Lynn C. Woolsey: “the swearing in of President Obama on January 20 marked the beginning of a new day in our country and the end of a dark…”

“the swearing in of President Obama on January 20 marked the beginning of a new day in our country and the end of a dark time in American history. Our country has learned painful lessons from the last administration's failure to respect the rule of law and the voice of the American people. Never once during the last 8 years did the past administration ask whether what it was doing was legal, morale, or right. As a result, its failures may have been criminal. Its actions may have been unconstitutional. Its unwillingness to take responsibility, glaring. President Obama and the 111th Congress will face huge, huge challenges as we repair the damage of the last 8 years. Across the country, people are worse off today than they were 8 years ago. The American people have lost loved ones, they have lost their jobs and their homes because of the last administration. America now finds itself in the worst economic shape since the Great Depression, fighting two wars overseas, and struggling to restore our reputation around the world and mend the fabric of the Constitution that has been damaged by the last administration. We face this situation today because the last administration acted above the law and looked down on anyone who challenged its right to do so. It followed the law when it was convenient, and ignored the law when it wasn't. It ignored good advice, and was quick to call its critics traitors and al Qaeda types rather than respect their viewpoints.”