From a local Democratic newsletter this morning:
After four years of failed ‘infrastructure weeks’ under Trump, President Biden delivered on his promise to work across the aisle and shepherd through a historic investment in our nation’s infrastructure.
President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal will rebuild our roads and bridges, expand broadband so every American has access to high-speed internet, and secure clean drinking water for our families and children. Because of Democrats, communities across the country will be healthier, better connected, and poised to help us continue leading on the world stage.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal is a once-in-a-generation investment that will create millions of jobs modernizing our infrastructure, turn the climate crisis into an opportunity, and put us on a path to win the economic competition for the 21st century.
That path to lowering costs to consumers had best be as short as Americans’ memories:
(CNN)”Inflation” and “infrastructure” usually excite only professors and policy wonks, but everyday Americans need to bone up.
Infrastructure is the major accomplishment that could save President Joe Biden’s presidency.
Inflation is the force majeure that could doom it.
A government report out Wednesday suggested inflation was at its highest since the early 1990s.
But anyone filling up the tank in their gas guzzler can talk about inflation — gas prices are creeping toward $4 per gallon. The national average price of gasoline rose to $3.42 a gallon on Monday, up from $2.11 a year ago, according to AAA.
The soft-spoken Biden had best flog his accomplishments for all their worth, as Trump did (lying), or else the public won’t cut him a break in 2022 and 2024.
What’s more, it seems a few Republicans want to pull a little “Third Way” on Democrats. Bill Clinton stole Republicans’ thunder in the 1990s by adopting some of their positions. Can Republicans do the same without pissing off El Jefe?
“Republicans — reshaped, controlled and defined by Donald Trump since 2015 — are slowly but surely charting a post-Trump ideology and platform,” reports Axios:
Now, Republicans are rallying around a plan to break up with corporate America and oppose Big Business, Big Tech, Big Media, Big Education — and big government:
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- Quit corporate America: A new breed of Republicans — led by Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, who last week called on the party to divorce Big Business — is championing the working class against the party’s traditional boardroom allies. Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) introduced a plan to “Bust Up Anti-Competitive Big Businesses.”
- Pound parental rights: Terry McAuliffe’s debate remark dissing parents allowed Virginia Republicans to mainstream an issue that was already burning up Fox News. The day after Glenn Youngkin’s victory, House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy said the party will soon unveil a “parent’s bill of rights.” Democrats are now playing defense on education — an issue they used to own.
- Terrorize tech: If Republicans win back the House and/or Senate majorities, curbs on Big Tech — including new taxes — will be a Day 1 priority. Cries of censorship — real or manufactured — are one of the surest GOP applause lines, milking the party’s cultural gulf with Silicon Valley. J.D. Vance, the “Hillbilly Elegy” author running for Senate in Ohio, is pushing to dismantle the “Big Tech Oligarchy.”
There’s more that is standard GOP fare. But after ignoring their own 2012 post-mortem, the party of business could be adjusting (slightly) to concerns beyond Trump’s grievances to chart a path forward. If so, “Republican candidates will try to smuggle these ideas to voters without offending the party leader.”