As the midterm elections loom, President Biden seems to be rebuilding his democratic legacy
BY: JACOB POLITTE
Managing Editor
Days before this paper went to publication, Montage Photo Editor Dakota Pulcher and I returned from a journalism conference in Washington D.C. The trip, while a work trip, provided plenty of opportunity for sightseeing. There’s no feeling quite like walking the streets of the District of Columbia. There’s no feeling like walking up to the Capitol Building, or walking along the National Mall. There’s no feeling quite like walking up to the gates of the White House and marveling at how such an important building can look so tiny.
The trip was also a very unique opportunity to be in the center of the action right before a consequential mid-term election.
Before election day, President Biden has really made some big moves, including: pardoning those with simple majaruana offenses, student debt relief and becoming more direct in his condemnation of Trump supporters who still are quite off their rocker.
It’s his new stance on marijuana that comes as a big shock to me. Even in recent years, and even while he campaigned for the Presidency, Biden has been notably against marijuana legalization. More than anything else, this change in attitude and personality comes as a genuine jolt for both supporters and detractors of the President, whether they’ll say it publicly or not.
This change, in hindsight, came after Biden suffered from two separate bouts of COVID-19. It’s easy to make the joke that “COVID made Biden just not care anymore” and while it’s a funny joke, it’s quite a startling turnaround from the guy who campaigned (and won) on wanting to heal the divide.
His administration, on the whole, has become much more aggressive in condemning those who seek the downfall of democracy in favor of a crazed wannabe dictator. That’s what Trump is, as uncomfortable as it is for some people to hear. He’s going to be indicted, not for his horrible actions as President, but for his crimes after he left office. He SHOULD be indicted.
Is Biden better? So much better. It doesn’t matter if he stumbles over his words. Literally everyone does. He’s old. That’s a valid point. But it’s not his defining trait, no matter how badly anyone who opposes him wants it to be.
For every failure or shortcoming of this administration (and there have been plenty), it’s still better than living under Donald Trump’s America. It’s like people forgot what a normal Presidency was supposed to look and feel like. People will say what they want about the man, they will question his mental capacity. None of that matters, all of it is speculation. He’s old, but he’s getting stuff done. Even if it’s not stuff that’s universally beloved.
Is Biden doing this because he genuinely believes in all of it? Is it just a goodwill move to help form a blue wave to try and sweep the midterms? Does any of it matter?
The answer to that last question, at least, is simple. No. These moves, these new policies and laws benefit the majority. They benefit people on both sides. That is progress, no matter what right-wing political pundits want to say.
I’m looking at you Tucker Carlson, you bow-tie wearing honorary Neo-Nazi. I’m looking at you, Candance Owens and Steven Crowder, who literally can’t have an intelligent opinion if one hits you in the face. Also, the suspenders don’t make you look cool, Steven. They make you look like a dork. Whatever Tomi Larhen is doing these days, she’s wrong, too. And so are many others like them.
It may sound hypocritical to say in this particular medium, but I think it’s important to not let media with an obvious agenda influence you too much. The discourse brought to the table by these people I’ve listed has done so much damage to society, one political side in particular.
That particular discourse has led to horrible, rather unintelligent people like Majorie Taylor Greene, and Lauren Boebert being elected to office. Both of those people are complete wastes of space, and they were elected because no one knows any better. And because the people that those voters likely listen to don’t care, as long as their views are spread on the national stage.
The Republican party, at one time, was honorable. It is possible to be a conservative and be honorable. However, in this election cycle, there are very few honorable Republicans. Liz Cheney is one. I don’t agree with a majority of what Cheney says, but her resistance to the direction that the Republican party is heading in is admirable. It also cost her her seat in Congress. That’s the saddest thing.
I don’t like being labeled as a Democrat. I don’t like being labeled in general, but there really isn’t much wiggle room here. This upcoming election is about a lot of things, and morality is definitely one of them.
The future is rather uncertain. But one thing isn’t: the American people electing Joe Biden wasn’t a mistake. History will prove that. In the future, it’s important to embrace the younger generation if we want actual, systematic change. But in the meantime, having an old, reliable grandpa in office may not be the worst thing.
