What a Trump Administration won't look like

What took a year-and-a-half to weed out is now settled. Donald J. Trump will be the next President of the United States. His election sent shockwaves through the media, pollsters and pundits alike, who didn't see it coming, many of whom couldn't look beyond their own biases to recognize the handwriting on the wall. Nonetheless, change has come. But what will it look like?

Many are convinced Trump is a danger. I suppose that's why some colleges and universities find themselves coddling students with canceled exams, comfort foods and therapy dogs -- yes, I'm serious! -- since Election Day left them swimming in a pool of tears.

Enter Oprah Winfrey, who told Entertainment Tonight that everyone can "take a deep breath" because after seeing President-elect Trump and President Barack Obama's meeting at the White House, she knows "#HopeLives." My thought was, "Man, Oprah! What did you actually think Trump would do that kept you holding your breath and expecting the worst?"

Oprah's comment unleashed hateful tweets from Hollywood elites, who said, basically, "How dare you?" Actually, what they said was harsher. Take a look. (Excuse the language; it's not mine.)

Comedian Patton Oswalt tweeted, "Oprah what the f***? This is not one of my favorite things."

Comedian John Early posted, "DON'T YOU DARE OPRAH."

"WaitÂ…Oprah is on that normalization s*** too? I'm disgusted," wrote Andre Cole, the writer, producer, director, blah-blah-blah-er.

Actress Heather Matarazzo tweeted, "Oprah, you can take a deep breath and hold it while the rest of us literally fight for our lives right now."

You get the picture.

The Twitter rants demonstrate that these people believe Oprah, who endorsed Hillary Clinton, should reject the peaceful transfer of power they were so concerned Trump would reject. They feel betrayed that she is embracing hope while they "literally fight for [their] lives." The English teacher in me was at first compelled to correct Ms. Matarazzo's assertion that they were "literally" fighting, but then I remembered the domestic terrorists who are -- literally -- beating people up who voted for Trump. I wish it were only figurative.

I asked previously what this Trump change will look like. Perhaps a better discussion would be what it "will not" look like.

It won't look like the danger folks have been duped into expecting. First of all, Trump is no ideologue. In fact, the No. 1 complaint Never-Trumpers on the right have leveled against him is his flip-flopping tendencies. They don't know, therefore, what he really stands for. They also say he's not a true conservative and won't listen to sage advice. The left, meanwhile, complains Trump will function counter to what they value. He'll round up, deport, and -- I don't know -- take away their birth control or something.

Here's what I predict: Folks on the left will discover their fears are wasted energy. Trump is more pragmatic than dogmatic. Some label this unprincipled. Whatever you call him, he's not extreme, and he will not govern as an extremist. Already, he's rethinking some of his promises, including the full repeal-and-replace of Obamacare and even a full border wall. Call it flip-flopping if you must. See, the flaw for which people criticize him most will be what the left admires about him most. But Trump will be open-minded and flexible, and yes, flip-floppery-prone -- which may actually be the same as Â… well, open-minded and flexible. This tack will tick off those on the right who thought he was actually going to do everything he said he would do.

But there's good news for Republicans who deemed him too hot-headed to listen to wise counsel. He will listen. Exhibit A: his selection of RNC chair Reince Priebus as his chief of staff. There's certainly no rebel in Priebus, nor does he conjure up images of right-wing extremism.

Do I believe Trump will "drain the swamp" and expose corruption? Yes. Do I believe he will focus on securing the border? Absolutely. Do I believe he will make wise Supreme Court nominations? I do. I believe Donald Trump will be what he's always been -- both an equal opportunity offender and an indiscriminate transformational motivator -- a rare occurrence in D.C.

Granted, the full-throttled, no-compromise, anti-establishment faction of the Republican party may not be pleased. Let's face it, though: There's no pleasing them anyway. But common sense conservatives can join even-keeled Democrats -- and Oprah Winfrey -- and take a deep breath, for Mr. Trump didn't become the business success he is by being the caricature the media created. No matter what a Trump administration looks like, it will not look anything like that.

Let's continue to pray for the nation and our next president, and it will be fine. Now, if someone would just cue the rioters, who look a lot like the danger they accuse Trump of beingÂ…

Adrienne Ross is an author, speaker, columnist, editor, educator and Southeast Missourian editorial board member. Reach her at aross@semissourian.com.