Posted
"The time for trivial fights is behind us. We just need the courage to share the dreams that fill our hearts."
If you had to guess the American politician who uttered those words how many would you list before President Donald J Trump?
He has achieved global fame as a Twitter brawler with no slight too small to go unanswered be it from the Terminator, Meryl Streep or even a judge.
We have become far more used to the attacks on losers and "fake news" purveyors, also known as "the enemy of the people".
Is the great disruptor changing tone or was his first joint address to Congress just a one off?
One other thing we have learned is that predictions about President Trump are fraught.
Yet tonight did seem different.
In his only other major set piece speech since taking office — his inauguration — Mr Trump spoke of "carnage" afflicting America.
It was quite a dark portrait of a country used to being praised for its exceptionalism by leaders.
Tonight Mr Trump delivered what he considers the medicine to that malaise, pledging to create new jobs, conquer new frontiers and lift millions from poverty while protecting them from crime.
No-one ever accused him of lacking ambition.
Another shock tonight: a healthy dose of bipartisanship.
Political observers have been startled by its absence with the President often sounding like he is still in campaign mode.
Even if it was delivered with a barb, the call to meet on common ground was new.
"So I am calling on all Democrats and Republicans in Congress to work with us to save Americans from this imploding Obamacare disaster ... True love for our people requires us to find common ground, to advance the common good, and to cooperate on behalf of every American child who deserves a brighter future."
After a bruising election campaign and years of tough Republican tactics during the Obama administration, it remains to be seen how fallow the ground is for cooperation.
Mr Trump also reiterated many of his more familiar themes, including expanding the military, cracking down on violent crime and securing the nation's borders.
Interestingly, he referenced Australia and what he called its "merit-based" immigration system as inspiration for bringing more skilled migrants to America.
He also promised to destroy the Islamic State group, continue deporting gang members and end a drug epidemic.
This historic address was made to a joint sitting on Congress.
One other thing that should have been clear to the audience, which was made up of the politicians who will have responsibility for implementing this very ambitious agenda, expect a busy four years!
Topics: donald-trump, government-and-politics, world-politics, united-states