President Trump’s big congressional speech was … optimistic

Mar 1, 2017, 7:24 AM | Updated: 4:53 pm

BY DAVE ROSS

KIRO Newsradio Host

Listen to Tom and Curley’s review

Listen to Michael Medved’s review

Listen to Ron and Don’s review

Listen to Jason and Burns’ review

Listen to Dori Monson’s review

President Trump’s speech last night was optimistic.

“From now on, America will be empowered by our aspirations, not burdened by our fears.”

There were no attacks on media.

“The time for trivial fights is behind us.”

And the media generally returned the favor.

The lead story in the Huffington Post discussed how President Donald Trump didn’t insult any war heroes, didn’t pitch conspiracy theories about millions of illegal votes and he didn’t call the news media the “enemies of the American people.” From the Washington Post: “Trump gives his hard-line campaign promises a more moderate tone in address to Congress.” The New York Times: “Trump Softens Tone In Outlining Goals.” A CNN headline: “With a new tone, Trump declares ambitious vision for the country.”

Even the Homepage of Center for American Progress — established by former Clinton Chief of Staff John Podesta — had nothing negative on the speech. In fact, the homepage doesn’t mention the speech at all.

It also polled well with regular folks. CBS News reported that 82 percent of people who saw the speech called Trump presidential. That includes a majority of Democrats. And 61 percent said the tone was very positive.

His overall theme: the president’s job is not to represent the world; it’s to represent the United States of America.

To the issues.

The new executive order for a temporary travel ban- not ready yet: CBS’s Margaret Brennan says while Trump signaled he may go along with a path to citizenship for people here illegally, he’ll also set up an agency that would highlight the crimes of the “bad ones” as he calls them.

“We are removing gang members, drug dealers, and criminals that threaten our communities and prey on our very innocent citizens,” Trump said. “Bad ones are going out as I speak.”

On the wall: “We will soon begin the construction of a great, great wall along our southern border.”

Trump said we will imitate countries like Canada and Australia: “Switching away from this current system of lower-skilled immigration, and instead adopting a merit-based system.”

On Obamacare: The magic words were NOT there. He did not say health care is a right. Instead, he said there would be no insurance mandate, but that all Americans with pre-existing conditions have “access.” So that could mean you’ll have insurance offered to you, but the premiums don’t have to be affordable.

He promises you can choose any plan, from any state, but no standards to compare them. So there will be homework. But he also promised to “work to bring down the artificially high price of drugs and bring them down immediately.” But no timeline.

On the tax cut for American companies: “It will be a big, big cut.” And “massive tax relief for the middle class.”

On highways and bridges: “I will be asking Congress to approve legislation that produces a $1 trillion investment in infrastructure of the United States, using both public and private money.”

And he promised to build it with American workers and American made supplies.

On school choice, he will “pass an education bill that will let disadvantaged children choose their school — be it public, private, charter, magnet, religious, or home school that is right for them.”

On NATO, he will strongly support it. And the good news is that the other members are due with their money: “I can tell you the money is pouring in. Very nice.”

And, if all that wasn’t enough, Trump set yet another record: CBS’s Don Champion reports that the speech set a record for presidential tweets.

Speaking of Twitter, let us know what you thought via our Twitter poll: