Lots of people denying what’s fucking obvious. Biden’s a wreck. I’m voting for him, but let’s not kid ourselves. Politics is 75% bullshit showmanship these days. Biden can’t do it.
Last 4 years of many small and large pieces of progress would differ - a President isn't a single person, it's an administration and a general philosophy for 4 years.
Glad you'll vote, because we vote for Biden so that democracy remains in tact and we retain the right to organize in the streets against Joe in his second term if he doesn't use his second and last term to start approaching the BIG SHIT - Medicare for all, expanding the Supreme Court, immigration court reform, actually punishing people after the inevitable next January 6th, etc.
He can’t tackle SCOTUS expansion unless we also vote in a solid majority in the Senate, and he can’t tackle Medicare for All unless we vote in a supermajority.
Maybe, but a "nothing to lose" legacy-sealing presidency could mean that he'd get his administration to exhaust all avenues either way. Any meaningful effort from the bully pulpit towards expansion, term limits etc. Would be unprecedented, historic and drive a needed national conversation. Same goes for Medicare for all.
I respect your optimism, and I will be voting for Biden as he's the least worst option on the ballot. But for the policies you mentioned, Biden is NOT your man.
Just one year ago Biden said he would not expand the supreme court because "if we start the process of trying to expand the court, we are going to politicize it maybe forever." Apparently he hadn't noticed that SCOTUS was already absurdly politicized.
As for punishing insurrectionists, Biden has taken great care to stay on the sidelines and avoid even the appearance of using the bully pulpit to push for the prosecution of the traitors that tried to overthrow our government. He should have been pressing the DoJ from day one to prosecute all of them, including Trump. We have people still in the House of Representatives who apparently gave tours to insurrectionists in the days before Jan-6, But Biden is so concerned about appearing to politicize the DoJ he's letting them essentially, and maybe literally get away with murder.
Don't get me wrong. Biden has done an adequate job in the White House, and he is not the fascist, so he'll get my vote, but make no mistake. Biden is not a progressive.
Biden is squarely not a progressive, but he and his administration are technically the most progressive of my lifetime.
It's not enough to be sure, but the above is (bittersweet) objective fact. Otherwise, for the pursuit of policies I mentioned, they are in the context of a final "nothing to lose" term, when old men fixate on sealing legacy. We elect Biden to retain the form of government that lets us openly disagree with him, fill the streets to demand change and make them uneasy of the optics until they bend.
Glad you're making an informed, considered vote at the end of the day.