I especially appreciated Monday's unexpected call for unity in the Capitol Rotunda, where MAGA insurgents staged a deadly attack on Congress four years ago.
Unfortunately, it didn't come from a brutal, vindictive President Trump, who sat on stage with members of the Trump family, former presidents and first ladies, and members of America's new oligarchy: the tech billionaires who bent the knee and opened their wallets. For the man who threatened to make life very, very difficult.
Instead, the call for unity came from Democratic Minnesota Sen. It comes from Amy Globucher, whose stirring words should not be forgotten amid Trump's subsequent lies, threats, and bravado. Although he was addressing the American people, I like to think he was speaking directly to Trump.
Globuchar, chairman of the Congressional Bipartisan Inauguration Committee, said, “More than just a passing ceremony, the whole country is seeing this — the people of this nation, ordinary people doing extraordinary things.” President Kennedy, who at one point served as a senator in the building, often walked through the rotunda, In a democracy, every citizen, regardless of interest in politics, holds office. Each of us is in a position of responsibility.' With that responsibility of citizenship, as President Lincoln once reminded us, we must not seek malice, but look upon others with generosity despite our differences.
Chance of fat.
For those who want to study the crowd the way entomologists study insect behavior, the opening ceremony offered a range of understandable body language and fashion choices.
First Lady Melania Trump sported a form of personal protective equipment: A wide brimmed hat It absolutely screamed, “Get out of my face.” (Trump tried to give her a peck at one point, but couldn't get far enough to kiss her on the cheek.)
Vice President Kamala Harris visits devastated residents of Altadena, which was engulfed in flames earlier in the day. He wore a black power suit Better to mourn our democracy – with some ill-fated silver zippers. (Trump, who is expected to visit Los Angeles later this week, said with gratuitous ferocity that the fire was lit “without even a token of security.”)
First Lady Jill Biden wore a tight smile.
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos' fiancee, Lauren Sanchez, inexplicably made the choice A Victoria's Secret runway vibeShe wears a split-weight white bustier under a white jacket.
Former President George W. Bush wore his trademark Winking at people Like he's in some cosmic comedy. Ditto former President Obama, who came stock and entered the room with his familiar swagger.
Elon Musk, the world's richest man, appeared later Nazi salute (Twice) At a post-inauguration rally, he hung his head like he'd ingested a very sweet mind-altering substance. Some on social media joked that he looked “wrong”.
Poor Kimberly Guilfoyle, conveniently Exiled to Greece After his longtime ally Donald Trump Jr. mingled with a Palm Beach socialite for the ambassadorship, he sat in the audience, rather than on a VIP-crowded stage. .
Trump's speech His first “American Massacre” was an echo of the inaugural address, only with more detail. The humility that characterizes most commencement speeches is predictably absent.
“I was saved by God to make America great again,” said Trump, who survived an assassination attempt in July.
If the president gets his way, he's going to make life worse for a lot of people: people of color, LGBTQ+ people, immigrants looking for a better life, and the poor. In one of his first official acts, He changed dozens The Biden administration's executive orders are designed to address equity, protect public health and address climate change, among other objectives.
“We will create a society that is colorblind and meritocratic,” he said, undermining his history of racist behavior and statements.
My 14 year old niece literally choked He declared“As of today, the official policy of the United States government is that there should be only two genders, male and female.” The world, even a young American knows, has moved beyond a limited view of gender, and nothing will change that — not even the directive of a man who believes his presidency is divinely ordained.
Late Monday, Trump took a dramatic step aimed at undermining American democracy and the rule of law. Jan. On 6, 2021, he pardoned or commuted the sentences of more than 1,500 rioters who fought hand-to-hand with the Capitol Police when they tried to execute a coup on his behalf.
Many of us find it hard to accept that the man who instigated that violence became our 47th President. Trump's flurry of executive orders shows that he has learned something — contrary to what many of us believe — from his mistakes. American people? Not so much.
Bluesky: @rabcarian.bsky.social. Texts: @rabgarian