<<“In the weeks since, Trump has moved on every level to demonstrate his dominance: over the party organization, over Republicans in Congress, over the press and the public arena. Not for him to compromise, to accommodate, to forgive. He enters the White House as determined as ever to divide and conquer, to punish his enemies, to do things his way and sideline the enforcers of the old order.”>>
You may not have watched Trump's inauguration address. It was very simple and straightforward and clearly threw down a marker to the rest of the world that Trump intends to put America first.
He even said something to the effect that 'it was losses to our middle class that built up middle class prosperity in other countries'--the clear implication being that this will end. Wow.
It was powerful. Some will probably see it as a declaration of war--economic war. But it left no doubt as to his determination to make amends to the American middle and lower-middle classes. It left no doubt that he is in no mood to compromise with those in his own party that are "the enforcers of the old order."
Some will write that there was nothing conciliatory in this speech, no attempts to 'reach across the aisle'. But this will miss what was actually very conciliatory, I think. He basically ring-fenced the country and pledged to work for the interests of every American--young, old, black, white, rich, poor, etc, etc.--and then dismissed ALL of Washington D.C. as a group of people who failed to protect their interests.
There was no advocacy of conservatism or denouncement of liberalism. The lines were drawn between the political class and the common people.
It was a very different speech and not at all in the vein of the traditional flowery inaugural addresses. It will give your side plenty to attack with. |
