Who remembers Donald Trump's first inaugural address? Probably not very many, unless they have Googled it, as I did. That's likely because after the speech Trump became fixated on the size of the crowd, which he repeatedly claimed was larger than official estimates.
As I re-read it, I was surprised to recall that it contained some gems and reasonable promises, some of which were frustrated by the Covid-19 pandemic and the fixation by Democrats on two impeachments and their efforts to thwart him at every turn.
Trump spoke of unity so that his goals on lowering taxes, reducing the debt and closing the border might be achieved. He got his tax cuts, but not the rest.
In his speech he expressed gratitude to outgoing President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama"for (being) gracious and thoughtful throughout this transition." Don't look for anything close to that sentiment about the Bidens and congressional Democrats in Monday's address.
In the category of wishful thinking there was this: "What truly matters is not which party controls our government, but whether our government is controlled by the people." We'll soon see how that works out with Republicans now in control of all three branches of the government.
Speaking of themes that are likely to be resurrected in his second term, Trump said: "We've defended other nation's borders while refusing to defend our own." True enough. He added: "And spent trillions of dollars overseas while American infrastructure has fallen into disrepair and decay." What happened to those billions spent by the Biden administration on infrastructure?
Trump should mention and then court Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) during his second term. Fetterman met with him at Mar-a-Lago last weekend and has said: "I'm the senator for all Pennsylvanians - not just Democrats in Pennsylvania. I've been clear that no one is my gatekeeper. I will meet with and have a conversation with anyone if it helps me deliver for Pennsylvania and the nation."
Fetterman might serve as a wedge to divide the ultra-liberal Pelosi-Schumer wing of the Democrat Party and advance Trump's agenda on the theme of "promoting the general welfare." He might say that people are tired of the political battles as shown by the last election and want results, not constant fighting. Can Trump, who has a history of belittling others, "convert" to a different style? We'll soon know.
As this year's inauguration occurs on the same day as the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, Trump might - if he has it within himself - pledge to honor the great civil rights leader's statement about love:" Hate is too great a burden to bear. I have decided to love."
Some levity might be useful. In that spirit I offer an edited version of a song by Sia entitled "I'm Still Here":
" Oh, the past, it haunted me
Oh, the past, it wanted me dead
Oh, the past tormented me
Oh, the past, it wanted me dead
But the battle was lost
'Cause I'm still here."
Donald Trump is "still here." The question is without a pandemic will he be able to accomplish all he has promised? If he does, he will probably be remembered (to the great consternation of historians, some of whom are already labeling him among our worst presidents), as a deeply flawed man who did great things for his country and its people, bringing us back from the disaster that has been the Biden administration and making us "great again."
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