Posted on 07/06/2019 4:05:55 AM PDT by Kaslin
Despite all the grousing and griping about his "politicizing" of the Fourth of July and "militarizing" America's birthday, President Donald Trump turned the tables on his antagonists, and pulled it off.
As master of ceremonies and keynote speaker at his "Salute to America" Independence Day event, Trump was a manifest success.
A president acting as president is almost always a more effective campaigner than a president acting as campaigner. And Trump, in what he said and did not say, played the president Thursday night.
The crowd on the Mall was huge and friendly, extending from the Lincoln Memorial to the Washington Monument. The TV coverage was excellent. Friday, virtually every major newspaper had front-page stories and photos.
Earlier, former Vice President Joe Biden had snidely asked, "What, I wonder, will Donald Trump say this evening when he speaks to the nation at an event designed more to stroke his ego than celebrate American ideals?"
Thursday evening, Joe got his answer.
Despite predictions he would use "Salute to America" for a rally speech, the president shelved partisan politics to recite and celebrate the good things Americans of all colors and creeds are doing, and the great things Americans have done since 1776.
"Together, we are part of one of the greatest stories ever told -- the story of America," said Trump. "It is the epic tale of a great nation whose people have risked everything for what they know is right and what they know is true."
It was not a celebration of Trump but of America.
"What a great country!" declared the president. "(F)or Americans nothing is impossible." Ours is "the most exceptional nation in the history of the world."
The second half of Trump's speech was given over to tributes to the five branches of the armed forces -- Coast Guard, Air Force, Navy, Marines, Army -- with each tribute ending in a display of air power.
The flexing of America's military muscle had evoked early howls of protest. But the flyovers of F-22s and F-35s, the B-2 stealth bomber and the Ospreys, and the culmination of the aerobatics with the Navy's Blue Angels, as the Marine Corps band played and all sang the "Battle Hymn of the Republic," was exhilarating, even moving.
It was positive, uplifting, patriotic. And one imagines that not only Trump's "deplorables" standing on the Mall loved it.
Still, one wonders: Where is all this negativity, this constant griping and grousing by the left, going to lead? Do these people think America will turn with hope to a party that reflexively recoils at patriotic displays?
Everywhere it seems the left is attacking America's history and her flawed heroes. Monday, the Charlottesville City Council voted 4-1 to remove April 13, the birthday of Thomas Jefferson, as a paid holiday.
Why? Because our third president was a slave owner. The council's public comment period featured demonstrators accusing the author of America's Declaration of Independence with having been a racist and a rapist.
Last week, too, ex-NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick urged his sponsor, Nike, to pull off the market its new Air Max 1 Quick Strike Fourth of July sneakers featuring Betsy's Ross's first American flag on the heel. Says Nike, Kaepernick told the company he finds the colonial flag offensive, as it was flown when slavery was still legal.
Just how far and fast the Democratic Party is moving left became clear last week with some startling findings of a new poll.
According to Gallup, while 76 percent of Republicans say they are "extremely proud" to be an American, only 22 percent of Democrats say the same, a sharp drop from last year. In 2013, the beginning of Obama's second term, 56% of Democrats said they were "extremely proud" to be Americans.
Another jolting note: While huge majorities of Americans -- 9 in 10 -- are extremely proud of the U.S. military and America's scientific achievements, more than two-thirds of all Americans now say that our political system no longer makes them proud.
This is especially true of Democrats. Only 25 percent, 1 in 4 Democrats, professes to be proud of our political system, our democracy.
A specter of anti-Americanism appears to be rising on the left.
Listening to the Democratic debates, and the depiction of the nation and its economy by the candidates, one would think we were living in the Paris of "Les Miserables" or the London of Charles Dickens.
Demography undeniably favors a millennial-dominant Democratic Party over the middle-aged and seniors party that is the GOP.
Yet how does a party, 3 of 4 of whose adherents profess no pride in its political system, persuade the nation to put it in charge of that system? How does a party, not one-fourth of whom are "extremely proud" to be an American, persuade a majority of Americans to entrust it with the leadership of their nation?
From liberals and progressives, we constantly hear griping, grousing and grievances. When do we hear the gratitude -- for America?
It’s the same anti-Americanism that we had throughout the Cold War. Commies suck
The Democrats message is finally beginning to resonate....... with all of America’s enemies.
He has been awesome and to be honest, the anti-American types probably thought they had this all sewed up with the last several administrations. The question I have is, what is it going to take to break their support? The citizenry is clearly much better off, from top to bottom, without these a-holes.
The efforts of the Soviet Union to place communist moles placed in positions of influence (schools, media, entertainment) are now becoming very evident. The trajectory of the growth of Soviet influence is much like a bacterial growth curve: during many decades, the effects were imperceptible, even as those susceptible to Soviet influence were becoming greater in number. But the growth continued: it almost looks like it has reached the linear phase.
The survival of the US is dependent on how many people are actually psychologically susceptible to the propaganda techniques of the Soviets and their protégés. It seems that a distressingly high number of people absorb that kind of propaganda.
I dont know where it is going to end. Probably with their removal from power. God that would rip the country apart.
The rats have given out the excuses needed to rally their army none of which include responsibility and work ethics, its victimhood and those who put them there
If you mean the support for President Trump, I pray and hope it will never break. He is the best president in a long time
It's going to lead to 23,000,000 dead traitors, and the destruction of this Constitution. The death of the Constitution would make Democrats happy, if any will be alive.
If we do it right, there won't be.
Yeah, America!
American Exceptionalism...
Now just WHERE have I heard THAT before???
We’re in the Cold War phase of CWII right now. During Bammy’s regime I thought it might get hot a couple of times. If shillary had won, there’s no telling.
It was not a celebration of Trump but of America.
"Together, we are part of one of the greatest stories ever told -- the story of America," said Trump.
"It is the epic tale of a great nation whose people have risked everything for what they know is right and what
they know is true."
"What a great country!" declared the president. " (F)or Americans nothing is impossible."
Ours is "the most exceptional nation in the history of the world."
I still maintain my sentiment I had then but now its far more fervent and militant!! “The only good Commie is a dead one!!”
The rise of Totalitarian Mindset
Indeed.
Propaganda has always been their preferred weapon.
The devil incarnate.
IT'S NOT A DEMOCRACY!
It is a Republic.
Not enough people willing to do what has to be done.
Since we will not fight, or refuse to pay taxes, or even remove children from government indoctrination facilities (schools and colleges), and since demographics favor the left...it will end badly and soon.
The left in America is in the awkward position of being at ideological enmity with its host country. This is different from, say, the French left, which helped found its host republic and can claim a legitimate role in its governance. The American left is part of the larger international left and inherits its fundamental anti-Americanism, but for obvious political reasons it’s been hesitant to express it openly. But lately the mask has been slipping thanks to Trump.
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