Cal Thomas - Is your political glass half full?

MYRNA BROWN, HOST: Today is Thursday, August 27th. Good morning! This is The World and Everything in It from listener-supported WORLD Radio. I’m Myrna Brown.

MEGAN BASHAM, HOST: And I’m Megan Basham. Up next, Cal Thomas on pessimism vs. optimism.

CAL THOMAS, COMMENTATOR: If you watched last week’s virtual Democratic convention, you heard about an America with which you might not be familiar. Speaker after speaker portrayed America as a failing nation full of misery, poverty and angst that only they can make better.

It’s worth pausing to remember part of President Trump’s inaugural address:

TRUMP: The establishment protected itself, but not the citizens of our country. Their victories have not been your victories. Their triumphs have not been your triumphs. And while they celebrated in our nation’s capital, there was little to celebrate for struggling families all across our land.

Trump brought back those who had been struggling under the slow-growth Obama-Biden administration. Had it not been for the virus, which is in decline, Trump would likely be ahead in the polls thanks to record employment across all demographics. 

And still the economy is making a comeback. Check the rising stock market, which has hit record highs. 

Contrast Trump’s address with the gloom and doom projected by Biden last week:

BIDEN: Here and now I give you my word: If you entrust me with the presidency, I will draw on the best of us, not the worst. I’ll be an ally of the light, not the darkness. It’s time for us — for we, the people — to come together. And make no mistake. United we can and will overcome this season of darkness in America.

Meaningless clichés. 

The irony is that, as vice president, Biden and President Obama had a chance to get out in front of the pandemic. Instead, they did nothing to replenish the stockpile of masks and other needed protective equipment.

The USA Today recently reported—quote—”[A]ccording to NIH, the stockpile’s resources were… used during hurricanes Alex, Irene, Isaac and Sandy. Flooding in 2010 in North Dakota also called for stockpile funds to be deployed. The 2014 outbreaks of the Ebola virus and botulism, as well as the 2016 outbreak of the Zika virus, continued to significantly tax the stockpile with no serious effort from the Obama administration to replenish the fund.” End quote. 

The country Democrats described last week is not the real America. We’ve come through even greater challenges in the past because of the optimism and tenacity of our citizens.

It’s been good to see some of that optimism on display this week at the Republican National Convention, including from Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina. He talked about how his family went from “cotton to Congress in one lifetime.” It was an inspiring message that emphasized the importance of hard work and seizing the opportunities America offers.

We need that message today, not more pessimism. As Ronald Reagan used to say, America’s best days are ahead. 

I’m Cal Thomas.

(AP Photo/Susan Walsh) Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., smiles as he waits to speak during the first night of the Republican National Convention from the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Washington, Monday, Aug. 24, 2020. 

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