This week’s White House Report Card finds that President Joe Biden, in just over a year, has changed the direction of the nation, shifting it into reverse.
Ignoring his Republican critics, Democrats are now wincing at crushing inflation and high interest rates that are erasing wage gains, putting homeownership and retirement further away for many, and making it harder for some to fill kitchen cupboards.
And even Democrats are rapping his no-border immigration policies that have seen the president let in over 1.5 million illegal migrants. Just this week, his administration resumed flying illegal immigrants into communities under the cover of darkness.
Polls show his policies are unpopular. The Quinnipiac University National Poll put his approval rating at 33% this week. And the scandal involving son Hunter Biden is starting to splatter on the president’s shoes.
Both of our graders gave the president a “D” for the week. Conservative analyst Jed Babbin said: “Even Democrats are worried now about the November midterm congressional elections. They know that ‘improving their messaging’ isn’t going to change the price at the gas pump or the grocery checkout line.” And Democratic pollster John Zogby said, “Biden desperately needs some wins.”
John Zogby
Grade D
This week for Biden had its ups and downs.
Inflation was up to a whopping 8.5%, the worst annualized rate in 40 years. Down were the president’s numbers — a slide in his average approval rating back down to 40% from 43% last week. Some new polls are showing dangerous levels like 33% and 35%.
It is now mid-April, and Biden desperately needs some wins. The good news is that a majority of voters do not blame him for inflation. But the bad news is that majorities give him low approval ratings on every issue.
Jed Babbin
Grade D-
It was “Inflation Week” for the Biden White House, with a new record set for inflation and the president seemingly talking to people who aren’t there.
Inflation hit yet another 40-year high, reaching 8.5% over this time last year. Unleaded gasoline is up 48.8%, fuel oil is up 70%, ground beef and pork are up 13.8%, and baby food is up 10.8%, to name just a few everyday items people have to buy. Even Democrats are worried now about the November congressional elections. They know that “improving their messaging” isn’t going to change the price at the gas pump or the grocery checkout line.
Meanwhile, mortgage interest rates have gone higher than 5% for the first time since 2011.
After Biden finished his speech, he turned around and tried to shake hands with thin air and then wandered around looking confused pic.twitter.com/ZN00TLdUUo
— Washington Free Beacon (@FreeBeacon) April 14, 2022
Even Biden said he was bored with talking about his infrastructure plans. And in one speech this week, he turned around to say something like “pardon my back,” but there was no one behind him. He ended the speech, turning around to shake hands, but no one shook his hand.
Biden’s new ambassador to the Vatican presented his credentials to the Pope this Easter week. He is former Sen. Joe Donnelly, who favors government-funded abortion and gay marriage.
To top off the week, Biden has reportedly sent over $1 billion to the Afghanistan government (the Taliban, an Islamist, hate-America terror network) since they took power last August. Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, over?
John Zogby is the founder of the Zogby Survey and senior partner at John Zogby Strategies. His weekly podcast with son and partner 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
