Biden Has an Opportunity

Biden is “Not Trump”

I have a friend who said she would vote for a three-legged gorilla if it ran against Trump. Anti-Trump sentiment runs strong and deep, but so does the sentiment in favor of the soon to be ex-President as evidenced by the attack on the Capitol last Wednesday. Our country is more divided now than any point since the Civil War. Both sides are entrenched in their positions and spew hate with every breath. We have come to the point where our democracy is in danger. Although president elect Biden is just “Not Trump”, he has the opportunity to be much more. He has the unique opportunity to unite our divided nation.

The first thing he needs to do is stop the bleeding. Nancy Pelosi has made a career out of hating Trump. Without Trump she has neither position nor program. She does, however, have a following of rabid Trump haters. She continues to demonstrate her hatred in this push toward impeachment. She doesn’t seem to care that impeachment will divide the country even more. Trump has been discredited to the point that the is harmless. Republicans are cutting ties with him as fast as they can. Biden should ignore Trump and tell Pelosi he does not support impeachment. He should ask her to focus on the next administration rather than give Trump center stage.

President Trump has announced he will not attend Biden’s inauguration. The press criticized him, but I think it is a good thing for him to stay away. Get out of the limelight. Let the new President have his day. Biden should thank Trump for not coming. I really mean it. Biden should actually send a tweet saying he is glad Trump has the courtesy to stay away. Don’t make a big deal out of it, but simply say “Thanks for not crashing my party.”

President Biden’s first official act after inauguration should be to grant Trump an unqualified pardon. Follow the example of President Ford. With one stroke of the pen Ford regulated Nixon to history. Biden could do the same with Trump. The worse thing that could happen to Biden’s new administration is for Trump to remain current events. Prosecution of the ex-President would dominate the news.

If Biden really wants to unite the country and be everyone’s president, he needs to get rid of Pelosi and shortly thereafter Chuck Schumer. It is time for moderates, not firebrands. I wish him well.

Frank Watson is a retired Air Force Colonel and long-time resident of Eastern Washington. He has been a free-lance columnist for over 20 years.