# What an outstanding inaugural speech! **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [January 20, 2017, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-an-outstanding-inaugural-speech/777639 "2017-01-20T17:20:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2017, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-an-outstanding-inaugural-speech/777639/101 "2017-01-20T20:32:32Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Deficit is not the same as debt. Debt is cumulative. Deficit is new debt per time period (year, month, quarter, etc) > > If you charge 3000 to your credit card one year, 2000 the next and 1000 the third, your debt went up but you reduced your deficit. Yes - but no matter how it is sliced or diced, a $9 trillion increase in eight years is way too much. If your credit card bill goes up by $90,000 in eight years, then saying, “I reduced my annual deficit” is nothing but consolation talk. That bill is heavy. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2017, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-an-outstanding-inaugural-speech/777639/102 "2017-01-20T20:35:48Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > While part of Trump’s speech sounded depressing, since his message is one of rebuilding America, that by necessity has to involve a depressing part. It’s an A+B speech. > > A = we are in the doldrums right now > > B = we’ll rise out of the doldrums > You can’t have that rise out of ashes speech, without a depressing ashes part first. That [worked well](http://www.politico.com/story/2016/05/sanders-looking-to-rack-up-west-virginia-win-over-clinton-222952) [for Clinton](http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2016/may/10/context-hillary-clintons-comments-about-coal-jobs/). > [@cochrane](#): > > For some reason, I’m picturing Trump as Zaphod Beeblebrox, President of the galaxy (a role that involves no power whatsoever, and merely requires the incumbent to attract attention so no one wonders who’s really in charge, a role for which Trump is perfectly suited). Minus the extra head, of course. What do you think is hiding under that hair beast? > [@RickJay](#): > > The transcript is pretty crappy. I don’t know what speech Clothahump watched, but he’s a Trumpist, IIRC, so Trump could have just read a list of NBA players in alphabetical order and the Trumpists would eat it up. That would actually probably turn them off. Too much diversity. > [@SenorBeef](#): > > And everything you predicted came true, too. He took all our guns, rounded us up in FEMA death camps, cancelled the election, declared himself dictator for life, and instituted Sharia law. > > Thank god we’ve moved past all that. I’m not sure our country will ever recover. That was all part of Obama’s third term plan. Thank Trump that he was able to thwart him. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2017, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-an-outstanding-inaugural-speech/777639/103 "2017-01-20T20:42:49Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Yes - but no matter how it is sliced or diced, a $9 trillion increase in eight years is way too much. > > If your credit card bill goes up by $90,000 in eight years, then saying, “I reduced my annual deficit” is nothing but consolation talk. That bill is heavy. I think you’re missing the point on purpose. Imagine, for a moment, that in 2008 we were running a 500 million deficit. And Obama turned that into a 900 billion dollar surplus. That would be huge. Amazing. Right? And yet that’s the exact same 1.4 trillion dollar per year swing that reducing the deficit from 2T to 600B is. So what you’re saying is that if the Republicans hadn’t fucked this country so hard and left us with a 600B deficit instead of a 2T one, then Obama’s deficit reduction/surplus creation would’ve been a wild success. But even though Obama did the exact same thing in that hypothetical as he did in the real world, because the Republicans fucked us so hard and created a 2T deficit then Obama could only reduce it from 2T to 600B, therefore increasing the debt, clearly he didn’t do a very good job. You’re essentially running on the same position the Republicans have - fuck up the country so hard that they can’t undo all the damage you did in 8 years, then run on a platform of “haha, they couldn’t unfuck everything, they suck, vote for us!” ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2017, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-an-outstanding-inaugural-speech/777639/104 "2017-01-20T20:43:10Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > You think you’re happy? Wait till you see the rest of us in four years when this con man leaves in disgrace. If he lasts four years. As for the speech, it was short, shallow, and unimpressive. However, the State of the Union speech is coming up on February 21st and, if I wanted to be generous to Trump (which I don’t), I’d say he’s probably saving his best stuff for that one. But that likely won’t be the case. We’ll get another quickie but it will be padded out interminably by all the interruptions for applauding by the Republicans in Congress. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2017, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-an-outstanding-inaugural-speech/777639/105 "2017-01-20T20:44:08Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > So, I’m seeing pictures of the attendance, comparison shots between Obama’s 2009 Inauguration and…the most recent. I’m always a bit suspicious when what I see matches so closely with what I expect and what I would prefer. But if they are genuine…oh, my. The hilarity has ensued. That can be fixed up with just a couple of minutes in Photoshop. (Which makes me wonder: will the Wayback Machine (WWW Archive) be outlawed by Executive Order? Don’t want any embarrassing _facts_ cropping up… ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2017, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-an-outstanding-inaugural-speech/777639/106 "2017-01-20T20:50:55Z")
And, oh, the speech: who knew, before the speech, that we were living in “American carnage”? NPR has a transcript with some well-sourced commentary on Trump’s claims. A brief excerpt: > [@](#): > > TRUMP: Mothers and children trapped in poverty in our inner cities, rusted out factories scattered like tombstones across the landscape of our nation, an education system flush with cash but which leaves our young and beautiful students deprived of all knowledge. And the crime, and the gangs, and the drugs that have stolen too many lives and robbed our country of so much unrealized potential. This American carnage stops right here and stops right now. > [@](#): > > ANNOTATIONS: According to this study from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, at least 31 states spent less money per student in 2014 than they did in 2008. During that time, the study found, local funding also dropped in 18 states. … > > He paints a bleak picture of America as a country plagued by a devastated manufacturing sector, crime and troubled schools. In reality, the nation has seen an overall downward trend in violent crime in recent decades … The transcript: > **[President Trump's Inaugural Address, Annotated](https://www.npr.org/2017/01/20/510629447/watch-live-president-trumps-inauguration-ceremony)** > > Donald Trump has been sworn in as the 45th president of the United States. NPR reporters and editors have annotated his remarks. The citations embedded in the commentary: [http://www.cbpp.org/research/state-budget-and-tax/most-states-have-cut-school-funding-and-some-continue-cutting](http://www.cbpp.org/research/state-budget-and-tax/most-states-have-cut-school-funding-and-some-continue-cutting) > **[Dueling Claims on Crime Trend - FactCheck.org](https://www.factcheck.org/2016/07/dueling-claims-on-crime-trend/)** > > President Barack Obama said there have been "huge drops in the murder rates" in cities like New York, Los Angeles and Dallas. Donald Trump said "violent crime has increased in cities across America." Which is it? We'll score this one for Obama. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2017, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-an-outstanding-inaugural-speech/777639/107 "2017-01-20T20:52:09Z")
> [@boffking](#): > > We need Trump to use the phrase “Radical White Supremacist Terrorism” as well. Absolutely. Though I’d accept “right-wig terrorism” as well. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2017, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-an-outstanding-inaugural-speech/777639/108 "2017-01-20T20:54:16Z")
> [@Omg\_a\_Black\_Conservative](#): > > Feel free to join me on the real world. > > We’ve had no economic recovery-- it’s been smoke and mirrors. When two to three to four times as many people drop out of the labor force as find a job, that’s not a recovery. [ > [@Donald Trump](#): > > 5.3 percent unemployment – that is the biggest joke there is in this country. …The unemployment rate is probably 20 percent, but I will tell you, you have some great economists that will tell you it’s a 30, 32. And the highest I’ve heard so far is 42 percent. ]([PolitiFact | Donald Trump says the unemployment rate may be 42 percent](http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2015/sep/30/donald-trump/donald-trump-says-unemployment-rate-may-be-42-perc/)):dubious::rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![marshmallow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@marshmallow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marshmallow)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2017, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-an-outstanding-inaugural-speech/777639/109 "2017-01-20T21:21:45Z")
> [@Mr\_Quatro](#): > > One real sign he is successful as POTUS will be noticed in the stock market:[Stock Market Performance After Inauguration - Business Insider](http://www.businessinsider.com/stock-market-after-inauguration-democrat-republican-2017-1) Successful leaders enrich the capitalist class. At least it’s an ethos. ---
**Author:** ![Patx2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/73ab20/32.png) [@Patx2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patx2)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2017, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-an-outstanding-inaugural-speech/777639/110 "2017-01-20T21:29:26Z")
Those that are ok with a Trump presidency obviously thought it was a good speech, those that aren’t will find fault with it. There’s no way the guy is gonna please everyone especially those that continue to despise him and not want to accept the fact that he is indeed president of the United States. I thought he gave a very good speech. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2017, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-an-outstanding-inaugural-speech/777639/111 "2017-01-20T21:34:23Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > And, oh, the speech: who knew, before the speech, that we were living in “American carnage”? > > NPR has a transcript with some well-sourced commentary on Trump’s claims. A brief excerpt: > > The transcript: > [Transcript And Analysis: President Trump's Inauguration Speech : NPR](http://www.npr.org/2017/01/20/510629447/watch-live-president-trumps-inauguration-ceremony) > The citations embedded in the commentary: > [http://www.cbpp.org/research/state-budget-and-tax/most-states-have-cut-school-funding-and-some-continue-cutting](http://www.cbpp.org/research/state-budget-and-tax/most-states-have-cut-school-funding-and-some-continue-cutting) > [Dueling Claims on Crime Trend - FactCheck.org](http://www.factcheck.org/2016/07/dueling-claims-on-crime-trend/) "Acid rain. Drug addictions. International terrorism. Freeway killers. Now more than ever, it is important to remember the true meaning of [_America_]. Don’t miss [_Donald Trump’s inauguration as 45th President of the United States_]. Your life just might depend on it." –TV promo from _Scrooged_ (with minimal edits) ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2017, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-an-outstanding-inaugural-speech/777639/112 "2017-01-20T21:54:18Z")
Perhaps that screenplay _was_ one of the documents Trump consulted in writing his speech. Maybe the Mar-a-Lago Club receptionist had it stashed in a drawer when Trump took over her public-hallway desk (in the infamous pic of him ‘writing his speech’) … (for those who hadn’t seen the photos: ) > [@](#): > > First, there’s the fact that Trump seems to be drafting his first speech as POTUS with a … Sharpie. And second, perhaps more important, there’s the question of Trump’s desk, which, as Twitter user @missdewey points out, appears to be one usually occupied by an administrative or hospitality professional — a receptionist or concierge, maybe — in a public hall at Mar-a-Lago, and not in a private office. [Donald Trump Tweets From Writing Desk at Mar-A-Lago](http://nymag.com/selectall/2017/01/why-doesnt-donald-trump-have-his-own-desk-at-mar-a-lago.html) ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2017, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-an-outstanding-inaugural-speech/777639/113 "2017-01-20T21:59:33Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > I have a 20, can I get a…, you there in the back with a 30…, can I get a 40… 40, 42!, 42, to the gentleman in the front row. Can I get a 50… ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2017, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-an-outstanding-inaugural-speech/777639/114 "2017-01-20T22:42:55Z")
“Jig” could be interpreted as a short form of an insulting term for African-Americans. The phrase “chink in the armor” has nothing to do with Asian Knights either but could be taken as insulting. Entomology be damned, person using such terms and phrases, in _full awareness_ of those alternate interpretation, are engaging the type of deniability-baked-in gutlessness that typifies so many on the right these days. Hope you weren’t offended, just calling a digging implement what it is. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2017, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-an-outstanding-inaugural-speech/777639/115 "2017-01-20T22:49:08Z")
I’m a through-and-through liberal, for the most part, but it has never occurred to me to take “jig” in “the jig is up” in any sort of racial context. Seriously, is that phrase really viewed as offensive these days? ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2017, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-an-outstanding-inaugural-speech/777639/116 "2017-01-20T22:50:58Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Why do you say this, after all the times it has been shown not to be true? Parrots parrot, always. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2017, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-an-outstanding-inaugural-speech/777639/117 "2017-01-20T22:55:01Z")
[Howard Fineman](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/trump-inaugural-speech_us_588273b3e4b096b4a231a7ad) had a fine take on the word salad offered up by the conman in chief: > [@](#): > > The language throughout was nakedly combative, even bloody. Of drugs and violence, he vowed, “This American carnage stops right here and it stops right now.” > > The wealth of the middle class has been “ripped from their homes,” he said. Americans will be able to watch their country “eradicate from the face of the earth” every shred of “radical Islamic terrorism.” All of us, he said, citing an old military slogan, “bleed the same red blood of patriots.” As Chris Matthews put it, the rambling was “Hitlerian” in tone. 1460 days plus 18 hours to go. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2017, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-an-outstanding-inaugural-speech/777639/118 "2017-01-20T23:03:18Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > So, I’m seeing pictures of the attendance, comparison shots between Obama’s 2009 Inauguration and…the most recent. [Donald Trump’s First Twitter Background as President Was a Photo From the Inauguration of Barack Obama](http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2017/01/20/donald_trump_s_new_twitter_background_is_a_photo_from_the_inauguration_of.html) ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2017, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-an-outstanding-inaugural-speech/777639/119 "2017-01-20T23:28:14Z")
> [@E-DUB](#): > > “Jig” could be interpreted as a short form of an insulting term for African-Americans. The phrase “chink in the armor” has nothing to do with Asian Knights either but could be taken as insulting. > > Entomology be damned, person using such terms and phrases, in _full awareness_ of those alternate interpretation, are engaging the type of deniability-baked-in gutlessness that typifies so many on the right these days. Slightly OT, but I completely agree with you that it is entirely defensible to disregard entomology when considering controversial usages of terms that seem like ethnic slurs but aren’t. 😃 - The Plover and the Clover can be told apart with ease, By paying close attention to the habits of the Bees, For Entomologists aver, the Bee can be in Clover, While Etymologists concur, there is no B in Plover. \* — R. W. Wood More seriously, while I naturally mourn the inevitable passing from common usage of fascinating words and phrases merely because they superficially resemble disfavored derogatory terms that they’re not actually related to, I got no time whatever for the trolls and linguistic Old-Guarders who insist on continuing to use such words and phrases _even when they know perfectly well that those superficial resemblances make such usage distasteful to many people_. Yes, yes, we admire how smart and knowledgeable you are for being aware that “niggardly” is not actually etymologically connected to the n-word. Here’s a cookie. :rolleyes: But be warned that deliberately choosing to use that word when you know that many less well-informed people will be startled and/or offended by the sound of it doesn’t make you look erudite or principled. It makes you look at best like kind of a pompous asshole, and at worst like a full-on racist troll. [/hijack] ---
**Author:** ![G-SE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f0a364/32.png) [@G-SE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/G-SE)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2017, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-an-outstanding-inaugural-speech/777639/120 "2017-01-20T23:43:01Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Michelle Obama has more grace and dignity in one fingernail than Trump has had in his entire life. You mean to say, ‘Michael Obama has more grace and dignity in her penis than…’ Adios Obama and your giantic tranny husband, don’t let the door hit you on the way out. Trump’s speech was great, and I can’t wait for him to start dismantling the past 8 years of Obama’s mistakes. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-an-outstanding-inaugural-speech/777639.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-an-outstanding-inaugural-speech/777639.md?page=7)