'Everybody is frustrated,' Biden says as his agenda stalls

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By LISA MASCARO and ZEKE MILLER

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Saturday acknowledged frustrations as Democrats strain to rescue a scaled-back version of his $3.5 trillion government-overhaul plan and salvage a related public works bill after frantic negotiations failed to produce a deal.

“Everybody’s frustrated, it’s part of being in government, being frustrated,” Biden told reporters before leaving the White House for a weekend stay at his home in Wilmington, Delaware. He pledged to ”work like hell” to get the two pillars of his domestic agenda passed into law, but refrained from laying out a new deadline.

The president had gone to Capitol Hill on Friday for a private meeting with House Democrats that was partly a morale booster for the disjointed caucus of lawmakers. According to lawmakers in the room, he discussed a $1.9 trillion to $2 trillion-plus price tag for the larger package that would expand the country’s social safety net.

The White House and its allies in Congress are prepared for protracted negotiations. Biden said he would soon travel around the country to promote the legislation and he acknowledged concerns that the talk in Washington had become too focused on the trillions in new spending and taxes in the bill.



President Joe Biden walks over to speak with members of the press before boarding Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House, Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021, in Washington. Biden is spending the weekend at his home in Delaware. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)


Read more: https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-bills-congress-9438a78ba7c7865d75428e746d1de04d

[Baitball Blogger]

1. Biden needs hugs.

He has a tough row to hoe. I can't imagine where we would be now without Georgia.

[Turbineguy]

2. You know.....

If Biden gets up every morning, gets drunk and passes out for the rest of the day, and does fuck-all for 4 years, we are still better off than having trump.

[totodeinhere]

11. Actually I think Trump was more dangerous on the few occasions when he was sober.

When he gets drunk he just passes out. But when he's sober he does evil.

[stopdiggin]

14. probably meant as humor

but I think most people know DJT doesn't drink?

(Now junior is another matter - but he's generally only a danger to himself and any remaining tissue of good taste and public decency. Or, if by some misfortune and obvious mistake - he ends up behind the wheel of a car - or boat.)
----- --- --- ---------- --

[totodeinhere]

15. Drump doesn't drink just like Shrub doesn't drink?

Haha.

[stopdiggin]

17. so you're saying that it's simply not true?

There have been all kinds of hints and innuendo about Trump and consumption of other substances ... But the storyline on his avoidance of alcohol seems to be pretty consistent. And reason why you're sticking with your version?

[totodeinhere]

18. Maybe because he was the worst president we ever had and he almost destroyed this country?

n/t

[stopdiggin]

19. don't believe there was ever a question as to THAT

it was kind of the other where we kind of went off track.

[tavernier]

24. No, he doesn't drink.

Cocaine and adderall eliminate the problem of that telltale whiskey breath.

[Polybius]

25. I believe that Trump doesn't drink

Everyone that's ever been around him has said that they never seen him drinking at any party over all these decades. You can be nuts and sober.

[OneCrazyDiamond]

3. We need to focus on the benefits these bills will bring.

The price is meaningless when the value of a currency can be expanded to meet our needs. The returns from the investment will dwarf the cost anyway.

[stopdiggin]

20. let's remember that certain people are real big on 'paying'

for things - when the opposition is in the WH. Their guy? (maniacal laughter)

[HUAJIAO]

4. It's REPUBLICANS who are fucking up everything, not a few Democrats.

[bluewater]

8. No, its Republicans AND a few democrats who are fucking everything up.

But maybe we can get those few Democrats to get on board with the rest of our Democratic party.

[Crowman2009]

5. We've got three obstables; and their names are McConnell, Sinema & Manchin!

Also, screw all of you Manchin apologists! Wouldn't be surprised if you're paid bots by his office. Was it great when he voted for Kavanaugh as well?

All we can do now is vote out these damn GOPers and primary these backstabbing so-called moderates out of office. That includes these two senators and the 10 Reps.

[Roc2020]

6. I Love This Man!!!!

Joe Biden. President of the United States....weeeeeeeeee!!!!!

[Fiendish Thingy]

7. Media cherry picks quotes in struggle to define complex infrastructure narrative

The MSM always seems to be laying to the dumbest people in the room.

Just one more BS “Dems in disarray” story, when the opposite is true - Biden’s agenda has gained a sudden surge of optimistic momentum on The Hill, and I have no doubt we will see both bills pass in due time.

The question is, will the media describe the bills’ passage as the significant success it will be, or will they tear it down as a watered down failure of Biden’s agenda?

[Tommymac]

9. The Media is the Enemy of progress too.

The information is always there, but usually buried beneath partisan, anti-progressive spin.

This article is a prime example.

[Mr. Ected]

10. I don't wanna be like them, but...

...it's very seldom that a Republican president can't ramrod his agenda through a GOP-friendly Congress. It seems that whenever we take control of the Oval Office (Bill Clinton, Barack Obama) we end up self-destructing in Congress and lose the edge we were handed in the general.

Dems are free thinkers and not apt to walk in lockstep, and I like that to a certain extent, but when the other side is not only unified but aggressively attempting to subvert the majority, our petty bickering on the fringes is not only an impediment to Joe, but frankly an error of potentially existential proportions.

[totodeinhere]

13. That's not always true.

Remember that thanks to John McCain Trump failed in his effort to see the Affordable Care Act repealed. And thank God for that.

[totodeinhere]

12. I think that President Biden is correct.

This is taking longer than we wanted but it will get done. They might have to slash it to about two trillion but even at that rate it would be the most comprehensive progressive legislation enacted since LBJ's Great Society. I personally do not favor slashing it one penny but we will do what we have to so to get this legislation enacted in the best form possible.

[jmbar2]

16. I don't like the framing as "stalled agenda"

His proposals are our generation's New Deal and the moon mission combined. It is a huge undertaking and they are rolling it out in record time.

He's not "stalled". He is navigating through difficult shoals. I think he will get there, no matter how long it takes.

Change the frame!

[monkeyman1]

21. In the military, people like republican's where called dead weight !

time to scrap that dead weight ! republican's are a waste of good money !

[Hekate]

22. "Fails"?

[Historic NY]

23. Taking a plane ride to Az and WV and fight for his plan with the people

would help instead of going to Capitol Hill. The LBJ make then uncomfortable tour.