Celebs Giddy for Obama's 'Magic Moment' After 'Hell' of Bush Years

“I'm so happy my children have a real hero to look up to” in “a  truly scholarly man” who will make an “intelligent, constitutionally brilliant President” at a time when “people are so ready to rejoice and celebrate what is hopefully the return of the foundation of the United States” so “my eyes well up just thinking about” Barack Obama being sworn in since “I'm calm for the first time in eight years,” knowing “somebody is in charge that has such intelligence and grace and is so thoughtful.”

That's some of the giddy excitement expressed by a few of the many celebrities swarming to Washington, DC this weekend for Obama's inauguration which were collected by USA Today for articles in Thursday's and Friday's “Life” section:

Actress Gloria Reuben (IMDb page), now in TNT's Raising the Bar and formerly on NBC's ER, will be on hand Tuesday “to watch the magic moment happen” since she yearns for an end to the “hell” of the Bush years. (Screen capture is from Reuben on ABC's This Week in 2006 when she was promoting a play in which she played Condoleezza Rice):

It's a once-in-a-lifetime situation. The last eight years have been such hell. We're all so excited about the hope of things to come. I really think that's part of it. People are so ready to rejoice and celebrate what is hopefully the return of the foundation of the United States.

Actor Josh Lucas (I've never heard of him either; his IMDb page):

I've been around him and shook his hand. He's a truly scholarly man. I'm very excited that we have this powerful, intelligent, constitutionally brilliant President. I find him very soulful in private.

Actress Ashley Judd. “A highlight of her inaugural adventure, of course, is her prime seat for watching Obama be sworn in,” USA Today relayed:

My eyes well up just thinking about it....I do think that everyone is hungry and excited for change. But I also think there is a very grave collective awareness of the fact that we're in a real pickle. I can't believe that we've got this incredible President-elect, and he is inheriting, oh my gosh, one crisis after another.

Actress Kim Raver, now on NBC's Lipstick Jungle and formerly on Fox's 24:

[Barack Obama's] presence is so larger-than-life. I'm so happy my children have a real hero to look up to....We're in such difficult times right now and it's very hard for so many people, and for a man as intelligent and charismatic to come along and unite this country -- to watch him bring so many people together -- that's really what America is. To be a part of that will be a really remarkable life moment, I think.

Actress Maura Tierney, best-known as “Abby Lockhart” on NBC's ER:

I'm calm for the first time in eight years, that somebody is in charge that has such intelligence and grace and is so thoughtful. I feel calm that the country is falling apart, but really that he's in charge now. There's a relief that I feel. After this past administration, I feel really lucky.

The Thursday article, “Inauguration will be a 'magic moment' for celebs, too,” by Donna Freydkin and Olivia Barker.

The Friday story, “Celebs head for D.C., express hopes for a brighter future,” by Kelley L. Carter and Arienne Thompson.