President Biden’s First Six Months and Where We Are - “The Sunday Political Brunch” July 25, 2021

President Biden’s First Six Months and Where We Are - “The Sunday Political Brunch” July 25, 2021

They are benchmarks that are perhaps unfair. “How did the president do in his first 100 days?” Or “How did the president do in his first sixth months in office?” But every president faces these mileposts, so, unfair or not, they get the evaluation. There are a host of big issues facing Congress, too, so let’s “brunch” on all the dynamics this week.

 

“Biden Six Months” – On Tuesday President Biden was asked to evaluate his first six months in office. While inflation is spiking, and we’re seeing a surge in COVID-19 Delta variant cases, Biden says there is more work to be done. “There’s much to be done and so much more to do. Tackling voting rights, which is an existential threat to democracy right now. The things that are being asked are just beyond the pale. The vice-president has been working hard on this issue, and we continue to, we all are. There’s much more to do. We have to tackle the immigration problem which we’re working really hard to get done, in a humane and serious way.” President Biden has put Vice President Harris in charge on that issue was well. Critics says she’s botched the job.

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“Infrastructure Bill-Test Vote Status” – On Wednesday, the U.S. Senate held a “test vote” on whether the bipartisan infrastructure bill should go forth for consideration and a final vote. The vote failed, because to block a filibuster, the 50 Democrats needed 10 Republicans to join them. It did not happen, mostly because of objections that so-called social infrastructure such as childcare and home health care would be included. Republicans would only go half-way. “Include some broadband. That’s needed in West Virginia. Some roads and bridges. Infrastructure is infrastructure. Those other issues are separate issues. I see they’re trying to put universal pre-kindergarten in there, funding for universal pre-kindergarten. Green New Deal proposals. Those have nothing to do with infrastructure,” said Rep. Alex Mooney (R) West Virginia – Dist 2.

 

“Politics of Space Travel” – Tuesday billionaire Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos and three others took a private, sub-orbital 11-minute trip into space. This was preceded a couple weeks ago by Virgin Industries CEO Sir Richard Branson, (also a billionaire accomplishing a similar feat). Entrepreneur Elon Musk is planning a similar trip. All this prompted a network news anchor to ask a guest, “Isn’t this a bunch of white male billionaires showing off?” Really??? No this is about science and pioneering, and pushing the edge, looking for the next frontier. It is in the same spirit as Henry Ford, the Wright Brothers, Amelia Earhart, Dr. Christian Barnard and others. You do not progress without people taking chances, and sometimes that means people of means, spending their money on research and development.

 

“Dr. Fauci versus Dr. Paul Smackdown” – Oh my God!!! It was some of the most dramatic (and spontaneous testimony) I’ve ever seen before Congress. Look, as a former House and Senate aide who organized several hearings, it is often boring, stilted, and canned as people read pre-printed testimony. Not so with the fireworks on Tuesday in a Senate hearing on COVID-19. Senator Rand Paul (R) Kentucky, who is also a physician, faced off against White House infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci. Sen. Paul suggested that Fauci was "trying to obscure responsibility for 4 million people dying around the world from a pandemic." Fauci shot back, "I totally resent the lie that you are now propagating, senator. If anybody is lying here senator, it is you," Fauci said pointing angrily at Paul. Ouch!

 

“Trump Claims Georgia Foul” – I received an email from former President Trump’s new social media platform Thursday night. He said, “According to the just-released report: In Fulton County, the hand recount was wrong by 60%. 100,000 tally sheets for ballots were missing. They duplicated thousands of extra votes for Joe Biden. They fabricated vote counts of 100–0 for Biden, many times!” Trump did not cite the source of his claims. The email ended by asking me (and others) to donate to Trump’s cause. I do not donate to any politicians. It would be unethical.

 

“Pelosi Spikes GOP Appointees to Capitol Riot Panel” – Like many people, I want to get to the bottom of the Capitol riot on January 6th. As a former House and Senate staffer, as well as a Congressional reporter, I want clarity on what happened with the goal of preventing future attacks. I want the investigation to be partisan. To that end, I am troubled by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s dismissal of two of Minority Leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy’s (R-CA) appointees. Pelosi nixed Rep. Jim Jordan (R) Ohio and Rep. Jim Banks (R) Indiana, whom she said had “ridiculous” opinions about the riot. Maybe, but let them vent. You still control the majority of the committee, including your own Republican appointee, Rep. Liz Cheney (R) Wyoming.  Let the opposition have a voice. Let the chips fall where they may. No need to censor! Truth will out.

 

“Senator Kohl’s Milwaukee Bucks” – Congrats to my old boss, former U.S. Senator Herb Kohl (D) Wisconsin. Herb was the long-time owner of the Milwaukee Bucks, who sold controlling interest in the team in 2014, although he remains a minority shareholder. The Bucks would have left Milwaukee years ago, but Kohl’s vast fortune – and his contributions for a new arena - kept them there. Tuesday night the Bucks won the NBA Championship, for the first time in 50 years. True story: Kohl once asked my advice in 1993 about trading for a certain player, which he had already agreed to in principle. Said player and I attended the same college, where he had a troubled reputation. Based on my input, Kohl nixed the deal! So, I killed an NBA trade. Wow!

 

How would you evaluate the first six months of the Biden Administration? What are the highs and lows? Just click the comment button to express your opinion.

 

Mark Curtis, Ed.D., is Chief Political Reporter for the seven Nexstar Media TV stations serving West Virginia, its five neighboring states, and the entire Washington, DC media market. He is a MINDSETTER™ contributing political analyst and writer for www.GoLocalProv.com  and its affiliates.