I'm not sure who the best politician of my lifetime is, but the most underrated is Joe Biden.

[Music Man]

Because he's old and prone to misspeaking, Biden is often counted out or dismissed. Long considered a straight shooter and nice guy, but not effectual.

He was in the Senate for a third of a century, was the center of crucial legislation, vice president to a game-changing president, and now possibly the modern savior of democracy. Defeating Donald Trump, and regardless of what the final results are in this midterm, making history this year. These things don't happen by accident.

He has quiet strength, concerned about making the right decision and being decent rather than being flashy. Time after time, he gets up, dusts himself off, and gets to work.

He is an inspiration, and a good example of why one's impressions of a person are not always accurate. Here's to Joe Biden, for quietly proving people wrong time after time.

[Demovictory9]

1. Biden stayed cool, like Obama, no matter what was thrown at him

[TigressDem]

34. Yeah, remember the CROWD WENT WILD in PA? Rock star welcome!!

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=17323099

[Xipe Totec]

2. Underestimated from day one

[onecaliberal]

3. He's been incredible and what the country desperately needs.

[iluvtennis]

17. +++++ agree.

[Irish_Dem]

4. Even before he decided to run, I thought he was the only one who could win and do the job.

But even I underestimated what a great job would do.

It's like he was born for this moment in history.

[Tetrachloride]

12. +1; He had all the qualities to get the votes.

Then its been month after month of wins.

The gracious withdrawal of Dem candidates and their endorsement of Joe was … gracious. The wind we needed.

[Irish_Dem]

15. He was a known quantity, had the experience, maturity, was calm, stable.

Likable, low key, affable, polite. Perfect anecdote to Trump.

He was exactly what the country needed and could beat Trump.

He knew up close and personal all the crap they threw at Obama.

So he has been one step ahead all the time.

No WH learning curve, he was set to go on day one.

Underneath his charm is a deadly willingness to fight and fight hard.

[Joinfortmill]

5. I love Joe Biden, one of our great Presidents.

[In It to Win It]

6. Teflon Joe!

[brush]

7. Prone to misspeaking? No, I don't find that at all.

It's an old characterization (gaffe) that has proven not to be true in the years of Biden's campaigning and the two years of his presidency. Pls stop repeating that.

[Music Man]

9. Not saying I don't love the guy,

And believe me, I'm not equating Joe Biden stumbling over his words to someone like Donald Trump's bullshit (especially when we all know Biden's history of stuttering plays a factor), but his reputation for gaffes is not unearned.

David Axelrod himself said that when Joe Biden speaks, he produces an odd kind of performance anxiety in that he makes the *listener* nervous. Axelrod knows a thing or two.

Your point is well-taken, but I stand by what I wrote.

[brush]

11. Do you actually listen to Biden when he speaks?

That characterization is an old one and is widely overblown. He's perfectly understandable except for an occasional and slight hesitation from his history of stuttering as a youth...which he overcame.

[NoMoreRepugs]

13. THIS.

[Mr.Bill]

20. I was a stutterer in my younger days as well.

Working my way out of it was the most difficult thing I've ever done in my life. It's not 100% gone, but maybe 98-99%. It will always be a work in progress. I admire Joe Biden all that much more knowing how hard he must have had to work on it and be as successful as he is. I don't exactly have to do a lot of public speaking after all, although I have a few times.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

8. Amen

I was a day one contributor to the Biden campaign and got to meet him at two different fundraisers. Joe Biden is the real deal and has accomplished a great deal.

I got to talk to President Biden about stuttering at one of these fundraisers. The fact that the voters voter for a stutterer over a bully tells you that America is a great country

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

[MatthewG.]

10. Damn straight.

I’ve thought the same thing for some time.

Biden may not be as exciting as Obama, but he repeatedly pulls out unexpected political victories and legislative successes.

His Senate experience and general human empathy seem to have given him a much better read of practical American politics than he usually gets credited for.

[calimary]

14. God bless President Biden!

Best and most effective President at least as far back as I can remember.

[Gore1FL]

16. I have to agree.

I did not support him in the nomination process, but he has proven more than up to the task. Four more years!

[TomDaisy]

18. Ready to Joe!

[HardPort]

19. History will give him his due as a top five president. It takes a few years, but he is there.

https://scri.siena.edu/us-presidents-study-historical-rankings/

[kimbutgar]

21. Best 2nd year president in my lifetime

He has accomplished so much in his first two years and hopefully two more years of legislative successes.

[republianmushroom]

22. agree

[bucolic_frolic]

23. He always brought his A game even in the early Senate years

[BigmanPigman]

24. That is why I told my family in 2018 that a Biden/Harris

combo would be the antidote that this country desperately needs at this time. His experiences and manners are admirable to anyone with any knowledge of a well functioning White House.

[markodochartaigh]

25. It is a shame that voters

have such short memories. It has scarcely been a decade since President Biden, then President Obama's vp, did the unthinkable and loudly voiced his support for marriage equality before his president was ready. I'm never surprised to see President Biden standing up for our rights.

[Greybnk48]

26. I'm 74 and he is, by far, the most effective for the people in my lifetime.

Lyndon Johnson is a really close second with Medicare and Medicaid, but Joe works tirelessly for us, NOT the wealthy.

That did not happen with any other Dem president for whatever reason.

[Hekate]

27. Thank you for this. In a crowded field, I hesitated only bcs of his age, but he had me at: "soul"

“We are fighting for the soul of America,” Joe said as he showed the film from Charlottesville. In the Age of Trump, those were the words I needed to hear from a Democratic politician.

I have never, ever regretted my support, and that’s no joke, Jack.

[texasfiddler]

28. I agree. History will be good to him.

[link:|

[PatSeg]

29. "Proving people wrong time after time"

That is for sure. I've never seen anything quite like it.

[Samrob]

30. AGREE!

[flamingdem]

31. 100 Recs for JOE BIDEN!!!!!!!!!

Love him. Joe 2024, not kidding, drop the ageism.

[Itchinjim]

32. I proudly stood for Joe at the 2020 Iowa caucus.

I knew then he was the person America needed to stand up to Trumpism and win.

[TigressDem]

33. Jimmy Carter was also underrated.

Funny thing is, while people are busy saying stupid things, both of these Presidents kept doing the work and got a lot done.

Current rating by scholars who compare ALL the Presidents have Biden at 19 from the top, Carter at 24 and drumpf at 43
Clinton 14, Obama 11