A Speech I Would Love To Hear Joe Biden To Make
Many Americans believe I represent the return to the “good old days” before the current administration. They would be in error with that belief. They were not entirely the “bad old days” like what America has had to endure during the past four years. But they were not exactly ideal, either. America, at the hands of past political leadership, had and still has many problems and challenges that impact more of our people every day. That cannot continue, and it does not have to.
I promise I will not be looking over my shoulder. I do not want to return to how it was in many respects, and I know you do not either. We are better than this. You have tried to tell this to those of us who exist and operate inside the DC bubble for a long time, and it has been frustrating for you that we have not been good listeners. Or even more problematic, we have been listening to the wrong voices, voices that too often do not have your best interests in their hearts. That will change!
Why should you believe it is going to change? Just watch what my administration will be doing from day one. The first thing I want you to notice is who I select for my cabinet and department leaders. I assure you it will not look like a reunion of a past cast of characters. That would be a sure sign that I do not advocate for real change. I am not an Einstein, but I am not dumb, either. However, I promise that I intend to make certain that I will be the dumbest person in the room when my cabinet is convened. I need cabinet members who will not hesitate to say to me, “Mr. President, I believe you are not seeing this matter clearly and I am going to show you why.” I will need that, and America cannot move forward unless that is the prevailing cabinet culture.
The next thing you will observe is that I will waste no time creating a list of top issues to be addressed with the close assistance of the very smart people I am surrounded by. They will be my captains who design and activate the initiatives that we will ask both houses of congress to approve and help America with. You may notice I did not mention I intend to use executive orders. I believe executive orders are evidence and proof that the President has failed to adequately frame a problem sufficiently to obtain broad support, and consequently throws an executive order tantrum. Because most of the time, that is exactly what executive orders are.
I will not attempt here to list all the problems and challenges we now face. You know what they are, and I am counting on you to remind me of them every day. Think of me as America’s janitor and you are helping me find and clean up the messes that have been left behind.
I have come to realize that trying to work across the aisle and build bipartisan coalitions may not be possible for a while. Instead, I will work hard every day to make the progress and changes you rightfully demand and need, and I will communicate them in language everyone will understand. If the opposition party sees the value and benefits of the changes and decides to participate for the greater good of the country, they will be thanked and welcomed with open arms. If they do not, there will be no compromises. Compromise is only a good option when it is overwhelmingly recognized that it serves the greater good of all Americans. That is what you deserve. You have been patient beyond reasonable expectations. It is your time now. Please let me know how I am doing every day. I will not be asking our media institutions. I will be asking you.
America, let’s do this!
