# The Biden Administration - the first 1,500 days \[NOT an Afghanistan discussion\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [November 8, 2020, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-biden-administration-the-first-1-500-days-not-an-afghanistan-discussion/925057 "2020-11-08T15:09:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 40
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2021, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-biden-administration-the-first-1-500-days-not-an-afghanistan-discussion/925057/782 "2021-06-08T18:30:02Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Behind the scenes, it’s possible Manchin is saying “I need a few more months of Republican obstruction before I can get away with saying ‘screw it, I gave them a chance but they’re not interested’”. If he hasn’t come to that point after the last at least 13 years, I don’t think another few months will do it. > [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Or he’s saying exactly what he’s saying in public (though I doubt that) You don’t think that he’s being honest, but you still think to give him the benefit of the doubt? > [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Or something else. That something else is, “Look at me! Look at me! Everyone has to pay attention to me, since the future of our nation rides on my decisions here!” > [@flurb](#): > > If somehow the “Big Money Donors” were able to defeat Manchin in a primary, the victorious Democrat would go on to lose the West Virginia Senate race by 30 points to a MAGA-spewing Republican. It still means that Manchin is out. And I don’t see any guarantee that Manchin isn’t defeated by 29 points to a MAGA-spewing republican. He’s not going to win any republicans, no matter how much he obstructs the democrats. And the more he obstructs the democrats, the fewer are going to come out to vote for him. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2021, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-biden-administration-the-first-1-500-days-not-an-afghanistan-discussion/925057/783 "2021-06-08T18:49:41Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > If he hasn’t come to that point after the last at least 13 years, I don’t think another few months will do it. We’ll see. Any prediction is a guess. My guess is that he disappoints us, as he usually does. But it’s just a guess. > [@](#): > > You don’t think that he’s being honest, but you still think to give him the benefit of the doubt? Of course I don’t think he’s being honest (or at least not fully honest) - he’s an extremely skilled politician. He has to be, to be a Democrat who wins in WV. And I don’t give him any benefit of the doubt - I’m just saying we don’t know how he’d vote until there’s actually a vote. Everything he says publicly could change, depending on the circumstances. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2021, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-biden-administration-the-first-1-500-days-not-an-afghanistan-discussion/925057/784 "2021-06-09T13:13:00Z")
POTUS boards AFO… > **[Joe Biden heads overseas as his prospects darken at home | CNN Politics](https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/09/politics/joe-biden-domestic-troubles-international-trip/index.html)** > > Joe Biden is heading abroad, just at the moment when his hopes for a historic legislative legacy at home seem headed for a wall. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2021, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-biden-administration-the-first-1-500-days-not-an-afghanistan-discussion/925057/785 "2021-06-09T20:12:50Z")
And as to the Veep: > **[Kamala Harris is having a bad week (and it's only Wednesday!) | CNN Politics](https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/09/politics/kamala-harris-biden-border-2024/index.html)** > > The first six-ish months of Kamala Harris' time as vice president have, generally speaking, gone according to her plan. She's been a consistent messenger for President Joe Biden while learning the possibilities (and limitations) that come with being... ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2021, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-biden-administration-the-first-1-500-days-not-an-afghanistan-discussion/925057/786 "2021-06-09T20:53:48Z")
I didn’t watch the whole interview with Lester Holt, but the little bit I heard, she sure seemed cranky. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2021, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-biden-administration-the-first-1-500-days-not-an-afghanistan-discussion/925057/787 "2021-06-09T22:04:59Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > Fuck this guy Manchin Remember the Presidential vote in West Virginia: Trump got 69% while Biden got 30%. Has West Virginia always been a heavily Republican state? No: Bill Clinton, Michael Dukakis, Jimmy Carter, Hubert Humphrey, LBJ, Kennedy, Truman and FDR won the state. But in recent years the Democrats have decided that identity politics are much more important than support from the white working class. ---
**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:** [June 9, 2021, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-biden-administration-the-first-1-500-days-not-an-afghanistan-discussion/925057/788 "2021-06-09T23:08:49Z")
What is it about these so-called identity politics that these white people are opposed to? ---
**Author:** ![SwissMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e79b87/32.png) [@SwissMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SwissMan)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2021, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-biden-administration-the-first-1-500-days-not-an-afghanistan-discussion/925057/789 "2021-06-09T23:09:51Z")
No, in recent years the Democrats have decided to make fighting climate change a high priority. That doesn’t go over well in West Virginia, the capital of coal country. Joe Manchin went so far as to do a campaign ad years back where he literally shot a copy of a cap and trade bill. OT, but something I found surprising: Dukakis lost California, Illinois and Michigan in 1988, but won West Virginia. I can’t begin to explain that. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2021, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-biden-administration-the-first-1-500-days-not-an-afghanistan-discussion/925057/790 "2021-06-10T15:51:25Z")
Residual New Deal loyalties, I think. Dukakis was the last Dem to carry West-by-God Virginia. ---
**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:** [June 10, 2021, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-biden-administration-the-first-1-500-days-not-an-afghanistan-discussion/925057/791 "2021-06-10T16:05:18Z")
> [@flurb](#): > > I’m no “Manchin whisperer,” but another consideration that he may have on the For the People Act is that much of it is likely to be struck down by the courts. Perhaps I’m digging through a pile of manure looking for a pony, but I think you’re on to something there. I’ve wondered if Manchin’s posturing is a delay tactic to postpone passage of the bill until it’s too late for court review or reversing its changes to election law in time for the 2022 mid-terms. That court review will be sought by Republicans is a given. ---
**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 10, 2021, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-biden-administration-the-first-1-500-days-not-an-afghanistan-discussion/925057/792 "2021-06-10T16:43:52Z")
I’m wondering whether he’s holding out for some specific change so he can say ‘see! I fought to get it changed to something I think my constituents will see as an improvement!’ Maybe I’m just also looking for the pony, though. Plus which, depending on the change, that might also be a problem. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2021, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-biden-administration-the-first-1-500-days-not-an-afghanistan-discussion/925057/793 "2021-06-10T22:08:34Z")
This doesn’t surprise me, but it’s great to see just the same: > **[Polls: US image abroad has rebounded since Biden took office](https://www.aol.com/news/polls-us-image-abroad-rebounded-130032412-134719013.html)** > > The United States' image around the world has improved sharply since President Joe Biden took office, according to new surveys conducted in 16 countries, including many long-standing allies of the U.S. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2021, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-biden-administration-the-first-1-500-days-not-an-afghanistan-discussion/925057/794 "2021-06-11T00:13:23Z")
Neither of these results surprises me: > [@](#): > > In Canada, France, Spain and Greece, roughly a third say the U.S. is not reliable as a global partner. > > … > > The state of U.S. democracy also earns mixed reviews around the world. In Canada, for example, 6 in 10 say the political system in the U.S. does not work well, as do about two-thirds of Australians and New Zealanders. ---
**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:** [June 11, 2021, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-biden-administration-the-first-1-500-days-not-an-afghanistan-discussion/925057/795 "2021-06-11T01:08:44Z")
Joe Manchin is saving the Democrats from themselves. Just what do you think will happen if the Democrats blow up the filibuster in order to pass election laws on a straight party line vote, especially after the last election left a bad taste in everyone’s mouth? If Democrats change election laws without a single Republican vote, the right will not trust the next election if Democrats win. If so, prepare for a major crisis. Passing sweepjng changes on straight party line votes when the Senate and House are evenly divided would also set horrible precedents for when Rephblicans gain control again as they inevitably will. With the filibuster gone, the stakes will be raised dramatically for every election. Couple that with the rise of executive orders that can be undone by the next executive, and America coild slip into ping-ponging between extreme political changes with every election. Foreign countries will not trust America to keep its treaties, businesses will jot be able to invest long-term because the political landscape swings with every election, etc. All of those rules that have been blown up in the last 15 years had a purpose. Now it’s all just naked politics, with major swings in policy every election. Don’t make it worse. ---
**Author:** ![SwissMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e79b87/32.png) [@SwissMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SwissMan)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2021, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-biden-administration-the-first-1-500-days-not-an-afghanistan-discussion/925057/796 "2021-06-11T01:35:21Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > If Democrats change election laws without a single Republican vote, the right will not trust the next election if Democrats win. I have news for you: _they didn’t trust the previous election._ ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2021, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-biden-administration-the-first-1-500-days-not-an-afghanistan-discussion/925057/797 "2021-06-11T02:03:50Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > In Canada, France, Spain and Greece, roughly a third say the U.S. is not reliable as a global partner. Honestly, I’m surprised that the percent of foreigners that say the U.S. is NOT a reliable partner are that low. I know that Biden’s goal with our allies is to make the case that the last four years were an aberration. But any foreign leaders has to ask him or herself why – given that the United States was willing to elect one wannabe autocrat who shits on our allies and cozies up to dictators – we wouldn’t elect another one. There is no “just going back to how things were.” NATO allies and trade partners cannot assume that we will stand by our commitments, however sincere the current Administration may be. That’s part of the price we’re going to pay for decades as a result of Trump. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2021, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-biden-administration-the-first-1-500-days-not-an-afghanistan-discussion/925057/798 "2021-06-11T02:25:10Z")
Yep. When Trump hemmed and hawed at his first NATO meeting about whether the US would honour the mutual defence clause (“an attack on one is an attack on all”), he did huge damage to the US’s international standing and to NATO itself. That was the point when Frau Merkel became the Leader of the Free World, in my opinion. I’ve also seen an interview with a retired Canadian diplomat, who said that his understanding is that Foreign Affairs Canada had concluded that the government of Canada cannot assume Trump was an aberration. If the American people can elect one president willing to tear up treaties on personal whims, they can elect more presidents in the future who can do the same. The diplomat said that now, the Canadian government has to operate on the assumption that a treaty signed by the President of the United States won’t last much beyond that President’s term. I have no expertise in international affairs, but as a reasonably well informed Canadian, I think he’s right. Putin’s useful idiot is paying such huge dividends, even out of office, causing huge stress fractures in the Western Alliance. ---
**Author:** ![Chisquirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2021, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-biden-administration-the-first-1-500-days-not-an-afghanistan-discussion/925057/799 "2021-06-11T07:50:14Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > Foreign countries will not trust America to keep its treaties Good to see you say this now, given your strong defenses for the previous administration while it did everything you claim Democrats are going to do. > [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > With the filibuster gone, the stakes will be raised dramatically for every election. Like right-wing snowflakes attempting to murder Congresspeople because they didn’t get their way? > [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > Now it’s all just naked politics It’s been naked politics for the past fifty years. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2021, 8:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-biden-administration-the-first-1-500-days-not-an-afghanistan-discussion/925057/800 "2021-06-11T08:11:10Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > With the filibuster gone, the stakes will be raised dramatically for every election. Couple that with the rise of executive orders that can be undone by the next executive, and America coild slip into ping-ponging between extreme political changes with every election. Foreign countries will not trust America to keep its treaties, businesses will jot be able to invest long-term because the political landscape swings with every election, etc. I don’t follow your linkage between the filibuster and foreign treaties. The filibuster didn’t prevent Trump from pulling the US out of the Parus climate accords, the Iran nuclear deal, or the Pacific Trade Partnership. The common thread was that they were all deals negotiated by his predecessor so he cancelled them. That’s the type of conduct that makes other countries conclude that the US is no longer a reliable partner. Nothing to do with the filibuster. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Wiggler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/red_wiggler/32/13190_2.png) [@Red\_Wiggler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Wiggler)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2021, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-biden-administration-the-first-1-500-days-not-an-afghanistan-discussion/925057/801 "2021-06-11T11:21:01Z")
People around the world are right in finding the US undependable and our democracy unreliable. Seventy-four million people voted for an ill-informed narcissist and a bad electoral system gave him a good chance of winning despite being outvoted by seven million nationwide. We’re a goddam mess here and the proof will be the next time some nitwit utters the argument that “we’re a republic, not a democracy, and that’s why we need the Electoral College.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-biden-administration-the-first-1-500-days-not-an-afghanistan-discussion/925057.md?page=39) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-biden-administration-the-first-1-500-days-not-an-afghanistan-discussion/925057.md?page=41)