Some 2 million people jam packed the mall from the Capitol to the Washington Monument, an unprecedented number for any event ever held in Washington DC, and it was the spirit of the people, celebrating the inauguration of the 44th President of the United States, Barack Hussein Obama, the first black American President in our history, that outweighed the rhetoric of one of our finest orators.

Obama didn’t knock it out of the park, even though his  daughter Sasha gave  him a thumbs up after the delivery.

It was a prosaic, pedestrian speech with no memorable lines, that is unless you want to remember one addressing the challenges before us taken from a song, “Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.”

For many history pundits, it was an ordinary speech with extraordinary Obama delivery, as usual; and will fall somewhere in the middle of the road of speeches given by past presidents.

Some Conservatives thought he was taking a shot at outgoing President Bush in some of his remarks, although Obama praised Bush for his service, the transition cooperation and the two couples seemed to get along well, embracing each other often.

However, the speech was inclusive in its generalities; more centrist than liberal.

President Obama said that the challenges we face are real.  They are serious and they are many.

“They will not be met easily or in a short span of time.  But know this, America – they will be met.  On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord,” he said.

To the Muslim world, he said, “we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect.”

“To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society’s ills on the West – know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy.  To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.”

With respect to Iraq, “We will begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people, and forge a hard-earned peace in Afghanistan.  With old friends and former foes we will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the specter of a warming planet.  We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror an slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.”

With respect to the economy, he said it was badly weakened, “a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age.”

While constantly touting himself as a President for the middle class, he did throw a bone to those that take risks.  “In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given.  It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of short-cuts or settling for less.  It has not been the path for the faint-hearted – for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame.  Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things — some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labor, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom.”

Perhaps this was a bone thrown to those he wants to tax, who took those risks that lead to prosperity and freedom.  Those like a friend of mine, a minority, who started a business that has grown to employ 1,500 employees and grosses $300 million.  An individual who is one of those small businessmen providing more jobs than the large corporations that are failing.  But, according to campaign promises — Obama would penalized him for this entrepreneurial effort.

I hope this risk statement by Obama is a signal that he is rethinking his tax positions.

Nevertheless, despite the pedestrian speech, the masses demonstrated unity, hope and support behind the new leadership.  And, this reflects a very sincere effort to put partisanship aside — for after all we are all Americans first.