A Sober, But Optimistic First National Address – “The Sunday Political Brunch” – March 14, 2021
Mark Curtis, MINDSETTER™
A Sober, But Optimistic First National Address – “The Sunday Political Brunch” – March 14, 2021
“The Tone Matters” – It’s been a dark, bleak year. A year where hope was hard to come by. So, I give Biden credit for trying to create optimism. With vaccinations exceeding the projected pace, he said, "If we do all this, if we do our part, if we do this together, by July the 4, there's a good chance you, your families and friends, will be able to get together in your backyard or in your neighborhood and have a cookout or a barbecue and celebrate Independence Day. That doesn't mean large events with lots of people together, but it does mean small groups will be able to get together.”
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST
“Throw Trump a Bone” – I realize that President Biden and former President Trump had widely different views on COVID-19 response. Quite honestly, it’s the issue that cost Trump the election. And it bitterly divided the two parties, as Biden got his COVID-19 relief package approved with no Republican support, even though the two bills signed by Trump did have bipartisan support. But to unite the country, if I was Biden Thursday night, I would have at least thanked and acknowledged Trump’s crucial efforts to get the pharmaceutical companies to create and produce the vaccines. It’s the kind of “olive branch” that all too often both parties miss the opportunity to extend.
“By the Numbers” – If there was one line from the Biden speech that really struck me, it was this. "I know it's been hard. I truly know. As I've told you before, I carry a card in my pocket with the number of Americans who have died from COVID to date. It's on the back of my schedule. As of now, total deaths in America, 527,726. That's more deaths than in World War I, World War II, the Vietnam War and 9/11 combined.” As I said, I consider the address sobering, and these facts speak to just that.
“The Importance of a Timeline” – It’s important in personal life, and in business, and in politics, to set goals and benchmarks. “I’m going to do this, by that date,” is the kind of leadership people are looking for. Yet, it’s risky, especially if you miss the target date. Biden promised 100 million vaccinations in his first 100 days and is on pace to make that happen. He wants all states, to schedule vaccination appointments for all adults by May 1st, (doable, except for the number of anti-vaccination forces that may resist). And he wants July 4th cookouts, which is highly symbolic, but within reach. But remember, promised delivery dates in politics are highly risky, especially if you miss the mark.
“The Demeanor” – It’s no secret that many people have raised concerns about President Biden’s mental acuity, yes even members of his own party during the primary season. Biden – who stuttered as a child – overcame that and became a polished public orator for 36 years in the U.S. Senate. Look, at sometimes during the campaign he was sharp as a tack, while at other times he seemed “foggy.” It’s fair analysis, as we’re picking the President of the United States, not the president of the Junior League. The bar is set very, very, high as it should be. Thursday night, Biden was on his game and at his best. He spoke with confidence, certainty, and clarity. We expect that of any president, and at age 78, he delivered.
“There are Risks” – Personally, I like the way things are trending. I live in West Virginia, the state consistently ranked the best in per-capita COVID-19 testing, vaccinations, and overall negative response. It’s literally the safest place to be in the United States, though we have had sharp COVID spikes and surges, at times. We now have Coronavirus variants in the United States, that may be resistant to the current vaccines. We could have big spikes, again, across the nation. If so, all bets are off.
“The Importance of the Glass Half-Full” - "This country can do anything, hard things, big things, important things. Over a year ago no one could have imagined what we were about to go through. But now we're coming through it. And it's a shared experience that binds us together as a nation. We are bound together by the loss and the pain of the days that have gone by. We're also bound together by the hope and the possibilities of the days in front of us,” said President Biden.
I’ve had my first Moderna vaccine shot, with the second coming in two more weeks. Are you getting vaccinated? Or are you opposed, or running into roadblocks? Leave a comment below.
