Nothing more fun for people on the right than to make fun of Joe as dropping a step. They love to capitalize on his speech impediment as evidence. Because they are awful.
But Biden has shown us time and time again that he is still sharp (which even Republicans privatly admit).
No better example of this than the 2023 State of the Union
Biden flexed his dexterity at the State of the Union
The president got Republicans to agree to protect Social Security and Medicare. More important, he did it by going off script.
Republicans are quick to suggest that President Joe Biden has lost a step — but he proved nimble enough Tuesday night to box them in on Social Security and Medicare. And he did it, in part, by going off script.
Nearly halfway through his State of the Union address, Biden said that "some Republicans want Medicare and Social Security to sunset every five years" and that others would like to use the possibility of defaulting on federal debt as leverage to cut those programs.
Republicans jeered. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., a newly empowered voice in her party, yelled, "Liar!"
At first, Biden offered to provide documentation. Then, he simply accepted the response as on-the-spot agreement from the GOP to keep the programs intact.
"As we all apparently agree," he said, departing from his prepared remarks and grinning like a cat with a canary feather stuck in his teeth, "Social Security and Medicare is off the books now."
We all apparently agree’ on saving Medicare and Social Security, Biden teases during State of the Union
In a rowdy back-and-forth, President Joe Biden accused some congressional Republicans — not a majority — of wanting to “take the economy hostage” by insisting that Medicare and Social Security be sunset, drawing loud boos.
He said in his Tuesday State of the Union address that he was glad to see their response, adding, “I enjoy conversion.”
“As we all apparently agree, Social Security and Medicare is off the books now, right?” Biden said, saying he would stop any effort to cut the social safety nets. He also offered to sit down with Republicans to discuss their mutual fiscal plans.
“We’ll pay for it the way we talked about: by making sure the wealthy and big corporations pay their fair share,” Biden said.
The president seized on his battle with GOP lawmakers over the entitlement programs.
“They sure didn’t like me calling them on it,” Biden said, noting that Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green (R-Ga.) stood up and called him a “liar” during Tuesday night’s speech. “Look, a lot of Republicans — their dream is to cut Social Security and Medicare. Well, let me just say this. It’s your dream, but I’m going to use my veto pen and make it a nightmare.”
Joe Biden boxes Republicans into a corner on Social Security
Round one of the debt-ceiling standoff is going about as well as the White House hoped after President Joe Biden boxed Republicans into a corner on Social Security and Medicare, recasting the debate over spending cuts as a fight to protect two of the most popular government programs.
It's not just a short-term play. Biden bolstered the economic message he's making to blue-collar voters and seniors ahead of an expected reelection campaign for 2024.
First came the heckling during Biden's State of the Union address last week. After Republicans roundly booed the president when he accused them of wanting to cut Social Security, Biden seemed to get their verbal commitment – on the floor of the House, no less – not to touch either program.
How Joe Biden Skewered Republicans in State of the Union 'Masterclass'
"So folks, as we all apparently agree, Social Security and Medicare is off the books now, right?" Biden said.
We got unanimity!" Biden shouted over cheers in the chamber.
That moment led to praise from social media users, who argued that Biden had successfully baited Republicans into making a public commitment not to cut Social Security and Medicare.
"The way Joe Biden used extreme MAGA Republicans against the rest of Republicans to force them ALL to agree with him was one of the slickest political slights of hand I've EVER seen. This is a masterclass," tweeted lawyer Exavier Pope.
"Biden's way of turning MTG's heckling ('Liar!') about his accurate reference to Rick Scott's threats to cut Social Security into a deal binding the GOP to commit never to do what Scott has threatened was just masterful—as was his SOTU speech as a whole," wrote Laurence Tribe, legal scholar and professor emeritus at Harvard Law School.
Grant Stern, executive editor of political organization Occupy Democrats, wrote: "Dark Brandon gets Republicans to cheerily promise not to cut Social Security and Medicare live during the #SOTU speech!"
Thanks to NancyJones for this great idea for a entry in the series. Do you have an idea? Send me a kosmail!!
Is there still more work to be done? 100%! Lots more work. But Biden did more than many people guessed could be done. And he deserves a lot of credit. AND he deserves to be re-elected.
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