Biden's America: Democrats see competence, Republicans see chaos

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

President Biden’s administration by the middle of last week was confronted with images of long lines at gas pumps. The Middle East had erupted in violence. Headlines were warning that fears of inflation could threaten a fragile economy.

“Don’t panic,” Biden urged on Thursday afternoon. He meant it as a plea to drivers worried about filling their tanks, but it captured his message on the flurry of crises he is suddenly facing.

A president who prides himself on choreography and planning has seen in recent days a burst of unexpected events that showcase the need for political agility. The White House is approaching the problems — all politically sensitive — with a degree of calm and caution, even as some allies want Biden to be more forceful before events spiral further.

As Biden and his aides seek to project steadiness, many Republicans are offering an alternative interpretation: The world is increasingly engulfed in chaos on Biden’s watch as gas prices surge, crime rates rise, border crossings grow and the costs of consumer goods threaten to spike.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/biden-competence-chaos/2021/05/16/11d10e64-b4ef-11eb-9059-d8176b9e3798_story.html

But didn't Trump sell himself as the chaos candidate?

[unblock]

1. Republicans whined about "uncertainty" when Obama was president

Even though interest rates were zero practically the whole time, they announced they'd keep them there for a long long time, and the stock market when very smoothly and steadily up.

It was by far the most predictable business environment ever. But republicans insisted over and over there was all this "uncertainty" preventing an kind of planning or investment.

Republicans always find some negative spin for democrats and they will lie to do so.

[Baked Potato]

2. I remember that-- John Boehner was pushing that crap.

President Obama was rock solid in his administration and support for small businesses. That’s why they attacked him, it was of course the exact opposite of “uncertainty.”

[unblock]

5. Yup and a parade of ceos on CNBC

[tirebiter]

3. There are more Democrats than Republicans

And Trump isn’t currently creating headlines. That’s it in a nutshell.

[Metaphorical]

4. Different Perceptions

Democrats in general value competence in a president: keep crises from happening, respond quickly when emergencies do flare up that were unpredictable (and learn from them to make sure they are predictable ahead of time), and above all, do not inflame a situation if there are ways to defuse the crisis.

Republicans in general value action in a president: if there aren't crises, then there are no opportunities to show who's boss, never back down from a fight, and take credit for everything, even when it isn't deserved.

Inflation is a good case in point. Inflation has been rising due to several factors, most of them short term - The ship stuck in the Suez Canal, the hack attack on the refinery, the flare-up in Gaza, as well as supply-chain shortages due to the pandemic that are in fact diminishing. The overall environment is still largely deflationary at this point, and actual CPI-measured inflation is still comparatively low. Most of the warnings about inflation, however, are coming primarily from right-wing media, which started beating the drums shortly after Biden was elected (about the same time that the deficit, which had been barely mentioned during the previous administration) suddenly became a major problem.

[unblock]

6. Your point about what republicans value in a president is no longer operative.

Nowadays, they value a Republican as president, period.

Ok, they also value spouting hate and white/male/Christian supremacy, etc. though, really, only if it comes from a Republican.

[Metaphorical]

7. That goes without saying

My point, though, is that most Republicans are extroverts - upwards of 85%, by at least some estimates I've seen. Democrats in general are across the spectrum, with a modest lean towards introversion.

[Wingus Dingus]

8. I almost didn't have toilet paper, under Dipshit Donnie.

I couldn't find fresh chicken in grocery stores for weeks. THAT'S something more like chaos. Thanks, WP, for crystallizing and delivering the bullshit Republican talking points for them...