The second time around

The two terms will be a contrast in policy, personnel and persistence. This time, the Republican Party is unified if they can keep it. Trump will also not be constrained by a pandemic.

In his Second Inaugural Address, the old/new president decided to mostly turn from the dark side, displayed and disliked by many in his first address, to a more optimistic (for him) view of America's future. The "golden years" are ahead of us, he said. He called for a "revolution of common sense," the definition of which is "sound practical judgment." Compare this with what was described as his "American Carnage" first Inaugural Address, which sounds like a horror film.

This time, Trump apparently listened to advisers who encouraged optimism over malaise. He promised "a new era of national success." He has also spoken of a return to "normalcy." The problem is that at least two generations have been raised (and educated) to believe what was once called abnormal is now to be considered normal. Must I list them all?

In what some will regard as a cynical last-minute move, Joe Biden issued a pardon to five members of his family, including his brother. Biden said he didn't believe they had done anything wrong, but feared Trump would sic the Justice Department on them. To many this will appear as the ultimate cover-up. The Republican Congress should continue its investigation of the business dealings of the Biden family and issue a report on its findings.

Some of Trump's promises, including a promise to "end wars," smack of hyperbole, but others about enforcing border laws, deporting criminal immigrants and bringing down costs are what he ran on and more than 70 million Americans voted for. His threat to deprive sanctuary cities of federal funds is overdue as too many mayors and governors have ignored our immigration laws enacted by Republican and Democrat politicians and by doing so have encouraged more migrants to come and receive benefits some Americans don't get.

Will the next four years be a "golden age or a new "Gilded Age" in which the rich get richer and the poor get poorer? Trump seemed to be suggesting that his economic policies would lift all boats.

Unfortunately, Trump said nothing about our massive debt, possibly leaving that to the now- official Department of Government Efficiency. This will require massive cuts and reforms in spending, something members of both parties in Congress have been reluctant to do.

Trump's pledge to take back the Panama Canal is problematic at best, despite claims (denied by Panama's president) that China has operational control of the passageway. Didn't we already have this debate in the 1970s about who owns it?

Anti-Trumpers who have boosted their careers opposing the president on his character (and you know who you are), will be doubly isolated should he achieve his policy goals. Trump has also pledged to protect women's sports from transgender athletes, declaring "there are only two genders: male and female." Having to state the obvious tells you a lot about the state of the culture.

A New York Times/Ipsos poll published over the weekend shows a majority have come to terms with Trump's character vs. his policies: "Many Americans who otherwise dislike (Trump) share his bleak assessment of the country's problems and support some of his most contentious prescriptions to fix them," the poll concluded.

Every new president is welcomed by most Americans with an attitude of optimism about the future. President Trump concluded his address by saying "In America the impossible is what we do best."

It won't take long to see how that plays out.

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Cal Thomas, America's most-syndicated columnist, is the author of 10 books.