I was wrong about Joe Biden

[Recursion]

This past week has only thrown my mistake into sharp relief.

I was never anti-Biden, but I was kind of lukewarm. I thought Joe Biden would be a faithful placeholder who could defend the gains we made under Obama and make way for the next big thing. In this, I did what Joe Biden's enemies have done their entire life, to their misfortune: I completely underestimated the man.

Joe Biden just cancelled another 9 billion dollars in student debt, kind of as an afterthought on a Wednesday. He did this in a way that is legally rock-solid and not subject to judicial review. Just like the major Pharma companies have agreed to negotiated pricing. Just like the train companies agreed to give the workers the sick leave they demanded.

We all have that picture in our head of LBJ leaning over Senator Russell, but what people forget is that Russell voted against the Civil Rights Bill LBJ was pushing him on. Leaning doesn't actually get stuff done.

Biden is a ****ing political genius, and I will fight anybody who says different.

[2naSalit]

1. K&R

Over the many years of his service to the country I have noticed his quiet progress and thought he was a good choice for the same reasons I liked him as Obama's VP. But I was more enthusiastic about him as POTUS because I knew about his experience and success. Sure he's had some blunders but they are few and not as serious as those of others. His gains have been significant and now, as POTUS, exponentially so but you'd hardly notice thanks to the corporate media.

[Recursion]

3. Yup!

It's kind of amazing to watch

[Cassidy]

43. What I most admire about Biden is learning from mistakes

He is a great politician and an admirable human being, but what I most admire about Joe Biden is that he is not too proud to admit a mistake and change his direction. I can remember being so angry at him and the judiciary committee that he chaired when they gave Thomas approval in spite of Anita Hill's harassment allegations. He made a mistake then, but I think he learned a crucial lesson and has listened more carefully to women since then.

[LisaM]

58. He also voted against Clarence Thomas.

People forget that.

[Walleye]

2. And he never gets rattled, he leaves that to the rest of us

[Recursion]

4. Exactly

It's amazing to watch

[onetexan]

10. THIS!!☝️

[Historic NY]

26. Yup and boy do we

[MaryMagdaline]

5. A great liberal president - LBJ and FDR inspired

[Marcuse]

7. As stated by mtg.

[Lovie777]

6. In recent times........................

From President Carter, President Clinton, President Obama, President Biden, the contrast is eye popping from the other political party. The Democratic Party is the future and other party is stagnant while moving backwards.

Kinda reminds me of the Neanderthal and Homo Sapiens wherein the Homo Sapiens adapted while moving forward. And the different between the dark ages and the enlightenment period of history.

With the Democratic Party in control we will move forward.

Vote.

[Random Boomer]

8. I was wrong, too

Biden was not even in my Top 10 for presidential candidates, but I am more than happy to eat crow and say he has greatly exceeded my expectations.

[onetexan]

11. Try quail, alot better than crow 🙃

[thatcrowwoman]

54. True that. We're tough old birds. 😏😎 /nt

[Demsrule86]

9. I always liked Biden.

[Cha]

66. Yeah, Joe Biden was my first choice

and I stuck with him through Iowa, NH, , Nevada.. and then we got to South Carolina!!

So Happy!

[calimary]

70. Joe Biden was my second choice, until Jay Inslee dropped out. And he moved right up

and into my heart and then onto the ballot where I found his name for President and selected it! Biden all the way!

Next year, too. I'm Biden to the last!

I've said this before but it's worth repeating: I can remember Presidents back to JFK. There's been NOBODY like Joe Biden. NOBODY. He could very well be the best and most effective, and certainly the most compassionate and genuine President I've ever observed, studied, knocked on doors for, or voted for. He's gonna go to Heaven when he dies. Probably on an express "Up" elevator.

[vlyons]

12. Glad you finally saw the light about Joe Biden!

He is a great pres!

[ananda]

13. I agree.

I have come to think that Biden is one of the smartest,
most savvy, presidents ever.

[Beartracks]

14. "kind of as an afterthought on a Wednesday"

Love your phrasing!

============

[OneGrassRoot]

15. I'm starting to get as confused about student loan forgiveness as I am about...

Trump indictments.

But, seriously, it's awesome what President Biden is doing and how he's doing it. I agree with your assessment.

Re: student loan debt, do you have a go-to source which gives a comprehensive picture of who is eligible with each new development?

I thought I read something yesterday that had a tidbit which, if approved, would essentially grant relief for anyone with student debt who can prove financial hardship. I can't find it now.

As I often post here, I have a Parent Plus loan and, thus far, nothing has been available that is truly helpful.

[OneGrassRoot]

19. Oh, here is the article I saw....

This isn't a set thing, it's still a "potential" forgiveness plan. But this is the tidbit I saw that I'm hoping, if it passes, applies to Parent Plus:

Those who “experience hardship with respect to their student loans” and “continue to experience hardship in ways that the current student loan system does not adequately address,” despite access to programs like IDR and targeted student loan forgiveness programs.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/adamminsky/2023/10/03/5-categories-of-borrowers-could-get-student-loan-forgiveness-under-new-biden-plan/?sh=686755d67887

[Historic NY]

28. The accured interest alone is a BFD/

[OneGrassRoot]

30. ABSOLUTELY n/t

[jaxexpat]

32. The accrued interest is, itself, the BFD. Just ask the lenders.

[FemDemERA]

48. Direct links to ed.gov sites

Hope this helps.

https://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/biden-harris-administration-announces-additional-9-billion-student-debt-relief

And

https://studentaid.gov/h/manage-loans

[Botany]

16. The Best President of my Lifetime .... a must see

BTW he and V.P. Harris are building a new democratic party for the future that
will be a Juggernaut too.

[ArkansasDemocrat1]

60. Him and Carter are mine

Followed by Obama, Clinton and a distant last for Johnson

[littlemissmartypants]

17. All those years, his entire working life in fact, has been spent in service to America.

All the time intelligently, disarmingly, playfully, humbly and rigorously he was systematically building a solid foundation of social capital.

Banking countless forged connections in and out of the government.

He's now using his big bank of social capital to get things done for the nation.

He's hustled his entire life for others and now these folks can literally take that hustle to the bank.

He's a masterful politician that knows, cares and works tirelessly.

He gets things done while others his age sit home shouting at the TV.

I'm completely in awe.

❤️

[Walleye]

20. His critics forget that he could've quit the Senate and made lots of money in a law firm anytime

Those Republicans that are saying his motivation is money are totally whack. He could’ve been much wealthier than he is now if he hadn’t been devoted to public service

[littlemissmartypants]

27. Exactly, Walleye!! ❤️

[Attilatheblond]

31. This! The right is only impressed & motivated by $$. Biden cares about actual human beings.

The right only considers faux public service as a means to an end, the end being $$. Joe Biden took his personal experience of seeing, and feeling, actual struggle and combined his natural compassion to make public service into a life long effort to actually serve the PUBLIC. He is intelligent and wise enough to see how conditions and policies are connected and he works to assure the connections actually help, not hinder the progress of individuals towards securing their survival, even making room for people to flourish.

The 'money is the only sign of success' crowd simply cannot fathom such honest love for his fellow man and is always trying to find some dark, hidden motive behind Biden's life's work. Many on the right espouse 'deeply held religious beliefs' as a means to an end, the end being political power that leads to monetary gain. Joe Biden is obviously a man who walks his faith and walks it every day, in service to the essential teachings of his faith, minus all the ulterior motives of too many 'religious' pretenders.

[Walleye]

33. Very well said. And accurate

[Karma13612]

18. You're Ridin' with Biden now!

Excellent!

[Happy Hoosier]

21. Biden is a skilled technocrat.

He knows how to exercise the levers of political power.

My only complaint is that his political instincts are a little timid. But if I'm honest, I think that's been changing. He's sharpening his fangs. Good. He's going to need them.

[Walleye]

35. Exactly. Gotta know where the levers of power are and how much pressure to apply on each one

[Jarqui]

22. I like Pete Buttigieg. I still do. But I've followed Joe since the 70s.

Joe has as much integrity and decency as any person in Washington.
I've had no problem supporting Joe because you know what you are going to get: he will do what he thinks is best for the country - regardless of politics. He always has.
I haven't always agreed with Joe - as I've never always agreed with every single thing in other politicians.
But I believe strongly in the overall of what Joe will deliver.

It disgusts me what the GOP have been trying to do to Joe.
Joe has more integrity than the entire GOP so they smear his integrity.
What they're trying to do to Joe reminds me of what they tried to do to Jimmy Carter - another very good human being and excellent President.
When they can't win with the truth, there is something deeply wrong with what they're selling.
Please don't let them be successful against Joe this time.
The stakes are higher than when they cheated Carter out of a second term.

[Walleye]

38. I have been observing Joe Biden from pretty close up for years

He is exactly the man who presents himself to be. Kind and honest. Republicans cannot understand that. His motivation is not wealth. I don’t think there’s one Republican left in Washington who understands that. And I’m really sick of all the lying and slandering, I feel like I need to defend him as if he were a good friend. When they lie about him it hurts me

[Attilatheblond]

39. +1

Love Buttigieg, and believe that he only entered the primary because he didn't see anyone who was likely to win and do what was needed to correct the course of the ship of state.

When Biden entered the race, Pete was the first to step out and throw his support to Joe. I trust that Pete understands actual morality applied to public service. I knew Joe Biden does too, because I am old and have watched for many decades. But I did worry about how his age would impact the race in 2020. That Joe surrounded himself with really good people, of all ages and areas of expertise, assured me he was 'young enough' to get the job done because he was smart and strong enough to build the best team for the actual work of serving the public. Biden's personal ego has never been threatened by having truly remarkable people near him.

[pazzyanne]

40. "But I've followed Joe since the 70s"

The same for me! He has always been focused on what his job is and what is good for ALL Americans, whether they realize it or not!

[judesedit]

23. Well said. Thank you for posting this

[DownriverDem]

24. So now those who

keep harping on his age should just shut the F**k up. Focus on getting the Biden/Harris team re-elected, winning the House and keeping the Senate. Then seriously think about 2028.

[Cheezoholic]

25. I've worked in his campaigns and have voted for Joe

as I'm not from Delaware, voted for him in every presidential primary he's run in his life. I've been a Joe enthusiast for nearly 50 years and am damned proud of this man!

[betsuni]

29. Yes! People think there's a magic Bully Pulpit, that LBJ photo, but those Democrats

didn't vote for the Civil Rights Bill despite the leaning. It's really stupid!

I've always wondered how in the hell people think they know Biden, like oh he's a centrist he's going to do this or not do that. He's a f***ing genius at handling people.

[Joinfortmill]

34. Joe is the blue collar version of FDR.

Last edited Wed Oct 4, 2023, 08:31 PM - Edit history (1)

[FakeNoose]

36. I think Joe Biden is a wonderful President, and we need him for another 4 years

I was in the Biden camp all the way, from the beginning. He hasn't disappointed us...

[tiredtoo]

37. I had similiar thoughts about Biden during the primaries

But since winning the presidency, he has surprised me with his skill and his performance. Pleasantly surprised me.

[ismnotwasm]

41. Same

Lately though, holy shit he is amazing.

[Tommy Carcetti]

42. Sometimes it's great to be proven wrong.

Joe was my preferred candidate from almost the get-go, but I fully understand whyt a lot of people just thought he'd be a placeholder and that would be it.

Sometimes people prove you wrong in the very best of ways.

That's the way I feel about Zelensky--when he was elected as Ukraine's president in 2019, I thought he would be a weak pushover.

Instead, he's now considered the best wartime head of state since Churchill.

[mountain grammy]

44. I thought he was a great VP

coming out for gay marriage and quietly pushing Obama to the left. Never thought of him as president until he was the candidate against the most dangerous threat in our lifetime..

He's been an excellent president. He makes me proud everyday.

[Unwind Your Mind]

45. My recent favorite

He got them to agree to push the debt ceiling into the next freakin Congress!

That was brilliant

[yorkster]

46. And I really loved his choice of Kamala for VP..

Great post and comments.

[CTyankee]

47. I think he has a sense of his own destiny -- having survived so much over his long life and learned

so much in the process. He knows how to cut through the crap and get things done.

[Lulu KC]

49. Same!

And same for everyone I know. He might, just might, be my favorite president of my lifetime. I didn't see it coming.

[Qutzupalotl]

50. Joe has been around the Sun a few times,

but he has only grown in wisdom, empathy, and foresight.

I also think he understands the cyclical nature of politics — such as how a new president will experience blowback for the first couple of years, but if they have been truly helpful, they will get reelected.

Polls may appear “tight” right now, but Biden only needs to peak next fall. I'm betting he will.

[Lunabell]

51. I ADORE JOE BIDEN!

And his Dark Brandon persona is my hero. Keep it up Mr. President! I love your pugilistic approach to governance. We neede you in 2020 and we still need you in 2024.

[elleng]

52. Excellent!

[Martin68]

53. Leaning got the Civil Rights bill passed, Recursion. LBJ was a brilliant politician, in the best

sense of the word. Maybe he didn't get Russell's vote, but he got enough others to pass the bill. There was doubt that JFK could get it passed.

[appleannie1]

55. And he does it all quietly, without patting himself on the back.

If you don't look hard, you miss that he did it at all. I sometimes wish those around him would shout it from the rooftops.

[LittleGirl]

56. I am happily impressed with Joe Biden.

Those knuckleheads on the GOP can whine all day but Joe is getting it done.
Proud voter!

[musclecar6]

57. Yeah

Joe keeps on keeping on. The part I like best about him is that he told that loudmouth cowardly bully to essentially fuck off during the debates. He has that inimitable way of laughing at that worthless piece of garbage. You go Joe, we’re all ridin’ with Biden.

[dchill]

59. Thank you for saying so!

[Iris]

61. I love him. And am so glad he has the opportunity to leave his mark

I look forward to 4 more years

[ailsagirl]

62. Me too!!

[Snackshack]

63. He is

.. and it is great that pharma has agreed too and train companies have agreed and whoever else has agreed... to whatever else.

That is great but it is just an agreement, none of these things are legally binding or codified in anyway and as soon as the GOP gets DT back in the WH w/ DT or some other narcissist they will then disagree....and no one will ever get a discounted drug or a sick leave day from the train cos.

None of this means anything if it can all be wiped away on day 1 by a gop president and potentially that could happen a little over a year from now.

[CrispyQ]

64. He is a true & exceptional statesman,

something that isn't valued as much today as in the past, much to our detriment.

[AwakeAtLast]

65. I could have written this post.

I have had the very same feelings that you so eloquently wrote about! And I agree in totality!

[Laura PourMeADrink]

67. So he did the student debt cancelation, forcing train companies

to pay sick pay, and pharma to negotiate pricing? How? By exec order? Regulations? Wonderful! but can you please expound. Thanks

[Laura PourMeADrink]

68. Hmmmm

[barbaraann]

69. I was wrong about him, too.

My opinion now is that he's the greatest President of my 70+ years lifetime.

[pansypoo53219]

71. tell bill maher.