# Can I be the only person stunned at just how badly President Joe Biden is doing? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 31, 2021, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-be-the-only-person-stunned-at-just-how-badly-president-joe-biden-is-doing/949851 "2021-08-31T19:33:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 30
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2021, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-be-the-only-person-stunned-at-just-how-badly-president-joe-biden-is-doing/949851/595 "2021-12-20T19:27:35Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > No, he didn’t know. Do you know why he didn’t know? Of course I knew. It’s just not relevant to a policy of blanket-cancelling the agreed-upon debt of millions of students for no reason. By the way, the character ‘Sam Stone’ from where I took my name was a veteran living partially on the GI bill. It’s right in the song. > [@](#): > > But it wouldn’t matter if he did know, because **Sam** is here to spread propaganda, so he’s going to post whatever he thinks supports his or his bosses’ agenda. Of course, your idea of ‘propaganda’ == ‘arguments I can’t refute and am pretty sure are wrong but I don’t have enough knowledge to say why.’ ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2021, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-be-the-only-person-stunned-at-just-how-badly-president-joe-biden-is-doing/949851/596 "2021-12-21T11:11:13Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > Of course, your idea of ‘propaganda’ == ‘arguments I can’t refute and am pretty sure are wrong but I don’t have enough knowledge to say why.’ We are aware that this is what you believe your arguments to be. Of course, to achieve that belief one must carefully pretend the refutations don’t exist. For the rest of us, “propaganda” mean “assertions unsupported by evidence that, despite repeated debunkings, the propagators continue to repeat as they support their preferred narrative”. You know - like the whole “Russia hoax” thing. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2021, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-be-the-only-person-stunned-at-just-how-badly-president-joe-biden-is-doing/949851/597 "2021-12-21T11:44:42Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > Of course I knew. It’s just not relevant to a policy of blanket-cancelling the agreed-upon debt of millions of students for no reason. There are reasons. > **[The case for cancelling student debt isn't political — it's practical. Here...](https://www.businessinsider.com/economic-benefits-of-student-debt-forgiveness-2020-12)** > > President Biden rejected a Democratic plan to eliminate $50,000 of student debt per borrower, but supports relieving $10,000 per borrower. > **[Forgiving Student Debt Would Boost Economy, Economists Say](https://www.npr.org/2019/11/25/782070151/forgiving-student-debt-would-boost-economy)** > > Democratic presidential candidates want to obliterate student debt. Economists say that could help with income inequality, but it would come with a big price tag and risks. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2021, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-be-the-only-person-stunned-at-just-how-badly-president-joe-biden-is-doing/949851/598 "2021-12-21T15:34:22Z")
You realize we can read the previous posts, right? > [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > As for the GI bill, it was never free. The ‘price’ for it was military service. And it was applied to a select group of veterans (about 8 million) **and was temporary** so it didn’t affect long-term price planning by colleges. > [@Wolf333](#): > > You know the GI Bil still exists, right? Aaaand here comes the goalpost move: > [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > Sure. But fewer people today take advantage of it than the 8 million WWII vets, Aaaand here come the denial that he ever said the GI Bill was temporary, and that of course he knew it was still in existence. Even though in post 562 he obviously said the GI Bill was “temporary”: > [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > Of course I knew. It’s just not relevant to a policy of blanket-cancelling the agreed-upon debt of millions of students for no reason. Fucking typical. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2021, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-be-the-only-person-stunned-at-just-how-badly-president-joe-biden-is-doing/949851/599 "2021-12-21T15:55:16Z")
BTW, he said there that the post-WWII GI Bill “only” applied to a select group of eight million veterans, as if that was some small number. I just looked, and US population in 1946 was about 140 million, so that was a huge percentage of the population. I know my 1984 freshman year college dorm was one of a group that was hurriedly thrown up in the post-war years to accommodate the flood of returning veterans and I think that was true of many schools. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2021, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-be-the-only-person-stunned-at-just-how-badly-president-joe-biden-is-doing/949851/600 "2021-12-21T15:57:22Z")
The thing is, he could have admitted that he was wrong about it being “temporary”, and moved on to his other points. But Nooooo. Double down. Obfuscate. Never admit error. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2021, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-be-the-only-person-stunned-at-just-how-badly-president-joe-biden-is-doing/949851/601 "2021-12-21T19:01:45Z")
I’ll admit to being _depressed_ over how badly President Biden is doing, though admittedly it’s not 100% (95% ? 80%?) his fault. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2021, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-be-the-only-person-stunned-at-just-how-badly-president-joe-biden-is-doing/949851/602 "2021-12-22T00:14:29Z")
Rough sptiballin’, but I’m just not seeing how anyone could’ve done any better than Biden has with the crappy cards he’s been dealt so far. ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2021, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-be-the-only-person-stunned-at-just-how-badly-president-joe-biden-is-doing/949851/603 "2021-12-22T00:24:40Z")
Why are folks on Twitter saying his speech today was an example of dementia? Fist pounding and anger, etc. Has there ever been a president that wasn’t criticized? ---
**Author:** ![DeadTreasSecretaries](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deadtreassecretaries/32/4817_2.png) [@DeadTreasSecretaries](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadTreasSecretaries)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2021, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-be-the-only-person-stunned-at-just-how-badly-president-joe-biden-is-doing/949851/604 "2021-12-22T00:26:25Z")
> [@Guest-starring\_Id](#): > > Rough sptiballin’, but I’m just not seeing how anyone could’ve done any better than Biden has with the crappy cards he’s been dealt so far. I mean he could’ve made the progress he’s currently making with the testing a lot earlier. > [@SuntanLotion](#): > > folks on Twitter There’s your answer. ---
**Author:** ![Wolf333](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf333/32/3460_2.png) [@Wolf333](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolf333)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2021, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-be-the-only-person-stunned-at-just-how-badly-president-joe-biden-is-doing/949851/605 "2021-12-22T02:32:36Z")
There is also the fact that 16 million Americans served in WW2. The total active force today is around 1.3 million. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2021, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-be-the-only-person-stunned-at-just-how-badly-president-joe-biden-is-doing/949851/606 "2021-12-22T12:03:00Z")
> [@SuntanLotion](#): > > Has there ever been a president that wasn’t criticized? William Henry Harrison? ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2021, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-be-the-only-person-stunned-at-just-how-badly-president-joe-biden-is-doing/949851/607 "2021-12-22T12:36:17Z")
> [@Love\_Rhombus](#): > > William Henry Harrison? He should have never gone out without warmer clothing. Or been smart enough to shorten the speech. The man’s administration was riddled with fatal errors! Literally fatal! Worst. President. Ever. ---
**Author:** ![MoonMoon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moonmoon/32/2959_2.png) [@MoonMoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MoonMoon)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2021, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-be-the-only-person-stunned-at-just-how-badly-president-joe-biden-is-doing/949851/608 "2021-12-22T15:32:06Z")
> Here’s a great summary of what’s been accomplished. It’s the media, falling all over themselves for clicks and eyeballs, that’s driving the sense of gloom and doom. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2021, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-be-the-only-person-stunned-at-just-how-badly-president-joe-biden-is-doing/949851/609 "2021-12-22T16:10:09Z")
> [@MoonMoon](#): > > It’s the media, falling all over themselves for clicks and eyeballs, that’s driving the sense of gloom and doom I didn’t need much from Biden. Don’t be a corrupt, incompetent, daily embarrassment. He’s far exceeded my requirements. It’s a government job, if he does his best and is aiming in the right direction, I’ll be more than satisfied. Change comes slowly, if at all. Let’s not forget how ugly things were before Biden, and how close we came from losing everything that we cherish about our country. I’d love to see the voting rights bill pass, and I’m fine with the other parts of his agenda, but I recognize the obstacles in his way. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2021, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-be-the-only-person-stunned-at-just-how-badly-president-joe-biden-is-doing/949851/610 "2021-12-22T16:17:44Z")
Remember, too, that the goal of the Republicans isn’t to pass legislation but to oppose _anything_ that the Democrats propose and to prevent any progress. Given that, any progress that Biden makes is a hard-fought victory. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2021, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-be-the-only-person-stunned-at-just-how-badly-president-joe-biden-is-doing/949851/611 "2021-12-22T16:31:43Z")
Biden has achieved so much with such a tiny margin in Congress, in the face of a hollowed-out government, a raging pandemic and naked opposition from Republicans who oppose him for no reason beyond hoping to grip power at any cost to our country. People paying attention understand this. Blah, blah, blah. Nancy Pelosi is too old and doddering to be Speaker of the House, Obama is from Kenya. When do we stop taking Republican talking points onboard as if they have merit? They never do. ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2021, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-be-the-only-person-stunned-at-just-how-badly-president-joe-biden-is-doing/949851/612 "2021-12-22T16:36:33Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > I didn’t need much from Biden. Don’t be a corrupt, incompetent, daily embarrassment. He’s far exceeded my requirements. I’m with you, but unfortunately too many Americans have short attention spans and, when their world isn’t magically transformed in a few months become susceptible to the idea that he’s failing. > [@Aspenglow](#): > > People paying attention understand this. Yes, but what about the other 98% of the population? ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2021, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-be-the-only-person-stunned-at-just-how-badly-president-joe-biden-is-doing/949851/613 "2021-12-22T16:39:15Z")
Can’t help you there. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2021, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-be-the-only-person-stunned-at-just-how-badly-president-joe-biden-is-doing/949851/614 "2021-12-22T20:01:19Z")
Didn’t expect this…. > **[Biden Won Big With a Bad Hand](https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2021/12/joe-manchin-biden-majority-agenda/621085/)** > > Relative to its strength in Congress, the Biden administration has proved outstandingly successful. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-be-the-only-person-stunned-at-just-how-badly-president-joe-biden-is-doing/949851.md?page=29) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-be-the-only-person-stunned-at-just-how-badly-president-joe-biden-is-doing/949851.md?page=31)