I was driving home from the Giant on Sunday when I was saddened by the news that I had been hoping to hear.
Joe Biden had just released a letter saying that he had chosen not to run for reelection “in the best interest of my party and the country.”
I’d been hoping to hear this news ever since his debate performance convinced me that he was not up to the task of simultaneously being our President AND running for President at a time when a vigorous, aggressive, and nimble campaign is required to fend off the challenge from a ruthless opponent, backed by a personality cult and bent on retribution.
I was saddened because Joe Biden has been such a good and decent man who has had a historically consequential presidency despite Republicans who have done everything they could to sabotage it (and by extension our well-being as a nation).
That effort of sabotage began two weeks before Biden’s inauguration when 147 Republican members of Congress – including the House member representing Gettysburg at the time, Scott Perry, and our current Representative, John Joyce – both voted against certifying the election, thus attempting to nullify Pennsylvania’s vote for Joe Biden.
But Biden went to work for the American people, and during his administration America was able to:
· Get Covid under control;
· Rebuild an economy whose unemployment rate and economic growth are the envy of the world;
· Eventually tame the inflation that was a worldwide phenomenon resulting from the supply chain tangles and labor shortages wrought by Covid;
· Lower drug costs by allowing Medicare to negotiate with Big Pharma;
· Pass an infrastructure bill and begin long-overdue infrastructure projects, many of them in “red” states;
· Pass the CHIPS and Science Act, bringing semiconductor manufacturing back to America;
· Pass and begin massive investments in a greener economy and infrastructure to combat climate change…
· …while at the same time producing more crude oil than any other country in the world for six years in a row, and setting an all-time record in 2023 ( Data source: U.S. Energy Information Administration – https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=61545).
Perhaps his biggest contribution was on the world stage, where he led NATO’s resolve (and expanded NATO’s membership) to defend democracy in Ukraine against Putin’s aggression (which, don’t forget, Trump complimented as a “brilliant” move).
Yes, Biden has been criticized for failing to get immigration under control. Note that this has been an issue for decades that Congress has failed to address, but, yes, the problem has worsened during his administration.
But when Republicans’ designated bargainers worked with the administration to craft a plan that by all accounts hewed to a Republican wish list, Republicans double-crossed their own bargainers, refusing to support the resulting bill because Trump wanted the problem to fester as a campaign issue, and avoid “giving Biden a win.”
…So, yes, Joe Biden has been a great President.
When Joe Biden stepped forward in April of 2019 to run against Donald Trump because of Trump’s “fine people on both sides” comments about Charlottesville he was probably already past his “Best By” date, assumedly comfortably retired at the Delaware seashore.
He was perhaps no Democrat’s first choice as a candidate. But he was the consensus choice as the one who had the best chance to win. He was there when destiny called on him. Dems coalesced around him. And he succeeded.
And now, when the polls show that because of his diminished energy (NOT diminished wisdom or grit), he was unlikely to be able to do it again, he stepped aside to give us a better chance to again stop Trumpism.
As “The Bulwark’s” Jonathan V. Last expressed this week:
Biden became the man America needed at a dark moment in our history.
Then, when America needed someone else, Biden became the man who was willing to step away.
I’m not sure which of these transformations was more extraordinary.
President Biden will continue working for the American people, “from the bottom up and the middle out” until his successor mounts the podium. And I expect he will also be a vigorous and valuable advocate for Kamala Harris as the campaign continues.
First of all lets get it straight. Biden did not choose to step down. He had no choice with Obama pulling the strings. Second Biden left over 2 million illegal immigrants( yes illegal) across the border with his policies. He only proposed a new policy because his constituents and voters saw it becoming a major election issues. His immigrant policies have put blood on his hands.
I voted against Trump in 2020. Turns out I’ve been extremely impressed with Biden and fully understand why he was voted #14 best by historians. He deserves it. He was able to get things done in spite of the madness out there from Republicans not wanting what was best for the nation due to their ego. Like you, I’m glad he stepped aside. Now I will happily be voting for Harris knowing she’s far better than Trump (correctly voted worst by historians). Trump only cares about his ego and bank account, saying whatever voters want to hear to get elected,… Read more »
Regardless of all he has done, or not done, he is a man of inordinate courage and loyalty; and, willing to step aside so that the democratic party can determine who is the best candidate to support the democratic principles that America is built upon.
The beauty to me of Kevin’s words is that no matter where you “stand” right now, they ring true. It’s been said that there is a reason for John F. Kennedy’s book Profiles in Courage being so short. History will include Joseph Biden for his heroic service to our nation. Thank you for your service President Biden. Thank you Kevin for reminding us of his service and sacrifice.