The Trump Era Begins

First, my bonafides - I am in a "wait-and-see" mode with Donald Trump. He is not an ideological conservative, but a pragmatic Populist with traditionalist views on many issues. In many repects he is blue collar despite being a multi-billionaire and I suspect that alone is part of the distaste shown him by much of the Democratic and Republican country club elites. 

I read a number of the criticisms of his Inaugural address as "Hitlerian," "raw, angry and aggrieved," "critical" and a "dark vision of America." I then read the speech itself and listened to him deliver it and I have to  disagree with most critics. It was a blue collar address targeted at the many Americans who have been left behind - and there are many. Politicians of both parties and their minions have grown used to talking in circles to gloss over problems because then they might be held accountable. They are much like the young lady above in the video clip.They nod knowingly at each other with the understanding that both sides are playing a game and the losers are their consituents who put them there. For a long time voters played along. Then came November, 2016. Game over. Trump at this point is refusing to play the game and that is why all career politicians and their courtiers are so angry - their very comfortable livelihood is at stake. However inelegantly Trump said it, he is definitely not trying to hide this country's problems behind a screen of Happy-Talk political gibberish.

I am not expecting Trump to get everything right. If he hits say .600 or even somewhat less, then I'm good. Most politicians since Reagan have been in the .125 area or less, so that would be a considerable improvement. In any event, I hope he succeeds and so I will pray that he does. We're all on the ship and if it goes down, we all go with it.