Joe Biden Is Still in Serious Trouble – Good SOTU or Not: Though Republican voters apparently didn’t think much of President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address, with it earning a nearly failing “D” average, the speech played far better to Democrats and moderates.
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It has been suggested it also served as the opening argument in a reelection bid as Biden repeatedly stated it was time to “get the job done.”
However, less than 30 million Americans actually watched the speech, down from 38.2 million last year, according to Nielsen Media Research data.
Yet, despite the decline, just a day after the address, Biden took a “victory lap” in Wisconsin, speaking to Laborers Union members, where he focused his message directly on jobs and the economy – but brought up how a few Republicans heckled his speech.
“Many of you have seen we had a spirited debate last night with my Republican friends,” Biden said. “They seemed shocked when I raised the plans of some of their members in their caucus to cut Social Security, and Marjorie Taylor Greene and others stood up and said, ‘liar liar.'”
In fact, it was only Senator Rick Scott (R-Florida) who had suggested a cut to Social Security, which was shot down by the GOP establishment.
Biden then told the union members, “I’ve said many times, Wall Street did not build this country. The middle class built this country. And unions built the middle class. And by the way, now you’re rebuilding the country.”
Joe Biden Still in Serious Trouble
Though Joe Biden received applause from those remarks, as he did on Tuesday evening from the Democrats in the House Chambers, it likely won’t address his faltering poll numbers.
A good State of the Union, even by an unpopular president, can result in a temporary uptick – but it won’t carry over the long term.
“I’m not sure if Biden’s speech will help him to win the election in 2024, but he certainly tried to make a case for why he should run,” Jennifer Mercieca, an American political rhetoric historian and professor at Texas A&M University, told CNBC via an email. “Someone watching the speech could conclude that Biden should be given more time to finish his ambitious plan to rebuild America.”
What He Didn’t Say
Biden still needs to do more to curb inflation while fending off recession fears.
It is true that January’s job numbers were better than expected.
Still, some analysts have suggested it is just workers returning to their old jobs – so-called “boomerang” employees, who are back after quitting their jobs during the pandemic.
At the same time, the tech sector is continuing layoffs. PayPal, Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Dell, Spotify, eBay, Zoom, and other notable tech firms are downsizing. Biden made no mention of that in Tuesday’s speech or in his victory lap on Wednesday.
The tech industry group Chamber of Progress has even urged Biden to lay out a plan to support recovery and job growth, TheHill.com reported, but so far Biden has been silent on that issue, focusing instead on blue-collar workers.
That seemed in contrast to his calls that more Americans should attend college so that the country can meet the economic competition for the 21st century.
Then there is the other elephant in the room that the State of the Union once again may have brought into the spotlight – namely, Biden’s age.
At times, Biden came off as an angry old man lecturing the audience, while some on social media mocked his repeated use of the word “folks.”
There were even those who thought Biden looked frail, while others noted his slow “walk” from the U.S. Capitol, suggesting it was a sign of cognitive decline.
Biden turned 80 in November and would be 82 before beginning a second term.
That may be as much an issue as anything, as Americans are ready for a new generation of leaders.
Bottomline: Yes, STOTU was not a disaster – but Biden’s presidency still is.
Author Experience and Expertise: A Senior Editor for 19FortyFive, Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu.
Niv Ren
February 10, 2023 at 9:49 am
I’ll take optimism over pessimism any day. At least with Bidden at the helm, I wake up feeling that the twenty years I spend in the military was not in vain.
Charles Ware
February 10, 2023 at 5:14 pm
Biden has improved every aspect of the gov. Inflation down, gas prices down. Unemployment is now at the lowest level since the 1950’s. Economy growing. Scandals and payment to porn stars zero.
Paul Kodish
February 11, 2023 at 10:45 am
BS: It was not only Rick Scott who threatened Social Security, you failed to mention, Ron Johnson, (Wisc.), Lee of Utah, Rubio of Fla. etc. etc. Pres. Biden has done a remarkable job cleaning up the mess of the former guy.
Mike Brenneis
February 11, 2023 at 11:31 am
Easy telling you’re on the other side. Too bad you just can’t either be honest or keep quiet. Biden gave the most unifying SOTU address I’ve heard in years.
LB
February 11, 2023 at 3:25 pm
Apparently, you do not read or listen to other outlets. A number of republicans have stated that social security and medicare were targets for getting spending under control. They have been taling shots at it for years.
Neil
February 11, 2023 at 6:10 pm
Biden certainly is too old for the job, but so is Trump. Trump is also not at all qualified to do the job of President. Even if he had excellent people working for him, he always thinks he’s the smartest, strongest, most perfect guy in the room. Trump may not have lost as many steps as Biden, but he was never qualified for the job. Plus, he attempted a coup. I’d like to think that Biden will listen to his advisors, then make a reasoned decision. All of them, unfortunately, make errors, but the way things are now, each side attacks the other just because they are on the other side. Another issue: too bad neither side is willing to fix Social Security/Medicare Many right-leaning voters rely on it, maybe even more so than left-leaning voters. It’s funny (pathetic, really) that those who want small government are heavily reliant on that very government for financial help. I think taxes for these SS and Medicare should be raised, the income cap for SS should be eliminated, for Medicare, everything should be included, except cosmetic surgery. Charge people a bit more if necessary, perhaps $250/month, but with the greatly reduced confusion and paperwork, $ billions will be saved. Get actuaries on both sides of the political spectrum to hash out the actual cost of Medicare and charge that much. I have liberal thoughts, but nothing is free. Sorry, Bernie. I’ll stop now. I’m getting too long winded. Maybe I should go into politics.
Pete
February 12, 2023 at 12:14 am
So much doom and gloom hysteria….but no real analysis… okay we can tell you hate Biden for some reason, and lots of your opinion all over this, why don’t you stick to what you know, not politics.
Bill Nienaber
February 12, 2023 at 9:05 am
Let’s face it Biden with his age and the deterioration of his physical health is a huge concern. Biden’s SOTUA was a joke and if you were listening to him speak, well try to anyway, then you would be recognizing him as WEAK and not able to communicate the truth at all. He is not in charge of this country at all. Truth be told the two gentlemen that actually run this country is Larry Fink and Mike Bloomberg. We are losing our freedom in America and it is all going according to plan with these two guys so we better get used to socialism because it is here in some ways and the other ways are just around the corner. Wake up and let’s take America back.
Joseph M Yasso
February 12, 2023 at 11:56 am
I think there should be an age limit regarding being President. I think an 80 year old person has no business being President. I think a committee of Republicans, Democrats and independents should be formed to look into establishing an age limit for running for the presidency. If Biden is reelected, the rigors of the job could be more than an 80 plus individual can tolerate. It’s sad that in a country such as ours we can’t come up with younger qualified people.
John Marko
February 12, 2023 at 11:14 pm
Thank God Biden is President. He’s doing great. Probably the best SOTU ever. You MAGATs need to get out of your bubble and join the real world. By your writing, you are a fascist pig.
Craig Danula
February 13, 2023 at 12:19 pm
“President Biden as a first-term senator in 1975 introduced a bill that would have limited budget authority for all federal programs to between four and six years, which experts say would have required new legislation to fund Medicare, Social Security and other federal program” The Hill 2/9/2023. He’s doubled down since that and confirmed in his own words his plan includes social security funding. Look it up using googlefu, it’s there…for now. Doesn’t fit current narrative, so long forgotten
Andrew P
February 13, 2023 at 3:38 pm
Biden is a disaster, but I think everything changed when the Dobbs decision was issued. Any Democrat could win in 2024 on the Abortion issue alone. Which means the Democrats don’t really need Joe Biden anymore. They just need a good way of shoving him off the stage.
W. Daugherty
February 16, 2023 at 1:12 pm
Uncle Joe can be trusted to not try to overthrow the constitution in order to stay in power. Are we better off than 2020?
Daniel McGinty
February 16, 2023 at 10:09 pm
Bill where has our country gone that we have to take it back? Should the country go back to the fifties or sixties? I do believe President Biden is old,but the people who he has employed to help run the country are doing fine.2 years is a lot of time to see if Joe Biden should run for another term.
Michael
February 17, 2023 at 11:32 am
I got a strong anti-Biden vibe from this, although the facts stated didn’t seem to support the tone or intent of the author. I’m not sure why 1945 has a political point of view. Seems like a bad editorial decision to me.
George Paddleford
February 17, 2023 at 4:49 pm
Joe biden has experience plus, excellent speaker and nice guy i’d welcome as a neighbor. 100% chance w/b running for 2024, right? He needs better VP !!! How ’bout black man VP, now a senator and good speaker from New York (cory booker) and moderate democrat replace asap KAMALA HARRIS
Candace
February 17, 2023 at 6:10 pm
We can find younger qualified people. Senior citizens and their children just keep voting in the senior citizens they voted in when they were younger.
unkapanky
February 19, 2023 at 11:46 am
the only failure i see here is the author still being on the trump side, for shame.
Bob
February 20, 2023 at 10:17 pm
For all the people who think biden is the best, please tell me what you’re smoking. The past couple of years have been nothing but a crap show with biden at the helm!
michael w kilmer
February 21, 2023 at 10:13 pm
biden has got trump beat any day of the week
Todd lee Clell Pierson
February 21, 2023 at 11:14 pm
you aren’t mentally challenged are you? Inflation and gas prices down? You have to be a troll…They may be slightly lower than the record highs that biden has caused, but significantly up over President Trumps awesome economy. Biden keeps pushing a deadly vakkine as well.. No to mention starting the Ukranian war and causing dissention globally. biden is worst non president ever.
Todd lee Clell Pierson
February 21, 2023 at 11:16 pm
by your comment I can tell you are a brainwashed imbecile at best…
Todd lee Clell Pierson
February 22, 2023 at 12:01 am
biden is neither nice or a great speaker. You’re just kidding, right?
mrt
February 22, 2023 at 12:08 am
scott was certainly not the only republican to recommend social security cuts. this outlet is trying to parrot what the establishment gop WANTS people to believe ( “only scott said this, but the establishment disagrees”). soc securiy is idealogically anathema to the modern gop. they want small govt , less taxes. soc security medicare a big govt and buig spending. pretty simple. Anyone even watching a little now and in the recent (and less recent ) past this was the recurring theme of the republicans. here’s one piece backing up what should be obvious
‘REPUBLICANS HAVE LONG CALLED FOR THE SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE CUTS THEY ARE NOW OUTRAGED BY’ from vanity fair. I am not sure you allow url so I am not including the url, but google this. very quickly Senator Lee, romney, even mccarthy have suggested this.
Gentry Ellis
February 22, 2023 at 2:43 pm
Republicans agree with the Dems and the View. Keep Joe in office, he is doing such an outstanding job. 21% of Americans of all ages, all races, think he has put the country on the right track. He should be the Democratic nominee for 2024. Two words to describe the campaign, “Go for it Joe”
Crusty Scalloper
February 23, 2023 at 3:29 am
Thank You mrt
The right hates the truth
marvin anderson
February 23, 2023 at 5:44 pm
This whole article is wishful garbage.
Patrick Kreisel
February 24, 2023 at 1:06 am
The only things that Biden is attempting to fix were broken by him to begin with. He’s been making blatantly racist comments for decades up til and including now. He had two failed Presidential campaigns dropping out of one after caught plagiarizing a speech. Even his former boss said to never underestimate Joe’s ability to fk something up. His own party knows and he was only nominated because he was their best chance at beating Trump
Janice Thomas
February 26, 2023 at 12:59 pm
Joe Biden is 80 years old. So What!! He has an excellent mind, LOTS of common sense. He has a lot of good people to advise him on things they have more expertise in. He is smart enough to call on others when needed. He is NOT FEEBLE. To be president you don’t have to run a marathon. You just need to smart. He is very smart!! He stutters a little sometimes. So?? Stuttering is a sign of genius. PLEASE give Joe Biden the Presidency in 2024. Let him finish the great job he is doing. NEVER, NEVER elect anyone else who shows ANY signs of being like Trumpy boy ever again. Get rid of the electoral college before the next election. Always protect Social Security and Medicare. Someday you will all be old enough to have both and you will be glad this country still has it. PROTECT OUR DEMOCRACY AT ALL COSTS. DEMOCRACY IS THE ONE THING WE CANNOT AFFORD TO LOSE. Keep up the good work Joe. I am 81 years old and I am proud of you Joe. PS My mind is still sharp. Trust in Joe, his mind is very sharp!! He also has lots of years left.
chris
March 1, 2023 at 2:25 am
Looks like you are on some kind of vakkine
Roger L, Freeberg
March 3, 2023 at 5:44 pm
I am sorry for Joe Biden that he got so old but if we are lucky it will happen to all of us. I beleive even as a staunch Republican, that I am Joe Biden deserves the respect of all citizens , after all he is the President of the United States like it or not.I wish he would have retired years ago but he is there and people need to accept that and constructively try and defeat him. People like Marjorie Greene apparently doesn’t understand how she should act in either private or public when they open their mouths and try to act like they have good manners. She is a disgrace and how she got elected only God knows. Maybe the people who voted for her will wake up and see what a destructive brain dead idiot that she is on a par with Pelosi tearing up Trumps STOTU speech, both stupid crazy actions .Maybe she and Kari could get jobs in Las Vegas. Joe himself speaks with forked tongue when he implys that Republicans would ever distantly consider cutting Social Security or Medicare. We all know that idea wouln’t fly anywhere and even Scott knows that and it would be political suicide .
anthony
March 10, 2023 at 3:42 pm
Joe Biden is a disaster , plus he only won because his and his sons crime where covered up by twitter and the FBI
Loy Jones
March 14, 2023 at 6:39 am
“In fact, it was only Senator Rick Scott (R-Florida) who had suggested a cut to Social Security, which was shot down by the GOP establishment.” This is completely untrue, there have been many GOP members stating cuts or necessary and an example of one is the idiot from Wisconsin. If you’re going to write news, write the truth.
Lori
May 12, 2023 at 12:54 pm
Joe Biden is turning out to be a major crime figure with the rest of his family and his “rebuilding” of America is simply to ruin it and make it over as a communist country with B. Sanders, etc. The Green New Deal is a ploy to force CRT, solar and wind over-regulation and trillions in spending down America’s throat and benefit China, who is in cahoots with Joe – recall photos with Xi and Joe raising glasses & fists in victory BEFORE the 2020 sham election. Dems need to start speaking mandarin or wake up and vote for some pro-Constitution candidate who is not blind to the dem-enabled violence, lethal drugs, border influx, military unreadiness, failing economy, poor international standing, total lawlessness in the dem-run cities, and Joe’s vanishing mental status. Joe has his finger on he nuclear button and is a traitor to this country. He will pander to anyone and lie like a rug to remain in office to “finish the job” of destroying our America.
S Galbraith
May 13, 2023 at 12:49 am
POLITICS, politics, politics. Enough is enough. We can’t turn on TV without listening to all of the nonsense of politics from most of the talk show hosts trying to cram their opinions down everyone else’s throat. There is so much serious divide and anger and violence and animosity in the USA. When I turn on TV, the second I hear about anything political, I change the TV channel to a show that has hosts who do not insist on being in charge for everyone and disclosing their party affiliation like I give a darn. Your opinions are simply meaningless to me and I can find shows that do not create all of that tension and upsettedness like Live with Kelly and Mark or Kelly Clarkson, or Meredith Vieira on 25 words or Steve Harvey on family Feud. Cant any of you bright individuals recognize that you take a spot that is a wonderful platform to bring good and unity in this country and it is so painful to see you misuse the opportunity to bring good to this world and bring only more divide and hostility and can’t believe you also treat your audiences with such disrespect.
It is time to quit this nonsense and look to the future not the past. We need to get rid of this political force of oldies. AGE matters. Retirement is to stop working not to move into the white house . Old people need to go get their own little white house with picket fence somewhere other than Washington DC .
We have got to quit attacking one another and come together as a nation. Maybe politicians need a set of rules to go by. Start with only talking about YOU and what you think you can do for this divided country. You don’t need to attack each other. We know you all stink. We know you all look out for yourselves and special interest groups. It might surprise you to see the violence simmer down and the people who no longer attack each other could come together and all have their own opinions of this divided nation but also allow everyone else to their own opinion. In my lifetime, I have not seen the USA as it is today. It isn’t good in anyway. Things are bad in the USA and we are probably a laughing stock to the world. Who acts this way publicly. You should all be ashamed of yourselves. Quit humiliating yourselves and our nation.
Victoria Winfindale
May 13, 2023 at 5:16 pm
Biden and this administration have ruined this country in two and a half short years!!! Biden is not running this country…and now our borders are wide open! When these people who are invading our country, start pitching tents or squatting in the homes of woke progressives and media who are covering up for him…….maybe things will change.
Eric
May 14, 2023 at 11:18 pm
This sounds like this is a right-wing rag paper, not worth the time to read just more lying traitors telling their BS
paul
May 19, 2023 at 12:43 am
Even if you are one of those Biden’s policies have helped, how do you explain the stumbling bumbling he constantly displays? He is not fit to be president and number one what do you think about his graff and corruption? How can you just overlook it? The key nugget here is that we are in this shape because of Obama. Plotting against presidential candidates to keep them from office should have those people in jail or at the very least have their govt. benefits go bye-bye. Obama cares so much about his legacy that I certainly hope the history books got it right that he was in charge of an auto-coup against a presidential candidate — even if by playing dumb.
This all started to seem weird the day James Comey gave his guilty — not guilty –no crime speech for Hiliary.