Fifty-eight million Americans did not rejoice at the $170 million Obama coronation -- sorry, inauguration.

As an American, I want the new president to succeed. As a conservative, however, I believe having him succeed means turning America into a French-style socialistic nation. History has shown that the more a powerful central government intrudes into the lives of citizens, the less freedom those citizens enjoy. The higher the taxes imposed on businesses, the fewer jobs are created.

The once-noble Democratic Party is awash in questionable relationships and unethical and possibly illegal activities. The American people have effectively lost their ability to affect decisions being made in Washington.

Despite the repetitive mantra for "change," the new president is staffing his administration with recycled Clintonistas. Attorney General Eric Holder was instrumental in the kidnapping of 6-year-old Elian Gonzalez by heavily armed officers. He also arranged for the Clinton pardon of felon Marc Rich, who sold arms to Iran while that rogue nation was involved in the killing of Americans.

Holder believes the Second Amendment does not give Americans the right to keep and bear arms. Rich's wife, a White House guest, gave $450,000 to Clinton's museum. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said he made "an honest mistake" when he evaded taxes for four years even after his financial advisers had cautioned him. Try not paying taxes and then telling the IRS you made an honest mistake!

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's husband has received more than $500 million mostly from Middle Eastern nations that can continue to give him stipends even as Hillary engages in diplomatic negotiations with those very nations. The liberal media see no conflict of interest in this arrangement.

Meanwhile, two Democratic henchmen who blocked Bush-McCain attempts to regulate Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, Chris Dodd and Barney Frank, are playing key roles in Obama's proposed trillion-dollar giveaway of taxpayer money.

The "stimulus" package includes money for a water park in Miami and ACORN. Frank just arranged for a $12-million handout to a failing Massachusetts bank that owns an oceanfront beach house in Malibu, Calif.

In Minnesota, where Florida-type selective recounts have recorded more votes than the number of voters in these precincts, comedian Al Franken is attempting to steal the Senate seat. Mainstream media cheerleaders are blind to these outrageous situations.

In his first days in office, the new chief executive placed world opinion ahead of the safety of the United States and its citizens. Obama ordered the closing of the Guantanamo prison, halted the trials of terrorists, and banned the type of intensive interrogations that have already saved American lives.

The president's order made no mention of where the freed bad guys would be sent. The Obama administration apparently plans to give the protection of the U.S. Constitution to terrorists captured on the battlefield killing Americans. Intelligence sources believe 61 terrorists released from Gitmo have returned to battlefields.

Regrettably, inauguration festivities were marred by some of the heavily minority audience who ignored President Obama's appeal for unity. These low-life Bush-haters chanted derisive goodbyes to President and Mrs. Bush. Some of the 300 demonstrators carried signs saying "Arrest Bush for Murder."

Former King comrade Joseph Lowery injected racist statements into his prayer, and even supposedly objective newsman Tom Brokaw got in a little "take this" payback. Other Obama supporters gave the single-digit salute as the Bush helicopter flew a last sentimental loop over the White House.

Nancy Pelosi, the first speaker to demand a private airplane, has called for a congressional investigation to determine which sections of the U.S. Constitution were violated by Bush and Cheney, so they can be prosecuted. Michigan's Conyers has now subpoenaed Karl Rove to face war criminal charges. Some of the most bitter Bush-haters, whose vitriolic attacks included calling the president a Nazi, are now urging Republicans to give Obama a chance.

Following up on the ill-conceived Bush-Paulson bailout, Obama's trillion-dollar proposal, which has been criticized by the Congressional Budget Office, will saddle our children and grandchildren with sky-high taxes. The next generation is already liable for the near-bankrupt Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security shortfalls, which our congressional guardians had supposedly safeguarded in lockboxes, the same boxes which supposedly contain the money for road construction derived from gasoline taxes.

The Democratic agenda advocates nationalized health care for all, particularly 12-20 million illegal aliens; banning offshore oil drilling; permitting homosexuals in the military; redistributing income by giving welfare checks to people who pay no income taxes; ending secret union choice elections; canceling the Bush tax cuts; and handcuffing industry in the name of the discredited man-made global warming.

RINOs are urging fellow Republicans to abandon their conservative philosophy. Abandoning those principles helped defeat moderate candidate John McCain. Only Sarah Palin's inspiring presence prevented a defeat of landslide proportions. Capitalism works. Socialism does not. God help America.

Dr. Schoen is a former college and university administrator. He may be reached at wtsbbs11@embarqmail.com.