Staff Reports
In the last quarter of his presidency, Joe Biden appears determined to paint over the canvas of his administration with some colorful brushstrokes of self-promotion. Fresh from a vacation in Delaware, he has been busy trekking through the heartland, making stops in places like Wisconsin and Michigan, armed with promises of jobs, infrastructure, and union strength. But while he spins tales of economic revival, many middle-class Americans might be wondering if they’re actually living in a narrative more akin to “Biden’s Inverse Economy.”
Biden has been busy singing the praises of the Inflation Reduction Act, which is supposedly designed to lower prescription drug prices while pumping money into domestic energy and reforming taxes. He and his administration have been flaunting nearly $1 trillion in investments for Rust Belt manufacturing and green industries. Yet, despite his lofty claims, the reality on Main Street is a tad murkier. A $1 trillion investment sounds nice, but for the average family dealing with escalating grocery bills, it rings a bit hollow against the backdrop of nearly 20% inflation since he took office.
How Biden is trying to shape his legacy with mere months left in the White House https://t.co/f6gxiY1xJA
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) September 15, 2024
Indeed, Biden has been crowing about job growth, touting a miraculous addition of 142,000 jobs just last month. He and his cheerleaders in the White House are quick to quote that his administration has achieved the lowest unemployment rate in half a century. Unfortunately, those numbers have been overshadowed by rising costs that gnaw at the wallets of everyday Americans as they stare stricken at their grocery receipts. The disconnect from reality is so profound that one might wonder if the President is living in an alternate universe—perhaps one where inflation is a myth and his approval ratings aren’t bottoming out.
Not one to shy away from audacious plans, Biden’s ambition has led him to push student loan forgiveness, which has turned into a game of cat and mouse with the Supreme Court. After a disastrous ruling shot down his grandiose proposal to wipe away $400 billion in student debt without congressional backing, his administration has still managed to offload a relatively small $168.5 billion to some borrowers. Meanwhile, the notion of forgiving more debt through his SAVE plan remains stalled, leaving many scratching their heads wondering what kind of “saving” he’s really promoting.
Internationally, Biden’s report card is far from stellar. His withdrawal from Afghanistan was so poorly executed that it led to the tragic deaths of 13 U.S. servicemembers. His handling of conflicts in Ukraine and the Gaza Strip has drawn criticism from all sides. With the Middle East on fire and the brewing disaster in Ukraine, Biden’s attempts to play peacemaker seem more like muddling through a high school debate competition than leading a nation. His recent discussions with Prime Minister Keir Starmer about loosening weapon restrictions for Ukraine offer little comfort as they grapple with threats from Iran-bound Russian missiles.
As these global tensions swirl, Biden’s legacy is at stake. He is frantically plotting trips to far-flung lands, including Germany and South America, under the pretense of strengthening alliances. But the reality is that he seems to be scrambling to lay down a foundation that may or may not support Kamala Harris should she decide to throw her hat in the ring for the 2024 presidential race. A smooth handoff, it would seem, is now paramount as Biden’s trip to Wisconsin and Michigan attempts to bolster his waning support among the very labor unions he claims to champion. As the clock ticks down, the irony remains thick: Biden’s so-called ‘great American comeback’ is looking more like a slapstick comedy than an uplifting drama.
