1. This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Learn More.
  2. We've had very few donations over the year. I'm going to be short soon as some personal things are keeping me from putting up the money. If you have something small to contribute it's greatly appreciated. Please put your screen name as well so that I can give you credit. Click here: Donations
    Dismiss Notice

Politics Biden - How’s he doing?

Discussion in 'Tilted Philosophy, Politics, and Economics' started by rogue49, Jan 16, 2021.

  1. redux

    redux Very Tilted

    Location:
    Foggy Bottom
    The Pew Research Center released its 2021 Global Attitude Survey today that highlights public opinion of the United States and the US president from citizens in 16 countries around the world.


    America’s Image Abroad Rebounds With Transition From Trump to Biden

    Most notably...

    [​IMG]

    (more striking graphics in the report linked above)
     
    • Informative Informative x 2
    • Like Like x 1
    • Lovely Lovely x 1
  2. Chris Noyb

    Chris Noyb Get in, buckle up, hang on, & be quiet.

    Location:
    Large City, TX

    Good gawd, serious info overload. Now I remember why some of my Political Science classes were total yawners.

    Seriously, that's good news. Now Democrats and Biden need to turn that into voter support here in the US.
     
    • Like Like x 1
    • Agree Agree x 1
  3. rogue49

    rogue49 Tech Kung Fu Artist Staff Member

    Location:
    Baltimore/DC
    Last edited: Jun 12, 2021
    • Like Like x 1
  4. rogue49

    rogue49 Tech Kung Fu Artist Staff Member

    Location:
    Baltimore/DC
    • Agree Agree x 2
  5. ASU2003

    ASU2003 Very Tilted

    Location:
    Where ever I roam
    Biden did seem to pull off the summit and Putin meeting effectively.

    But one thing that Biden messes up is the small stuff. Why didn't he call on a Russian journalist during his press event? Why did he need two huge flags next to him during the press conference? Is there a plan for a future meeting? Did he find out what assets Russia would consider off-limits to cyber attacks from Americans?
     
  6. Chris Noyb

    Chris Noyb Get in, buckle up, hang on, & be quiet.

    Location:
    Large City, TX
    Some of the news media has me puzzled.

    Why, exactly, were they expecting Biden to leave the summit with Putin's head on a stake (so to speak)?

    What, exactly, was Biden supposed to do to Putin/Russia?
     
    • Like Like x 2
  7. rogue49

    rogue49 Tech Kung Fu Artist Staff Member

    Location:
    Baltimore/DC
    Because they make everything a horse race
     
    • Agree Agree x 2
  8. Chris Noyb

    Chris Noyb Get in, buckle up, hang on, & be quiet.

    Location:
    Large City, TX
    My post made me think:

    What would Lt. Frank Drebin do?
     
  9. rogue49

    rogue49 Tech Kung Fu Artist Staff Member

    Location:
    Baltimore/DC
    U.S. Preparing More Sanctions Against Russia, Sullivan Says

    Suuure, we're doing it for Nalvalny :rolleyes:
    More likely we're doing to punish Russia for all the cyber attacks and political manipulations.
    But this allows Biden and the US to do it for noble reasons. (and do a bit of reverse propaganda against Russia)

    Forget about the reason given, I wonder if this will get results. Frankly, I think not, it's just an opening salvo.
    Russia has gotten too many hits to give up so easily.
    Basically, we're in another cold war.
    --- Double Post Merged, Jul 8, 2021, Original Post Date: Jun 20, 2021 ---
    Biden to issue executive order to curtail noncompete clauses

    Now this will be a nice boost to citizen rights and flexibility. (and life choices)

    right now, companies basically have the cards stacked in their favor. (at-will laws, union busting, arbitration, etc)

    We need to balance this out.
    --- Double Post Merged, Jul 14, 2021 ---
    Biden chides Republicans on voting laws: ‘Have you no shame?’

    If he can pull this voting rights coalition off....and Infrastructure,
    then he'll will have provided a great service to America beyond his time.
     
    • Like Like x 3
  10. redux

    redux Very Tilted

    Location:
    Foggy Bottom
    Big win for Biden AND the American people (public support for the bill was in the 65%+ range in latest polls) on the Senate passage of the bi- partisan infrastructure bill, the 'Invest in America Act' with support from 19 Senate Republicans yesterday.

    Captured here with a comparison to Trump's many promises on infrastructure...


    View: https://twitter.com/MeidasTouch/status/1425262786813194240


    The House will likely vote on this bill sometime in September and despite the unhappiness among the House progressives with Biden's giveaways (from his $2+ trillion original plan) in his compromise to get bi-partisan support, it will pass the House.

    Up next, Senate is expected to vote on the $3.5 trillion budget resolution (non-binding) before adjourning for their summer recess, with only a simple majority needed. This will lead to the "budget reconciliation bill" sometime in late Sept/early Oct for Biden's 'American Families Plan.'

    Fact Sheet: The American Families Plan

    This has already seen modification in what a final Senate bill will include in order to meet the "budget reconciliation" requirements. Sanders will lead the Senate effort and balance the education/health/family support programs with some added "green" initiatives (that were dropped in the compromise on the infrastructure bill).

    And then probably more revision as the Democrat progressives and moderates in the House get their turn at it sometime in October, if all goes well.

    This will be a slog over the next few months that will hopefully result in a Biden three for three sweep of highly popular plans for the American people - American Rescue Plan (stimulus), American Jobs Plan (infrastructure) and the biggest and boldest American Families Plan.
     
    • Like Like x 1
    • Informative Informative x 1
  11. ASU2003

    ASU2003 Very Tilted

    Location:
    Where ever I roam
    It will be interesting to see how this political strategy works 15 months from now. Plus let's see how the budget and voting rights bills go too. Police reform and immigration need to be addressed too.

    It all could come crashing down if Covid spreads wildly once schools start back up without restrictions though. Biden/The Democrats should try and use the money from the Afghanistan war ending and find some other extra costs that could be cut, along with pushing for more economic activity to bring in more taxes. But if the monetary policies aren't good this time next year, there might be some problems too.

    But I still think that some fringe culture war issue will make more impact on the next election than money and jobs.
     
    • Like Like x 1
  12. rogue49

    rogue49 Tech Kung Fu Artist Staff Member

    Location:
    Baltimore/DC
    Well, going beyond funding from closing down Afghanistan involvement….

    He could finally get the DOD to complete an audit.
    They are the only department to have not done it.

    He could easily encourage a 25% reduction of funding for the DOD…and STILL have all the military agendas and readiness covered and then some.

    Heck, he could easily EO stoppage on all contracts that aren’t fulfilling their goals and targets.
    The govt pays for equipment and missions that have completely failed.

    There’s so much that could be redirected it’s ridiculous.

    * FYI, I’m big on defense and the military too.
    (then again, so was Eisenhower, to say the least…)

    Waste and inefficiency is a security risk in itself.
    --- Double Post Merged, Aug 12, 2021, Original Post Date: Aug 11, 2021 ---
    =================================

    https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/08/11/biden-defies-expectations-again/

    Exactly!!

    This is NOT a horse-race.
    This is NOT an either/or thing.

    It's Real Life
    And he's doing what ALL politicians and leaders should do...judge the situation, make a choice, get what you can...make something happen.
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
  13. rogue49

    rogue49 Tech Kung Fu Artist Staff Member

    Location:
    Baltimore/DC

    View: https://twitter.com/ananavarro/status/1426677586600546306?s=21


    Yep :cool:

    I’m a GDI, but I’d rather have sanity, stability, competency and a mindset to focus on ALL citizens.

    Policy & philosophy be damned.

    The big companies are doing fine, small business needs help after the pandemic.

    And cost savings and funding is relative.
    They all just pick whatever they want anyway.
    And the rest just put their hands in the pie.
    Party is irrelevant.

    I hope we keep the momentum going.
    There’s going to be a lot of cleanup after the damage.
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
  14. KirStang

    KirStang Something Patriotic.

    Pretty fucking disastrous. But the Media provides political cover while Afghanistan falls. COVID 19 cases are back on a massive upswing but no body is covering that. We have highest inflation in about a dozen years. Violent crime is the highest it's been in about a decade. I'm sure the copium will be strong on this forum but Biden is NOT doing a good job.
     
    • Like Like x 1
  15. redux

    redux Very Tilted

    Location:
    Foggy Bottom
    The Afghanistan clusterfuck was certainly a failure for Biden, but in broader terms, marks the end of a 20 year failure by four presidents at a cost of $2+ trillion, 2,500+ US military deaths, 20,000+ US military wounded, 50,000 Afghan civilian deaths. There is/was overwhelming public support o get the hell out of Afghanistan. I am certainly among those.

    Biden made the decision to implement the bilateral agreement that Trump signed with the Taliban in Feb 2020 (a terrible agreement, imo). There was little alternative, particularly after Trump reduced the total US troop level in Afghanistan from 15,000 to 2,500 between Oct 2019 and Jan 2021. The failure was in the belief by Biden and his national security team that the 300,000 well equipped superior force Afghan military, after years of US training, could hold much of the country , and that force crumbled at every level and every region of the country.

    It was on his watch, so ultimately, the buck stops with Biden and he has to own the failure (and not blame Trump and/or the failed Afghan government and military).

    On the economy, nearly every economic indicator, other than inflation, is very positive.

    More than 4 million jobs added since Biden took office or a recovery in six months of nearly half of those jobs lost by Trump during the pandemic. The GDP grew 6.5 percent in the second quarter (April - June) and most forecasts are in the range of 6.0 percent annual growth for 2021. Markets are at record high and consumer confidence is holding relative steady

    The Fed Chairman commented last week that the expectation is to see little in the way of a significant adverse economic impact as a result of the new COVID surge. I dont know that I agree with that but the Fed will continue to focus its monetary policy with an eye on controlling inflation.

    IMO. all of that is still dependent on the response to the latest COVID surge. While it is occurring in every state, nearly 40% is concentrated in Florida, Texas and a few other Republican (mostly southern ) states, all with the lowest vaccine rates and where the governors are prohibiting local governments from implementing public health preventive measures (masks in schools, etc.). There is little that Biden can do at the federal level in the way of public mandates that would be legal and enforceable.

    And finally, on crime, 2020 (Trump's last year) saw a marginal increase in violent crime that has continued in the first half of 2021. While it makes headlines, the increase is not widespread across the country but concentrated in a relatively small number of urban areas. It appears that Congressional Republicans will not support a crime bill that passed the House earlier this year that address some of the issues and has widespread public approval.

    On the positive side, Biden's $1.2 trillion infrastructure program that passed the Senate and the $3+ trillion 'American Families Program' (education/health care /green programs) that Democrats hope to adopt by "budget reconciliation" later this year both have widespread public support (in the 60% range) and would be significant achievements for Biden in public perception.

    It is certainly fair to say Biden's honeymoon is over (per the decline in public approval in the last month) but no where near being underwater (higher negative approval than positive) so that the public does not necessarily agree with you that Biden is "NOT doing a good job" given his overall job approval, approval on economic issues and approval on COVID response.

    Again, July and August have not been good months for Biden and that may change in either direction in the coming months.
     
    Last edited: Aug 16, 2021
    • Agree Agree x 3
    • Like Like x 1
  16. redravin

    redravin Cynical Optimist Donor

    Location:
    North
    I have to give Biden points for doing a Harry Truman and saying the decision was all his.
    He could have kept it going until the next president came along and handed it off to them.
    Hell, that president could probably just do the same.
    The military industrial complex would love that shit.
    No super power has ever been able to hold Afghanistan.
    Not Russia, not Great Britain, not the Sikhs, not the Persians, or Alexander the Great.
    Except for the War Against the First Nations, this is the longest military operation the United States has been involved with.
    WTF made us think we would be different?
     
    • Like Like x 3
  17. rogue49

    rogue49 Tech Kung Fu Artist Staff Member

    Location:
    Baltimore/DC
    Intelligence Warned of Afghan Military Collapse, Despite Biden’s Assurances

    We knew it was coming. He knew that it was coming. All knew it.
    So basically, any optimism and positive spin was CYA and a face saving effort.
    Biden had to abide (no pun) by T's terrible terms set long ago.

    What they screwed up on, was the Pentagon presumed they would hold with Afghan military longer...also did their own face saving to say all was fine.
    Then the Federal bureaucracy didn't gear up well to allow so many refugees and US assistance Afghans in to the US. They were overwhelmed, and no politician allowed a waver until too late.

    We were just the latest nation to go down in the black hole of Afghanistan.
    HOWEVER, the original true mission of stabilizing the region enough so Pakistan (a nuclear power) could stabilize itself DID work. (lower worries and tensions of it losing control of its nukes).

    The US has never been, for the most part, in the mindset or habit of nation-building or colonialism...usually withdraws after a time. (The US fails as often as not, when attempting to do so - costing TONS)
    So NOW China, India, Russia, etc...all have to worry about Afghanistan being stable (even if Taliban ruled)
    The next door neighbors would be the first targets of any negative action (terrorist, nukes or otherwise)
    And despite the lambasting the US and enjoying some Schadenfreude...it's THEY who are now on the hook and can't enjoy stability "on the cheap" compliments of the US now. :rolleyes:

    Or as the say...you better watch out, you might what you wished for... (Europe included in the group)

    Meanwhile, America will come back, lick its wounds and ego...and continue to repair itself and its reputation after the debacle of the Trump years.
    Biden has MORE than enough to keep him busy, with that AND the pandemic too. (with the GOP & ignorant shits making it worse and stirring the pot)

    IMHO, if I were him...I'd pop that zit too...before it gets more infected.
    Gotta worry about a General Infection and fever at home. -- NOT things from afar that keep sucking up needed funds.

    Personally, I think he's getting the Pentagon (and its allies in Congress) off its military tit and excuse...so he can go on a cost cutting push from the DOD budget.
    It would be a win-win situation for him and the nation's long term goals.

    Unfortunately, as with all wars, before during and after, many people get killed. :(
    We've gotta hope that whatever mindset that the US "did" do during 20 years takes hold somewhat, to more modernize/stabilize internally & culturally...and the Taliban behaves itself.
    --- Double Post Merged, Aug 18, 2021, Original Post Date: Aug 18, 2021 ---
    ===============================
    Followup and found after my speechifying...
    Opinion | Biden Could Still Be Proved Right in Afghanistan

    Or "what happens the morning after the morning after..."

    He seems to be in sync with what I was saying. (IMHO)
    Interesting perspective, either way.

    I've always liked Thomas Friedman
    I was fortunate enough to meet him when I worked for the Executive Office...shook his hand and took the time to take my compliments on his work and words. (very nice guy, sincere and genuine :cool:)
    Wish more were like him.
     
  18. rogue49

    rogue49 Tech Kung Fu Artist Staff Member

    Location:
    Baltimore/DC
    FYI - it’s a whole different country they’re taking over than before…

    Conquering Taliban fighters astonished upon encountering the 21st Century

    Gotta hand it to the US, we may be presumptuous and sometimes inept…but when we leave, it’s like a “this old house” season is completed :rolleyes:

    We’re not all bad, just a bit arrogant.
    Don’t forget your swag bag before they go.

    Nation building fails, the American way.
     
  19. genuinemommy

    genuinemommy Moderator Staff Member

    I am relieved that he removed our troops from Afghanistan. I am disgusted with the way in which it was done.

    And I am absolutely overwhelmed by the terror that education-driven women and girls will be up against under the nightmare that was left behind.
     
    • Agree Agree x 2
    • Like Like x 1
  20. Chris Noyb

    Chris Noyb Get in, buckle up, hang on, & be quiet.

    Location:
    Large City, TX
    I like Biden, I believe overall we're moving in the right direction under him.

    While there were and are some surprises in the evacuation of Afghanistan, I think Biden totally blew it. The chaos he directly mentioned could've been mitigated to a certain degree with some good sense foresight and planning.