According to the Frank Sinatra song, “Love is lovelier, the second time around.” We’ll see how that works out in the second coming of Donald. J. Trump, now president of the United States for a second time, following a four-year “intermission.”
The two terms will be a contrast in policy, personnel and persistence. This time, the Republican Party is unified if they can keep it. Trump will also not be constrained by a pandemic.
In his second inaugural address, the old/new president decided to mostly turn from the dark side, displayed and disliked by many in his first address, to a more optimistic (for him) view of America’s future. The “golden years” are ahead of us, he said. He called for a “revolution of common sense,” the definition of which is “sound practical judgment.” Compare this with what was described as his “American Carnage” first inaugural address, which sounds like a horror film.
This time, Trump apparently listened to advisers who encouraged optimism over malaise. He promised “a new era of national success.” He has also spoken of a return to “normalcy.” The problem is that at least two generations have been raised (and educated) to believe what was once called abnormal is now to be considered normal. Must I list them all?
In what some will regard as a cynical last-minute move, Joe Biden issued a pardon to five members of his family, including his brother. Biden said he didn’t believe they had done anything wrong, but feared Trump would sic the Justice Department on them. To many this will appear as the ultimate cover-up. The Republican Congress should continue its investigation of the business dealings of the Biden family and issue a report on its findings.