A Surreal Joint Address to Congress – “The Sunday Political Brunch” – May 2, 2021
Mark Curtis, MINDSETTER™
A Surreal Joint Address to Congress – “The Sunday Political Brunch” – May 2, 2021
“The Setting” – The House Chamber looked barren and empty. It was a “Ghost Town!” Because of social distancing and masks, there was only a smattering of lawmakers on the floor, while others sat in the traditional public galleries. There were no episodes of rousing applause echoing in the chamber. From an aesthetic standpoint, it hit a dull thud. That doesn’t necessarily mean it diminished the messages, but it certainly set them in muted tones.
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“The Tone” – I have to say, I’ve always admired Biden’s sunny optimism. I may not agree with his politics, but I like the fact that he’s always hopeful for better days ahead. He opened by saying, “Madame Vice President. No President has ever said those words from this podium and it’s about time!” Had the House been in full attendance, the applause would have been thunderous.
“Keep Hope Alive!” – Two of the most optimistic people I’ve ever covered were President Ronald Reagan and civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson. Despite all our problems, they always felt better days were coming, though they approached it from opposite ends of the political spectrum. “Tonight, I come to talk about crisis and opportunity… Tonight I can report to the nation, that after 100 days, America is on the move again… In America, we never stay down. We always get up. That’s what we are doing again… There’s no quit in America. None!” President Biden said. It was like hearing Ronald Reagan speaking from the grave. People want hope. We don’t want to hear negativity and failure. Presidents Carter and Trump learned that.
“Who Gets the Credit?” – With a 50-50 split in the U.S. Senate, President Biden has been pleading for bipartisanship on many issues. He knows Democrats can’t do it alone. Yet, he tries to claim all the credit for where we are now. “Our progress these past 100 days against one of the worst pandemics in history is one of the greatest logistical achievements our country has ever seen. What else have we done these first 100 days? We kept our commitment, and we are sending $1,400 rescue checks to 85% of all-American households. We've already sent more than 160 million checks out the door.” But why not acknowledge his predecessor, President Trump, for getting the first $1,200 stimulus checks out and another round at $600, plus the first vaccines? This country needs unity, not one-upmanship. It could help Biden’s agenda in Congress if he extended a bipartisan olive branch.
“The Republican Response” – I’ve been complaining about this for years. In a State of the Union Address, you have all the majesty and trappings of the Capitol. The minority party response to the State of the Union (or any other presidential address), is a joke, no matter which party it is. It’s usually delivered in some dank hallway, by a monotone member of Congress. It’s dull and stilted. That’s not to say their message is wrong, it’s just that it’s an uneven playing field.
“Senator Tim Scott” – The South Carolina Republican is one of only two African Americans in the U.S. Senate. He was picked to give the GOP response. Regardless of its content, he was at a decided disadvantage. He’s out in some ambiguous hallway or room in the Capitol, with no audience or applause. Even with the small, muted crowd in the House, it was still more advantageous to President Biden and his Congressional majorities. The sound of one hand clapping is still more powerful than no one clapping!
“Where the GOP Stands” – Senator Scott defended what was done under Trump. "Last year, under Republican leadership, we passed five bipartisan COVID packages. Congress supported our hospitals, saved our economy, and funded Operation Warp Speed, delivering vaccines in record time.” Scott believes Biden has not done a better job. "COVID brought Congress together five times. This Administration pushed us apart. They spent almost $2 trillion on a partisan bill that the White House bragged was the most liberal bill in American history! Only 1% went to vaccinations. No requirement to re-open schools promptly,” Scott said.
“Infrastructure Bill” – The place where the two parties can’t be further apart is on the Infrastructure Bills. The President wants to spend $2.3 trillion dollars, the Republicans want to spend $568 million. Senator Scott says, "Less than 6% of the President's plan goes to roads and bridges. It's a liberal wish-list of Big Government waste... plus the biggest job-killing tax hikes in a generation. Experts say, when all is said and done, it would lower Americans' wages and shrink our economy.” Watch how all the Infrastructure Bills move through Congress. It will be telling for campaign 2022.
“Meeting in the Middle” – I predict a compromise between the two bills. Watch for a $1.1 trillion dollar spending plan to emerge with most of the emphasis on traditional infrastructure projects. The president gets half of what he wanted, and the Republicans can double-down on their initial offer. That’s a legitimate compromise. And it allows both sides to campaign in 2022, and say, “Look what we accomplished!”
How do you feel the Biden administration is doing handling COVID-19? Just weigh in by leaving a comment below.
