Leave Joe Biden Alone (not a hagiography but truthful and resonant)

[DemocratSinceBirth]

Biden’s been a good president, but Republicans want to impeach him and some Democrats want to replace him.

By Tom Nichols



A steady hand
Any evaluation of a president’s performance usually begins with a soul-baring about whether the writer voted for or against the incumbent. I voted for Joe Biden, and I like him.

I am not, however, a partisan Democrat, and I was never a member of the Democratic Party. (My parents were typical Depression-era, blue-collar Democrats turned post-1968 Republicans.) In college, I became a New England moderate-conservative Republican, but I worked for a centrist Democrat on Beacon Hill and for a moderate Republican, the late John Heinz, in the Senate. And so I always kind of liked Biden as someone to whom I could relate: a working-class centrist who spoke his mind, even when his thoughts were garbled or when he seemed comically full of himself.

The Joe Biden who ran in 2020 appeared wiser, sadder, somewhat deflated, and seemed to be taking on the presidency as a public service and a burden. Time and tragedy had tempered Biden, and I liked him even more than I did in his flashier, Jason Sudeikis–like youth. These days, I think he’s done a pretty good job, especially given the fact that he’s dealing with a pandemic, revelations about an attempted American coup d’état, and an economic slowdown over which he had no control.


Oh, and by the way: He’s also managed (so far) to head off World War III and a possible nuclear conflict. We seem to forget that this is Job One for every American president, but while we’re griping about the gas prices (over which Biden also has no control), the Russians are replaying the Eastern Front against 40 million Ukrainians and also threatening NATO. It’s been reassuring to have a steady hand in charge of our foreign policy.

So why can’t the president catch a break? The public blames him for almost everything, and his approval ratings are cratering. What’s going on here?

...


https://www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/archive/2022/06/leave-joe-biden-alone/661278/

[hlthe2b]

1. I thought Obama came in at an intensely challenging time. No match to what Biden has faced.

With the exception of FDR, I can't really imagine any other modern President facing worse.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

2. Joe Biden is not a good president.

He's a great president.

[maxsolomon]

3. Exactly, Tom Nichols.

You think any Repuke, even the Great Donald Fucking Trump, would do better? They'd be floundering.

Ukraine would be conquered under Mango Mussolini.

And Gas would still be $5/gallon.

[marti]

4. So True

Why aren't Democrats out cheer leading and on every channel? Instead, it seems they are wringing their hands in self defeatist behaviors like AOC's saying she might not support him in 2024= It's 2022 we're trying to win? Take some cues from the Repugs and stick together! Take the challenge for the county's sake!