WASHINGTON TIMES: DAVID BOSSIE: Trump versus Biden’s speeches to Congress

President Trump’s first address of his term before a joint session of Congress was a speech for the ages.

As our 45th and 47th president articulated his optimistic vision for the future while showcasing American exceptionalism throughout his remarks, pathetic congressional Democrats sat on their hands in deranged opposition regardless of the topic. The radical left achieved a new low for all the world to see, and it confirmed the president’s belief that these Democrats have no interest in helping him save America and will oppose everything he says out of pure hatred.

Coincidentally, exactly one year ago, President Biden managed to make it through what was thankfully his final State of the Union address. He spent that evening raising his voice, attempting to make the point that the “new normal” he created with his awful policies was acceptable. In his clueless way, Mr. Biden essentially told the American people that inflation wasn’t that bad, our cities were thriving, the exploding national debt wasn’t a concern, open borders were a good thing, climate change was more important than anything else, and regarding Ukraine, his forever war policy was “as long as it takes.” Eight months and 77 million Trump voters later, the Biden-Harris regime was sent packing.

Mr. Trump, the historic change agent, was reelected when our country desperately needed consequential reform across the board, and that is exactly what he is delivering.

In less than 50 days, this president has sealed the border at hyper speed, is discussing a path to peace directly with Russia and Ukraine, has banned men from competing in women’s sports and has hired Elon Musk and the new Department of Government Efficiency to root out wasteful government spending, to name just a few items.

Mr. Trump’s efforts are propelled by common sense: Security is essential for a successful country, surpluses are better than deficits, and peace is preferable to war — and less expensive.

Mr. Trump’s “America First” agenda is focused on enacting innovative solutions and, by doing so, confronting the broken status quo in Washington. For far too long, the Washington establishment, aka “the uniparty,” has purposefully ignored major glaring problems because of the most cowardly form of political expediency imaginable. From our $36 trillion national debt to suffocating inflation, to the unchecked swamp and federal bureaucracy, to exorbitant taxes and regulations, to open borders, to our failing education system, hardworking families have had a bellyful and deserve far better, and the Trump administration is finally saying, “We’ve got your back.”

Mr. Trump is a man of action, and the entrenched power structure in Washington isn’t taking the change that’s in the air very well. Career politicians and elitists favor kicking the can down the road. It was never going to be easy, but nothing worthwhile ever is.

This president has accomplished big things in his career and has taken that mindset back to the White House to implement the meaningful, lasting, bold changes that the American people have been waiting for. Polling indicates that Americans are in the mood for dramatic reform to a federal government and bureaucracy that has become sinfully bloated, ineffective, out of touch and opaque. Seventy percent agree that government spending is “filled with waste, fraud and inefficiency,” and 69% “support the goal of cutting $1 trillion of government expenditures.” These are ample reasons to be hopeful.

Congressional Democrats and left-wing state and local politicians alike have made the choice to oppose Mr. Trump’s agenda that will fix problems instead of manage decay.

This position is fraught with peril as even the casual observer understands that America needs a comprehensive change in direction. Look no further than “right track/wrong track” polling data from Mr. Biden’s last month in office; one poll indicated that only 19% thought we were on the right track. Democrats’ defense of the failed status quo is a doomed strategy. Indeed, they would be wise to stop listening to radical Trump-deranged leftists and try helping instead of obstructing. However, if their ridiculous antics at the speech are any indication, don’t hold your breath.

For example, advising illegal immigrants on how to evade deportation is not only irresponsible but also breathtakingly tone-deaf. Similarly, in the face of failing schools and low test scores, continuing to bow to teachers unions by opposing long-overdue education reform is asinine.

With regard to high energy bills and gas prices, fighting Mr. Trump’s push to unleash American energy resources to drive down costs doesn’t make any sense either. Perhaps most astonishingly, attacking DOGE for having the audacity to chip away at our $36 trillion national debt has millions of everyday Americans scratching their heads. The left is also wrong to shop around for activist judges at the federal district court level willing to throw up obstacles to reform. These jurists need to reread what the Constitution says about presidential power and the executive branch’s role.

Democrats find themselves without anything useful to promote because liberalism has always been about expanding government, raising taxes and spending more money — and there’s simply no appetite for it.

As Mr. Trump laid out his accomplishments and policies that will usher in a Golden Age for our country, the contrast with where we were a year ago is unmistakable. We’ve gone from rudderless and weak to strong and hopeful, from the stale policies of the past to a new era of commonsense conservative reforms. It is truly a blessing.

David N. Bossie is president of Citizens United. He served as deputy campaign manager for Donald J. Trump for President.