Biden Gets a C-

Biden’s First Report Card

I have been watching the news and reading the paper trying to determine how well our new president is fulfilling expectations. As a candidate, he promised to “be everyone’s president” and pull us together. He promised renewed alliances with our friends in Europe. Closer to home, he said he would revise our immigration policy and bring us quickly out of the pandemic. For an over all grade, I can’t go higher than a C-. He promised to be “Not Trump”, and he’s certainly done a good job of that. Other wise it would be a solid D. He has almost completed dismantling all of Trump’s programs. I will concede Trump was a gold-plated jerk, but some of his programs were good ones.

I liked Trump’s stand on immigration. Biden’s approach has made a bad situation worse. He seemed bewildered when the press asked about the number of illegals amassed at the border. His response, “I told them not to come”, didn’t make me confident he knows what he is doing. The “Welcome” sign on the processing center should be a clue that he is sending mixed messages to potential asylum seekers. The message became clearer when he explained to CNN his policy to find relatives in the US for all those who cross illegally and send them there until they can be evaluated. Schools in California are gearing up to teach in-person classes and provide free lunches for illegals even though citizens are restricted to all but on-line learning. His actions announce that life in the US is better than where they came from. Is it any wonder they ignore his request for them to stay home?

He made statements about the pandemic that made me wonder what planet he is living on. He indicated wearing a mask was no big deal, and everyone should do the patriotic thing. Maybe he is living within his own propaganda bubble. Studies on masks have been mixed. Dr Fauci says we need to wear masks everywhere all the time. Other studies claim wearing masks is fatal to some with respiratory problems. They find it difficult to breath through two layers of cloth. Comparison of areas with and without mask mandates reveal the rate of new COVID 19 cases to be about the same. The Chairman of the Center for Disease Control recently forecast a devasting fourth wave of the virus. She quoted statistics from the surge of cases in New England to support her plea to continue lockdowns, even though the North East is one of the most locked down regions in America. President Biden doesn’t seem to realize many citizens rankle at mask mandates because they resent the government telling them what to do. Not wearing a motorcycle helmet is stupid, but I have a right to be stupid if I want. Government should not be in the business of saving me from myself.

After President Biden’s first few weeks in office, we are more divided than ever. He promised to work with political enemies as well as friends. It seems he will only work with the opposition if they do what the says to do and thinks like he thinks. He is supporting gimmicks in the Senate to push his agenda through without any Republican support. That is a far cry from what he promised as a candidate.

His foreign policy so far is to reverse everything that Trump did. Thus, he is openly hostile to Russia and imposed more and harsher sanctions on North Korea. Is it any wonder that both nations have retaliated? Our European friends are rapidly going back to the protective tariffs that were common before President Trump. He appeared weak when he offered an olive branch to China, and was threatened in return. I hope he quickly finds a new group of advisors.

President Biden announced he is already planning to run for reelection in 2024. His current path will guarantee he becomes a one term president.

Frank Watson is a retired Air Force Colonel and long-time resident of Eastern Washington. He has been a free-lance columnist for over 20 years.