When President Obama gives his second inaugural address at 8:30 a.m. this morning, he’ll of course be competing against himself circa 2009. Also, these guys. Most of all, I’d imagine the president will have Lincoln in mind (as he always seems to). Lincoln’s second inaugural, though, is a hard speech to beat.

Eli Sanders was The Stranger's associate editor. His book, "While the City Slept," was a finalist for the Washington State Book Award and the Dayton Literary Peace Prize. He once did this and once won...