Even a cursory look at American rhetoric confirms that few inaugurals are remembered by history. In an era of tweets, texts and Facebook, even Lincoln’s masterful Second Inaugural would have faced a barrage of sniping — from the right for not addressing his suspension of habeas corpus; from the left for Abe’s lack of inclusiveness in suggesting Americans “read the same Bible and praise the same God.”
So we’re not inclined to spend too much time parsing President Obama’s effort yesterday.
We do note it carried not even the hint of an overture to a Republican Party that, for all its weakness, maintains its majority in the House of Representatives and controls both the legislature and governorship in 23 states — roughly twice as many as do Democrats.
Certainly that is the president’s right. The next four years will tell us whether it was wise.