Joe Biden’s tenure in office is one that seems poised to leave a lasting, and indeed shameful, memory among his followers. Scarcely visible as the limelight focuses primarily on President-elect Trump, Biden has made a questionable move by returning to the scene in a way that undermines Democrats’ cherished moral high ground assertions. His shocking decision to grant a blanket pardon to his errant son, along other dubious individuals and dishonest public servants, threatens to tarnish his and Kamala Harris’ administration irreparably.
The backbone of Biden’s tenure has been formed largely by a toxic blind allegiance driven by an intense dislike of Trump. This sentiment, which had rallied the discordant Democratic Party, now seems poised to backfire. After years of defending every of Biden’s action, including those that are thoroughly unjustifiable, this misplaced loyalty can only lead to discomfort.
What makes Biden’s pardon spree even more alarming is the character of the beneficiaries. Many of them are proven fraudsters who are unlikely to ever compensate victims of their deceit or repay the public’s coffers. By this act, Biden demonstrates a shockingly undisguised favor for unscrupulous individuals, undermining the democratic principles he once swore to uphold.
Among the most grotesque examples of Biden’s questionable pardoning spree include commutations granted to Rita Crundwell, the mastermind behind the most significant municipal embezzlement plot in American history, Meera Sachdeva who defrauded Medicare by cutting corners with patients’ chemotherapy drugs, and Gregory Podlucky, who conned investors of hundreds of millions of dollars.
Perhaps most alarming was Biden’s decision to commute the sentence of the notorious Pennsylvania judge Michael Conahan. Conahan is notorious for accepting bribes in return for sentencing over 2000 minors to a profit-driven juvenile detention center. The repercussions of his actions have been devastating, leading to drug addiction and suicide amongst some of the young victims.
Biden’s reckless clemency acts are making a mockery of the rule of law and the ideal of an independent judiciary. Ironically, these were hallmarks of the Democrats’ argument against Trump. Regrettably, this facade is in shambles, as Biden seems more focused on shielding individuals whose actions undermine these principles.
This grim situation begs the question of who exactly is reviewing these clemencies. Is there foul play involved such as potential payoffs for pardons? While this practice is not alien to Democrats, it’s concerning to consider Biden could be indifferent or mentally detached from these happenings.
These circumstances introduce more questions concerning Biden’s acuity. If he can’t grasp the implications of his clemency decisions, how can he be trusted with other critical duties? Democrats seem to be more interested in avoiding the spotlight and shifting attention towards Trump. However, this tactic appears ineffective as public sentiment against Biden grows.
Recent polls illustrate the falling public favor towards Biden, with the YouGov benchmark poll last week showing a paltry 38 percent approval rating versus 57 percent disapproval. This represents a nine-point swing against him compared to pre-election statistics. What’s keeping Biden afloat now is the unwavering and arguably misguided loyalty of the Democratic die-hards.
In the face of these troubling figures, Democratic stalwarts like Kamala Harris seem to be losing ground as well. Harris’ once balanced approval-disapproval ratings have now dipped by 9 points. This is hardly auguring well for someone who still holds political ambitions.
Current events suggest that the public’s dissatisfaction with Biden could spell trouble not only for the Democrats but for potential candidates associated with his administration. Pete Buttigieg, a potential contender for Michigan governor, might not benefit from the stain of Biden’s actions.
One might have expected Biden’s ratings to be on an upward trajectory post-election, as is usually the case when the incumbent president is leaving office. However, that Biden’s poll numbers are taking a nose dive is striking, revealing a lack of public trust and confidence.
What may also suffer irreparable damage is the left-progressive media. Whether it’s traditional newspapers like The Washington Post or cable news networks such as MSNBC and CNN, their enthusiastic support for Biden might turn out to be a liability. All these while, Biden could do no wrong in their eyes, but now, he is proving to be just another flawed politician who’s overstayed his welcome.
As the Democrats scramble to restructure from the political shambles Biden seems destined to leave, they will find their path obstructed by the remnants of his tarnished administration. At some point, they will have to distance themselves from this past. Biden’s legacy promises to complicate this task with each passing day.