The passage of the infrastructure package is good news not just for Joe Biden, but for the United States.
For many years no one has denied that the country urgently needs to invest in its transport, energy and data networks.
Precisely for this reason it is of course difficult to join the presidential jubilation over the success.
Isn't it a given that some Republicans helped over the hurdle a spending program they themselves have long called for?
Many of them now have to justify themselves in their own camp: To grant the Democratic President a success is considered treason by supporters of Donald Trump.
The way is as important as the destination
Biden also had to facilitate this package by many projects that were close to his Democrats' hearts - from higher corporate taxes to large investments in elderly care. He didn't complain about that much. The way seems to be as important to him as the result. Biden wants to show the Americans that he (and only he!) Is still able to forge old-school compromises. Certainly he would have nothing against going down in history with major social programs as the revenant of a Franklin D. Roosevelt who is preparing America for the 21st century. He would be at least as happy to be the old, wise president who made Washington functional again.
The heart of his agenda, the much more expensive social and climate protection program even after painful cuts, can at best be crammed past the Republicans through Congress.
To do this, he has to tame the centrifugal forces in his own party.
But the more Biden boasts of his Republican ties, the harder it will be for him.
Over the weekend, the president said there are “extremes at both ends” of the political spectrum that make any solution difficult.
That's true, but was careless.
Because the left Democrats will not allow themselves to be lumped together with the Trumpists with impunity.