# Is it just me or is President Biden really good at the job? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [June 1, 2023, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-president-biden-really-good-at-the-job/984859 "2023-06-01T06:12:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2023, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-president-biden-really-good-at-the-job/984859/21 "2023-06-01T15:06:50Z")
> [@aruvqan](#): > > he is doing a bang up fucking excellent job given the trainwreck he took over Agreeing with this. Doesn’t mean I’m not really pissed at him sometimes. But I don’t think he gets the credit he deserves for what he has pulled off. And it’s possible that what I’m pissed at him for is for not doing the impossible. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2023, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-president-biden-really-good-at-the-job/984859/22 "2023-06-01T15:31:49Z")
> [@mjmartin](#): > > I don’t know what speech you are referring to, but given the importance of the debt ceiling issue, I would have loved to hear forcefully and repeatedly from him on what the Republicans were risking by playing games. Umm, the State of the Union, from this year? Which got some pretty rave reviews? CNN says he “showed vigor”: [https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/07/politics/takeaways-biden-state-of-the-union-address/index.html](https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/07/politics/takeaways-biden-state-of-the-union-address/index.html) ---
**Author:** ![psychobunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/54ee81/32.png) [@psychobunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychobunny)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2023, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-president-biden-really-good-at-the-job/984859/23 "2023-06-01T15:38:15Z")
I agree that communication is not Biden’s strong suit. I am more looking at how he will be remembered decades from now. I think Obama will be seen to have been overrated given what he accomplished and Biden will be seen to have been underrated. (Don’t get me wrong, I love Obama and what he stood for but in terms of actually getting things done I think he fell somewhat short). ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2023, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-president-biden-really-good-at-the-job/984859/24 "2023-06-01T15:50:07Z")
> [@mjmartin](#): > > I would have loved to hear forcefully and repeatedly from him on what the Republicans were risking by playing games. McCarthy had to complain about Biden “wasting time” in discussion. I think negative comments about Republicans, or even constructive criticism would result in the Republicans screaming more loudly about more nonsense. They will not indulge in serious fair discussion, but use it to show off for voters. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2023, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-president-biden-really-good-at-the-job/984859/25 "2023-06-01T15:57:39Z")
> [@psychobunny](#): > > But I think he may leave a legacy of progressive accomplishments to rival Johnson. I feel this is really unlikely. Biden has not shown any signs that he has any major agenda like Johnson did. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2023, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-president-biden-really-good-at-the-job/984859/26 "2023-06-01T16:01:39Z")
> [@Stratocaster](#): > > Most of the polls I’ve seen show lingering anxiety over the economy—gas and grocery prices and such. Which has been shown, to my satisfaction, to be from sources (read ‘they’re raising prices to get even more profit’ here) other than actual inflation. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2023, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-president-biden-really-good-at-the-job/984859/27 "2023-06-01T16:02:14Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > Personally I think he is the 2nd worst president that we have had during my lifetime. The only one I think was worse was Trump. You write quite well for a six-year-old. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2023, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-president-biden-really-good-at-the-job/984859/28 "2023-06-01T16:06:20Z")
I think he has been incredible effective and has managed to get things done when we just recently survived an attempted coup by the opposition party and a pandemic. ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2023, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-president-biden-really-good-at-the-job/984859/29 "2023-06-01T16:11:00Z")
I have him ranked as average to slightly above average. As far as modern day Democrats go, he’s progressed with the times, meaning that in a certain sense he’s more liberal than Clinton and Obama just because the party has moved to the left. In terms of how he governs, however, he’s basically a less charismatic version of Clinton and Obama and their “don’t rock the boat” style of presidenting. There’s the debt limit and his failure to use the 14th amendment. There’s his management of US aid to Ukraine. There’s his difficulties in getting his nominees through the senate. Prosecutions of the 1/6/2021 insurrectionists. The list of issues where Biden’s preferred MO is “don’t rock the boat” goes on and on. In better times, like in the Clinton years and Obama’s first six years, “don’t rock the boat” isn’t such a bad way to do things. But there’s better options, and he refuses to pull the trigger on them, so I have to rate him as slightly above average at best. ---
**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:** [June 1, 2023, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-president-biden-really-good-at-the-job/984859/30 "2023-06-01T16:24:47Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > but an absolute breath of fresh air after the F- that was Trump And as voters we need to wrap our heads around it: yes we SHOULD WANT an A+ performance. But a solid B under suboptimal circumstances is nothing to sneeze at, when the alternative was going down in flames. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2023, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-president-biden-really-good-at-the-job/984859/31 "2023-06-01T16:28:26Z")
I’ve experienced every president since Eisenhower. I’d rate Joe at “Above Average so far.” He was dealt a crap hand and has played it well. We have an Infrastructure plan, we are out of the “Graveyard of Empires,” he just neutered the Freedom Caucus, both extremes of both parties don’t like the debt ceiling bill (which means it’s probably a good balance of centrist positions), and he’s a nice guy. Admittedly, a shit-flinging chimpanzee would be an improvement on the Previous Guy. I’d rather he went scorched earth on the GQP. I’d also like a pony. I’ll gladly settle for quiet victories by an understated politician who seems to be a very good poker player. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2023, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-president-biden-really-good-at-the-job/984859/32 "2023-06-01T16:31:30Z")
**Modnote** : Attack the post and not the poster. Please don’t do this again. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2023, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-president-biden-really-good-at-the-job/984859/33 "2023-06-01T16:33:11Z")
Ranking the presidents of my lifetime, I’d put Biden as the best (low bar). My rankings: Biden Obama George H.W. Bush LBJ Clinton Carter Ford Nixon Reagan G. W. Bush Trump ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2023, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-president-biden-really-good-at-the-job/984859/34 "2023-06-01T16:37:20Z")
I’m pretty close to agreeing with you, I’d make it LBJ Biden Obama Carter Clinton George H.W. Bush Ford Nixon Reagan G. W. Bush Trump ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2023, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-president-biden-really-good-at-the-job/984859/35 "2023-06-01T16:48:03Z")
Biden has absolutely been the best president in my life time. Obama was inspiring but ultimately mostly disappointing. Clinton was just ok. Everyone else was a Republican that actively made things worse. ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2023, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-president-biden-really-good-at-the-job/984859/36 "2023-06-01T16:54:15Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > I’d rather he went scorched earth on the GQP. I’d also like a pony. I’ll gladly settle for quiet victories by an understated politician who seems to be a very good poker player. Agreed. In that sense I think he’s very similar to Obama and Clinton, but under more challenging circumstances. The problem Biden has is that an understated politician who is a good poker player tends to better when things are good. When things are bad we need a president more in the style of FDR or LBJ (they would have gone scorched earth on the GOP) rather than Clinton or Obama. So yes, a C+ or B- given the circumstances, but we could do better. ETA: And since we’re ranking POTUSs, here’s my list for my lifetime. Obama Clinton Biden Bush Sr. Carter Bush Jr. Reagan Trump ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2023, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-president-biden-really-good-at-the-job/984859/37 "2023-06-01T17:10:44Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > Personally I think he is the 2nd worst president that we have had during my lifetime. The only one I think was worse was Trump. Please explain and elaborate-- you’ve had several requests already and no response, because…? ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2023, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-president-biden-really-good-at-the-job/984859/38 "2023-06-01T17:51:36Z")
> [@suranyi](#): > > Worse than Nixon? Yeah, I didn’t think about that enough last night. Nixon was worse. As bad as I think Biden is, I don’t think he needs to be forcibly removed from office. > [@Procrustus](#): > > and GWB??? Yes. Biden is worse than GWB. And that says a lot, because I really don’t have much good to say about GWB. > [@What\_Exit](#): > > and Carter? And Carter. Carter was actually not a bad President at first. Then he got bogged down in the Iran Hostage Crisis and became completely ineffectual. But we did get a good year or so out of him first. To be fair, my opinion of him greatly improved after he left office. I didn’t have too many nice things to say about him at the time. Technically I was alive when LBJ was president, but I intentionally left him off of my list because I was too young to really be aware of what he was doing at the time. I liked Reagan, though I very strongly disagreed with his economics. I blame Reagan for the economy tanking during Bush Sr’s term. Otherwise, Reagan was a good president, IMHO. He was strong on defense, excelled at international politics, and actually played both parties to accomplish what he thought needed to be done instead of just being a simple party man. Bush Sr. wasn’t a strong president, and followed Reagan’s “trickle down” economics, which loses him a lot of points in my book. Reagan believed that if you made the economy good for rich people, the effects would “trickle down” to the poor. I remember one comedian making fun of this saying trickle down economics meant that the rich pissed on the poor. Funny, but accurate, in my opinion. Clinton was good for the economy and absolute crap at everything else. I very much believe that he deserved his “slick Willy” nickname. Instead of doing what was right, he played wishy-washy politics and created a lot of the mess in the Middle East that we would have to deal with later. And unfortunately, GWB came along later and completely ruined everything that Clinton had done for the economy. > [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Please explain and elaborate-- you’ve had several requests already and no response, because…? What exactly good has Biden done? He is an ineffective leader. He speaks poorly and can’t rally people to his cause. But then he doesn’t really have a cause either, unless it’s something really obvious like infrastructure or the Ukraine. What is Biden’s plan for the Democratic Party? Does he have one? Reacting to the GOP isn’t a plan. The Democratic Party used to be the working man’s party. Now the GOP is both the party of the wealthy and the party of the working man. What is Biden’s solution to get blue collar folks back on the Democrat’s side? What is his solution for the immigration problem (other than to throw his VP under the bus)? He is passionate about gun control, but then everything he says on the subject is so completely untrue that he makes himself look like a complete idiot on the subject. This is supposed to be the guy leading the cause of gun control in this country? (FWIW, I’m pro-gun ownership so him being a complete moron on the topic only helps my cause, but it doesn’t give me much respect for him as a president) I personally don’t see anything positive about Biden as president. In fact, I think if it comes down to him against Trump, I’m afraid Trump is going to win. And then we’re back to a bull in a china shop for president. In my opinion, the best thing that Biden could do for the future of our country is to not run again. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2023, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-president-biden-really-good-at-the-job/984859/39 "2023-06-01T17:54:35Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > **Modnote** : Attack the post and not the poster. Please don’t do this again. FWIW, I took that as meaning that there were plenty of worse presidents going back a few years and that I wasn’t giving due consideration to them. I didn’t take it as an insult. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2023, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-president-biden-really-good-at-the-job/984859/40 "2023-06-01T17:56:39Z")
Thanks for explaining. I think your perspective is completely messed up, now that I know what it is, but that I can deal with. > [@What\_Exit](#): > > **Modnote** : Attack the post and not the poster. Please don’t do this again. I read Steve MB’s post as meaning that, to have that opinion, ECG must only have experience of the last two presidents (even that would be very hard to understand as a point of view) and thus be only 6 years old. It did take me a couple of seconds to get that. I guess he was being too clever, if it resulted in a mod note. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-president-biden-really-good-at-the-job/984859.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-president-biden-really-good-at-the-job/984859.md?page=3)