Biden Predicts BBQs For Independence Day
Remember when presidents used to be presidential? Yeah, so do I. It wasn't that long ago, after all. Tonight, President Joe Biden thankfully gave us a preview of what his next four years will be like -- calm, collected, truthful, and reassuring. And it was just what the doctor ordered, as far as I'm concerned.
Biden spoke on a momentous day. Not only did Biden sign his first big legislative achievement into law earlier in the day (his 50th or 51st day in office, depending on how you count), but it is also exactly one year since the previous president finally had to face the reality that we were in a national crisis. Back then, he begrudgingly declared an emergency, and then went right back to rampant denial over the seriousness of the disease, the likely scope of the problem, and what it would take to get us out of it. Not to put too fine a point on it, he lied to the American people, over and over again. Not only that, he actually mocked anyone with the temerity to disagree with him -- which included his own government scientists. This led to the United States becoming the poster child for the world for "how not to fight a pandemic." It led to the highest infection rates on the planet, and the highest death toll by far -- both per capita and in raw numbers. We have had more deaths than India and China, both of which have over one billion citizens. This record of failure simply did not need to happen, but it did because of the absolute vacuum of leadership from the White House.
That era, Joe Biden proclaimed in numerous subtle and not-so-subtle ways, is now over.
General impressions
Biden's speech was a short one, but it packed a lot in. Clocking in around 20 minutes, it meant he could deliver it and have all the television stations back to regular programming by the bottom of the hour. This was a relief, for those of us who always watch these things, because when most presidents pre-empt the television airwaves, they usually take a full hour (or the better part of one) to address the nation. Biden didn't have to, because he fit everything that was necessary to say into a very potent speech.
Biden had originally planned on signing the America Rescue Plan Act tomorrow, but apparently Congress (the House) acted faster than expected and the bill arrived on his desk earlier today. It is a mark of the difference between Biden and the previous megalomaniac to occupy the Oval Office that Biden did not hesitate to just immediately sign it -- even though it meant precluding a big signing ceremony. Biden just quietly signed the bill into law, which may mean people get their direct-deposit stimulus payments this weekend. Biden had also decided not to force the Treasury to include his name on the "memo" line of the check, as the previous narcissist insisted upon (which inevitably delayed sending the checks out). Nothing contrasts the selflessness of Biden versus the selfishness of the past four years as these examples, really.
Biden accomplished several things in this speech. He told people the truth as he saw it. He showed empathy for those who have suffered and died and grieved as a result of the worst pandemic in 100 years. He showed he understood what the past year has been like for parents and for everyone else to cope with.
And most importantly, he gave us all hope. He gave us a firm date -- May 1 -- when all adults will be eligible to be vaccinated. He gave us a second deadline -- the end of May -- when everyone who wants a shot will have been vaccinated. He gave us an aspirational target -- July 4 -- when life will have returned to enough normalcy that people will be able to enjoy Independence Day with family and friends once again. And he reminded everyone that the federal government is indeed good for something, since all those fat checks will be in the mail to everyone soon.
In a word, Biden demonstrated what his predecessor never could (and indeed never even really attempted) -- competence. And that was more than a relief, after the past grim pandemic year was filled with nothing short of buffoonery and gaslighting and egomania and outright lies.
The Speech
Biden spoke from the East Room (and not, as I had expected, the Oval Office). His speech was a study in cautious and very realistic optimism. Biden promised repeatedly that he would always tell the American people the truth, and although he never mentioned the man's name, he got in a few digs at how the previous president handled the crisis (or, more accurately, how he mishandled the crisis). One of Biden's lead paragraphs contained this stark reminder (standard disclaimer: most of the quotes used here were hastily jotted down and may not be word-for-word accurate):
A year ago we were hit with a virus that was met with silence, and spread unchecked -- denials for days, weeks, then months. That led to more deaths, more infections, more stress and more loneliness.
Much later, towards the very end, Biden pointed out that he, Vice President Kamala Harris, and their spouses all got very publicly vaccinated, without bothering to mention that the previous president pointedly did not do so. This is what a president is supposed to do -- set a good example. Biden reminded us all of that.
As a speech, it wasn't exactly great oratory. But then it really wasn't designed to be. It wasn't designed to be a historic speech for the ages, it was designed instead to speak bluntly and directly to the American people and offer them something that they haven't seen since this crisis began -- a leader who is calm, in control, and competent. Oratory can wait until later, when Biden delivers his first big speech to a joint session of Congress. Tonight had a different intent.
Biden began by showing empathy -- another presidential trait that has been conspicuous in its absence for the past year. Biden gave a shoutout to both frontline workers and scientists, which was sorely lacking until now. Biden showed us that he carries around with him an updated tally of the dead (which stood, according to him, at 527,726, although the real number is already higher). Biden talked about grief and grieving.
In the least-polished part of the speech, Biden then did a jarring and awkward segue into talking about losing a job. But once he got firmly on the subject of what we've all lost, he did better. He spoke of the schoolchildren who had lost a whole year (which, to a child, is a much bigger deal than it is to adults). He talked of all the normal family celebrations that we've all missed -- weddings and birthdays and the like -- and mourned for "all the things that needed to happen but didn't."
Biden then denounced the divisions that have appeared during the crisis. He finally said what most people have been saying for a very long time -- the political fight over wearing masks was not just monumentally stupid, but it has cost countless lives. Biden specifically denounced violence against Asian-Americans, which is a growing and truly evil problem.
He then spoke of the truth, and promised he would always tell us the truth. He talked of trusting the science and the scientists. He made a very basic case that government can be a force for good, and sometimes the only force for good possible to solve our problems. He gave as an example what a Philadelphia business owner told him: "I just want the truth." He then promised to always be honest with America -- which, again, could almost be seen as a backhanded slap against his honesty-challenged predecessor.
Biden then took a small victory lap, which he certainly deserves, even at this early date. He said he would put America "on a war footing to get the job done," which he immediately admitted "sounds like hyperbole, but it's not." He took credit for the ramp-up in vaccine production, including getting two rival drug corporations to work together to produce the same vaccine.
And then he started giving everyone some tangible goals to hope for. He promised that there would be enough vaccine for every adult to be eligible to sign up for a shot ("get in line") by the first of May -- months earlier than everyone expected, a short time ago. He further promised that by the end of May, everyone who wanted one would have gotten their shot.
These are major and aggressive goals to shoot for. It provides tangible end dates to the pandemic, or at least the worst phase of it. And they're tantalizingly close. They will give the public something to look forward to, and a reason to be just that one last bit patient in the homestretch, before they get their turn in the vaccine clinic.
Biden spoke of how many new vaccination sites had already been set up -- in pharmacies, in community health centers -- and he promised that this effort would continue to open new vaccine sites including pop-up and mobile clinics. He also promised particular attention to underserved and hard-hit communities, which will be the toughest to administer to.
Biden did a bit of a victory lap with the statistics -- 65 percent of people over age 65 have already been vaccinated, and 70 percent of those over 75. When Biden took office, the country was administering one million shots per day, but now we are up to two million per day. Biden reminded everyone that when he had initially promised 100 million shots delivered "into people's arms" in his first 100 days, it was considered a high bar to reach. Now, "we're not only going to meet this goal, we're going to beat this goal" -- by his 60th day in office, or only 10 days from now. Of course, this number isn't the same as "people vaccinated," since Biden promised (and is counting) individual shots, meaning without the new one-shot vaccine it would have meant only 50 million people fully vaccinated with both required shots. Even so, beating his set goal with 40 days left to go is pretty impressive, you've got to admit.
Biden also promised a website would also be up and running on the first of May, which will make it a lot easier for people wanting to get vaccinated to actually find out where they could get their shot. Biden also promised that reopening schools (especially elementary schools) was still one of his highest priorities. He ended this segment by making a plea which is only going to get louder and louder over the next three months or so -- "I need you to get vaccinated when it is your turn." At some point, the problem is not going to be not enough shots to go around but rather having too many shots sitting on the shelf and finding unvaccinated people to give them to. We're still weeks away from that point, but it will be the inevitable end to the vaccination phase. We've got to get enough of the public vaccinated to reach herd immunity, and at this point there is no guarantee we can do so -- meaning a public push to get everyone comfortable with getting vaccinated is going to be crucial.
Then Biden made a totally unexpected and incredibly welcome prediction -- that by Independence Day life would have returned to enough normalcy for everyone to have "backyard cookouts and barbeques" with their friends and family. Biden cautioned that even then large crowds would still likely be inadvisable; but even so, the promise of a picnic or backyard party for the Fourth of July is an incredibly strong motivational goal for just about everyone.
This normalcy is what we've all been missing. It is what we all truly want to look forward to once again. Up until now, people have timidly been hoping that we'd get to such a point by the end of the summer, but Biden moved that timeline up by a giant leap. Politically, this is absolutely brilliant (assuming we do actually reach this goal).
Biden then began wrapping up, promising once again "I'll tell you the truth," and reminding everyone to "listen to Dr. Fauci." He also begged everyone not to give up on the basic protective rituals we've all become accustomed to -- washing hands and wearing masks. He finished by calling for national unity: "Unity is what we do as fellow Americans."
Biden spent almost no time taking the usual political victory lap for the legislation he just signed (which he is likely to do in other venues over the coming days and weeks). He briefly reminded everyone of the $1,400 payments that are about to begin, and closed with another nod to everyone's pain and suffering. He ended as he began, by exhibiting authentic presidential empathy for what his people were going through. Which, again, was so refreshing because it has been absent for so long.
Conclusions
You've got to admit, that's a lot to pack into 20 minutes.
Biden was positive throughout, although sober and serious at the same time. He was both calm and truthful. He gave us concrete and tangible hope, but not unfounded fantasy or wild dreams. By promising we could all have small parties for Independence Day, he put a marker down for the real end of the worst ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic, in a way just about everyone can relate to -- and look eagerly look forward to.
He reminded me not of any recent modern president, but rather one who served before I was even born -- Dwight D. Eisenhower. An old guy who pretty much exudes competence and eschews drama.
Which is exactly what everyone voted for.
President Joe Biden tonight lived up to the promise his campaign essentially revolved around. He elevated being boring to an art form. And, at this particular point in time, I can think of no higher praise, really.
-- Chris Weigant
Follow Chris on Twitter: @ChrisWeigant
Probably should have warned everyone I was going to do a post-speech column today, sorry.
On the bright side, my wife got her first vaccine shot today... (I am still waiting, I don't qualify yet).
:-)
-CW
Even if every American is vaccinated by the end of May, America won't be out of the woods, nor will any country. Not until vaccination reaches 'herd immunity' levels in every country on the planet.
I guess I can't blame Biden for not mentioning this but, it did stand out as a glaring omission. Especially when he said that no country on earth is vaccinating its citizens as well as America is. Well, that's kind of the problem for America and its economy, in a nutshell.
No country will be safe and able to realize a full economic recovery until EVERY country is safe.
An exerpt from The Pandemic That Won't End (Foreign Affairs magazine, March 8, 2021) by MICHAEL T. OSTERHOLM, Regents Professor and Director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota.
"Millions of people in high-income countries may have already received vaccines, but many low- and middle-income countries have yet to issue a single dose.
"Such inequity is not merely unjust but hazardous. Vaccine nationalism—the understandable desire to tend to one’s own citizens first before worrying about others—won’t save wealthy countries if new variants of the disease prolong suffering and disruption elsewhere. Collective action to immunize the world from COVID-19 may sound idealistic, but it is a practical necessity.
"Neither the United States nor any other global power can defeat a pandemic by thinking in national terms. COVID-19 vaccines are now a central component of the United States’ national security and defense. But unlike other spheres of defense, this one involves protecting—not fighting—foreigners.
"As the poet John Donne noted centuries ago, “No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main.” Never has that been truer than during the current worldwide plague. If the bell continues to toll, it will be tolling for us all."
I get my 2nd Moderna inoculation today. I was eligible for my first dose in January, but my appointments were cancelled twice due to shortages. My HMO was not helpful. I went online and started calling pharmacies. It took about an hr, but I got a slot across town that afternoon.
BBQs are all well and good, but I want to get back in the gym.
I'd like to see health workers in ALL countries vaccinated.
And, the most vulnerable people in ALL countries, including those living in long term care facilities.
After all, the idea behind vaccination right now is to prevent death, not the sniffles.
Let me try to make the point a different way ...
How many of the ten thousand Americans who have lost their lives in the last 10 days or so were vaccinated?
Chris,
In the least-polished part of the speech, Biden then did a jarring and awkward segue into talking about losing a job.
The least polished? Awkward?
Well, maybe for people who haven't lost their jobs and who haven't had to make that long walk up the stairs to tell their kid that everything isn't alright and we're going to have to move.
I'll bet that part of the speech struck many Americans to their very core.
I mean, after all, those are the Americans to whom this speech was in large part directed, no?
Here in Florida, a friend of mine already got his first vaccination shot, because he is considered "high risk." He's 61 and in poor health, uses a wheelchair, etc. He will get his second shot in early April. I still don't qualify even though I am diabetic, as I am only 59. Which is funny, because in next door neighboring Georgia they just lowered the age to qualify to 50. Here in Florida the cut off age has been lowered to and still remains at 60. So I just miss the threshold for now.
AS for the stimulus check, I used my first one back in March or April or whenever it was to pay for a root canal to improve my health. Almost all of the first one went for that. The 600 dollar one went to pay bills. Where I work has cut down drastically on hours up until now. So, thankfully while I never lost my job and remained employed, I've had to dip into what little savings I've had just for day to day ordinary expenses to make up for diminished wages. So this next 1400 dollars, when it arrives, will mostly go to replenish my reserves for emergency contingencies. Like the recent 400 car repair bill that I had. Thankfully work seems to be picking up now again, so hopefully I can slowly crawl my way out of the debt that I have accumulated over the past several months.
If they could do just one more covid relief check after this one, that would completely lift me out of debt and really brighten my optimistic outlook.
So called "Free Money" is 1) not a hand out to the lazy and shiftless, (Such an attitude is both inherently bigoted against several categories of people AND biased in favor of the wealthy class.) but 2) a hand up to help the ordinary little workers who pay taxes and work hard, without the benefit of an army of lawyers, and accountants supporting them and economic laws skewed against them, and who have to struggle with circumstances or conditions not in their favor. (Without the safety net and security that extreme wealth provides. The toll on just mental health is enormous.) You don't lower public debt and make the economy boom by constant tax cuts for the rich. Tax cuts never pay for themselves and past a certain point, the law of diminishing returns takes over. You make an economy grow by providing a decent minimum income for the poor and middle class who drive consumer spending and consumption on a mass scale.
Anyway, I just thought I would share my perspective On how the covid situation and Biden's and Democrats response to it has affected me. Just to remind everyone, lest we forget or get lost in technical jargon in our discussions that we are talking about tangible real world circumstances and actual people's lives.
Indeed.
CW [1]
We're safe to presume the shot qualification must be good looks, right?
the gettysburg address lasted less than 3 minutes, and didn't initially get much of a reaction at all. but somehow that speech seemed to get the job done as well.
@crs [13],
obviously!
“I'm the greatest, I'm a bad man, and I'm pretty!” ? Muhammad Ali
CRS [13],
Heh.
I guess I can't blame Biden for not mentioning this but, it did stand out as a glaring omission.
What? Alleged Elizabeth Miller criticizing Joe Biden?
Where is the @realElizabethMiller and what's the ransome?
I always criticize him. You know, because my expectations for him are sky high, so to speak ...
He gave us an aspirational target -- July 4 -- when life will have returned to enough normalcy that people will be able to enjoy Independence Day with family and friends once again.
Only if everyone does what they're supposed to do Re. complying with the basic health protocols to reduce transmission. I wouldn't hold my breath on that one.
Biden used a phrase that I feel went unnoticed by most that I found incredibly important:
“ First, tonight, I'm announcing that I will direct all states, tribes and territories to make all adults, people 18 and over, eligible to be vaccinated no later than May 1.”
Maybe I am wrong, but I do not remember a President addressing our nation as a whole that truly addressed the whole nation like this! Inclusion of the territories and our tribal nations is such an incredible way of reminding those Americans that we are ALL ONE!
They are just as American as any of us (tribal members are arguably MORE American than the rest of us, but that is a discussion for another time) and I think hearing Biden including them will do wonders for those living in these places who feel forgotten in this pandemic!
Yes, that was a nice and classic Biden touch.
Of course, it might have had something to do with the recent great work of a delegate to the US House of Representatives from the US Virgin Islands, Stacey Plaskett.
John M [11]
Thank you for sharing that. I know that sometimes it is easy to think that because our suffering may not have been as bad as others have had to deal with, so we don’t acknowledge our own pain... which is not good for us to do. Keep pushing forward.
-Russ
Re [20], the president's more inclusive list of citizenries. Along with Elizabeth's note about the USVI delegate, it also suggests Biden's nomination of a Native American to the Cabinet raised his awareness of the tribes' special status.
I believe the awareness of the tribes' special status well pre-dates his ascent to the presidency.
And, when Biden talks about unity, he really means it!
[8] Elizabeth Miller wrote:
Let me try to make the point a different way ...
How many of the ten thousand Americans who have lost their lives in the last 10 days or so were vaccinated?
Dunno the answer (and too lazy to research it) but I've gotten the first Moderna Vax and I believe that I read that the Moderna vax testing resulted in
1- greatly reduced hospitalizations, and,
2- ZERO deaths.
BTW I appreciate it that you can be critical of Joe Biden. As a Loud and Proud Libtard I also hold him to a higher standard. Aws such I am greatly pleased at the political acumen that Joe has this far demonstrated -- woot!
I'm sorry that he lost Beau right before 2016 and therefore didn't run as Obama's logical successor. But I am really starting to believe that Joseph R. Biden is EXACTLY THE MAN FOR THIS MOMENT.
Signed-
Mancrush on Joe in Green Valley Lake, CA
Boy... I'm psyched for a FTP this evening!
And on behalf of 'Murica I'm sorry that the "States" was such a f*ckhead country for the last 4 years. Hillary was a dreadful candidate but that's no excuse for electing f*ckhead Trump.
I'm glad you got that off your chest!