So I spent most of the day sobbing and clutching my cat as I watched the inauguration coverage, because basically everything Obama has said and done since the DNC has made me cry. (You can ask my coworkers; they’ve had to sit through rounds of blubbing.) And I am extraordinarily glad that I had the day off — our company HQ is in DC, and the CEO decided that rather than have everyone fight the crowds to get into work, it was easier to give the entire company (including the non-DC branches) an extra day off.

Needless to say, it was a great day.

My news channel of choice is MSNBC. If I were still a journalism student, I’d probably write something about how the new school of journalism is, rather than objectivity, to wear a bias on your sleeve and let people choose which bias they want to hear. I started watching MSNBC regularly during the election, specifically The Rachel Maddow Show, because I very quickly came to adore her. So they had their whole crew of regular anchors and commentators providing coverage all day, and I heartily enjoyed most of it.

Except two things bugged me during the chatter leading up to the swearing in.

Point one: Chris Matthews, I watch MSNBC because I love that Rachel Maddow is angry about the things I’m angry about. I know it’s very liberally slanted. I’m down with that. But seriously, do not try and be this administration’s FOX News. You can be liberal and still be critical of the new President, and still be analytical. Be that. Don’t be a mouthpiece. Bad Chris Matthews. No cookie.

Point two, much more important. Now, ableism (and, specifically, anti-ableism) is really not my area of expertise. I try, but I’m sure I fail often.

So Dick Cheney was injured while packing, and exited office today in a wheel chair. I really, truly, vehemently dislike the man, but come on. Him being in a wheel chair is not a metaphor for a failed administration, because people in wheel chairs are not, you know, failures. It’s not a sign of weakness, or being screwed up, or any other negative connotations. I am extraordinarily glad Cheney and Bush are out of office and I desperately hope that they can never hurt the country again. But Cheney using a wheelchair is not a reflection of the harm done to the country.

Allrighty. That said? Hooray for Finally President Obama! I’m going to go read a transcript of his speech, cry some more, and hope he can live up to, you know… Hope.

ETA: Further discussion of MSNBC’s coverage here and here.