THE Day Is Here. As Is the Second Term of Donald J. Trump
In 2020, most Democrats admitted they were voting Trump more than for Biden. Last November would have been the opposite except, foreseeing doom and seeking to dead-end Kamala Harris from the party's future, a largely unidentified cabal of elderly Democrats forced Biden off the ticket without any voting.
They substituted his vice-presidential sidekick, the word salad speaker who, to be honest, had served her DEI purpose way back in 2020 but still thought she had some important things to say.
It was a disastrous campaign. With polls showing Americans wanted change, Harris admitted she could think of nothing she’d do differently than Biden.
According to Harris’ official schedule, since Trump thumped her in November, Harris has been having almost daily meetings and briefings with staff and aides. About what, nobody knows since she’s done little of substance in public. Perhaps team-searching LinkedIn.
She did phone some kings and leaders to thank them for their friendship and cooperation. That must have made for some chuckles in the Philippines and elsewhere.
On Thursday, Harris called a meeting for staff, aides, and fans to watch her sign the inside of a desk drawer.
That’s one of the arcane DC traditions that seem important in that city's political culture, leaving your name etched in an obscure place to maybe show someone you were there to someday.
Harris said:
The ceremony of signing this desk is something that is especially important, so I hope everyone will get a chance to see the desk.
In the Washington Post, Jonathan Capehart was hard-pressed to find Biden legacy highlights. He finally settled on: "Were it not for the Biden presidency, we wouldn't have had Vice President Kamala Harris." That's very true. And Wow!
Biden has been attempting to leave a trail of trouble for his despised successor. Biden's Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen announced that in an amazing coincidence or accounting legerdemain, the United States will not exceed the federal debt limit on Joe Biden's watch. It will happen the day after Trump takes office, when special measures will be necessary to avoid default.
Biden announced, quite grandly, that thanks to him, the Equal Rights Amendment to the Constitution has been ratified. No president can do that, and this actually did not happen. Other than that, JB is sharp as a tack.
The legislative ban on TikTok, which the Supreme Court upheld last week, took effect Jan. 19 with no Biden action. Trump likely intends to impose a 90-day pause on enforcement to seek a negotiated resolution.
Citing moral grounds, Biden commuted the executions of most, but not all, of the men on the federal Death Row. He’s also pardoning nearly 2,500 drug offenders.
Bitter Biden is trying to prohibit the president who created the nation’s energy independence from future drilling on hundreds of thousands of acres. So, the legacy is obstruction.
Trump will want to give the appearance of an immediate fast start on his ambitious plans, especially on the border, deportations, and energy.
Media already reported plans for some large-scale roundups of illegals coming this week. That would help create that desired appearance but no doubt send many would-be targets into hiding, as sanctuary zealots would prefer.
Reports quote aides as saying possibly as many as 100 Executive Orders have been drafted for early use, setting Trump’s priorities and undoing some of Biden’s.
Trump’s second Inaugural Address will be closely watched for indications of his tone and attitude. His first inaugural is often described by Washington media as dark and angry. See what you think:
For too long, a small group in our nation’s Capital has reaped the rewards of government while the people have borne the cost. Washington flourished – but the people did not share in its wealth.
Politicians prospered – but the jobs left, and the factories closed. The establishment protected itself, but not the citizens of our country.
Their victories have not been your victories; their triumphs have not been your triumphs; and while they celebrated in our nation’s Capital, there was little to celebrate for struggling families all across our land.
That all changes – starting right here, and right now, because this moment is your moment: it belongs to you.
You can read it for yourself, but that strikes me as the declaration of someone who was elected by a frustrated and ignored Heartland.
Inaugural addresses are usually not very long. At 1,433 words, Trump’s in 2017 was just 13 words longer than George Washington’s first in 1789.
As I noted last month:
Trump is a noticeably different man now, as anyone would be even without the vast array of challenges (and bullets) thrown at him since then.
He seems more focused, organized, confident, no doubt thanks to experience and to the steadying hand of Susan Wiles, soon to be the first female White House Chief of Staff.
In an extraordinary display of the power of Trump’s personality and unpredictability (and the feeble presence of incumbent Biden), world leaders have been flocking to meet and talk with the Republican virtually since Nov. 5. No one seems concerned any longer about a Nazi dictator.
Trump’s inaugural words will be watched and parsed closely by friend and foe alike far beyond the Capitol Rotunda and the joyous MAGA crowd.
Every modern U.S. president who gets two terms has served them consecutively. In an historic shift, this time American voters changed that pattern and their minds about Donald Trump. He has a mandate this time.
It’s been nearly a decade since his first inauguration. Most everything in our lives has changed since then. Now, we’re about to find out how – or if — this unique political leader has changed too. And what that means for all our lives.
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