In Chicago on Monday, accolades for President Biden are expected to soar as delegates at the Democratic convention celebrate him, likening him to FDR and George Washington for his "voluntary" relinquishment of power. However, this adulation is anticipated to be short-lived. Biden, perceived by many Americans as an unsuccessful leader and facing potential defeat in a rematch with Donald Trump, is predicted to make an inglorious exit from the presidency—a tenure riddled with illegitimate election results to failing to fulfil promise to unify the nation and serve as a bridge from the Trump era when he took office.
Taking over the presidency after two failed attempts, Biden wanted to be seen as the preferable option over Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren by promising to be a unifier against Trump's divisiveness. Yet, his tenure has been marked by a departure from these pledges.
Upon securing a 50-50 Senate majority in the 2021 Georgia runoffs, Democrats seized what they saw as a historic chance to enact their entire agenda. This led Biden into agreements that aligned more with Bernie Sanders’s vision and granted Elizabeth Warren considerable influence over financial regulations. His administration's policies were heavily influenced by Democratic leaders in Congress aiming for significant government expansion unseen since LBJ’s Great Society era.
The administration initiated its ambitious plans with a $1.9 trillion spending bill under the guise of COVID-19 relief in March 2021—despite the pandemic waning and economic recovery underway. This move sowed the seeds for unprecedented inflation rates not seen in 40 years by June 2022, diminishing American real incomes.
Throughout his political career spanning half a century, Biden has demonstrated a tendency to follow rather than lead party trends. His initial chief of staff, Ron Klain, encouraged unity within Democratic ranks over bipartisan cooperation, leading to dwindling approval ratings. Much of his extensive Build Back Better plan faltered in Congress; however, bills like the Covid relief package and the Inflation Reduction Act that did pass—strictly along party lines—led to record peacetime debts and deficits.
While long-term effects of these acts remain uncertain, immediate consequences include restrictive drug price controls impacting medical research and misallocated capital due to green subsidies totaling $1 trillion. Although bipartisan efforts like the Chips Act and infrastructure bills promise some infrastructural improvements, they come at steep costs.
Biden's left-leaning stance on border security has stymied any potential for bipartisan immigration reform. His foreign policy is yet another area awaiting full assessment until conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East reach resolutions. The hasty withdrawal from Afghanistan signaled weakness globally, emboldening adversaries including Vladimir Putin’s Russia and Iran-backed groups threatening Israel's existence.
On a positive note, Biden made strides in Pacific diplomacy through initiatives like Aukus pact enhancements, bolstered military alliances with Japan, and strengthened ties with the Philippines aimed at counteracting Chinese dominance aspirations.
Yet perhaps most critically undermining U.S defense capabilities have been proposed budget cuts after adjusting for inflation each year of his presidency—an approach potentially compromising future U.S global commitments amidst rising adversarial challenges.
Instead of distancing from Donald Trump’s shadow, Biden continually spotlighted him—labeling Republicans en masse as MAGA extremists while equating moderate electoral integrity measures with historical racial injustices like Jim Crow laws—a divisive rhetoric further polarizing national politics.
Most controversially breaking norms was Biden's implicit support for prosecuting Trump criminally—a stance rendering Trump a "martyr" among Republican voters facilitating his nomination comeback attempt against Biden perceived as beatable opposition.
Had Biden opted out of seeking re-election early into 2023 acknowledging growing concerns around age-related decline—he might have paved way for fresher faces across party lines better equipped addressing pressing domestic and international issues confronting America today.
Instead forced out last minute by internal pressures including Nancy Pelosi amongst others within his own party fearing widespread electoral setbacks—Biden leaves behind a presidential race featuring an inexperienced Vice President Kamala Harris against an unpopular former President Donald Trump.
This leaves Americans facing leadership choices reflective of an even more divided nation than found at Joe Biden’s ascension—an unfortunate testament to his presidential legacy characterized not only by foreign policy misadventures but also domestic turmoil marked by rampant inflationary pressures alongside surging crime rates post-Trump era—an undeniable downturn underlining Joe Biden's presidential term fraught with missed opportunities towards fostering national unity or substantive progress across key policy domains.
