Connect with us
https://tickernews.co/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/AmEx-Thought-Leaders.jpg

News

6 months in office: where is Biden most vulnerable?

Published

on

US President Joe Biden on jobs

On Tuesday, President Joe Biden will mark 6 months in office.  He has had strong successes, but there is much more to accomplish ahead

Biden’s popularity is positive and steady above 50 per cent.  His policy proposals have met with strong approval:  how he has managed the pandemic, the vigorous jobs gains and economic recovery, the direct financial support to families and workers, a more normal summer of being together with friends and family and travelling again, and an overall sense of optimism about the future. 

The troops have come home from Afghanistan, American leadership on the world stage is valued again by US allies.  There was direct engagement with President Putin. Biden is strengthening policy across Asia and will soon engage more directly with China. 

Biden’s Cabinet officials are performing well. His White House staff is viewed as exceptionally able.  Processes are orderly.  The chaos of the Trump years is gone. The press is no longer the enemy of the people.

While it has been an exceptionally good six months, there are many challenges yet to be faced and overcome

Partisanship in the capital is at poisonous levels. 

The Senate Republican leader says he is committed to “100%” opposition to what Biden is doing. Legislation that passes the House of Representatives faces death by filibuster in the Senate.

President Joe Biden speaks about his administration’s response to the coup in Myanmar in the South Court Auditorium on the White House complex, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

There is no movement on issues that tear at the fabric of American life:  voting rights, gun control, immigration reform. 

What is the Republicans game-plan?

While Biden supporters clamour for action but there is no clear road ahead.  The Republican game-plan is simple:  stop Biden from governing and take that failure to the midterm elections next year and take back control of Congress.

Former US President Donald Trump

The next crucial piece of economic recovery – rebuilding the country with a vigorous infrastructure program and advancing Biden initiatives on education, climate, and health care – are all in the balance in the Senate. Whether the bipartisan infrastructure agreement truly holds – will it die because of lack of sufficient Republican support? – will be the crucial test of whether any meaningful engagement between the president and the Republicans is possible. Votes are expected this month.

But where is Biden really vulnerable? 

Republicans have not been successful in attacking Biden frontally on his major legislative achievements:  curbing the pandemic, rolling out the vaccines, financial support, jobs and growth, infrastructure, education and skills.  

Instead, their focus is on cultural issues that tap into the raw emotions Trump unleashed throughout his presidency, and they are pushing these hot buttons:

  • Crime, and the rise in crime violence in American cities.  Over the weekend, there was a shooting outside National Stadium in Washington, where a ballgame was underway.
  • Immigration, and whether the southern border is “out of control.” There have been as million arrests at the border this year, and over 180,000 in June – a 20-year high.
  • Inflation, where there are sharply rising costs for petrol, housing, and some foods, and whether the massive Biden spending programs are fueling these price rises.
  • Instability in Cuba and Haiti, and whether this will trigger as wave of refugees headed to Florida.
  • Afghanistan, and whether the Taliban will take control over the country and threaten terrorism.

Republicans will take these culture war issues into next year’s elections.

Biden knows all this. He is focused.  He knows what he wants to get done. And he believes he can.

Bruce Wolpe is a Ticker News US political contributor. He’s a Senior Fellow at the US Studies Centre and has worked with Democrats in Congress during President Barack Obama's first term, and on the staff of Prime Minister Julia Gillard. He has also served as the former PM's chief of staff.

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

News

Prayer app Hallow takes #1 spot on Apple App Store

Published

on

A new Catholic prayer app recently beat out major social media apps in global downloads.

The company says, Hallow passed 10-million downloads and 225-million prayers prayed around the globe, becoming the largest prayer app in the world.

Hallow has also become the first faith-based app to ever crack the top 10 apps in the App Store coming in at #3 overall–and beating Netflix, Spotify, Instagram, Amazon, Tiktok, and YouTube.

The Cofounder and CTO of Hallow Erich Kerekes joins Veronica Dudo to discuss. #IN AMERICA TODAY #featured #apps #prayerapp #socialmedia #Applestore #business

Continue Reading

News

Google’s take on AI search to shake market direction

Published

on

Search Generative Experience (SGE), is the latest innovation from Google Labs

This cutting-edge feature, recently announced by Google, is set to transform search results for a select subset of queries and a small portion of U.S. search traffic.

With SGE, instead of the traditional top-10 results, users may encounter AI-generated responses prominently displayed at the top of the page.

This shift has significant implications, as it pushes both ads and organic results further down the page. Stay tuned for updates on this groundbreaking development in search technology.

Continue Reading

News

The battery set to change Electric Vehicles and Tesla’s market share

Published

on

The world’s biggest battery maker announced this week they’re working with Tesla to making cheaper batteries.

Recent developments in the electric vehicle (EV) market raise essential questions about its trajectory.

Cost cuts by the world’s largest battery maker could impact EV prices, potentially boosting their competitiveness. Meanwhile, advancements in mileage, power, and charging times are driving increased adoption.

However, considerations about downsides like battery disposal and resource extraction are pertinent. Nonetheless, the broader implications for climate change efforts and the automotive industry underscore the transformative potential of EVs in creating a more sustainable future.

Continue Reading
Live Watch Ticker News Live
Advertisement

Trending Now

Copyright © 2024 The Ticker Company