This week’s White House report card finds President Joe Biden at his oddest point yet in his first term. Admittedly dull, obviously old and remarkably unwanted by much of his base, he is poised next week to release a video announcement of his reelection plans.
Pollster John Zogby, grading the week a “C,” noted Biden’s situation and called it a “weak week.” He cited Biden’s newly slumping approval rating and ho-hum personality, recalling what then-candidate Barack Obama said about 2008 foe Hillary Rodham Clinton: “You’re likable enough.”
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Our other grader, conservative influencer Jed Babbin, gave the week an “F” and said there were unending reasons for that failure. “He still refuses to negotiate on the debt ceiling, illegal immigration is surging, and about to get much worse, and federal some employees are being given unlimited paid time off to support political organizations,” said Babbin.
John Zogby
Grade: C
Not a good week to have a bad week.
Things really didn’t go badly for President Joe Biden. But his timing failed him. As his team hinted that he would release a video next week announcing his reelection campaign, his polls started slipping.
His average approval rating for April is now down to 44% — 3 to 4 points lower than last week. A majority of Democrats still do not want him to run for reelection, and among those who do, there is an even split among those who say they will definitely support him and those who “probably” will.
He has an enviable record of accomplishments and generally is “likable enough” (to borrow a line used by candidate Barack Obama about 2008 presidential foe Hillary Clinton in a debate). But rank-and-file voters are just not there yet.
It is still early, but I grade only week-to-week. And it was a weak week.
Jed Babbin
Grade: F
Well, there he goes again. President Biden had another one of those weeks that painted a very clear picture of why his presidency has failed. He still refuses to negotiate on the debt ceiling, illegal immigration is surging, and about to get much worse, and federal some employees are being given unlimited paid time off to support political organizations.
The headlines told us that Biden still refuses to negotiate spending cuts with House Republicans in return for another raise in the federal debt ceiling. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy wants to recall some COVID spending that hasn’t yet been spent and cut some other parts of the Biden spending that have caused inflation. Biden refuses to negotiate despite the fact that his reckless spending — which created the need for another debt ceiling hike — is the principal cause of the inflation Americans are enduring. That alone is enough to give him an “F” for this week. But there’s more.
Biden: “It’s really very, very dull that after all these years in public life, you’re known for two things: Ray-Ban sunglasses and chocolate chip ice cream. Very dull president.” pic.twitter.com/AR9F0CSOKF
— Daily Wire (@realDailyWire) April 21, 2023
The flow of illegal aliens coming across our southern border surged to about 200,000 in March alone. Included in that number is a surge of 800% (over last year’s monthly numbers) of Chinese illegals coming into the U.S. I’m sure none of them are employees of China’s Ministry of State Security intent on spying and otherwise damaging America. Meanwhile, even DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas admits that when the Title 42 health restrictions end on about May 11, the flood of illegals will surge higher.
An IRS whistleblower contends that the investigations of first son Hunter Biden and his international influence-peddling scheme has been delayed and effectively defeated by White House political influence. The White House, of course, denies that. But where are those investigations? Why haven’t we seen any results yet?
To top it all off, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service chief Martha Williams announced that FWS employees can take as much paid time off as they’d like to participate in “diversity, equity and inclusion” organizations and their activities. No need to ever come to work at FWS if you’re doing Biden-approved political action.
This week deserves a fat thumping “F.”
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John Zogby is the founder of the Zogby Survey and senior partner at John Zogby Strategies. His weekly 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
