Comparing Presidents George H.W. Bush and Joe Biden
Post # 226, Bob McKnight's Florida Commentary
Presidents Bush 41 (R) and Biden (D) share being Vice Presidents, a major war, strong foreign affairs, but a tepid economy.
Many today are comparing the presidency of George Herbert Walker Bush (Dad) and Joe Biden. Consider what they have in common:
Both are considered honorable men, but lacking in natural charisma.
Both served as Vice President to a popular President.
Both were known for their expertise in Foreign Affairs, but not Domestic Politics.
Both found our country in war settings--Bush winning a war and Biden providing weapons and supplies for allies at war.
Both have struggled with taxes and inflation--Bush breaking a promise to not raise taxes and Biden supervising record inflation.
Both had foreign success--Bush in unifying Germany and Biden restoring NATO support.
Both struggled with non-partisanship in Congress.
With those similarities, it is natural to assume that Biden will follow Bush as a one term President. But, it may be too early to call that election. Consider:
The Supreme Court decision delegating abortion decisions to the states is said to have really shocked women voters. Although most polls show Americans support Roe v. Wade by 60-40%; surprisingly, GOP women also support abortion rights by 52-48%. Remarks and proposed actions by GOP white men in states to outlaw all abortions, without any exceptions, may be just the break Biden and the Democrats win an additional 5% of the women vote in November, 2024.
Also, President Biden is given generally high marks for his handling of the Covid-19 Pandemic, despite witnessing over 1 Million deaths in the United States. If the disease resurfaces each fall as expected and Biden has America prepared, his support may grow.
But the real dilemma is how Biden, like Bush before him, can create important success with the economy, jobs, interest rates, the stock market, inflation, and taxes. The President has a number of options to help him--the Federal Reserve, the Congress, the Courts, the States, the stock markets, and the almost beyond imagination of technology today. Biden might get a lucky break on a return of a reasonably robust economy.
Biden is hoping that his re-election bid in 2024 is the one major difference from that of President George H. W. Bush in 1992.