White House Report Card: Even on vacation, crushing American traditions

DOE LOWERS ESTIMATED CONSUMER SAVINGS FROM GAS STOVE RULE, SPARKING CRITICISM

Said the RNC: Biden is “outpacing every single one of his modern predecessors in vacation. Over two full terms, (Barack Obama) spent 328 days (11.2%), (George W.) Bush 43 spent 1,020 days (34.9%), (Bill) Clinton spent 345 days (11.8%), and (Ronald) Reagan spent 335 days (11.5%) on vacation. Over a single term, (Donald) Trump spent 381 days (26%), (George H.W.) Bush 41 spent 533 days (36.5%), and (Jimmy) Carter spent 79 days (5.4%) on vacation.”

What’s more, after his week at the beach, he took a vacation from his vacation at his Wilmington, Delaware, home.

But that doesn’t mean he and his team aren’t doing anything. His administration took several moves this week to hit American traditions, including archery classes in schools, incandescent light bulbs, and muscle cars.

The economy continued to scratch back jobs lost during the COVID-19 crisis, giving a boost to “Bidenomics.”

Polls showed people unimpressed and unenthused with Biden, but the alternative didn’t look any better. Former President Donald Trump pleaded not guilty to a third criminal indictment and is likely to get hit with a fourth.

Democratic pollster John Zogby graded the week a “C,” highlighting the economy but also the problem polls. Conservative analyst Jed Babbin gave it a “D-” and noted the administration’s woke policies hitting middle America.

John Zogby
Grade: C

There were 187,000 new jobs added to the economy last month, and the unemployment rate fell from 3.6% to 3.5%. Annualized wages grew by 4.4% last month — in the second month they were higher than the inflation rate.

There was hardly any talk about President Joe Biden’s age, and his chief antagonist and likely opponent in 2024 was indicted for the third time. It should all be coming up roses for President Biden but his approval rating is stuck at 42%, and 33% approve of his handling of the economy. A majority of voters in one poll feel that the country is in a recession, and only one-in-four believe the country is headed in the right direction.

On the flip side, 45% of GOP voters would abandon former President Donald Trump if he is convicted of a crime, but 52% would still vote for him. And folks expect me to explain all of this. Give me a week to mull this over.

Jed Babbin
Grade: D-

If Republicans weren’t so timid, President Joe Biden would have already been impeached for several reasons, not the least of which is his opening of our borders to millions of illegal aliens. Now, with the mountain of evidence of Biden and #1 son Hunter being entirely corrupt continuing to grow, there is some talk of an impeachment inquiry. Biden shouldn’t fear it. If Republicans were serious, they’d have done it a year ago.

Meanwhile, Biden’s open border policy has even more traffic coming in. Biden’s DHS had, about a year ago, created a computer app through which otherwise illegal aliens can make an appointment with the border patrol and thus magically become legal when entering the U.S. Now Mexican cartels have reportedly found a way to hack that app to increase the flow of illegals by more millions.

Meanwhile, Bidenomics continues to wage war against the U.S. economy. Just this week, Biden’s summer regulatory onslaught has: (1) outlawed the sale of incandescent light bulbs; (2) raised the “corporate average fuel economy” (CAFE) standard so that all cars will have to get over 66 miles per gallon by 2032. This effectively outlaws gas-powered cars and trucks, forcing electric vehicles on us; (3) banned funding of high school and college archery and hunter safety courses; and (4) ordered federal agencies to include “climate change” and “environmental justice” in every environmental impact statement on state and local projects to build everything from roads to dams.

In response to Bidenomics, Fitch Ratings has downgraded the U.S. economy from its long-held AAA rating to AA+. This is a major expression of a lack of confidence in our economy and will have a variety of impacts on the government’s ability to borrow. Meanwhile, the Fed has raised interest rates to the highest level in 22 years.

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John Zogby is the founder of the Zogby Survey and senior partner at John Zogby Strategies. His podcast with son and managing partner and pollster Jeremy Zogby can be heard here. Follow him on Twitter @ZogbyStrategies.

Jed Babbin is a Washington Examiner contributor and former deputy undersecretary of defense in the administration of former President George H.W. Bush. Follow him on Twitter @jedbabbin.