Obama savours day of joy

Twice, at least, President Barack Obama appeared to breathe in the mile or so of colour and joy that stretched out from his perch on the Capitol Building way off to the Washington Monument.

Twice his head leaned slightly backwards, his eyes squinted, his smile satisfied, a look that was at once arrogant and humbled.

And why wouldn’t he take those split seconds between formalities to soak up, for the final time, the adoration of the masses?