# How should Biden finish out his Presidency? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [July 25, 2024, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-biden-finish-out-his-presidency/1004791 "2024-07-25T20:42:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**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:** [July 25, 2024, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-biden-finish-out-his-presidency/1004791/1 "2024-07-25T20:42:22Z")
I feel like he needs to go big in a way that doesn’t hurt Harris. Try to hammer out a new Iran nuclear deal? Normalize stuff with Cuba? I know people will be hesitant because Trump might just come in and wipe his feet with whatever Biden does, but why not do something? ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2024, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-biden-finish-out-his-presidency/1004791/2 "2024-07-25T20:59:59Z")
He needs to maximize short-term benefit at the expense of the long run. Maybe a massive stimulus that gives thousands of dollars to each taxpayer. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2024, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-biden-finish-out-his-presidency/1004791/3 "2024-07-25T21:03:57Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Maybe a massive stimulus that gives thousands of dollars to each taxpayer - who cares if it runs up the national debt. Part of the reason why we’ve been dealing with inflation over the past two-plus years has been the economic stimulus payments which were given out during COVID. So, maybe not the best idea for trying to give Harris a good start if she’s elected. > **[COVID stimulus spending played 'sizable role' in inflation](https://reason.com/2023/02/02/covid-stimulus-spending-played-sizable-role-in-inflation/)** > > Fiscal stimulus during the pandemic contributed to an increase in inflation of about 2.6 percentage points. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2024, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-biden-finish-out-his-presidency/1004791/4 "2024-07-25T21:06:45Z")
> [@Love\_Rhombus](#): > > I feel like he needs to go big in a way that doesn’t hurt Harris. Try to hammer out a new Iran nuclear deal? Normalize stuff with Cuba? Iran is no longer interested in any kind of nuclear deal and has been expanding their enrichment facilities at an unprecedented pace. The fact that the United States is clearly unwilling to reign in Israel in any way doubtless reinforces the notion that Iran needs its own nuclear deterrent. There is very little upside in normalizing relations with Cuba (even though it would be an entirely sensible thing to do) and doing so would alienate the Cuban-American community which opposes any Castro-derived government. > [@Velocity](#): > > He needs to maximize short-term benefit at the expense of the long run. Maybe a massive stimulus that gives thousands of dollars to each taxpayer - who cares if it runs up the national debt. The President does not have any ability to provide “a massive stimulus that gives thousands of dollars to each taxpayer”; only Congress has the discretionary budget to do so, and even if Democrats could get a stimulus bill through the legislature, all that would really do is increase inflation and give credibility to the Republican criticism that the Democrats are the “tax and spend” party. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2024, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-biden-finish-out-his-presidency/1004791/5 "2024-07-25T21:36:05Z")
Propose a variety of anti-corruption, anti-gerrymandering constitutional amendments. ---
**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:** [July 25, 2024, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-biden-finish-out-his-presidency/1004791/6 "2024-07-25T21:36:36Z")
Pardon Hunter (after the election). (I don’t really care if he does or not) ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2024, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-biden-finish-out-his-presidency/1004791/7 "2024-07-25T21:41:18Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > Pardon Hunter (after the election). And use the Justic Department to aggressivly pursue Trump to the ends of the Earth, because the SCOTUS said its OK to do so as part of his official powers as POTUS. (he won’t becasue he’s a good guy, but I can dream). ---
**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:** [July 25, 2024, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-biden-finish-out-his-presidency/1004791/8 "2024-07-25T21:43:02Z")
> [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > And use the Justic Department to aggressivly pursue Trump to the ends of the Earth, If Trump loses, he’s facing all kinds of serious shit in the courts (eventually). ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2024, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-biden-finish-out-his-presidency/1004791/9 "2024-07-25T21:43:28Z")
Serious question: If Biden dies before his term is up, and Harris takes over, does that count as one of a possible two terms for her? ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2024, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-biden-finish-out-his-presidency/1004791/10 "2024-07-25T21:43:59Z")
No, she has to serve more that two years for it to count as a term. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2024, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-biden-finish-out-his-presidency/1004791/11 "2024-07-25T21:45:20Z")
I thank you. ---
**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:** [July 25, 2024, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-biden-finish-out-his-presidency/1004791/12 "2024-07-25T21:52:44Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > There is very little upside in normalizing relations with Cuba (even though it would be an entirely sensible thing to do) and doing so would alienate the Cuban-American community which opposes any Castro-derived government. Is Kamala likely to do well in Florida? If not, then do it. ---
**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:** [July 25, 2024, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-biden-finish-out-his-presidency/1004791/13 "2024-07-25T21:58:10Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > Pardon Hunter (after the election). > > (I don’t really care if he does or not) I hope he does. If not, hopefully Harris will. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2024, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-biden-finish-out-his-presidency/1004791/14 "2024-07-25T22:05:58Z")
> [@Love\_Rhombus](#): > > Is Kamala likely to do well in Florida? If not, then do it. Believe it or not, Kamala Harris is not the only person running for election in 2024. Florida has shifted to moderately is solidly Republican; normalizing relations with Cuba would likely further push that shift rightward and cost more Democratic votes in the state legislature, to no real political benefit. Mind you, I’m not arguing that this shouldn’t be done in a sensible world—the decades’ long US vendetta against Cuba by administrations of both parties is pointless and absurd—but it offers no political benefit for Biden to make a special effort to ‘normalize’ US-Cuban relations. Stranger ---
**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:** [July 25, 2024, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-biden-finish-out-his-presidency/1004791/15 "2024-07-25T22:06:12Z")
Nominate four new SCOTUS justices and ram them through the Senate. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2024, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-biden-finish-out-his-presidency/1004791/16 "2024-07-25T22:11:46Z")
For what seats? They’d have to be created and it takes the full Congress to do that. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2024, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-biden-finish-out-his-presidency/1004791/17 "2024-07-25T22:17:35Z")
Doesn’t it suck to be on the side of an actual human being sometimes? _“President Biden, what are your plans for the remainder of your term?”_ _“I’m working on Official Acts.”_ _“What Acts?”_ _“Official. Acts.”_ ---
**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:** [July 25, 2024, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-biden-finish-out-his-presidency/1004791/18 "2024-07-25T22:19:06Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > For what seats? They’d have to be created and it takes the full Congress to do that. I forgot. It’s late in the day and my brain is tired. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2024, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-biden-finish-out-his-presidency/1004791/19 "2024-07-25T22:20:36Z")
Well, since we are clearly fantasizing here, cancel the Artemis crewed lunar program and associated SLS/Lunar Gateway/CLPS and dedicate NASA funds to uncrewed exploration of the outer planets and a full featured Mars Sample Return mission, space infrastructure and technology development, Earth climate and space weather surveillance, and space observatories. Backfill JPL, update and improve the Armstrong Test Facility, and downgrade Johnson Space Center back to an adjunct of Goddard Space Flight Center. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2024, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-biden-finish-out-his-presidency/1004791/20 "2024-07-25T22:21:12Z")
Is there anything he can do with his pen and without Congress to expand voting rights or make it easier for people to vote? I know elections are managed by each state, but maybe something for mail-in voting or longer voting hours (especially in areas where the GOP has worked to make it harder for certain people to vote). Even without an official act, he should be doing everything he can to get people to vote. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-biden-finish-out-his-presidency/1004791.md?page=2)