NYC's Bill de Blasio and Boston's Martin Walsh were both sworn in as mayors during the first week of the new year. Though inauguration speeches are more often lofty rhetoric than anything, I can't help but be struck by the contrast of de Blasio and Walsh's speeches, on one hand, and the "speech" that Don Cherry gave at/for RoFo's.
De Blasio:
"So let me be clear. When I said we would take dead aim at the Tale of Two Cities, I meant it. And we will do it. [...] We will succeed as One City. [...] It will be accomplished by all of us — those of us here today, and millions of everyday New Yorkers in every corner of our city. [...] A city that fights injustice and inequality — not just because it honors our values, but because it strengthens our people. A city of five boroughs — all created equal. Black, white, Latino, Asian, gay, straight, old, young, rich, middle class, and poor. A city that remembers our responsibility to each other — our common cause — is to leave no New Yorker behind."
Walsh:
"So when I say we are sworn in together, it means we're in this together. We are in this together – every neighborhood [...] every race and religion [...] every man, woman and child. For our seniors and our students, for rich and poor, and everyone in between. [...] We will protect and grow our sense of community. For it is Boston's greatest source of strength. And we will ensure equality for all: No matter your age, race, religion, sexual orientation. No matter what. Together, we can create ONE Boston."
Ford/Cherry:
"Actually I'm wearing pink for all the pinkos out there that ride bicycles and everything. [...] [T]hese left-wing pinkos. They scrape the bottom of the barrel. [...] Rob's honest. He's truthful. [...] What you see is what you get. He's no phony. And I could go on right now, all the millions and millions and thousands of dollars he's gonna save and everything [...] I say he's gonna be the greatest mayor this city has ever, ever seen, as far as I'm concerned! And put that in your pipe, you left-wing kooks."