The return of dignity
Yesterday
Joe Biden was
finally inducted into the
office of US President
.
He gave his speech on the steps of the Capitol.
Only two weeks earlier, his predecessor had shooed his followers, who had been whipped up in person, up the same steps, including the "Buffalo man with his horns" (quote from Armin Laschet).
What followed is already history: the violent storming of the parliament building, an attack on the country's democracy.
Biden will
undo
much of
what Trump did politically.
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Joe Biden taking the oath of office
Photo: BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI / AFP
As one of the first official acts, he initiated the
return of the USA to the Paris climate protection agreement
.
It will normalize the relationship with old partners like Germany again.
And the health insurance funded by the name of "Obamacare" is now being repaired.
The most important changes that come with Biden's assumption of office, however, are less political than character.
He will give the country back a bit of calm, a minimum of rationality and a lot of
dignity
.
After years of cheating at the top, this is probably the most important change of yesterday.
Trump's departure and Biden's inauguration: America's fresh start
Trump's last trip
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Donald Trump is leaving the White House for the last time as President
Photo: AL DRAGO / POOL / EPA-EFE / Shutterstock
Trump, who of course did not attend Biden's inauguration
, left the White House on time.
For his taxpayer-financed tattoo he chose - like former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder in 2005 - Frank Sinatra's "My Way" as a farewell song.
CNN reporter Jim Acosta accompanied Trump on this last trip as president.
From day one, Acosta, a charming and sincere reporter, has watched this presidency closely.
He himself was often the target of Trump's freaking outs and tirades of hate against journalists, whom he consistently described as "enemies of the people".
"Trump crept across the stage
like a beaten prize boxer
looking for the exit to the hall," wrote Acosta about Trump's last hours in office.
"He looked so small and alone as never before." Since Richard Nixon's resignation, no president has left the office under similarly unworthy circumstances.
But the historians' verdict, Acosta believes, could be even more devastating: he could go down in history as the
worst US president of all time
.
On Trump's last flight in Air Force One to Florida, Trump did not want to see any of the journalists traveling in the back of the plane.
One of his spokespersons told Acosta and colleagues that Trump had no specific plans for the coming days.
Most of all he'll play golf.
"Sitting quietly is not his forte." That could be exactly the problem.
Politically too.
Trump's farewell: goodbye?
Angela Merkel's flair for criticism
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Merkel on January 19th
Photo: HANNIBAL HANSCHKE / AFP
At 11 a.m. there will be a rare event in Berlin.
The
Chancellor
appears in person before the German public and (possibly) asks herself
critical questions
.
Given that we are currently in the high phase of a pandemic and political communication has a decisive role in whether citizens participate in the respective applicable measures, this actually happens far too rarely.
Angela Merkel gave the last long interview to "DB Mobil", the customer magazine of Deutsche Bahn.
There she was pounded tough, for example with the following questions:
"In your opinion, what could the railway do better?"
"What do you particularly remember about your train journeys so far?"
"As Federal Chancellor, do you actually need a passport when traveling to distant countries?"
The Chancellor answered at least the last question clearly: "Of course."
At today's
press conference
, she could explain, among other things, why her office so unilaterally casts those experts who are supposed to brief the prime ministers before important corona decisions.
Of the eight scientists who had their say last Monday, a large majority supported Merkel's call for the measures to be tightened.
In
any case, these events have little to do
with
comprehensive pandemic counseling
that also takes into account the social and psychological consequences of the pandemic.
The pronounced desire to be encouraged, above all, to do what one thinks is right anyway, does not seem too confident.
Most prime ministers were not impressed.
In any case, there will be no sharp tightening for the time being.
First known case in Germany?
Man dies after second corona infection
Loser of the day ...
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Finnbogason when shot at the post
Photo: ANDREAS GEBERT / AFP
... is (unfortunately) Alfred Finnbogason.
For my taste, the Icelandic striker of FC Augsburg has the most casual name in German professional football.
Last night Finnbogason had the chance to become the hero of the game day.
In the party of his small Bavarian club against the overpowering Bavarian club, he could have equalized with a penalty shortly before the end.
But Finnbogasonn slammed the ball against the left post.
So he saved Bayern, after the cup failure against Kiel, from another disgrace in the last rather modest weeks.
The latest news from the night
Overwriting a bad memory:
Joe Biden's inauguration was more than just the opposite of the somber mass with which Donald Trump began his time as US President.
It was the proof of work of a democracy
Back to the future:
"We have no time to lose": With these words, Joe Biden began to erase the traces of his predecessor on his first day as US President.
Scenes from a new White House
"I thought I couldn't stand it":
Felicitas could never imagine
looking
after people in difficult situations.
Today she works in a family counseling center.
And is glad that she chose this profession
The SPIEGEL + recommendations for today
Current studies, experiences from other countries: How do you finally get the corona numbers down?
Ex-Agriculture Ministers Künast and Schmidt in a double interview: Do we have too many animals in the country?
NSU terror: Why the police murder of Heilbronn does not fit into the picture
Parents and siblings: How the family gives us support - and when to cut the cord
I wish you a good start to the day.
Your Markus Feldenkirchen
