Jan. 20, 2017. A simple Friday afternoon that will be forever engraved in our history textbooks, as a new commander in chief will be sworn into office amid much cheering and enthusiasm for the future. It happens with every election, but something doesn’t feel right this time. The traditional aura of prosperity for America’s future has become overshadowed by fascist interests, violent campaign protests and an utter disrespect for humanity in the political spectra. The 2016 election season has turned into a runaway train, hurtling toward whatever lies at the end of the tracks, and the American people have not a clue what does lie at the end of those tracks. All of this culminates in my mind as I have finally come to a realization, and that is the notion that I will sincerely miss President Barack Obama.

I am a registered Republican. My entire family back home in Alexander County is all Republican. There is a history of local conservative politics in my blood, which I am immensely proud of. Ask any of my friends, and they will attest to my contest criticism of big government and bureaucracy.  

Through all of this, I will still be disgruntled on the day when the Obama family leaves the White House and returns to doing whatever it is it will do. I don’t agree with almost any of Obama’s policy decisions. I think that government-mandated healthcare is outrageous and that individuals have the right to decide if they even would like to take the risk of not spending money on insurance. I think that allowing the Mubarak regime in Egypt to collapse in 2011 will affect our foreign policy in the Middle East for decades to come. I could continue on, but that isn’t the point.  

While I may disagree with him in policy, his charisma and optimistic attitude have won me over as we inch closer to the inevitable day that Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump or Ted Cruz will reside in 1400 Pennsylvania Ave. There is just something about Obama’s persona when he is representing America to the rest of the world. The man is a brilliant debater and a fantastic public speaker and could arguably be recognized as the most charismatic president since John F. Kennedy.  

Obama inspired hope and change back in 2008, and whether or not this was accomplished, his attitude has not shifted whatsoever since the day he swore into office. He genuinely seems to be a good person, and not the anti-Christ that many Republicans come to believe. The level of humanity that he exhibits publically is sorely lacking in this campaign season. Giving his speech on his background check executive order, Obama openly sobbed over the victims of gun violence while being projected on TVs across the globe. Meanwhile, Cruz posted a picture of Obama on his website as a foreign dictator, proclaiming that the liberal president wanted to “Take Your Guns.” 

There is an utmost lack of civility in the 2016 campaign, and that rings true for most of the candidates. Just this week, Cruz and Trump have been at war over each other’s wives, while Bernie Sanders and Clinton have gotten much more direct in their confrontations as the campaign has continued.  

Yes, it’s politics. I know it’s supposed to dirty and cynical, but there is a level of respect of outright moral human behavior that has been absent for the past six months.  

It’s disappointing. I’m watching my GOP fall apart before my eyes, and inching toward what I see as an inevitable Clinton presidency, and through all of this, I will miss Obama, Michelle, Sasha, Malia, and even ole’ Joe Biden. Through whatever blunders have happened in terms of policy, their representation of America on a public scale has been sensational, and that will sorely be absent when Americans have to choose between Clinton, Trump and Cruz. 

So cheers to you, Mr. President. You will be missed in January, and let’s hope that whoever eventually is sworn into office can at least carry him or herself to half of the extent that you have in the eyes of the public.