Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Jack be nimble, jack be quick, hurry up and indict this prick.

The poor and middle-class pay taxes, the rich pay accountants, the wealthy pay politicians.

The lights are all blinking red.

“Everybody’s entitled to be an idiot.”

If you are in line to indict donald trump, stay in line.

This fight is for everything.

Too often we hand the biggest microphones to the cynics and the critics who delight in declaring failure.

When someone says they “love freedom”, rest assured they don’t mean yours.

After dobbs, women are no longer free.

And we’re all out of bubblegum.

Even though I know this is a bad idea, I’m off to do it anyway!

Thanks to your bullshit, we are now under siege.

Innocent people don’t delay justice.

If you thought you’d already seen people saying the stupidest things possible on the internet, prepare yourselves.

Republicans firmly believe having an abortion is a very personal, very private decision between a woman and J.D. Vance.

“In the future, this lab will be a museum. don’t touch it.”

When we show up, we win.

Following reporting rules is only for the little people, apparently.

Is it irresponsible to speculate? It is irresponsible not to.

Putin must be throwing ketchup at the walls.

Live so that if you miss a day of work people aren’t hoping you’re dead.

Reality always lies in wait for … Democrats.

Marge, god is saying you’re stupid.

We still have time to mess this up!

You are here: Home / Politics / Biden Administration in Action / What Has Biden Done For Us Lately? The TBogg Challenge!

Reader Interactions

547Comments

  1. 1.

    bbleh

    Given the country a leader who has not spent a life committing crimes high and low, including multiple, repeated violations of the Espionage Act and an insurrection against the Constitutional order.

  3. 3.

    Bethanyanne

    I’m not positive, but I think the highway funds that smoothed the road I take to visit my sister every Sunday came from the inflation reduction act.

  5. 5.

    Brit in Chicago

    Apart from the roads, you mean? Ok, and apart from the IRA, and the restoration of sanity to foreign policy and to domestic policy, and ensuring honest and competent governance, and….

  15. 15.

    Auntie Anne

    Setting up a covid vaccine distribution system so we were able to get our shots 9 months before Trump’s administration was projecting we’d be able to get them.  I thank Uncle Joe every time I drive by Dover Downs – that was nine months of decreased anxiety about every interaction with my elderly father.  At his age and general health, the gift of that time was fabulous. Also, it was a badly needed reminder of how government is supposed to work – for all of us.

  17. 17.

    Glidwrith

    Ordered our military would have full access to reproductive healthcare no matter where they are stationed.

  18. 18.

    What Have The Romans Ever Done for Us?

    As a federal worker the fact that Biden is dedicated to the idea of a non-partisan, uncorrupted, professional civil service, rather than threatening to fire us all and replace us with corrupt, incompetent political hacks is a major plus. I get that the average citizen may not comprehend the importance of that particular issue but bringing us back to the spoils system days which we’re terrible for the nation would be bad for everyone but crony capitalists. It’s a big Biden deal for all of us that he won election and killed that idea in it’s infancy.

  19. 19.

    Glidwrith

    Teasing apart Medicaid qualifications from family-level to individual so children still have coverage.

  23. 23.

    Eric S.

    #n: Federal funds helped pay for replacement of Webster Ave bridge at Ashland in Chicago.

    #n+1: Federal funds helping pay for Chicago Red Line extension south into under served areas.

     

    Already mentioned but since my brother is diabetic I want to give another shout out to $35 insulin.

  24. 24.

    oldster

    How many insurrectionists have been charged, prosecuted, and convicted? I don’t know whether we are in the hundreds yet, but each one counts towards the 500.

    Also, getting us out of Afghanistan, and supporting Ukraine, as others have said.

    Hell, in the case of Ukraine, he was sounding the alarm for months when everyone else was accusing him of McCarthyism, war-mongering, russophobia, and general senility.

    And he was fucking *right*.

  28. 28.

    marcopolo

    Also too, his commitment to diversity in his cabinet, the rest of the administration, & the federal judiciary (more AA women appointed judges by Biden than all previous presidents combined!).  Oh, and appointing as judges folks who were public defenders, not just prosecutors.

    If you don’t have a seat at the table, probably means you are on the menu…

  29. 29.

    bbleh

    Not allowed the White House Christmas decorations to look like something out of a bad horror movie.

  30. 30.

    Fleeting Expletive

    Hi, all. I have been in the hospital for some days because of an exacerbation of COPD, is what they said.

    Its been a real bitch, is what I have to say about that. I have learned a lot, as it’s myy first serious bout with the consequemces of my choices           d ont smoke. don’t vape.

  31. 31.

    RobArt

    Rule of law.
    Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson.
    Respect.
    VP Kamala Harris.
    Calm.
    Competence.
    Respect for labor.
    The example of First Lady Jill Biden & a loving marriage.
    C’mon man!

  32. 32.

    Anyway

    Raising awareness of the awesomeness of ICE CREAM!!!!!   Thank you Brandon.

    okay okay, Not putting up with malarkey…

    Ukraine

  35. 35.

    Glidwrith

    The empathy for all those who lost family and friends to COVID. Over 1.3 million leaves shadows of what might have been.

  36. 36.

    Nukular Biskits

    On a personal level, I can’t think of anything President Biden has done that has directly benefited me, although I’m sure he has.

    But that misses the point, IMHO:  Too many folks base their evaluation of good politics/good policies on whether or not they derive some direct personal benefit.

    Having said that, I submit that Joe Biden is a better man than me, being able to suffer the slings and arrows of those who are absolutely frothing at the mouth insanely angry at his being president, and carrying on enjoying life and doing what’s best for America.

  37. 37.

    Fleeting Expletive

    ETA fuck church hospitals. Fuck them all the wya up.

    I didn’t stutter when I told them I decline ane refuse their evangelical charismatic holly roller catholic prayers. to basicallly no avail.

    I repeatedly told them I respect their first amendment right to do it and ask that they respect my first amendment right to reject, abjure, and exile that papist shit today, that it is theologically unsound to jthe god of my understanding.

    FUckem for me.

  38. 38.

    AM in NC

    Appointed pro-labor members to the NLRB, shifting it from an anti-worker to a pro-worker stance and making a difference (materially) in the lives of millions of hourly workers!

  41. 41.

    Bruce K in ATH-GR

    He gave me hope that maybe the America I was raised to believe in will survive after I’m gone. With TFG in power, I was worried I’d live to see the death of the nation I was born and grew up in.

  42. 42.

    Fleeting Expletive

    Cant tell if my first comment posted. Spent 6 days in hosp due to copd.

    I don’t like relighion in medicine.  thats pretty much it

  45. 45.

    Geminid

    Joe Biden sgned an Infrastructure bill that included $60 billion for investments for Amtrak, which according to the Amtrak head is more than total investment since the system was founded. A service map that has been static as this country has added over 100 million people is finally being expanded.

    The Infrastructure bill included a lot of funding for mass transit as well, $10 billion for New York City’s MTA alone. I think there is morde to be done in these areas, and that’s why I hope to see an Infrastructure 2.0 bill passed during Joe Biden’s second term.

  51. 51.

    RaflW

    Biden has been outspoken on TGBTQ issues. He’s hosted queer folks at the WH for Pride events, issued Executive Orders on things like curbing “conversion therapy”, and working to have HHS make health care as LGBTQ-inclusive as possible.

  52. 52.

    Fleeting Expletive

    Thanks, Watergirl. It has been an education, since the last time i was hospitalized it was 06 in a secular, local place with no bullshit as I recall.

    I’m grateful for balloon juice, I just wanted to tell somebody, hey, I been sick. Im not otherrwise commenting on the web, no fb, no twitterin, so thank s for your hospitality.

  53. 53.

    Miss Bianca

    @marcopolo: Indeed, the diversity of Biden’s Cabinet is one of the big wins of his administration. First Native American Secretary of the Interior, Deb Haaland!

    ETA: And since others have touched on the first point above, let me add: Calling out fascists and white supremacists for what they are – an existential threat to this country and the world.

  57. 57.

    RevRick

    The wisdom of old age.

    The underrated ability to schmooze. He got Joe Manchin and Bernie Sanders on the same page for so much, for God’s sake!

  58. 58.

    Scout211

    He showed us that to be a good leader you don’t have to be a bully.

    But more personally, he cured my constant anxiety and periodically raised blood pressure that lasted for about four years.

  59. 59.

    RaflW

    This one is huge, but gets no press: Biden signed the Postal Service Reform Act in 2022.
    Since 2006, prefunding retirements had been the lead weight that had been attached to USPS to make it ‘bankrupt’ so that evil sh*ts like DeJoy could ruin one of the best examples of government working well for everyone, at a uniform cost, and without favor to the rich. Hurrah!!

  60. 60.

    laura

    Went with a friend to see Beyonce Wednesday night. My friend just tested positive for Covid. I just tested negative, but am advised to retest within 48 hours.

    Her test kit and mine were mailed to us for free courtesy of Joe Biden. I would not have been so fortunate if the pandemic had been left to the tender mercies of Jared Kushner.

  65. 65.

    peter

    Selfish it sounds, but peace of mind. After four years of helpless rage and anxiety and dread and teeth-gnashing due to TIFG and his low-quality family and cabinet, I sleep better knowing that someone with class and principles is in charge and has surrounded himself with competent and principled people. The MSM’s feckless coverage of Biden, Harris, and his cabinet still keeps me up at night, however.

  71. 71.

    Ohio Mom

    Two things that will save Seniors on Medicare’s Part D money (when they go into effect in coming years): $2,000 annual cap on individual spending, and the first negotiations with big pharm on pricing.

  72. 72.

    RaflW

    Despite Tuberville’s awful tactics to blackmail Biden, he’s held tough on DoD protecting Military women’s right to travel to a state of their choice for reproductive care & abortion services.

  73. 73.

    Scout211

    Here is 23 of Biden’s accomplishments from Upworthy

    Some of these I actually forgot about.  He really is a good man and a good president.

    1. Passed the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure package to increase investment in the national network of bridges and roads, airports, public transport and national broadband internet, as well as waterways and energy systems.

    2. Helped get more than 500 million life-saving COVID-19 vaccinations in the arms of Americans through the American Rescue Plan.

    3. Stopped a 30-year streak of federal inaction on gun violence by signing the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act that created enhanced background checks, closed the “boyfriend” loophole and provided funds for youth mental health.

    4. Made a $369 billion investment in climate change, the largest in American history, through the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.

    5. Ended the longest war in American history by pulling the troops out of Afghanistan.

    6. Provided $10,000 to $20,000 in college debt relief to Americans with loans who make under $125,000 a year.

    7. Cut child poverty in half through the American Rescue Plan.

    8. Capped prescription drug prices at $2,000 per year for seniors on Medicare through the Inflation Reduction Act.

    9. Passed the COVID-19 relief deal that provided payments of up to $1,400 to many struggling U.S. citizens while supporting renters and increasing unemployment benefits.

    10. Achieved historically low unemployment rates after the pandemic caused them to skyrocket.

    11. Imposed a 15% minimum corporate tax on some of the largest corporations in the country, ensuring that they pay their fair share, as part of the historic Inflation Reduction Act.

    12. Recommitted America to the global fight against climate change by rejoining the Paris Agreement.

    13. Strengthened the NATO alliance in support of Ukraine after the Russian invasion by endorsing the inclusion of world military powers Sweden and Finland.

    14. Authorized the assassination of the Al Qaeda terrorist Ayman al-Zawahiri, who became head of the organization after the death of Osama bin Laden.

    15. Gave Medicare the power to negotiate prescription-drug prices through the Inflation Reduction Act while also reducing government health spending.

    16. Held Vladimir Putin accountable for his invasion of Ukraine by imposing stiff economic sanctions.

    17. Boosted the budget of the Internal Revenue Service by nearly $80 billion to reduce tax evasion and increase revenue.

    18. Created more jobs in one year (6.6 million) than any other president in U.S. history.

    19. Reduced healthcare premiums under the Affordable Care Act by $800 a year as part of the American Rescue Plan.

    20. Signed the PACT Act to address service members’ exposure to burn pits and other toxins.

    21. Signed the CHIPS and Science Act to strengthen American manufacturing and innovation.

    22. Reauthorized the Violence Against Women Act through 2027.

    23. Halted all federal executions after the previous administration reinstated them after a 17-year freeze.

     

  76. 76.

    Glidwrith

    @rikyrah: And it’s a twofer, because those sanctions are helping to starve Putin of his ability to wage war. All those countries bordering Russia are less threatened.

  77. 77.

    Fleeting Expletive

    Ozark, my compliant patient self lasted two days, then my inner Sylvia came out ( a relative who could peel paint when pissed, i.e., my mom).  .

    The sheer chutzpah of slinging that prosyletizing crap at a vulnerable and nwilling person is obscene and aggressive, in my steroid and adrenalin enhanced opinion and state of roid rage.  thanks for letting me share that. i mean no offense to the receptive, but blow it out yer ass, preacher.

  79. 79.

    Reboot

    Biden got Rick Scott (!) to say this:

    “Can I just say something real quick about what the president has done? First off, the president did a great a job with the early declaration before the storm hit the coast,” Scott said. “That was a big deal. It helped all these first responders.”

    “And then how fast you approved through FEMA the individual assistance, the public assistance. It was a big people deal,” he continued. “These are not rich communities. Many of them struggle … I want to thank you for doing that very quickly.”

  80. 80.

    OzarkHillbilly

    @Fleeting Expletive: I can not shit into a bed pan (literally, just ain’t happening) but I do have a pee bottle handy and if it is half full I’d be sorely tempted. Thinking of the people who’d have to clean up the mess might restrain me tho. Might.

  88. 88.

    Scout211

    Giving credit to Upworthy, here goes:

    1. Passed the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure package to increase investment in the national network of bridges and roads, airports, public transport and national broadband internet, as well as waterways and energy systems.
  90. 90.

    Lapassionara

    When he holds cabinet meetings, the meetings are for business purposes and not for having cabinet secretaries say how wonderful he is and what a good job he is doing.

  91. 91.

    Scout211

    Helped get more than 500 million life-saving COVID-19 vaccinations in the arms of Americans through the American Rescue Plan.

  92. 92.

    Scout211

    Stopped a 30-year streak of federal inaction on gun violence by signing the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act that created enhanced background checks, closed the “boyfriend” loophole and provided funds for youth mental health.

  93. 93.

    Scout211

    Made a $369 billion investment in climate change, the largest in American history, through the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.

  97. 97.

    Scout211

    Provided $10,000 to $20,000 in college debt relief to Americans with loans who make under $125,000 a year.

  98. 98.

    Ohio Mom

    @Fleeting Expletive: Ugh on your diagnosis. Keep us posted going forward, we will all be pulling for you.

    That’s not a condition I know much about, I mostly know about the things my family has dealt with/are in treatment for. I imagine that there are lots of treatments and a well-established protocol (one thing to avoid in life is having something doctors don’t know what to do about, and you have dodged that).

    I recommend lots of internet research — I find that stories from other patients can be very helpful and sometimes inspiring — and don’t be too timid to get a second opinion or switch up doctors when one doesn’t click with you.

  100. 100.

    Scout211

    Capped prescription drug prices at $2,000 per year for seniors on Medicare through the Inflation Reduction Act.

  101. 101.

    UncleEbeneezer

    @peter: It may be selfish but it’s important.  And I have a feeling there are a lot more voters who feel the same way than the media or polls would suggest.  And I think it might be a big factor in 2024.    For all the talk about people not being excited about Biden, I have a hard time believing anyone but hardcore MAGAts want to actually go back to having him as President again.

  102. 102.

    Scout211

    Passed the COVID-19 relief deal that provided payments of up to $1,400 to many struggling U.S. citizens while supporting renters and increasing unemployment benefits.

  104. 104.

    Scout211

    Imposed a 15% minimum corporate tax on some of the largest corporations in the country, ensuring that they pay their fair share, as part of the historic Inflation Reduction Act.

  106. 106.

    Scout211

    Strengthened the NATO alliance in support of Ukraine after the Russian invasion by endorsing the inclusion of world military powers Sweden and Finland

  107. 107.

    Scout211

    Authorized the assassination of the Al Qaeda terrorist Ayman al-Zawahiri, who became head of the organization after the death of Osama bin Laden.

  108. 108.

    Jinchi

    @Bethanyanne: ​
      I was just noticing that nearly every street in my town has been repaved recently and I’m sure it was because of Biden’s infrastructure bill.

  109. 109.

    Scout211

    Gave Medicare the power to negotiate prescription-drug prices through the Inflation Reduction Act while also reducing government health spending.

  111. 111.

    Scout211

    Boosted the budget of the Internal Revenue Service by nearly $80 billion to reduce tax evasion and increase revenue.

  112. 112.

    Scout211

    Reduced healthcare premiums under the Affordable Care Act by $800 a year as part of the American Rescue Plan.

  118. 118.

    Scout211

    Halted all federal executions after the previous administration reinstated them after a 17-year freeze.

  119. 119.

    CaseyL

    Biden winning made an absolutely huge difference on every level, impossible to numerate, so I’ll narrow this down to what electing Biden has done for me on a purely personal-individual level:

    If TFG had been re-elected, I knew I could kiss Social Security and Medicare goodbye, so on a personal level, I may actually be able to retire in a few years rather than work until I drop.

    I no longer wake up – in the middle of the night, or at dawn – with adrenaline already spiking my system, wondering what fresh hell will be emitting from the White House.

  121. 121.

    UncleEbeneezer

    Maybe the best thing about Biden is that he doesn’t pander to his critics on Twitter who will never stop bashing him, no matter what he does.

  122. 122.

    Ohio Mom

    I don’t know if this is a Biden accomplishment, but I’ve been given a few chuckles when he quietly throws shade and then smiles slyly.

    Laughing is good for you!

  126. 126.

    WaterGirl

    @Scout211: I did not know that!

    I was just razzing you, but seriously, thank you for breaking these out.  Pretty sure I’m not the only one whose eyes glaze over at a long list.

    The internet has made me so impatient!

  128. 128.

    Glidwrith

    @CaseyL: Yes, so much this. SFB had figured out the Inspectors General existed and were one of the main mechanisms reigning in his corruption of the government. He was working on getting rid of them and transforming federal services into at-will employment and crony capitalism.

  129. 129.

    Geminid

    @Jinchi: The money for repaving your town’s roads might have come from the $1.9 trillon American Rescue Plan passed in February, 2021. The last of that money is only now being spent.

  130. 130.

    artem1s

    high quality hires – people who have contributed to and worked on substantive projects and will continue to do so. and an administration that isn’t solely focused on getting the feckless MSM to like them.

  133. 133.

    WereBear

    @Glidwrith: What if military bases could offer medical care under federal law? With local doctors on a schedule to keep doctors in the community.

    You know, as a condition of keeping a military base.

  136. 136.

    japa21

    Underestimated, but he has unified the Democratic Party to an extent rarely seen, which bodes well for the future.

  139. 139.

    Alison Rose

    He’s stayed firmly and proudly in VP Harris’ corner no matter what picky crap the media says about her or any whining from the uber-lefties. I appreciate that a lot.

  140. 140.

    kalakal

    @Dorothy A. Winsor: Absolutely.

    His work in getting Europe lined up in support of Ukraine was incredible.

    I defy anyone to say that 3 years ago they expected to see Poland encouraging German rearmament.

    On a personal level I no longer dread hearing what stupid malicious thing TFG has done/said lately

  141. 141.

    Nelle

    @artem1s: when I hear complaints that Biden is too old, I respond that he has some of the best young hires of any president.  He’s building a deep bench.  In that sense he some of the best long range planning I’ve seen in any president.  He’s committed to making a better world for our grandchildren.

  142. 142.

    Old Dan and Little Ann

    The crumbling bridges around Rochester have been an eye sore as far as I remember.  Many of them are being  repaired as of late.  That’s a big fucking deal.  Thanks, Biden.

  143. 143.

    StringOnAStick

    The list of rebates for home energy improvements is impressive, it will help us throw down for an induction range so we can get this ancient gas range out of our impossible to vent home.  We put $10k into insulation improvement here this spring, and we will get some help with that too.

    The main thing for me personally is it reversed my ever increasing sense of climate dread.  When TFIG won, the first thing that hit me was knowing we were going to lose a ton of climate progress.  Biden has accomplished more than I dreamed possible on that front.  If you do podcasts and need some climate hope, listen to “Everyone in the Pool”.  Hope is good, action is even better!

  146. 146.

    RevRick

    Thinking about Family Systems Theory and how it talks about leadership, these two biggies:

    1). Non-anxious presence;

    2). Self-differentiation, able to take unpopular actions (I.e. Afghanistan).

  148. 148.

    Sanjeevs

    Pushed back against Chinese aggression in the Pacific – strengthened ties with Japan , Korea, Australia , Philippines etc

  151. 151.

    kalakal

    Biden understands the Truman quote

    “It’s amazing what you can get done if you don’t mind who gets the credit”

    He’s interested in getting things done, not in performative jackassery. This makes a wonderful change

    He’s also done wonders for the sales of Ray Ban Aviators

  152. 152.

    geg6

    His brilliant work on student loan forgiveness and repayment.  It does not get enough love but it will change millions of lives for the better.

  153. 153.

    Dr. Fungus

    Made politics boring again.

    It is so nice not to start each day wondering “what did the President do now?”

  154. 154.

    Jim Appleton

    May not meet criteria, but his legacy, I’m sure, will be in the same territory as FDR.

    Hard to see now, but in time …

  155. 155.

    Alison Rose

    This might seem small, but he’s given us a president with a sense of humor again!! One minor but still shitty thing about TIFG is that the dude has no sense of humor whatsoever. Doesn’t know how to tell actual jokes that aren’t just expressions of bigotry told with a smirk, doesn’t understand what is funny and what isn’t, and doesn’t care. Obama had such a fun sense of humor, and Biden does too, and it’s so nice to see that again. Hell, even GWB had humor.

  157. 157.

    gene108

    @Glidwrith:

    Sending money to all families during COVID to help with job losses.

    Getting money into people’s hands was Nancy Pelosi and House Democrats in 2020 pushing through the CARES Act, the and Families First act, with Republicans realizing things would get really bad without the fiscal stimulus, so they didn’t really get in the way.

  159. 159.

    Brit in Chicago

    @What Have The Romans Ever Done for Us?: This deserves a shout-out. It is impossible to over-state the importance of a competent civil service committed to supplying policy makers  with objective and impartial evaluations of the facts (and the public, unless the information needs to be secret for good security reasons). And also committed to implementing policies in an efficient and even-handed way. They are vilified as “the Deep State”, but they are essential and deserve our support. So thanks, WHTREDFU.

  160. 160.

    Ruckus

    I was going to write a rant.

    But instead, can we work together to insure that we never, ever, in anyone’s lifetime have anyone as shitty, worse than useless, dumb and asinine as 46 45 ever again? PLEASE.

    @WereBear:

    I believe a national medical system would be better than that.

    Because the military and veteran medical services have to somewhat specialize in parts of medicine that do with the direct effects of warfare, which creates issues that the vast majority of doctors would never or very rarely see. Now if we could end warfare……

  164. 164.

    UncleEbeneezer

    Biden gave us Garland, who gave us Jack Smith.  As a result, Trump will be tried for his role in the attempted Insurrection, long before the next election.

  165. 165.

    Jackie

    • Appointed the first African American SC Justice: Ketanji Brown Jackson

     

    • Restored dignity to the Presidency
  166. 166.

    Ruckus

    @Alison Rose:

    Hell, even GWB had humor.

    My memory must be getting as old as the rest of me. I mean OK he wasn’t pure shit, I’ve got to give you that.

    I look today, at where conservative politics has gotten us in my lifetime and I say no, we as a nation do not, including those that support SFB, do not deserve any current day conservative president. Because every damn one of them wants to go backwards in time. Some like SFB want to go backwards a century or more. My clock doesn’t work that way.

  167. 167.

    gene108

    @Alison Rose:

    This might seem small, but he’s given us a president with a sense of humor again!! One minor but still shitty thing about TIFG is that the dude has no sense of humor whatsoever.

    I don’t think it’s a minor point about TFG. One thing that glaringly stood out to me in 2016 is how he lacked the full range of normal human emotions. He never laughed. He never smiled. He was always angry. Lacked any empathy or sympathy for others.

    Just a deeply deeply deeply disturbed individual.

    A lot of folks saw this too, which is why the Women’s March was so large.

  168. 168.

    Glidwrith

    From the research side of things: in the waning days of the Obama administration, scientists were frantically downloading data on pollution, climate change, drugs, etc, fearing SFB would destroy that accumulated knowledge. I know from one Juicer here, that at least some of that information was rendered inaccessible.

    Were the databases restored? If so, that’s a huge Biden deal, not least because the generational effects of pollution are one of the things used to hold polluters accountable in courts of law.

  170. 170.

    Ruckus

    @Mike E:

    ABSOFUCKINGLUTELY!!!!!

    I should never type this early in the morning. Or possibly ever!!!!

    I MEANT 45, SFB, THE WORST HUMAN EVER, NOT THE PERSON WE NOW HAVE AS PRESIDENT. I APOLOGIZE – TO THE HUMAN RACE, FOR SUCH AN ASININE MISTAKE.

  172. 172.

    ToesInTheSand

    Inclusion of the yoots and especially exposing the world to Amanda Gorman and her eloquent  and courageous performance of the “The Hill We Climb”.

  173. 173.

    Bex

    When he went to Kyiv and was formally greeted by President Zelenskyy and the First Lady, he asked her how their kids were doing.  “That’s the important thing,” he said to her.

  174. 174.

    Scout211

    I really admire how both he and VP Harris completely ignore the media noise machine and the crazy caucus in the House.  They just let it role off their backs and go on doing their respective jobs.

    This takes a whole lot of emotional strength, especially when the media goes after family and/or just makes shit up. But they calmly resist the urge to defend themselves, which gives the crazy caucus and the media noise machine much less power.

  179. 179.

    Another Scott

    @Glidwrith: I think you’re referring to things like this:

    President Barack Obama has long been promising a website to guide everyone on climate change, and on March 19 he launched it as one of the initiatives he is taking to combat the issue in the face of Congressional inaction.

    The initiative, led by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), is a new climate-focused section of Data.gov, the federal government’s open data platform, hosted by the General Services Administration, the White House said in a statement.

    The goal is to “make federal data about our climate more open, accessible and useful to citizens, researchers, entrepreneurs and innovators,” the White House said. Today’s launch includes 100-plus web services, tools, data and other interactive features that can help communities prepare for and adapt to changes. The initial focus is on the most pressing matter, coastal flooding and sea level rise.

    […]

    That site was climate.data.gov

    It is now at https://data.gov/climate/1/

    There’s a big gap between October, 2015 and August, 2023 (with only one update in that period). I wonder why… ;-)

    US Government work is not protected by copyright, so anyone can grab it and do what they like with it (with some limits). So, TIFG was not going to be able to keep it bottled up forever.

    HTH!

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  181. 181.

    Scout211

    Made the RSV vaccination free to Medicare recipients (under part D).

    (Although I had to point that out to the CVS clerk). 😉

  182. 182.

    SiubhanDuinne

    Named the first-ever Native American, Deb Haaland, to serve as a Cabinet secretary — most appropriately, as Secretary of the Interior. Among many, many good appointments, this was one of his most inspired.

  183. 183.

    arrieve

    @Glidwrith:

    Setting up the massive logistics required to distribute COVID vaccines.

    Others mentioned this and related things as well, but switching to competent, engaged leadership during the biggest crisis of my lifetime is top of the list for me. I cried when I got the first vaccine and not because my arm hurt.

    I was sure that the economic fallout would be almost worse than the human toll–that even those of us who didn’t get sick would be living in a desperate world. (I live in New York, so apocalyptic thinking came naturally during the dark days of 2020-2021.) But steady leadership meant a lot. There are still wobbles–businesses that will never come back, supply chain hiccups. But I remember the empty grocery shelves in 2020, the things I tried to order from Amazon (because I couldn’t shop) that never came because they were made in China. And the daily insanity from TFG.

  185. 185.

    Ohio Mom

    @Glidwrith: Similarly, Betsy DeVos had tons of guidance on special education destroyed.

    For example, it’s one thing to say, “Students should be placed in the least restrictive environment,” but the nitty gritty of what that means in actual practice? I like to think that duplicate copies continued to exist and all that information was not lost but I don’t know.

  186. 186.

    Alison Rose

    Can we also just say things we like about him? In addition to the sense of humor I mentioned above, I also appreciate that he actually LISTENS to people when they’re talking to him, especially regular citizens. With TIFG, you could see him get bored within about 1.5 seconds of anyone else talking, because the only voice he wants to hear is his own, and he didn’t give a single shit about anyone else’s life or experience. Biden listens, and actually hears them, and cares about what they’re saying.

  188. 188.

    BeautifulPlumage

    Restored the wall between the administration & the DOJ. No weekly dinners with Garland, no comments on DOJ actions.

  189. 189.

    BeautifulPlumage

    Got the GOP congress critters to say yes to a tax cut in his address to the joint chambers.

  190. 190.

    BeautifulPlumage

    Actually zoomed around in an electric truck instead of sitting at the wheel making vroom noises.

  191. 191.

    Jackie

    Appointed Rachel Levine, Pennsylvania’s top health official, as his assistant secretary of health. Levine, a pediatrician, is the first openly transgender federal official to be confirmed by the Senate.

  195. 195.

    BeautifulPlumage

    Spending personal time with family in Delaware instead of expensive & grifty golf outings.

    (love comment # 187!)

  199. 199.

    prostratedragon

    Every bit of all that, starting with no.1, and for me personally the prospect of more-affordable Farxiga to help stabilize my stage 4 kidney disease.

  200. 200.

    BeautifulPlumage

    Supports a free press instead of caging them and making them targets of supporter’s rage & violence.

  201. 201.

    Yarrow

    I like that he doesn’t care much about things like the dumbass media and the latest “outrage” on Twitter but focuses on stuff that really matters like getting legislation passed, seating competent judges, and spending time with his family.

  204. 204.

    Sans Simian

    Hmph, I won’t give him credit until I get my rebates from the IRA for my new heat pump.

    Just kidding, I know it’s the Texas Lege and Governor Abattoir that’s holding that up…

    Meanwhile, like the many others above, I’ll give Biden credit for just bringing normal humanity back to the White House, so I can, like, sleep at night.

    (I literally had to get back on anxiety meds after 11/9.)

  205. 205.

    BeautifulPlumage

    Championship-winning teams willing to be feted at the white house again (and not fed cold hamberders).

  207. 207.

    Yarrow

    I also want to say that I’m not much on board with focusing on the guy in the White House and not also focusing on Congress. I love Joe Biden and am relieved and happy he’s in the White House, but he can’t get legislation passed alone. He needs Congress. We need Democrats in there to get his legislation passed and judges and other appointments in place. Co-equal branches of government, bitches.

  208. 208.

    Kay

    Has a genuinely pro public ed US Dept of Education instead of ridiculous gimmick – and – rich -people worshippers.

    Hiring matters and Biden makes good hires. Trump, OTOH, hires exclusively low quality people. It would kill Trump as a manager even if he weren’t a horrible racist asshole- Donald Trump hires garbage people. Trump seems to end up hating most of his hires and I can’t blame him – it’s true that he hires low quality.

  209. 209.

    BeautifulPlumage

    Restored the tradition of the president and/or the first lady appearing at the Kennedy Center Honors events.

  210. 210.

    Betsy

    @Ohio Mom: This.  Yes. And so many more examples of kindness, discernment, wisdom, and acting based on principles.  God bless them! To use a Joe phrase.

  211. 211.

    Salty Sam .

    Joe Biden has made it possible to even have a thread like this one.  Just reading y’all’s contributions to the list lifts my spirits.   That night of Nov 9th 2016 was the first night of an almost constant feeling of dread, and sickness of spirit-  it has taken until recently to feel like the sun is shining again, thanks to Joe, and Dark Brandon.

    ETA- The banishment of MALARKEY!

  212. 212.

    Villago Delenda Est

    “Apart from the sanitation, the medicine, education, wine, public order… and public health, what has Dark Brandon ever done for us?”

  213. 213.

    Hazmat

    So many things, but just to list the ones that come to mind quickly and affect me directly:

    The improved mental health from not having TFG in office, and not carrying that fear and rage every day. Also from having someone in office who wants to make things better and is a decent human.

    Wiping out my partner’s enormous student loan balance last month in the one-time adjustment that made all past periods of deferment and forbearance count as months in repayment. I don’t like calling it forgiveness because it was a fix for the student loan servicers’ bad behavior of steering people into forbearance and deferment rather than into income-based repayment as they should have. Regardless it’s a big fing deal.

    Creating the SAVE student loan repayment plan which will keep loan balances from ballooning due to interest as long as income-based payments are made. This will allow me to actually pay off my grad school loans. Life-changing.

  215. 215.

    Sans Simian

    Also too this isn’t explicitly from the Biden Admin, but I just got out of the hospital after 3 days (for an emergency that I probably could have prevented, listen to your body dammit), and I haven’t gotten the bill yet… and I know it’s gonna be ridiculous even with solid insurance… But somehow I know it’s not gonna bankrupt me, somehow just ’cause the man in the White House gives me the sense of “hey, we got this.”

    (Who knows where TFFFG would have us by now?)

  216. 216.

    AM in NC

    @Laura:  I am currently suffering with my first bout of COVID.  Tested negative first time (as soon as I felt the sore throat) and then two days later, flamingly positive.  I feel like shit on toast and that’s with all boosters.  Thank God for the vaccines and the tests.

  217. 217.

    frosty

    @arrieve: I cried when I got the first vaccine and not because my arm hurt.

    So did I – well, got choked up. We were in my post-retirement road trip and I made an appointment at a WalMart in Mississippi. Showed them my PA ID and they didn’t care that I was from out of state* just gave me the shot. I kept repeating “I can’t believe this worked!”

    * I asked the pharmacy tech if I could get the vaccine when I wasn’t from Mississippi. Her response: “We’re a little more lax than other states.”

    So yes, the vaccine rollout was a BFD.

  219. 219.

    Redshift

    @Scout211:

    And the Inflation Reduction Act has already produced shifts in energy investment toward renewables, even though many of its provisions haven’t yet taken effect. They’re in law, though, so companies can rely on them in their planning. Since renewables are cheaper once built, these economic shifts will be difficult or impossible for GOPers to undo in the future.

  221. 221.

    WaterGirl

    Joe put Denis McD. in charge of the VA, and it seems to me that Joe has generally been really looking out for veterans.  The vets among us can correct me if I’m wrong about that.

    P.S. to @AM in NC:

    Sorry you have Covid, and that you are so sick!  Yes thank god for the vaccines.

  222. 222.

    Sure Lurkalot

    Thanks everyone, I’m uncharacteristically at a loss for words as so much ground has been covered by all of these comments. Bookmarked for talking points!

    Here goes, prolly a repeat…Joe may be older than we’d like but he knows what fascism is and he calls it out and stands against it in his own way. He is a pillar of democracy because he believes in it (more than most, I think) and he will not let it go down without a fight.

  223. 223.

    StringOnAStick

    @Sans Simian: I had to go back into therapy when that POS was elected; he made me realize just how much parental narcissism had impacted me, and my therapist said she had a huge jump in people coming back in for the same reason.  I’m doing much better since Joe and Kamala won!

  224. 224.

    lowtechcyclist

    From a liberal perspective, obviously, one thing Biden’s done is he’s refused to throw anybody under the bus. For too long that had been one of my big gripes with the Democratic Party, including the last two Democratic Presidents: there’s always been some group that they’ve been willing to sacrifice to not offend white voters. But Biden stands strong for women, Blacks, LGBTQ persons, you name it. That means a lot to me.

  226. 226.

    Alison Rose

    BTW if y’all want to weep over the loveliest memory celebrating our Joe, here’s the ceremony where Obama awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The moment when he announces it and Biden immediately turns away and has to pull out his hankie just gets me every time I see it. Obama’s remarks about Joe would fit in well with this post! And Joe’s speech too was so moving and wonderful.

  227. 227.

    Bill Arnold

    A stable, very low unemployment job market with workers at a historically high advantage over employers.
    Layoffs still happen (tech has been scary for many) but most Americans are confident of stable income, and at the low wage end, people are doing far better than stable; switching employers can make sense.

  228. 228.

    Redshift

    For Labor Day, specifically:

    Restored labor law to its intended purpose by an NLRB ruling that requires employers to immediately recognize a union if they commit unfair labor practices (like firing union organizers) during an organizing campaign.

  231. 231.

    Bill Arnold

    Significant emphasis on blunting global heating and building out a renewables-based energy infrastructure less dependent on the anti-American leaders (some psychopaths) who dominate the global fossil fuel markets.  Not enough (it is a slowly-unfolding global catastrophe) , but 100X what would have happened under Republican rule.

  233. 233.

    Villago Delenda Est

    @WaterGirl: The VA is still in the process of recovering from insanity during the PABs reign.  For example, they shitcanned a good system of checking in for appointments for no apparent reason.  Still, the care I’ve experienced has consistently been great, it’s just administrative crap around the edges that are a bit frayed.

  235. 235.

    WaterGirl

    @Redshift:  From your link:

    Hot Labor Summer just became a scorcher.

    Last Friday, the National Labor Relations Board released its most important ruling in many decades. In a party-line decision in Cemex Construction Materials Pacific, LLC, the Board ruled that when a majority of a company’s employees file union affiliation cards, the employer can either voluntarily recognize their union or, if not, ask the Board to run a union recognition election. If, in the run-up to or during that election, the employer commits an unfair labor practice, such as illegally firing pro-union workers (which has become routine in nearly every such election over the past 40 years, as the penalties have been negligible), the Board will order the employer to recognize the union and enter forthwith into bargaining.

    The Cemex decision was preceded by another, one day earlier, in which the Board, also along party lines, set out rules for representation elections which required them to be held promptly after the Board had been asked to conduct them, curtailing employers’ ability to delay them, often indefinitely.

    Wowser.

  236. 236.

    Bill Arnold

    Standing up to arrogant meddling genocidal revanchist imperialist Russians.
    (I do not forgive their interference in the 2016 USA presidential election; it was a very close election.)

  238. 238.

    Bill Arnold

    An administration with respect for science, with no high-profile cranks who willfully pretend that lawyer-style cherry-picking/argumentation is science.

  240. 240.

    Scout211

    He is quietly selling leftover border wall parts at auction.   LOL

    Republicans Furious as Biden Sells Unused Trump Border Wall for Millions

    GovPlanet, an online marketplace for surplus government materials, recently oversaw the sale of hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of square structural tubes produced by Nucor Tubular that were apparently intended for former President Donald Trump’s border wall, a key promise of his 2016 presidential campaign.

    . . .

    “USACE has already transferred approximately $154 million worth of the roughly $260 million of bollard panels and other materials in accordance with standard excess property disposition procedures. USACE stands ready to implement a decision regarding disposition of the remaining materials,” the spokesperson wrote in a statement.

  241. 241.

    Brit in Chicago

    @Kay: I don’t think they were all of them low-quality people before going to work for TIFG (though no doubt most of them were). But once in the job, yeah, sure.

    Once again we see: Everything Trump Touches Dies.

    So there’s a thing uncle Joe is doing for us: touching things without causing them to die!

  242. 242.

    Redshift

    @WaterGirl:

    The SAVE program really is a big fucking deal.

    Yeah, I’ve had quite a few people I know post about how amazing it is for them. And since it took effect so soon after it was announced, people are actually aware it’s something Biden did for them.

    And despite what the assholes opposed to student loan relief said, other friends who had already paid of their loans didn’t resent it at all, and were happy for them.

  245. 245.

    bbleh

    Republicans Furious About
    Avalanche Of Biden Accomplishments
    Has He Overplayed His Hand?
    Analysis by The Times

  246. 246.

    Geminid

    @Scout211: That border wall steel will likely be melted down and turned into pylons for wind generators- swords into plowshares, so to speak.

    I read a WSJ article about how American steel producers are investing in new capacity even though steel prices have declined since the pandemic. They anticipate a lot of new demand due to the Infrastructure and IRA bills.

  247. 247.

    jonas

    @Villago Delenda Est: I recall a story from back in 2017-18 about how Trump had essentially turned running the VA over to a shady cohort of guys at Mar-A-Lago who were making all these random decisions that were then implemented by the VA secretary, some unqualified cretin whose name escapes me at the moment.

  250. 250.

    Glidwrith

    Mentioned a few days ago by another Juicer: baby formula crisis. Biden moved heaven and earth to get it imported until the US manufacturer cleaned up its act, literally.

  251. 251.

    WaterGirl

    We are halfway to a TBogg!  Come on west coast, time to get out of bed and do your part. :-)  Unless you are up and hanging out at the beach, in which case I envy you.

  252. 252.

    Jay C

    @Geminid:

    I’ve also read some (caveat lector) pieces on the ‘Net noting that a great deal of that “border wall” material was structurally substandard (reportedly from the contract being let to a GOP crony with little experience with the materials), and that a lot of it is already seriously oxidized. At least recycling it will get some use out of that steel.

    IMO, Joe Biden’s #1 accomplishment? NOT being Donald Trump.

  253. 253.

    Glidwrith

    Biden directly negotiated with the San Francisco port workers, I think? There was such a huge backlog of ships waiting to be unloaded, the Port shifted to a 24 hr schedule to deal with it. Please correct me if I’m wrong.

  254. 254.

    Alison Rose

    When you’re watching the news and they cut to a clip of the president speaking and you don’t have to groan and hit the mute button…that’s a nice feeling.

  255. 255.

    Scout211

    @bbleh: Ha Ha. Earlier this morning when I did a google search for lists of Biden accomplishments, there was a long list of links to articles with titles like,  “Biden’s Accomplishments in his First Two Years.”

    The NYT’s article title was entitled, “What Biden has – And Hasn’t – Accomplished as President.”

    Both sides, LOL!

  256. 256.

    S Cerevisiae

    Personally, my student loans were discharged so that’s huge for me.

    So much of the good that is happening is because of the Biden administration bringing back Keynesian economics after 40 years of supply-side nonsense.

  257. 257.

    citizen dave

    Launched (see DOE Secretary Granholm) a 10 year moonshot to lower the cost of long duration storage technology by 90%–the holy grail for our electric grid/system.

    Silenced Rush Limbaugh.

  258. 258.

    laura

    I’d like to share my personal benefit from the Biden Administration: when I retired from my Union Job I left behind the best healthcare plan which was 100% employer paid. I could have remained on the plan, but the costs were around $25,000 per year and that would have eaten up my savings before I age into Medicare. So I found a plan that kept our doctor and the premiums were around $1700 per month- steep, but the burn rate was slower. Joe Biden’s Covid response included a special supplement for healthcare costs and our monthly premium dropped to just a bit over $200 per month for me and spouse, but for a limited duration.

    I learned that the Inflation Reduction Act included a provision to extend the special supplement for 3 additional years. I also learned that those two Senators were not inclined to pass the Bill and that led to many sleepless nights. To my great relief, the IRA did pass, and my immediate response was to call my Senators, Alex Padilla and Diane Feinstein, and my Congresswoman Doris Matsui. I left messages with the Senators, but spoke directly with Congresswoman Matsui’s Sacramento Office Staff. I thanked her for her efforts and her Staff for their support and shared how it saved my family and freed up savings for increased financial security. My call was routed to the Legislative Assistant assigned to healthcare and related matters and I repeated my story and my gratitude. Days later I got a call asking if I’d be willing to be interviewed by my Congresswoman and the Head of Covered Californi. I said yes and a week later we zoomed and I again told my story- and how I’d been telling all my friends, my family and anyone who’d listen how affordable coverage was and who made it possible.

    Months later, the Congresswoman’s local office called and invited me to be a guest of Ms Matsui at the kickoff for open enrollment and tell my story again. Even though my knees were knocking with nerves, I joined her, and Representatives Dr Ami Bera and Dr Richard Pan in urging our community to sign up for affordable quality healthcare.

    That’s what Joe Biden has done for me.

  259. 259.

    Glidwrith

    Biden also intervened last year with the train companies versus unions when the holiday shipping rush started. The unions didn’t get everything they wanted, but it got better and after the rush, they got more sick leave negotiated.

  262. 262.

    Geminid

    @Glidwrith: You may be thinking of the workers at the Port of Los Angeles. I think that is the largest US port by volume, and it was jammed up two years ago.

  263. 263.

    Kay

    People may tell media people they think the economy is bad but they aren’t BEHAVING as if the economy is bad, which is one of the ways you can tell it’s a bullshit media narrative.

    They’re spending like crazy which has kept the economy humming and small business starts and job switching are way up, so they actually are taking risks – which is smart of them- the economy is very good. Great time to launch a small business or change job/career. The media gave them lousy personal finance advice which hurt Biden’s polling but which they mostly ignored as far as acting on it.

    It’s now completely untethered from anything real- people aren’t acting like it’s a bad economy (because it isn’t). It’s wholly narrative. Ludicrous. They should all be embarrassed. They actively MISLED the public.

  265. 265.

    Jackie

    @Redshift: Negotiating a good bargain agreement between the railroad union and management – thus diverting a strike that would have tanked the economy.

  266. 266.

    Kay

    Vacations are way up, which is another way you can tell media narrative about a bad economy is garbage. Not just expensive vacations that involve airfare, either. Campgrounds, RV parks, weekend trips w/in states – working class vacations, in other words. If they were really broke they wouldn’t be fucking taking vacations you dumbasses. How do I know this? Because I actually encounter working class people, unlike pundits, apparently. I SEE them.

  268. 268.

    bbleh

    @Scout211: In discussions with a focus group over breakfast in an Ohio diner at 10:30 in the morning, participants identified several things they had expected to see happen but haven’t.

    “Where’s muh flyin’ car, huh?” said one nearby resident.  “They said we’d have ’em by 2020, well here we are and *I* sure don’t see none.”

    “That’s right,” said a woman sitting nearby. “I’m tired of driving on these roads, with all the potholes and things.  And speaking of potholes, why hasn’t he fixed those?  We pay our taxes!”

    What was it Lily Tomlin said? “No matter how cynical you become, it’s never enough to keep up.”

  269. 269.

    frosty

    @dexwood: ​Aviators! I wore Ray-Ban aviators as my prescription glasses and sunglasses in my 20s. About 20 years ago I asked the Optometrist about them and she said “Yes, many of our older gentlemen like those.” I picked out something else, LOL.
    Joe may be an Older Gentleman but he makes them look good (and vice versa).​

  270. 270.

    Baud

    @Kay:

    Campgrounds, RV parks, weekend trips w/in states – working class Justice Thomas style vacations, in other words.

     

    Fixed to conform to propaganda.

  272. 272.

    Geminid

    Joe Biden had a good meeting at the Vilnius NATO summit last month with Turkish President Erdogan. That’s no mean feat because Erdogan is a very crabby guy.

    I think it must have been a good meeting because a couple of weeks ago the US aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford conducted joint exercises with Turkish Navy ships in the eastern Mediterranean. US/Turkiye relations have been rocky the last ten years and I don’t think these exercises would have happened before the Vilnius meeting.

    Then, the Ford made a port call at Antalya, on Turkiye’s southern coast. A lot of rich Russians keep their yachts at Antalya, and I wonder what their reactions were to seeing the 100,000 ton Ford drop anchor. They might have called their Turkish attorneys and told them to hurry up with their naturalization applications.

  273. 273.

    Ruckus

    @Geminid:

    In Los Angeles we have 2 train systems. But if you asked everyone I’d bet that not more than about 40% would even have a clue. I ride the electric train 50 miles across LA county for $.35/2 hrs (senior rates – hey I lived long enough to earn that!) My car on that trip gets about 30-32 mpg so we are talking about $7-8/each way by car. Yeah I take the train. This pre-dated Joe Biden as president, but other parts of the country need this as well. LA County has 9 million inhabitants and doesn’t have room for 6-8 million vehicles on the road. And it looks like it.

  275. 275.

    Jinchi

    @bbleh:     “They said we’d have ’em by 2020, well here we are”

    2020?!

    As Conan O’Brien liked to point out, they promised us all these things by the year 2000.

  276. 276.

    Subsole

    @gene108:

    I knew that guy was bad news when he didn’t have animals.

    No cat. No dog. No birds or fish or even something weird like snakes and spiders. Man didn’t even have an ant farm.

    Hell, did he even have a potted plant? I don’t recall.

    Maybe it is petty, but I found that lack of any animal companionship deeply fucking odd.

  278. 278.

    dexwood

    @frosty: I have a really old pair of Ray Ban aviators from when I was in my 20s. Too scratched to wear anymore, don’t know why I keep them. I’m now in my 70s, living in New Mexico, and prefer darker glasses that more fully cover and protect my eyes from our strong sunlight.

  280. 280.

    Geminid

    A provision of the Infrastructure bill that Joe Biden signed November, 2021 reinstated excise taxes on producers of toxic chemicals. That has replenished Superfund money that is now being used in 43 different Superfund cleanups, with a particular emphasis on sites near poor communities. The bill also provided a lot of money to replace lead water pipes in American communities.

    I think the Infrastructure bill was very much underrated when it was passed. There was a lot of blowback against Biden and Democratic leaders because they had decoupled it from the stalled Build Back Better bill, and this caused some Democrats to downrate and even misrepresent the Infrastructure bill.

  281. 281.

    Ruckus

    @Fleeting Expletive:

    I believe that they saw they weren’t getting enough people in their churches any more to even bother having the buildings and so opened hospitals, because everyone needs those at some point – hopefully rather rarely. Because yes, I’ve spend a bit of time in them over my lifetime. And I’ve gotten a bit farther along, I believe, in my lack of respect for what they seem to think is actually in the best interest of the person in the bed. I consider that we no longer bleed people to get rid of the bad blood, we should leave medicine to the people trained in actual medicine and leave the religion stuff to those that want it. Which seems to be not you – and really not me.

  283. 283.

    Salty Sam .

    @WaterGirl:   Yes, but isn’t it the return of the phrase malarkey? :-)

    Heh- Malarkey has always been one of my favorite words, since childhood.  Yes, it has been woefully underused, but chalk up another win for Joe to bring it back out from the shadows!

  284. 284.

    jackmac

    It’s been mentioned above in various ways, but it all started with restoring calm and competence to the White House.

  285. 285.

    KrackenJack

    First day in office: Biden signed an executive order establishing a 2-year lobbying ban for political appointees

  286. 286.

    KrackenJack

    First day in office: Reversed TFG’s executive order excluding undocumented immigrants from the census reapportionment count

  287. 287.

    Brachiator

    Coming late to the thread.

    I just wanted to note some of the specific benefits of the American Rescue Plan credits and how they reduced poverty.

    $1,400 per-person checks, with household income limits

    Increase the Child Tax Credit, Earned-Income Tax Credit, and Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit.

    A portion of the Child Tax Credit could be paid during the year, instead of waiting for a tax return to be filed. The dollar amounts of these credits increased, limits to qualify for the credits were reduced, and some of the credits were made refundable. This last was a really big deal.

    For example, previously if you were a lower income tax payer and did not owe any income tax, you would not be able to claim any child and dependent care credit. The American Rescue Plan made it fully refundable, even if you didn’t have a tax liability.

    These changes put more money into the pockets of low income taxpayers. But poor people don’t have enough strong advocates in Congress, so the enhanced credits were allowed to expire despite their clear positive effect.

  288. 288.

    SpongeBobtheBuilder

    You all listed the serious items already, so I’ll admit that I really enjoyed the pics of Naomi’s wedding at the White House.

  290. 290.

    opiejeanne

    President Biden becoming president helped me get off of Zoloft/Sertraline, and I started sleeping much better.

  291. 291.

    Amy

    I’m not sure if this is directly due to the Biden administration, but I’d like him to get credit. :) It seems to have become vastly easier the past couple of years to qualify for various government social programs like Lifeline (free phone and service for those under 135% of the poverty level) and the Affordable Connectivity Program ($30 towards internet service every month for those under 200% of the poverty level). The phone and ACP people come and set up tents at the store next door to me, and nowadays you can qualify without ID or the official letters proving you’re poor enough to qualify. They just type your basic info into their tablet and have access to the database of state Medicaid/food stamp programs, and if you do, they give you a phone all set up.

    I believe Republicans used to refer to them as “Obamaphones”, but they can be a lifesaver for people who can’t afford cell service otherwise. The tents next door were mostly absent during Trump’s horrible reign, and are there frequently now so I’m inclined to think it’s a democratic administration who cares about people with less income. A lot of people in poorer neighborhoods don’t have ID so didn’t used to be able to qualify, but now it’s easy. It should be so much easier to get an ID than it is, but in the meantime bypassing the whole thing works for many people.

    Joe Biden has been an excellent president who genuinely cares about people, and doesn’t get nearly the credit he deserves.  The thought that Trump could even possibly be reelected makes me feel ill. It would be a nightmare.

  292. 292.

    opiejeanne

    The money Biden sent out during COVID was great especially for the working poor, and everybody got it whether they needed it or not. We were ok without it but it let us do an expensive thing in our garden: taking up the gravel, weeding, putting down two new layers of weed cloth. The stupid buttercup was providing shelter for slugs that were causing a lot of damage.

  295. 295.

    KrackenJack

    First day in office: Directed agencies to revise emissions, fuel efficiency and appliance standards. Also re-established the Interagency Working Group on the Social Cost of Greenhouse Gases

  296. 296.

    Ruckus

    @Fleeting Expletive:

    i mean no offense to the receptive, but blow it out yer ass, preacher.

    I do mean it.

    I don’t care if anyone is or isn’t religious, but I do care when you push any of it on me. I used to walk away. But I already gave away all my fucks so I have none left and now I tell them exactly. I got a knock on the door a couple weeks ago and it was 2 guys with bibles in their hands. I somewhat forcefully shut the door before they got out a word. About a week later another one showed up to “save me.” I believe he may have learned some new swear words. He hasn’t been back. Second go round means you haven’t learned the first time. Schools now in session.

  302. 302.

    Jackie

    Not Biden news, but potentially good news for Dems:

    Democrats could gain a seat in the U.S. House and multiple seats in Georgia’s Legislature if a judge rules Republicans drew maps illegally weakening Black voters’ power,” the AP reports.

    “The trial beginning Tuesday is part of a wave of litigation progressing after the U.S. Supreme Court earlier this year stood behind its interpretation of the Voting Rights Act, rejecting Alabama’s challenge to the law.”

    PS I did it!!! My first successful block quote!!! Thanks everyone for your input last night!!!😁😁😁

  304. 304.

    Madeleine

    Something that I think has not been mentioned: though I am not a religious believer, I appreciate that Biden, being a believer, expresses his beliefs sincerely but without drama and does not demand that others share them.

  305. 305.

    Jackie

    @Alison Rose: Technically, that was before Biden became the Pres… he said that during their debate.😉

    But I’m positive he won a lot of votes for saying that!😂

  306. 306.

    Ruckus

    @CaseyL:

    If TFG had been re-elected, I knew I could kiss Social Security and Medicare goodbye, so on a personal level, I may actually be able to retire in a few years rather than work until I drop.

    As an already retired person, I exist on SS. I have the VA for my medical stuff. But I worked till I was 72, because rethuglican policies had already screwed me and the rest of the population. Go back and look at every recession we’ve been in over the last 75 yrs and look who caused it. Yep you guessed correctly, the fucking selfish party. They call themselves republicans. Whose motto is “All for us and fuck everyone else.”

  307. 307.

    Alison Rose

    Has so far awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to 17 people, NONE of whom were Antonin fucking Scalia or Tiger fucking Woods or Rush fucking Limbaugh or Devin fucking Nunes or Orrin fucking Hatch, but were actually people deserving of the honor (with maybe the exception of Alan Simpson, but he wasn’t as bad as Nunes or Hatch IMO). Simone Biles, Megan Rapinoe, Simone Campbell, Fred Gray, Gabby Giffords, and my own personal hero, Diane Nash.

  308. 308.

    BeautifulPlumage

    The oval office is no longer used for photo ops with skaggy, has-been musicians and other shallow idiots.

  310. 310.

    Alison Rose

    @Jackie: But it was during the campaign, so it counts! :)

     

    @Madeleine: As a Jew, I appreciate Christians/Catholics like him and many others who make it clear that they do not dismiss or denigrate anyone else’s religious beliefs. Too many Christians see Jews as needing to be “perfected” as Ann Coulter once said. Joe definitely doesn’t think that way.

  311. 311.

    BeautifulPlumage

    Ben Garrison isn’t making ridiculous, lable-laden cartoons showing Biden as a super hero.

  312. 312.

    Another Scott

    Biden means it when he says Labor built the Middle Class. Whitehouse.gov (today):

    I told you when I ran for president that I’d — I told you I’d have your back. And I have. (Applause.)

    You know, there are a lot of politicians in this country who don’t know how to say the word “union.” They talk about labor, but they don’t say “union.” It’s “union.” I’m one of the — I’m proud to say “union.” I’m proud to be the most pro-union president, according to the experts about — in American history. And that’s — (applause). And by the way, I make no bones about that.

    Folks, on this Labor Day, let me tell you what we’re celebrating. We’re celebrating jobs — good-paying jobs, jobs you can raise a family on, union jobs. (Applause.)

    Good, good.

    More, please.

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  314. 314.

    Anyway

    @Subsole:

    Maybe it is petty, but I found that lack of any animal companionship deeply fucking odd.

    I’m one of the rare jackals without animals ( I used to travel a lot often with little notice and that’s not conducive to animal companions). But I ooh and aah over every one of Albatrossity and Betty’s bird and animal pics …. hope that reduces the oddness.

  315. 315.

    Scout211

    And now he’s starting campaigning for re-election.  Today he started hitting harder against inmate P01135809.  I like it! Go Joe!

     

    President Joe Biden laced a Labor Day speech Monday with several pointed attacks at former President Donald Trump, casting him as the worst jobs president since the Great Depression and mocking his reputation as a real estate mogul.

    “The guy who held this job before me was just one of two presidents in history … who left office with fewer jobs in America than when he got elected to office,” Biden said while addressing union workers before a parade in Philadelphia. “By the way, you know who the other one was? Herbert Hoover. Isn’t that kind of coincidental?”

    Minutes later, the Democratic incumbent bragged about his bipartisan infrastructure deal, taking a victory lap for an achievement that eluded the Republican Trump during his term in office.

    “Guess what? The great real estate builder, the last guy, he didn’t build a damn thing,” Biden said. “Under my predecessor, infrastructure week became a punchline. On my watch, infrastructure has been a decade and it’s a headline.”

  325. 325.

    Amy

    It is so nice to see Joe when he meets with allies or any world leader really, and it’s not totally cringeworthy. Trump was such an embarrassment ranting to NATO members about how much money they owed and pushing people around.

  327. 327.

    anastasio beaverhausen

    Signed the repeal of The Defense of Marriage Act.  For my family, that was a BFD.

  328. 328.

    MichellefromChicago

    Having a president who is a normal person rather than, well, tfg

    His loving and respectful relationship with his wife and family (lovely to see, especially after the dysfunction and hostility of the Trump clan)

    Making it possible for the government to negotiate prices with pharma, not only for insulin, but for other drugs, as well

    Implementing, in spite of rampant R opposition, more progressive policies than any other president I can think of

    Showing graciousness and class, such as his recent comments about McConnell’s health problems

    But also calling out stupidity when warranted, such as his occasional takedowns of certain right-wing journalists

    Okay, that’s more than one… but I love me some Joe Biden!

  329. 329.

    Scout211

    Biden does not pretend to be an expert* in all things. He has advisors who are experts and he trusts them to advise.

    *Raking the forests, drinking bleach, etc.

  330. 330.

    bbleh

    @jonas:
    Glaring Difference From
    Unproductive Trump Years
    Seen By Some As Spiteful.  

    “If he’d maybe slow down a little, people wouldn’t feel like he’s rubbing their noses in it,” said one focus group participant.

  331. 331.

    WaterGirl

    @Amy: I mean, we haven’t had a single world leader pushed aside by Biden so he can reach some place where he believes he looks more important.

    Thank goodness for Joe, who, like Obama, is comfortable in his own skin.

  333. 333.

    Alison Rose

    @Amy: I was quite glad that QEII passed with Joe in office and not TIFG. We knew he would treat the situation with the proper respect and decorum, and not make it about himself and talk about how much people in Britain love him or whatever. (Which…they don’t. I mean, they have jerks too, I’m sure some of them do, but nah.)

  334. 334.

    lowtechcyclist

    @Scout211:

    The NYT’s article title was entitled, “What Biden has – And Hasn’t – Accomplished as President.”

    Both sides, LOL!

    He hasn’t brought about world peace or ended world hunger yet, the slacker!

  335. 335.

    mrmoshpotato

    @Scout211:

    Biden does not pretend to be an expert* in all things. He has advisors who are experts and he trusts them to advise. 

    *Raking the forests, drinking bleach, etc.

    Don’t forgot about shoving a lightbulb up your ass to cure COVID.

  336. 336.

    stinger

    Not only has Biden administered laws and policies that benefit millions of Americans, he has also changed the lives of individuals through his personal actions. For example, while campaigning for the presidency, he met and encouraged a 13-yr-old boy, Brayden Harrington, who stuttered badly. With Biden’s support, Brayden later made public speeches before huge audiences, first at the Democratic National Convention and then at Biden’s inauguration.

    Another example: While still just a “former vice president,” not running for anything, Biden encountered a homeless man outside a movie theater and gave him contact information for someone who could help him obtain a VA housing voucher.

    Although Biden is very, very good at politics, he is above all good at being a decent, caring human being.

  340. 340.

    Cowgirl in the Sandi

    This is a wonderful thread – so positive.

    Watergirl:  can you put a link to the thread in the sidebar so when we need a refresher or arguments to use with Trumpers we can easily find it?

  342. 342.

    Ilieitz

    I just got a German Shepard puppy, now 3months old and their favorite game is to nip you, bite your feet etc. so I understand Major a lot better

  343. 343.

    Jackie

    @WaterGirl: I’ve only pied one severely anti-religious commenter.

    I usually just scroll past commenters who get tediously stuck on something and won’t let whatever go, but made a special exception for the one.

  344. 344.

    BeautifulPlumage

    @WaterGirl: agree, love the specifics of the IRA, etc.

    And speaking of not pushing other leaders aside, Biden doesn’t use a golf cart to travel 200 yards when at international meetings  : )

  345. 345.

    kalakal

    Fewer manly men weeping

    Seriously I was just so sick of that bastard’s utter contempt for US citizens.

    He couldn’t even be bothered to lie believably

  347. 347.

    Jackie

    @Amy: Most world leaders are honestly honored to greet Biden with a handshake – often accompanied with a hand on the shoulder.

    You NEVER saw that with TIFG!

  349. 349.

    BeautifulPlumage

    McNaughton isn’t putting Biden in paintings with weird gatherings of characters and mystical lighting

  350. 350.

    Alison Rose

    One thing I value in anybody is the ability to learn and grow as a person, to realize where maybe you had wrong thoughts or beliefs and come around to being a more understanding and wise person. Biden absolutely embodies that, as did Obama.

  354. 354.

    WaterGirl

    @Ilieitz: I think you’re gonna want to nip that in the bud (so to speak) before he gets bigger.

    My little cocker spaniel had baby teeth that were sharp as knives.  I recall this vividly, because that year I was going as Dorothy for Halloween, with my little tiny pup in the basket on my arm.  I got some green plaid cotton material and guessed at how big to make it, and made 2 seems up the sides as a starting point – it was way too tight when I tried it on, and she chose that moment to start nibbling at my feet, when I couldn’t really get away.

    Seriously, nip that in the bud!  :-)

  361. 361.

    bbleh

    Fewer toilets clogged with torn-up documents.

    Much lower Scotch tape usage by White House archivists.

  368. 368.

    Alison Rose

    Actually loves his wife and kids. I know that’s something at least most previous presidents did, but after four years of the sociopath, it’s nice to see again.

  369. 369.

    bbleh

    @WaterGirl: TFG: “Hey guys we gotta take a break; I gotta take a dump.”
    Aide: “Yessir, I’ll call the archivist with the strainer immediately.”

    (Note to grossed-out readers: this is WG’s fault.)

  370. 370.

    BeautifulPlumage

    @WaterGirl: I didn’t realize that I was so petty to remember all this!

    Another one: President Biden won’t have to have his wax figure removed from display due to repeated vandalism.

  371. 371.

    BeautifulPlumage

    Jill Biden is so classy she doesn’t wear jackets with obnoxious sayings on the back, or tell someone on the phone that she doesn’t care about “fucken chreese-mas”.

  372. 372.

    bbleh

    Someone’s probably mentioned this already, but:

    Hasn’t put relatives on the WH payroll who extort billions from foreign countries for private gain.

  376. 376.

    Princess

    When I was standing in a long line of people outside of a big tent behind the United Center, waiting to get my Covid shot n March 2021 I knew for certain Trump would have cheerfully watched every single one of us in the great city of Chicago die, and we were only there because of Biden.

  377. 377.

    Jackie

    Biden has never/will never deny a Red state emergency federal assistance…

    Nor will he ever demand a favor as a condition prior to giving federal assistance.

  380. 380.

    Alison Rose

    (BTW I don’t know if the FPers are able to sort a backend list of posts by number of comments, but it would be interesting to see which posts have hit a TBogg unit over the years.)

  383. 383.

    BeautifulPlumage

    Biden’s MD would never tout “the President’s “good genes,” how he did “exceedingly well” on his cognitive test and his “excellent” cardiac health.” instead of releasing a normal report.
    J

  385. 385.

    Tony Jay

    What has Biden done?

    He’s provided such a calm, no fuss, amiable aura of ‘cool grandad’ leadership that the MAGOP and their chums in the media have developed tunnel-vision in pursuit of ‘getting’ him, allowing a small mountain of political sausage-making and resulting good policy to happen on the down below.

    And he’s provided a pretty much flawless example of how a real moderate centrist leader keeps a Big Tent political together and moving in a steadily more progressive direction without scaring the horses or running scared of the Right’s media mouthpieces. I’d pretty much eat a warehouse full of fermented whale dicks to have someone like him running the UK Labour Party rather than the soulless things we’re stuck with, but we don’t get nice things over this way.

  386. 386.

    bbleh

    @BeautifulPlumage: &btw, that “man-woman-person-camera-TV” schtick was the biggest ‘tell’ I’ve ever seen.  The 5 words are chosen NOT to be related to each other or a simple narrative or obvious environmental cues, nor to be the same part of speech or same number of syllables or begin with the same letter, etc.  It’s more like gear-sidewalk-red-toast-answer.  And then there’s some intervening questions and then you’re asked to repeat them.  And the fact that he singled that part out, made it a point to boast about acing it, tells me that he failed miserably at it.

  388. 388.

    laura

    My President, Joe Biden has a cat he lets sleep on his head. My last president has some whipped piss colored fiberglass on his head.

  389. 389.

    Alison Rose

    @Tony Jay:

    but we don’t get nice things over this way.

    But you guys pronounce so many words better than we do. I get a dopamine rush whenever someone from England says “laboratory” or “controversy” or “garage” and other such things.

  391. 391.

    bbleh

    @Tony Jay: we don’t get nice things over this way.

    Plus you gotta put up with those warehouses of fermented whale dicks.

    I mean, that mighta been a thing back in the 19th century, but hello? sunset industry?

  392. 392.

    Jackie

    Unless Biden has an actual cold, we’ll NEVER see him sniffing repeatedly through an entire speech.

  393. 393.

    Tony Jay

    @Alison Rose:

    The last few tattered refuges from The Fall  will absolutely own the world of charming voice-overs, but don’t let that fool you, they’ll still be broken inside.

  394. 394.

    Tony Jay

    @bbleh:

    We thought the Swedes would buy it all up for their Midsommär feasts, but then the film came out and they got all touchy about coming over as barely civilised pagan loons who eat weird shit.

    Now we’re stuck with it and the smell is making everywhere stink like an Arbroath toilet. Another Brexit benefit. Huzzah!

  395. 395.

    Alison Rose

    @Tony Jay: You gave us Suzy Izzard, which has to make up for at least half a dozen shitty politicians.

    Which leads me to another Biden plus: He sees and respects people as they are, no matter who they are. No marginalized person has to feel unseen or unsafe or uncared for with him.

  397. 397.

    bbleh

    @Tony Jay: yeah, well, what *I* heard was that the South Koreans are eating your whale-dick lunch.  More ships, no animal-rights protests, and closer to the big Asian whale-dick markets.  Plus they say some of your management isn’t, ah, up to the challenge, if you take my meaning.

  402. 402.

    Geminid

    @Tony Jay: Hey, Mr. Jay! I’ve been running into tweets by and about Labour politician Tom Watson. I was going to look him up, but I figured you might give me the straight scoop on Watson if you were so inclined.

  403. 403.

    Brachiator

    @bbleh:

    Hasn’t put relatives on the WH payroll who extort billions from foreign countries for private gain.

    Very true, even though Hunter Biden’s laptop is supposedly a paid lobbyist for Ukraine.

  404. 404.

    David 🌈 ☘The Establishment☘🌈 Koch

     On April 24, U.S. President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. recognized the 1915 mass killing and deportation of an estimated one million Armenians in Turkey as genocide. Through a press statement issued on Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day, the president righted a historical wrong — failure by past U.S. presidents to recognize the crimes perpetrated against the Armenians as a genocide — and underscored the U.S. commitment to preventing future instances of genocide and mass atrocities.

  406. 406.

    Tony Jay

    @Alison Rose:

    That French monkey in that damned tree near killed me. For that alone I’m willing to forgive the extremely well-meaning Ms Izzard for wanting to become a shitty politician. 😂

    And yeah, one benefit of being old and salty and having only a very few specific fucks left to give us that you’ve met so many people that if you’re not a dick you’re well aware that people are just people and that’s how you treat them.

  410. 410.

    Fake Irishman

    $5 billion for electric school buses so my kid doesn’t have to breathe exhaust for her elementary school years

  411. 411.

    Tony Jay

    @Geminid:

    Tom Watson? Former Labour deputy-leader Tom Watson? Former oh so sincere campaigner against the evils of gambling turned paid ‘advisor’ to the gambling industry? That Tom Watson?

    Sorry. That arsehole was front and centre of the internal sabotage campaign against Corbyn until ‘something happened’ and he was quietly allowed to fuck off into retirement. Not a fan. At all.

    Other opinions are, of course, available. 😬

  412. 412.

    Fake Irishman

    Extended doesn’t ACA exchange subsidies to everyone, not just folks close to the poverty line…

  415. 415.

    Fake Irishman

    Redid school lunch rules making it easier for kids to get free lunch without stupid paperwork or shame

  417. 417.

    Ben Cisco

    I am grateful for the partnership he forged with Madame Vice President Kamala Harris.

    Also, I’d mention that flying cars were supposed to be a thing for quite some time now.

    Also also, this dude had questions about it.

  419. 419.

    wjca

    @kalakal:

    His work in getting Europe lined up in support of Ukraine was incredible.

    I defy anyone to say that 3 years ago they expected to see Poland encouraging German rearmament.

    Amen!  (I realize everybody else has moved on from this thread.  But the way Biden has made diplomacy work is awesome.)

  420. 420.

    chrisanthemama

    Did someone upthread already say this? 957 days (and counting) of trump not being in the White House.

  423. 423.

    Fake Irishman

    Hit the accelerator in offshore wind permitting, with several massive farms scheduled to come online in the next several years.

  424. 424.

    Fake Irishman

    Competent disaster relief and emergency management not involving petty politics, paper towel tossing, or sharpies.

  426. 426.

    Fake Irishman

    Codifying the rights of LGBTQ+ folks to marry the person of their choice into federal law (more or less)

  428. 428.

    Tony Jay

    @Anyway:

    It’s only people in Richard Curtis films who say “Maaar-Cho”, you know. Everyone else just says it like Ernest Borgnine. 

  440. 440.

    Fake Irishman

    moving through the IRA and CHIPS to establish high tech and green domestic manufacturing chains. (This one has a few trade offs, and I’m no China-hater, but it’s generally a good thing that a major geopolitical rival doesn’t hold all the cards in major emerging industries)

  442. 442.

    bjacques

    Every day Joe and Kamala are in office eats the ass of the dwindling number of Trumpies and trolls in my circle of acquaintances.

  443. 443.

    smith

    This was mentioned above, but I’d like to add to the recommendation to watch Biden’s Labor Day speech in Philadelphia, and then send it to anyone who tells you he’s too old and feeble to be president. Old Grandpa Joe was on fire.

  444. 444.

    BellyCat

    Among so much else, Uncle Joe’s willful blindness, if not playful commentary about Trump’s legal woes positively slays me. The “handsome guy” response to his mug shot is one for the ages. Talk about damning with faint praise… LOL!

  445. 445.

    Fake Irishman

    Prioritized robust employment and expanding economic capacity over worrying about transitory inflation (again complicated, but they didn’t let a bit of high inflation wreck their economics, health care and green energy investments.)

  448. 448.

    Fake Irishman

    Does not disclose sensitive national Security information to the Russian Ambassador in the Oval Office.

  450. 450.

    Fake Irishman

    Shown a good eye for appointing cabinet folks. I was a bit skeptical of Pete at transportation and Jennifer Granholm at Energy.

    They have been very, very good.

  452. 452.

    Fake Irishman

    Somehow turned Louis Dejoy from a professional wrestling villain into something resembling a ally at the Postal service.

  453. 453.

    Fake Irishman

    Appointed  Federal Energy Regulatory Commissioners that have gotten away from protecting coal and started thinking seriously about improving  transmission.

  456. 456.

    wjca

    @Jay C:

    OK, however good a benefit for the country, that’s [silencing Rush Limbaugh] one Joe Biden can’t take credit for…

    Unless it was God rewarding Biden ….

  457. 457.

    BellyCat

    The TBogg unit goal will be handily exceeded if the Jackaltariat recap a few highlights dishing on the GOP from the White House — Jen Pasaki alone, in her former role, would easily put us over the goal line. These communiques are timeless gifts which keep on giving.

  458. 458.

    Fake Irishman

    Appointed good sub cabinet appointees at Health and Human Services, notably  Benjamin Sommers at ASPE (deep cut that Dave Anderson would appreciate)

  460. 460.

    peter

    Jennifer Granholm at the Dept. of Energy — IMHO one of the stars in Biden’s cabinet. She’s really sharp.

  461. 461.

    Fake Irishman

    Recommended and got a raise for federal employees that actually almost kept up with inflation.

  465. 465.

    Fake Irishman

    Merrick Garland as AG : putting a steady hand at DOJ while conveniently opening up a seat on the DC Circuit the could be replaced with a much younger judge.

  466. 466.

    David 🌈 ☘The Establishment☘🌈 Koch

    Denied use of executive privilege to TFG and his crime family

  467. 467.

    Fake Irishman

    Stayed hands-off with DOJ and let them round up, try, convict and toss in prison hundreds of insurrectionists.

  469. 469.

    Fake Irishman

    Somehow negotiating a debt ceiling standoff with a bunch of legislative terrorists that left the full faith and credit of the US government intact while protecting his key domestic accomplishments and saving the feckless leader of the GOP from himself.

  471. 471.

    Fake Irishman

    Going all in on standing up for Democracy as something worthwhile in itself, both at home and abroad. And calling out it’s enemies in plain terms.

  473. 473.

    David 🌈 ☘The Establishment☘🌈 Koch

    … and Megan Rapinoe (first openly gay soccer player, led successful effort for equal pay in US soccer)

  474. 474.

    Fake Irishman

    Used a COVID-19 relief bill to stabilize a bunch of insolvent pensions, preserving the retirements for hundreds of thousands of workers.

  475. 475.

    Fake Irishman

    Using a COVID-19 relief bill to deploy a magnificent child tax credit that slashed child poverty to extremely low levels, even if only temporarily.

  477. 477.

    Fake Irishman

    @Baud:

    my fingers are about to fall off and my wife is starting to wonder if Im going to engage in childcare, but I should note that his federal trade commission is at least making noises about the importance of antitrust law.

  479. 479.

    David 🌈 ☘The Establishment☘🌈 Koch

     Biden Unveils Landmark Submarine Deal With Australia and Britain

    The arrangement is part of a broader effort to counter China’s military development and assertive territorial claims across Asia.

    ***
    For the first time in 65 years, Mr. Biden said, the United States will share the technology at the heart of its nuclear submarines, allowing Australia to build powerful war machines that will grow into fleets capable of facing off with Chinese vessels in the South China Sea and other waters.

  482. 482.

    Geminid

    @Fake Irishman: Former Rep. Xochitl Torres Small is a great choice for Deputy Secretary of Agriculture. At age 38, I believe Ms. Torres Small is the youngest Deputy Ag Secretary ever. She could make a good Secretary of Agriculture when Tom Vilsack retires. Like Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, Xochitl Torres was a member of the talented Democratic House Class of 2018.

    And with a little help from Round House* redistricters, Gabe Vasquez has reclaimed the New Mexico 2nd CD for the Democrats. Now former Rep. Yvette Harrell wants a rematch next year. That would be her fourth Congressional campaign in six years. I really think Ms. Harrell needs to spend more time with her family, and Gabe Vasquez will give her that opportunity.

    * The Round House is what savvy New Mexicans (and pretenders like me) call the state Capitol building in Santa Fe.

  483. 483.

    Fake Irishman

    Boosted unemployment insurance timeframes and levels in COVID-19 relief  to avoid mistakes that curtailed effectiveness of similar policies in the Obama stimulus (which i still defend as great policy, but not enough)

  484. 484.

    Another Scott

    Stabilized the country enough that history’s greatest monster – Anthony Fauci – was finally able to take his well-earned retirement from federal service.

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  486. 486.

    Fake Irishman

    Avoided a railroad strike that would have created economic chaos by imposing a (pretty good) contract on labor and the companies) and then…..

  488. 488.

    KrackenJack

    Biden has demonstrated a remarkable ability to go from ignoring to gently mocking to outright trolling to forcefully denouncing RWNJ as appropriate

  492. 492.

    Fake Irishman

    …. Quietly leaned on railroad bosses to later provide sick days for rail workers in a historic win for labor.

    this requires a lot of political skill, courage and presistence to pull off.

  493. 493.

    Scout211

    I don’t know if this has already been mentioned:

    Biden signed a bill into law establishing June 19 as Juneteenth National Independence Day – a US federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the US.

  494. 494.

    Fake Irishman

    @KrackenJack:

    yes! So far he has shown an incredible ability to known when to co-opt his opponents, when to ignore them, when to mock them and when to denounce them forcefully.

  495. 495.

    stinger

    Declassifies documents by following established procedures, rather than by a Samantha Stevens nose-twitch or by just “thinking” it done. (Or, to be honest, not bothering to declassify in any way, shape, or form.)

  496. 496.

    wjca

    Allowed us to talk about class in the White House without having to prefix it with “low” (or “no”).

  498. 498.

    Sans Simian

    @zhena gogolia: aw shucks, thanks!

    Not sure if this was mentioned about Biden yet, but:

    Widely credited with pushing Obama to improve his stance on marriage equality.

    Also a +1 to making Aviators look cool again after Tom Cruise ruined ’em for me.

  503. 503.

    Scout211

    From the Department of Education

    Today, [May 15, 2023] the Biden-Harris Administration is announcing more than $95 million in awards across 35 states to increase access to school-based mental health services and strengthen the pipeline of mental health professionals in high-needs school districts. The awards were funded by the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA), which President Biden signed into law on June 25, 2022, and they help advance the Administration’s efforts to tackle the mental health crisis in our schools as part of his National Mental Health Strategy.

  504. 504.

    Fake Irishman

    Not only protects US secrets, but knows when to quickly declassify things to short-circuit disinformation campaigns and false flag operations.

  507. 507.

    KrackenJack

    Frequently, when he is criticized about not doing anything about “X”, we find his administration has done something already or was working quietly in the background to make it happen. (Debt ceiling, railroad workers insurance, gun safety, etc)

  510. 510.

    Tony Jay

    @Alison Rose:

    Douche! Douche La grand-mere!!

    She’s a national treasure. Plus, 15 marathons in 15 days! Even if I’ve got the number wrong, that’s some cantaloupean calves going on there.

  511. 511.

    Fake Irishman

    Improving Japanese-South Korean cooperation, which is a big deal in ensuring the rest of East Asia can keep China honest.

  512. 512.

    wjca

    Bidenomics

    Ask people about their personal finances, overwhelmingly they think they’re doing fine.

    But ask those same people about the national economy, a bunch of those same people think it’s bad.  Essentially, there is a built-in delay on people noticing what’s happening beyond their personal horizon.  With luck, by this time next year the realization will have set in that their personal situation is mirrored nationwide.

  513. 513.

    Sans Simian

    Almost there…  (ETA, shoulda refreshed, dang thought I was going to get #500.)

    Has anyone mentioned yet how cool it is to have a Second Gentleman?  (In addition to the awesomeness that is Kamala Devi Harris, with her found family.)

  514. 514.

    Fake Irishman

    Used an unorthodox and much-criticized tactic to lower border crossings and defuse domestic political tensions while not closing the border to refugees.

  515. 515.

    Fake Irishman

    restored protections for Haitians and Central Americans fleeing from disasters that were going to be deported by Trump

  517. 517.

    Tony Jay

    @CCL:

    Even if it is it deserves repeating for emphasis. Because isn’t it odd that no one, on any side of the divide, has made a big deal about this horrible, terrible, unprecedented misuse of Presidential power?

    They all know Trump can’t be trusted with a completed Where’s Wally page (is it Where’s Waldo for you guys?) never mind actual national intelligence secrets. They know, but only the losers over that side still fluff him.

  519. 519.

    Miss Bianca

    Someone suggested that WaterGirl bookmark this thread for future reference, to which I say, “yes please”!

  520. 520.

    BeautifulPlumage

    Wow, so many things I forgot about, you all are great!

    I’ll add – has never said or intimated that he would date his daughter cause she’s so hot.

  525. 525.

    Hoppie

    @kalakal: Depends where you are.  While the soap company is “lee-ver”,  most people I know rhyme the fulcrum bar with “forever”, because.  But the sort of folks here who say “Warshington” will sometimes call the bar a “lee-ver”.  You know, divided by a common language.

  534. 534.

    Hoppie

    @kalakal: North American dialectology is quite fascinating, but a truly giant rabbit hole.  I grew up in southwest Ohio, and can tell the difference between people who grew up in eastern Cincinnati and Oxford, Ohio (about 30 miles away). (Lots more east coast B & O railroad influence in Cincinnati itself).

  535. 535.

    Fake Irishman

    @WaterGirl:

    There is a ton of stuff in the infrastructure bill alone, and each of the major pieces of legislation he’s signed (PACT, CHIPS, ARPA, IRA) has hundreds of amazing provisions like those buried in them both large and small.

    That’s outside of small bills and budget bills and appointments and regulatory actions….

  536. 536.

    Geminid

    I don’t know if anyone has mentioned renaming 7 or 8 Army bases. Joe Biden’s Defense Department took down the names of a motley crew of traitorous incompetents and replaced them with the names of true American heros.

  537. 537.

    Geminid

    @Hoppie: I wonder if descendents of the German immigrants who populated 19th century Cincinnati speak differently than their Anglo Saxon-derived neighbors.

  539. 539.

    wjca

    @bbleh:  yeah well “shed-yool” back atcha

    Because, if you shorten it to “sked”, as we so often do, you end up instead with “shed” — leading to endless confusion.

  540. 540.

    kalakal

    @Hoppie: Sadly I’m pretty tone deaf on American dialects/accents. When I first came here I could distinguish New York, California Valley girl, Southern Drawl and generic Mid West – basically from movies. Now I can distinguish dialects/accents but am not very good at placing them. The UK has an insane number most of which seem to sound the same to Americans. They can be ridiculously local, and people from 50 miles away can’t tell them apart eg Geordie is applied by outsiders to the English NE in general rather than just Newcastle, if you’re from there every town has its own accent even if they’re only 15 miles apart like Newcastle & Sunderland* . I can speak a dialect of Scots called Doric ( NE round Aberdeen) which confuses the hell out of anyone from Glasgow or Edinburgh. And I do when I want have a strong W Yorkshire accent which Is good for doing Michael Palin a la Four Yorkshiremen impersonations

    I find it fascinating

     

    *Do not mix these 2 up if you ever go there

  543. 543.

    Hoppie

    @kalakal: Ms Hoppie spent a year in the West Riding (mostly Harrogate) before we met and we have since visited.  I can tell the difference between Somerset and Yorkshire and Eastenders, but my ear is tuned to NAmerica and not the nuances of “true” English. Glaswegian is its own challenge, and the class complexities do baffle most of us. I also spent four years in Italy with many British English speakers, mostly second language continentals, which complicates the language thing a lot. (“Knock me up in the morning, please”)

  544. 544.

    kalakal

    @Hoppie: One fun thing in England is county names ending in shire.

    It ranges from sheer to shu but is never (I think) pronounced the the US way shire ( saying as it’s spelt) . Even weirder the word by itself as in shire horse is pronounced the US way pretty uniformly everywhere.

    Harrogate’s a nice place. I know it well

  545. 545.

    Hoppie

    @kalakal: Her flat was above a Ladbrokes on Cheltenham Mount, so was warm five days a week, only a block or so from Dirty Eddies (if you go back that far).  Angliphonia is a smallish world, we have very good friends in Melbourne, VIC. (I still have some worthless tram tickets)

  546. 546.

    Hoppie

    @Hoppie: She remembers when fish-and-chips was 14p, and a pint of best bitter was the same.  London was twice.  Early 70s when we were young.

    (Easier to keep nattering here in California)

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