Staff Reports
The countdown clock for President Joe Biden’s exit from the White House is ticking, and it’s safe to say he’s leaving without making the grand exit he yearned for. Instead of a dramatic finale, the ending is more reminiscent of a deflated balloon slowly emptying its air, as indicated by an opinion piece in the Washington Post. Cleve R. Wootson Jr. highlighted the palpable frustration that colors the last days of the Biden administration, suggesting that what should have been a legacy filled with triumphs has turned into one littered with disappointments.
Biden’s administration seemed to promise so much—after all, he was the Democratic hopeful who triumphed over Donald Trump. Yet, as he prepares to hand over the reins, it’s becoming increasingly clear that what he leaves behind is a far cry from his earlier ambitions. The op-ed points out that the president feels betrayed by the very party he spearheaded, as the Democrats have been less than kind in their assessment of his tenure. Rather than being a formidable leader, he now appears confined to the history books as just another one-term president, defeated and overshadowed by the looming threat of a Trump comeback.
The piece underscores a laundry list of regrets for the president, who seems to be lamenting missed opportunities. From not proudly signing his name on pandemic stimulus checks to worrying about Trump taking credit for the economy’s recovery, it appears that Biden, in his waning days, is grappling with an existential crisis. He faces a stark reality where his preferred narrative has been upended, and he’s left making excuses rather than celebrating victories. Even his challenge to Republicans has a sense of desperation; it certainly doesn’t reflect the confidence of a man who believes he will be remembered fondly.
Washington Post: Biden Leaves Office Not with a Bang but a Resentful Whimper https://t.co/jnNwVC3Zfp via @BreitbartNews
— Lois Levine Fishman (@FishmanLevine) December 15, 2024
Historians have noted that Biden’s emotional baggage has trailed him throughout his career. Characterizing him as perpetually resentful, Wootson Jr. cites an expert who points out that Biden often emerges resentful when he feels underestimated. However, given Biden’s track record of underwhelming performance—sometimes even undercutting his own administration—it’s not surprising that many have seen him as an easy target. With each brimming promise, he often finds himself falling flat, further fueling those internal frustrations.
As Biden prepares for a post-presidential life starting on January 20, 2025, he is not just leaving office; he is handing over the stage to a political juggernaut in Trump, a reality he seems to struggle mightily to accept. The weight of his frustrations is palpable, and they aren’t just directed at his political opponents but at the shifting sands of the very party he represents. Should Biden become an afterthought, overshadowed by Trump’s potential resurgence, it will serve as a cautionary tale for those who believed in political redemption through a one-term presidency, particularly in the age of someone like Trump who is destined to etch his name in history.
