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We're from the government, and we'd like to fix your damn bridges and potholes.
The Presidency is about more than concrete constitutional powers. It's about setting the tone. Moving the Overton window.
One weird (bad) thing about the Obama era is that they failed to make the case adequately that there are some nice things that are the government's job to provide. I mean, it's one thing to argue that we can't afford them (wrong, but ok), or that the Republicans won't let them happen (true), but there are some nice things which really won't exist absent the government making them happen. The bully pulpit might not pass legislation or even win elections, but it might be able to help reverse a bit of the Reagan legacy. We're from the government, and we'd like to fix your damn bridges and potholes.
http://www.eschatonblog.com/2016/01/nice-things.html
http://www.eschatonblog.com/2016/01/nice-things.html