# 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:** 8
**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:** [January 23, 2021, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-biden-administration-the-first-1-500-days-not-an-afghanistan-discussion/925057/141 "2021-01-23T17:07:23Z")
Honestly, that’s a nice change from the Trumps; a POTUS and FLOTUS who genuinely love each other. ---
**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:** [January 25, 2021, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-biden-administration-the-first-1-500-days-not-an-afghanistan-discussion/925057/142 "2021-01-25T00:14:16Z")
Well, I read the newspaper this morning and all my usual news sites. And that’s it. I haven’t checked headlines throughout the day, or _at all_. I don’t know if President Biden has tweeted anything-- I’m guessing not, but it’s okay either way. I assume he’s in his office working hard for the American people, and I’m not worried about going to bed tonight and waking up to find the country on fire. We’re not out of the woods. It’s not smooth sailing. \ Yeah, there will be problems. Yeah, there **ARE** problems. But I’m not afraid of the President anymore or of what dangerous, stupid, destructive thing he is going to say or do while I’m asleep This is how it’s supposed to be. Carry on, Mr. President. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2021, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-biden-administration-the-first-1-500-days-not-an-afghanistan-discussion/925057/143 "2021-01-25T18:50:26Z")
> the first puppies arrived at the white house on sunday. smart move by the bidens, they were seen frolicking on the white house grounds today. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2021, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-biden-administration-the-first-1-500-days-not-an-afghanistan-discussion/925057/144 "2021-01-26T22:25:56Z")
I haven’t read this thread but I didn’t know where else to put this; I think it is both notable and good news: > **[Biden orders Justice Dept. to end use of private prisons](https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-race-and-ethnicity-prisons-coronavirus-pandemic-c8c246f00695f37ef2afb1dd3a5f115e)** > > President Joe Biden on Tuesday ordered the Department of Justice to end its reliance on private prisons and acknowledge the central role government has played in implementing discriminatory housing policies... ---
**Author:** ![Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heffalump_and_roo/32/7691_2.png) [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heffalump_and_Roo)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2021, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-biden-administration-the-first-1-500-days-not-an-afghanistan-discussion/925057/145 "2021-01-26T22:30:35Z")
You beat me by a minute. And YES, as far I’m concerned, it’s great news. I didn’t know Biden could do this by Executive Order. I’ll add another cite. > [@](#): > > President Joe [Biden](https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/biden) will sign an [executive order](https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/executive-order) directing the Department of Justice to end its contracts with privately run [prisons](https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/prisons), part of the incoming [administration](https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/administration)’s efforts to address racial injustice. > **[Biden to direct Justice Department to not renew contracts with private prisons](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/biden-private-prisons-susan-rice-b1793046.html?utm_source=reddit.com)** > > President will stop the ‘profiteering’ from federal prisoners, says his domestic policy adviser ---
**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:** [January 26, 2021, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-biden-administration-the-first-1-500-days-not-an-afghanistan-discussion/925057/146 "2021-01-26T22:36:28Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > I haven’t read this thread but I didn’t know where else to put this; I think it is both notable and good news: This is exactly the right thread. I intended for this to be a place to keep track of what Joe is up to. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2021, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-biden-administration-the-first-1-500-days-not-an-afghanistan-discussion/925057/147 "2021-01-26T22:41:12Z")
Cool. To be honest, the thread title made me think it was a joke thread or something. ---
**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:** [January 26, 2021, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-biden-administration-the-first-1-500-days-not-an-afghanistan-discussion/925057/148 "2021-01-26T23:04:19Z")
> [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](#): > > YES, as far I’m concerned, it’s great news. > > I didn’t know Biden could do this by Executive Order. Agreeing with both parts of this. He’s doing good things that weren’t even on my list! – I’m sure he’ll eventually do some things I don’t like. But I’ve got to say that I like the start. And [McConnell has found an excuse and backed down](https://www.npr.org/2021/01/26/960621238/mcconnell-relents-on-senate-filibuster-stalemate); good on Schumer for not caving. So Biden may be able to get some stuff done that can’t be done by executive action, also – though much of it not easily. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2021, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-biden-administration-the-first-1-500-days-not-an-afghanistan-discussion/925057/149 "2021-01-26T23:38:50Z")
“[I have a functioning sense of humor](https://youtu.be/4OlrY2Yxs3U).” ---
**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:** [January 27, 2021, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-biden-administration-the-first-1-500-days-not-an-afghanistan-discussion/925057/150 "2021-01-27T00:34:42Z")
WHAT? Why on earth? A joke? \<_scratches head_\> ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2021, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-biden-administration-the-first-1-500-days-not-an-afghanistan-discussion/925057/151 "2021-01-27T01:11:05Z")
“I am not ‘sleepy’, and I can still banter with the best of them.” ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2021, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-biden-administration-the-first-1-500-days-not-an-afghanistan-discussion/925057/152 "2021-01-27T02:42:05Z")
Well, I wasn’t sure what to make of a thread title that speaks of “the first 1500 days” of something that is scheduled to last 1461 days. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heffalump_and_roo/32/7691_2.png) [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heffalump_and_Roo)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2021, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-biden-administration-the-first-1-500-days-not-an-afghanistan-discussion/925057/153 "2021-01-27T02:46:11Z")
The thread started on Nov. 8. She probably tacked those days on. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2021, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-biden-administration-the-first-1-500-days-not-an-afghanistan-discussion/925057/154 "2021-01-27T02:57:03Z")
Then it would have been 1534 days. ---
**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:** [January 27, 2021, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-biden-administration-the-first-1-500-days-not-an-afghanistan-discussion/925057/155 "2021-01-27T03:10:06Z")
Holy. Fuck. 🤦🏽‍♀️ You people kill me. I guess I should have said “1,500-ish” or “1,500 and change.” ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2021, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-biden-administration-the-first-1-500-days-not-an-afghanistan-discussion/925057/156 "2021-01-27T03:12:10Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > I guess I should have said “1,500-ish” or “1,500 and change.” The first 1500 days will take us to February 28, 2025. Then we can start a new thread about Biden’s next 1422 days. ---
**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:** [January 27, 2021, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-biden-administration-the-first-1-500-days-not-an-afghanistan-discussion/925057/157 "2021-01-27T16:03:42Z")
So what’s Biden’s plan to deal with Democratic obstructionism? He has an extremely small Democratic margin (he can’t even lose one Democratic vote in the Senate). But if you look at the history Democratic Presidents have always lost a few Democratic Senator and/or Representative votes. Look at Obamacare: Obama wanted a stronger program, but he couldn’t get the votes for it–even though he had a Democratic majority that was large enough in the House and Senate. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2021, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-biden-administration-the-first-1-500-days-not-an-afghanistan-discussion/925057/158 "2021-01-27T16:11:46Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > So what’s Biden’s plan to deal with Democratic obstructionism? On one hand, the actions of the Republicans have whipped the Democratic votes better than any Democrat could. And it goes both ways: Biden will sign any bill that comes out of the Democratic Congress. They all know they have two years to get stuff done and the good cannot be made the enemy of the perfect. On the other hand, Biden and Harris (as former senators), will coordinate with Congress about any legislation they want. They’re not going to push something that risks breaking the Democratic coalition. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2021, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-biden-administration-the-first-1-500-days-not-an-afghanistan-discussion/925057/159 "2021-01-27T19:37:48Z")
So the sign language interpreter who signed for Jen Psaki’s press conference yesterday runs an organization that signs for far right videos. Some of the videos her organization signs for include claims that Michelle Obama is a man, that the virus is a fake, and that Individual 1 won the election. > **[Joe Biden's Sign Language Interpreter Tied to the Far Right](https://time.com/5933592/white-house-sign-language-interpreter/)** > > Heather Mewshaw has interpreted for far right figures in videos advancing conspiracy theories and false claims ---
**Author:** ![Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heffalump_and_roo/32/7691_2.png) [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heffalump_and_Roo)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2021, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-biden-administration-the-first-1-500-days-not-an-afghanistan-discussion/925057/160 "2021-01-28T02:36:08Z")
Federal judges waited for Biden to be inaugurated to step down. One only waited 90 minutes after he was sworn in to turn in her retirement notice. > **[Federal Judges Are Retiring Now That Joe Biden Will Pick Their Replacements](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/federal-judges-retire-joe-biden_n_600f3759c5b676ad837652a8?rz)** > > It's not just Democrat-appointed judges, either. > [@](#): > > In total, eight of these retiring judges were appointed by President Bill Clinton, and two were appointed by President Barack Obama; it would make sense that they’d want a Democratic president to fill their vacancies. But five of these judges were appointed by President George W. Bush. > > That’s not to say that a federal judge will only retire when the current president is of the same party as the president who nominated them. But it can be a motivating factor, particularly for judges who served while Trump was in office. > . . . > As of Wednesday, Biden has 46 district court vacancies and three appeals court vacancies to fill ― numbers that will only continue to grow. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-biden-administration-the-first-1-500-days-not-an-afghanistan-discussion/925057.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-biden-administration-the-first-1-500-days-not-an-afghanistan-discussion/925057.md?page=9)