Jon Ward The Washington Times - January 20, 2009, 09:59AM

And we’ve begun. As people jump up and down and even bump into one another to stay warm, the San Francisco Boys Choir began singing “America the Beautiful” at 9:49 a.m.

I’m sure you’re seeing it on TV, but the mood down here in front of the Capitol is celebratory to the point of giddiness. There is a very real sense that we are watching a very big piece of American and even world history. And that regardless of politics, this is a day of glorious cleansing and sanctification for the nation.