Robert Reich: Don't expect Biden to trumpet lofty aims for his rescue plans - he's simply Mr Fix-it

[DonViejo]

Under Trump, every week was infrastructure week but nothing got done. His successor is avoiding the big sell. It’s smart politics

Sun 4 Apr 2021 01.00 EDT

Joe Biden is embarking on the biggest government initiative in more than a half-century, “unlike anything we have seen or done since we built the interstate highway system and the space race decades go”, he says. But when it comes to details, it sounds as boring as fixing the plumbing.

“Under the American Jobs Plan, 100% of our nation’s lead pipes and service lines will be replaced – so every child in America can turn on the faucet or fountain and drink clean water,” the president tweeted.

Can you imagine Donald Trump tweeting about repairing lead pipes?

Biden is excited about rebuilding America’s “infrastructure”, a word he uses constantly although it could be the dullest term in all of public policy.

more
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/apr/04/joe-biden-trump-infrastructure-rescue-plans

[XanaDUer2]

1. Control the messaging. Biden knows

thank God he's President

[Wounded Bear]

2. Pres Biden has plenty of people to go out and tout the plan...

and in the places that matter, in Congress working to mold the legislation and out in the country talking to people at large.

Mr President will have plenty of time to speak on the issue, he'll get lots of questions.

He's got this.

[Poiuyt]

3. Personally, I think Biden should toot his own horn

His plan is what America needs and wants. He should want Americans to recognize that he was responsible for it. There's nothing wrong with good PR.

That said, I would never want him to resort to Trump-like tactics to draw attention to himself.

[Irish_Dem]

6. It is tricky, he has to sell his plan, but not self-aggrandize.

He cannot do self congratulations, he has to let others do it.
And do it more after the bill passes.

Joe's team has been extraordinary disciplined and skilled.
I stopped second guessing them when I saw them in action over and over.

[Poiuyt]

8. You're absolutely right

What he should do is tout the benefits of the program and explain how it will help ALL of America. He shouldn't say, "I did this," he should say, "This is how it will help YOU."

[Irish_Dem]

9. Yes that should be the message!

[aocommunalpunch]

4. Spot on.

Get the job done and make DEMOCRATS popular.

[Hortensis]

5. "estimated 6-10M homes receive drinking water through lead pipes and service lines"

From whitehouse.gov 's American Jobs Act statement:

According to the CDC, there is no safe level of lead exposure for children. Lead can slow development and cause learning, behavior, and hearing problems in children, as well as lasting kidney and brain damage.

President Biden believes that no American family should still be receiving drinking water through lead pipes and service lines. To eliminate all lead pipes and service lines in the country, he is calling on Congress to invest $45 billion in the Environmental Protection Agency’s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund and in Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act (WIIN) grants. In addition to reducing lead exposure in homes, this investment also will reduce lead exposure in 400,000 schools and childcare facilities.

A link's been drawn between lead exposure and mental problems, even criminal activity, as adults. I'm wondering about one between lead exposure and vulnerability to the mind-fucking that's turned so many into dangerous loons.

[Irish_Dem]

7. Could explain lack of simple reasoning skills and aggressive behavior.