Another spontaneous post on a momentous day

I wasn't planning on writing a post today, but just like after the election, it seemed one was in order. I don't normally pay attention to inaugurations. However, I was actually at Reagan's inauguration. I had gone down to DC on winter break to see an exhibit at the Smithsonian and was scheduled to leave the day before the inauguration. The cousin I visited said, "Umm, why don't you stay for the inauguration?" I thought about it and it seemed that I should, so I did. Clearly, though, it was not at all on my mind when I planned my trip. But I found myself the last few days genuinely looking forward to the inauguration. In fact, I was giddy at the thought of it. I had a call scheduled during the swearing-in and was disappointed that I couldn't watch it live, but I taped it and watched it right afterward.

Why am I so happy? Let me count the ways...

Because I no longer feel like a stranger in a strange land: This election made sense to me. The last administration (I love saying that) was a disaster, yet other times over the past 15 years, Americans did not seem to support a course correction. They just kept voting for more of the same, more afraid of the Republican bogeymen than they were of actual abuses by the Democrats. This time, the voters voted their own self-interests above some nebulous social goals that the left has so spectacularly failed to achieve.

Because Trump won the popular vote: This victory was not just a procedural victory but a total one by anyone's reckoning. We won't have to spend 4 years continuing to defend assaults against the Electoral College. Trump was just as legitimate in 2016 but he wasn't treated that way. This time he is. Mark Thiessen made the point on Fox that this time, Trump will get a honeymoon and his election is more or less being treated as any other election. That is a relief. He broke the back of his opposition. They will reorganize, but they don't have as much ammunition this time.

Because I don't have to obsess every day about politics: The past 15 years, since it became apparent that Obama was determined to undermine this country in every way, I've been obsessed with politics and was so glad to find Ricochet as a place where I could discuss and try to work out what on Earth was going on in this country. How was it that the pet causes of the left—climate change, DEI and open immigration—became a national religion, and wondered what could we do about it? I will pay attention to politics, of course, but I feel the country is in good hands and I don't think that the destructive tactics of the Democrats will be used as nakedly this time, at least not while the Republicans have the Senate and House. I am hoping that the tide of Woke will continue to recede and I can go back to enjoying movies, books, theater, sports, all the things I used to love before wokeness and the pandemic destroyed them.

Because I don't care what Trump says: I respect Trump and know his political style well enough that I am finding that I don't get all tied up in knots when I hear him say things like "We're going to annex Canada." Apparently Saturday Night Live had a skit last Saturday about all MSNBC hosts dropping everything anytime Trump tweeted. I certainly engaged in that behavior in his first term and during the election ("I wish he hadn't said that..."). But because I genuinely respect what he was able to achieve this time, in the face of so many obstacles, I find that I trust his judgment and instincts. So I've been shrugging and saying, "We'll see." Plus, the marvelously articulate JD Vance is at his side to step in when some coherent verbiage is needed.

But I do care what Trump does: He can be Trump in his tweets, his insults, his rambling speeches and his petulance. I think he said that success would be his best revenge. But success would really be his greatest legacy because of his popularity among young voters. If he can show what our country looks like when the lunatic left is not in charge, if he can create a "permission structure" where it is OK again to be optimistic and proud of America and he can back it up with brighter prospects for the youngest voters, then he can un-indoctrinate a generation of young people. If he does, his election and the events that led up to it truly would be the second shot heard round the world.

Now would be the time in my usual essay to level some disclaimer about Trump and how he could screw it all up. Not today! Today I'm looking forward to what he can and will do. But it will take time and I'm willing to give it to him. Godspeed, Mr. Trump!