Biden Impresses in First Term

Below is a copy of a Letter to the Editor that I wrote that was published in the Des Moines Register in April 2023.


Historically, the Democratic Party has pursued perfection in its leaders. President Lyndon Johnson had one of the most progressive domestic agendas ever but was brought down by his handling of the Vietnam War. President Jimmy Carter was hurt by the Iran hostage situation. President Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act was a great achievement, but the acrimony of the 2016 primary was partly a result of the perception that it could have done more.

In January 2021, the Democrats set big goals with control of the Senate (albeit with the filibuster), House of Representatives, and White House. In the 2020 presidential primaries, Sen. Elizabeth Warren said, “Dream big, fight hard.

How much more should have been done, or what should have been done differently, is clear only in hindsight. We should ask, is this leader good enough, not, are they perfect?

The Joe Biden-Kamala Harris administration, with Congress, has achieved a lot, on health care, promoting unions, the climate crisis, and so on. The progressive work continues. There’s always more work. Biden’s Build Back Better and Inflation Reduction Act are significant achievements. Eventually we should decide, what we did yesterday was enough, and we’ll keep fighting for tomorrow.

I will enthusiastically support President Biden in 2024.

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