For those who like to contemplate what should have happened vs what has happened in the last year, WaPo has a nice article telling us why we’re not in a wallowing scow caught in a rip-roaring typhoon in the Dismal Sea:
Yet the economy is ending the year in a remarkably better position than almost anyone on Wall Street or in mainstream economics had predicted, having bested just about all expectations time and again. Inflation has dropped to 3.1 percent, from a peak of 9.1. The unemployment rate is at a hot 3.7 percent, and the economy grew at a healthy clip in the most recent quarter. The Fed is probably finished hiking interest rates and is eyeing cuts next year. Financial markets are at or near all-time highs, and the S&P 500 could hit a new record this week, too. Fresh data from the Conference Board also showed consumer confidence reaching a five-month high in December, thanks to growing optimism for incomes, the job market and overall business conditions.
It’s reports like these which show the value of having an experienced leader at the helm, even if he does fail to accede to every demand of the left and right. The work of a President is to pick the proper personnel to manage all the responsibilities, to give direction when needed, to keep their hands off where appropriate (an example is the DoJ), to suggest priorities to legislators, and provide suggested solutions where possible, and to communicate with the public.
So far, Biden seems to hit it out of the park in all of these categories.
Not that he hasn’t made mistakes. The management of the transgender issue has, at best, improved marginally, and since it does tend to show up on a lot of complaint lists, it’s something which should be boosted for a national debate – not more autocratic laws and rules, which rightfully alienates everyone.
But in other “failings,” it’s important to realize that the fallout of Republican mismanagement makes such things as inflation a necessary side-effect of the cleanup effort.
But for those who grumble about his energy level, falling off a bike, his speaking style, and etc, this is the sort of pushback that is really devastating. No, really. And it’s quite refreshing after the boastful bumbling and quiet corruption of his predecessor, because Biden hands out praise where earned, and he just makes it all look … so truly American.
