# What does it mean in today's USA to "do a good job as President"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [April 6, 2022, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-it-mean-in-todays-usa-to-do-a-good-job-as-president/962395 "2022-04-06T15:35:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2022, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-it-mean-in-todays-usa-to-do-a-good-job-as-president/962395/21 "2022-04-07T01:27:59Z")
The American system is such that Democrats and Republicans will each win nationally about half the time, no matter what the President says. And losing the midterms is the norm. Under those circumstances, making congressional election results the measure of doing a good job as President is unreasonable. I’d love for Joe Biden to start saying what I think. Would it help his party? I’d like to think the answer is yes. But it would help, at most, a tiny bit. ---
**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:** [April 7, 2022, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-it-mean-in-todays-usa-to-do-a-good-job-as-president/962395/22 "2022-04-07T14:24:19Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > They have participated in the blind adherence to Trump as a ‘great businessman’ even though the actual evidence incontrovertibly demonstrates the contrary, and they appear to enjoy being lied to and parroting back the same lies even when they make no sense or are self-contractory. The world in which Joe Biden, or even one of the very few rational Republicans still on the national stage, can make a speech that would persuade these people otherwise is long gone. I agree that this audience is impervious to any speech or argument that any Dem president can make. And there is an equally large audience on our side who doesn’t need to hear that speech, because we already believe it to the bone. But there is still a middle audience of wavering Dems, moderate Republicans and even true independents who do need to hear it. They need to be reminded that one party, however flawed, works in good faith to get things done within our democratic norms, while the other has abandoned all scruples in pursuit of fascism. This middle audience may be small, but it can make the difference in purplish states – and without them we have no chance of saving the nation. ---
**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:** [April 7, 2022, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-it-mean-in-todays-usa-to-do-a-good-job-as-president/962395/23 "2022-04-07T15:35:37Z")
> [@Akaj](#): > > They need to be reminded that one party, however flawed, works in good faith to get things done within our democratic norms, while the other has abandoned all scruples in pursuit of fascism. This middle audience may be small, but it can make the difference in purplish states – and without them we have no chance of saving the nation.- Yes, I came to the same conclusion this morning. I don’t think Joe should get into a pissing contest with DJT. (After all, The Donald is an expert in the urine department-- just sayin’.) But I DO think the Democrats should toot their own horn more and counter Republican lies point-blank whenever they occur. Joe can do some of this, but other Democrats need to get on board, too. The Democrats missed the boat big-time on the ACA by not promoting it, explaining it, and defending it, such that Republican lies were allowed to flourish like weeds. It survived in spite of the Dems’ doing little to defend it publicly and vigorously. But now, in these days leading up to the midterms and 2024, public fact-checking and reporting needs to be every Democratic office holder’s secondary, if not primary, occupation. Joe is doing a good job as President, so tell the country! Spell it out. And if he screws up, explain what his intention was. I know that in the beginning we were all relieved that the President wasn’t seen/heard on every media outlet 24/7, but now the party needs to come out and sing his praises. Sort out the lies from the facts and report to the public. For example, this bullshit about Republicans voting against Biden’s infrastructure bills and then taking credit for the $$ when it pours into their state! The Dems need to call out that kind of thing and make sure the Biden administration (and all of its pieces and parts) gets credit for its accomplishments. Yeah, FOX and ONAN [sic] won’t report it, but as @Akaj said, “the middle audience may be small, but it can make the difference in purplish states” and they probably watch mainstream media outlets. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2022, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-it-mean-in-todays-usa-to-do-a-good-job-as-president/962395/24 "2022-04-07T16:14:27Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > Tom Hanks couldn’t give a speech that would put a dent in that kind of ignorance even if he were offered double fisted Oscars for it Well, there’s a terrifying image. ---
**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:** [April 7, 2022, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-it-mean-in-todays-usa-to-do-a-good-job-as-president/962395/25 "2022-04-07T16:17:28Z")
Hey, at least Hanks wouldn’t be trying to eat them like chocolate Easter bunnies: [![](https://s.yimg.com/uu/api/res/1.2/CDRBd.h_GKtgde8u3Wv7nw--~B/aD03NDI7dz0xMDI0O3NtPTE7YXBwaWQ9eXRhY2h5b24-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/afp.com/97032b2de5c53504ef13ce7b35a32d9073da8cb0.jpg) ](https://s.yimg.com/uu/api/res/1.2/CDRBd.h_GKtgde8u3Wv7nw--~B/aD03NDI7dz0xMDI0O3NtPTE7YXBwaWQ9eXRhY2h5b24-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/afp.com/97032b2de5c53504ef13ce7b35a32d9073da8cb0.jpg) Stranger ---
**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:** [April 7, 2022, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-it-mean-in-todays-usa-to-do-a-good-job-as-president/962395/26 "2022-04-07T16:21:52Z")
The problem is that in US politics these days, people are allergic to giving the other side credit, lest it win them another election. So Joe Biden could have the economy white-hot with a 50,000 Dow Jones and 1% unemployment and his opponents still couldn’t give credit in public, same vice versa. ---
**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:** [April 7, 2022, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-it-mean-in-todays-usa-to-do-a-good-job-as-president/962395/27 "2022-04-07T16:54:16Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > So Joe Biden could have the economy white-hot with a 50,000 Dow Jones and 1% unemployment and his opponents still couldn’t give credit in public, same vice versa. I don’t think I’d go that far. GHWB did a masterful job of building a coalition for the Kuwait war and I think he was pretty much universally praised for it. So much so that the Democratic establishment thought him unbeatable in 1992 and this upstart governor from Arkansas grabbed the nomination. To answer the topic- I think it’s impossible for a Republican president to do a good job now. The party has cleansed itself of all sanity and I predict in 2024 and beyond we’re only going to see members of the Cult of the Big Lie get the nomination, all of whom are unfit for the office. I consider a Democrat to do a good job if he/she: - Nominates capable people to the cabinet and judiciary - Makes as much incremental progress as possible in civil rights, voting rights, and climate change - Defends Democratic accomplishments and agenda - Conducts foreign affairs with dignity and honor, focusing on human rights and containing totalitarianism without getting us into war - Makes an attempt to raise taxes on the wealthy but at the very least grant no more tax cuts to the elite Thus far, I’d give Biden good grates for the 1st and 4th points. He still pursues the Great White Whale of bipartisanship with an opposition who has no intention of bargaining. ---
**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:** [April 8, 2022, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-it-mean-in-todays-usa-to-do-a-good-job-as-president/962395/28 "2022-04-08T03:36:08Z")
Should be able to pass a Mini-Mental Status Exam, for starters. Can **you** count backwards from 100 by sevens? ---
**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:** [April 12, 2022, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-it-mean-in-todays-usa-to-do-a-good-job-as-president/962395/29 "2022-04-12T22:23:55Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > … > But I DO think the Democrats should toot their own horn more and counter Republican lies point-blank whenever they occur. Joe can do some of this, but other Democrats need to get on board, too. > > … > > But now, in these days leading up to the midterms and 2024, public fact-checking and reporting needs to be every Democratic office holder’s secondary, if not primary, occupation. Joe is doing a good job as President, so tell the country! Spell it out. > … Like I said… > **['Pick a fight': Time for Biden to spar with Republicans over his enormously...](https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2022/4/12/2091564/--Pick-a-fight-Biden-must-spar-with-GOP-over-several-of-his-enormously-popular-economic-policies?pm_campaign=blog&pm_medium=rss&pm_source=main)** > > In poll after poll over the past year, President Joe Biden's economic plans have proven enormously popular, yet the same polls showed that barely any Americans knew what they were. New polling from the progressive polling consortium Navigator... > In poll after poll over the past year, President Joe Biden’s economic plans have proven enormously popular, yet the same polls showed that barely any Americans knew what they were. > … > > That’s where the messaging comes in: Democrats shouldn’t be answering for why Republicans won’t provide a mere 10 votes to pass popular bills through the Senate. When a reporter asks the question, Senate Democrats should respond, “Why don’t you ask Republican senators why they won’t vote for the bill?” > > Senate Democrats must constantly drive home the fact that Republicans are filibustering these very popular common-sense items. But in order to do so, they must have single-issue bills and then run the vote in the Senate rather than strategically trying to attach them to some bigger bill. > > Yes, it’s going to require a little showmanship and messaging discipline on the part of Democrats. But if the White House were driving the message from the top, it would trickle down through Congress and perhaps all the way into the districts and states that will ultimately decide who controls Congress in November. > > The other benefit of the White House leading the fight is that it gives President Biden a chance to be out there championing policies that matter to working Americans—people he genuinely cares about. In both polling and focus groups alike, Americans constantly say they don’t hear enough from Biden, they don’t know what he’s doing, etc. > > If Democrats and the White House were all singing from the same song sheet on several popular items, it would create a self-reinforcing echo chamber. Suddenly Biden wouldn’t seem so absent from the conversation because the White House messaging would be reverberating through Congress. > … Could it happen? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-it-mean-in-todays-usa-to-do-a-good-job-as-president/962395.md?page=1)