Not only did the media misjudge the electorate, they also underestimated President Joe Biden.

[kpete]

“VOTERS ARE SMARTER THAN THE MEDIA”: THE PUNDIT CLASS MISJUDGED THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
The midterm results were a gut-punch to journalists predicting doom for Democrats. It again shows, says Ron Klain, how Joe Biden “has been underestimated as a candidate, as a president, and as a party leader.”

BY MOLLY JONG-FAST

NOVEMBER 14, 2022

..........

Look, I’ve been there myself. Almost three years ago, I wrote an op-ed for The Washington Post where I obnoxiously wrote, “Not to get too technical about it, but I would like to postulate that the Democratic front-runner should be, you know, in front.” Biden went on to win South Carolina, Florida, Illinois, and Arizona shortly after my piece ran. In the end, Biden won 2,687 delegates in the Democratic primary, crushing the rest of the field. Biden then went on to beat Trump 306 to 232 in the Electoral College (and by more than 7 million in the popular vote). Biden won critical swing states Arizona, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Georgia…

I asked White House chief of staff Ron Klain about this chronic case of underestimating Biden. Klain wrote, “He has been underestimated as a candidate, as a president, and as a party leader—and he has delivered historical results in all three roles. As a candidate, he beat the previously unvanquished Donald Trump; as a president, he delivered critical legislation with the narrowest of margins on Capitol Hill; and now, as party leader, he has achieved a midterm result unmatched since FDR’s time. He does it by laying out what he stands for, fighting hard to get it done, and speaking earnestly from the heart. He has kept together the progressive and moderate wings of the Democratic Party, built an administration that looks like the country, and pursued policies that inspire young voters, middle-aged voters, and older voters. President Biden is underestimated because his triumphs are the triumph of wisdom, decency, and determination: values underappreciated in today’s media and political culture.”…

https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2022/11/midterms-election-2022-media-pundits?mbid=social_twitter&utm_source=twitter&utm_social-type=owned&utm_brand=vf&utm_medium=social

[gab13by13]

1. The MSM didn't underestimate President Biden,

it was deliberate. The MSM is owned and managed by right wing domestic oligarchs, they control the narrative, that is a huge obstacle for Democrats.

[sop]

2. "The High Cost of Underestimating Joe Biden"

"In 2020, @JoeBiden was second guessed by many (me included). He wasn’t exciting. Too old school. Talked about healing. Talked about a clear agenda when the other side had little to offer but hate and good TV ratings. And he won decisively despite the skepticism of the 'smart money.'”

"For two years, he was derided for reaching out to the other side, for his compromises with the left or with the centrists in his own party, for not be exciting enough. He ignored the Beltway buzz. He did the dullest thing imaginable: he governed."

https://thedsrnetwork.com/the-high-cost-of-underestimating-joe-biden/

[Johnny2X2X]

3. Just wait

His best work will be these next 2 years.

No one in the White House has ever understood more about getting deals done with Congress that Joe Biden.

While we won't get the sweeping legislation we saw on climate and infrastructure in the first two years, we're going to get some good compromise deals. Only Biden can navigate these waters right now.

Immigration, Joe can get a deal on this. You'll see something get done that protects Dreamers and gives more money to the border.

We'll get budget compromises done, and maybe even something on voting rights.

[Phoenix61]

4. So much of this:

“President Biden is underestimated because his triumphs are the triumph of wisdom, decency, and determination: values underappreciated in today’s media and political culture.”

[LetMyPeopleVote]

5. President Biden's two speeches on democracy were amazing

President Joe Biden is amazing

Link to tweet

[karin_sj]

6. So glad he is our president

He is exactly who we needed during this unprecedented time in our history. There's no way his approval rating is as low as the media/pundits want us to believe. The exit give us a clue:

https://www.cnn.com/election/2022/exit-polls/national-results/house/0

[peggysue2]

7. This is the same 'pundit class' that (according to Will Bunch/Phila Inquirer) considers . . .

Discussion about democracy or the threats thereof . . . corny. The term 'patriotism' makes them squirm. Fighting for an idea, a way of life, etc. is cute, quaint, not really worth much.

This is the House that Cynicism Built, an empty, desolate House where inhabitants think the rest of us are only motivated by self-interest, what's in it for me. It's a mindset that can be easily mowed down by the power hungry, the nihilists who don't care what anyone thinks or believes as long as they get what they want--everything including what's left of your soul.

It's in that scenario, it's that very pundit class who would scream: But we had no warning, we never saw it coming.

Because they refused to see it. Willful blindness.

So, of course, they're dumbfounded by a man like Biden, a man steeped in faith and devotion to public service, someone who openly talks about saving the soul of America or equating democracy to a sacred trust linking every generation to the next through shared experience, sacrifice and trust in a better future, one that we can all share.

It's not a matter of smarts. It's a matter of opening your eyes and heart, of knowing what's important and what's not.

A great tutorial for the pundit class would be following the events in Ukraine, in the now, in the moment. Then tell Ukrainian soldiers and citizens alike that the idea of democracy is corny. Better yet, ask them what they think of President Biden or America itself.

I double dare you!

[Sneederbunk]

8. What else is new?