Facial tissues were passed around at group gatherings where adoring fans could not contain the spilling of joyful tears. Arms were raised in praise. As voices creaked, strained by raw emotion, Chris Matthews' leg locked up tighter than Joe Biden's charity wallet.

America was not entering into the promised land, but was itself becoming the land of promise. Unity. Hope. Sharing. Caring. Service. Change. Great words all. All of them uttered millions of times yesterday, carried aloft from the lips of the children and the aged, and all ages in between.

And yet, what of today? This whole unity gig sounds wonderful, but what does it mean?

Should we, as a people, embrace the tenets of government planning designed to control ever more details of our personal lives? This, for the sake of unity? Many think so, and that was a cornerstone of Obama's campaign. Should we succumb to the idea that government can provide for all of our needs? This, for togetherness? Many think so, and it was a portion of the hope and change that Obama called for. Should we, as a people, provide for each other those things that we are unwilling to provide for ourselves? Many think so, and millions thronged in Washington to celebrate the coronation of its most notorious advocate. Should we all unite behind abortion on demand? Or card check? Or a domestic service force as well funded and equipped as the military?

When I watched the news reports on yesterday's gatherings I must admit I felt no kinship with the abortionists or the central planners. I did not have tears of joy, or sorrow for that matter. Its a good thing too because I'm out of Kleenix.

I must say that I do admire Barack Obama for his ability to orate from a teleprompter. The guy could make a good living doing exactly that and something tells me that in a few years that is precisely what he will be doing. Beyond that, there is nothing new in his message that hasn't been tried countless times the world over.

Hope is a funny thing. It can prompt any of us to attempt again and again that which has failed every previous time it has been tried. This is the change that America bought, lock, stock and barrel. That despite history, human nature, external forces, and the woeful inefficiency of a behemoth government, this time it will work!

Last night, just before 10:00 o'clock, the cat hissed at the dog. Unity and hope, despite their quality as words, can be pretty fragile in the real world.