ME: Government Transparency

The Post on the House Live Feed
The Shenandoah County Board of Supervisors meetings, circa 2008

RUMBLE IN NOVA: Special Election the 46th

SBE Results
Virginia Recount Procedure
Controversy on seating Herring

CRAIG’S FAVE:

The Dark Knight on IMDB and Amazon

CONSERVATIVE QUOTABLE:

The government can provide subsistence, yes, but it seldom moves people up the economic ladder….You have to get on the ladder before you move up it

-Ronald Reagan, Address to the NAACP Convention, Denver, Colorado, June 29, 1981