Immediately after President Trump's inaugural speech my mother called to ask for a few quick thoughts. I replied, "For the first time in my life, I heard a man give a speech which genuinely came from his gut. He felt every word of it."
Yes, I'm sure Reagan believed everything he said, but unlike past Presidents, this speech didn't feel like it had been filtered through a roomful or writers. It wasn't the sort of focus-tested purple prose we've become accustomed to enduring every four to eight years. To the contrary, it was simple, direct, and always 100% heartfelt. There was no pretense here. It was real. The speech was a codification of everything Trump's supporters had been saying around the dinner table - not just for the last two or eight years, but for decades.
To put it bluntly, it was a battlecry aimed squarely at the very people who will seek to undermine the new administration.
For as long as I've been alive, I've watched newly elected presidents - from both sides of the aisle - step up to the dais, don their rose-colored glasses, and pretend that everything was fine. We were doing just great here in the United States. Sure, we have a few foibles, but everything, for the most part, was hunky dory. For a while, people were placated by that. Deep down, though, we all know that we've been on the wrong track for a long, long, time.
Our debt is at apocalyptic levels, we ignore the concerns and safety of our citizens in favor of political correctness, and corruption, collusion, and cronyism are rampant throughout our government. Denial is no longer an option.
As Trump said in his speech, "This American carnage stops right here, and right now."
That's a bold claim and a very tall order. But, in accordance with his campaign, Trump feels he can turn it all around. How? By prioritizing our nation's problems. As he said, it's time for America to come first."
"From this day forward, a new vision will govern our land. From this day forward, it's going to be only America first, America first. Every decision on trade, on taxes, on immigration, on foreign affairs, will be made to benefit American workers, American families."
Can he do it? I certainly hope so. It's easy to say, but that attitude will necessitate some extremely tough calls in the years ahead. …And he's put his own neck on the line by promising a slew of results that will be very hard to achieve. His presidency will, with absolute certainty, be judged against the claims he made today.
President Trump said "We will no longer accept politicians who are all talk and no action, constantly complaining but never doing anything about it."
I couldn't have said it better myself. However, it's worth bearing in mind that President Trump just became "the politician." He must now exceed the standard he believes his predecessors failed to achieve. Entrenched politicians, of every political persuasion, are going to fight him tooth and nail.
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We just witnessed the most anti-government speech ever given by an incoming President. If he sticks to his guns, the next 8 years are going to be one hell of a ride.
"Together we will make America strong again. We will make America wealthy again. We will make America proud again. We will make America safe again.”
“And yes, together, we will make America great again.”
You've been handed the keys to the country, Mr. President. It's time to get her out on the road and open her up.
