Dr. Samuel B. Hoff is a George Washington Distinguished Professor Emeritus of history and political science at Delaware State University. He is a 10-time candidate for U.S. president and has served in three staff positions with Congress.
As Joe Biden enters his third year as president, he can be comforted that he is in a better political spot than he was a year ago. There are many reasons for the turnaround, which, although remarkable, has already been sullied with a self-inflicted wound.
After experiencing a general downturn during most of 2022, the economy stabilized late in the year. Inflation is down from the high of 9%; unemployment remains low at under 4%; and there are positive signs ahead for the chips-manufacturing sector. But the energy sector is still caught between finite and renewable sources and remains unstable at the international level.
Dealing with domestic issues, President Biden found the right formula for success in 2022, one which largely eluded him during his initial year in office: He let progressives and moderates fight things out in Congress, with the latter group recovering from its 2021 impotence. That brought a series of bills to the floor for vote and passage, including the Inflation Reduction Act, legislation on issues like gun control and codifying same-sex marriage rights, and the omnibus appropriations package, dealing with the 2023 fiscal budget. If there was a downside to this record, it is that deficit reduction proposed in some bills has been negated by recently announced policies such as student loan debt forgiveness.
In the milieu of foreign policy, the Biden White House’s disastrous exit from Afghanistan in August 2021 cast a pall on both the perceived competence of the president and on his approval ratings. But President Biden deserves credit for a number of activities in 2022, including leading America’s support for Ukraine in its effort to repel Russia and for keeping NATO nations in unison on most issues. Further, the White House held important meetings with regional representatives from the Pacific Islands and Africa to strengthen connections in those areas. Finally, the United States led the United Nations in setting new climate-change targets and in condemning instances of national genocide. However, a number of crises loom on the horizon, starting with U.S. policy toward China, as that nation seeks to expand its territorial influence. Additionally, trying to contain the nuclear ambitions of North Korea and Iran has been a perpetual struggle for contemporary American presidents.
The better-than-expected showing by Democrats in the 2022 midterm election created a situation of split-party control of Congress, whereby the Democrats have a majority in the Senate and the Republicans in the House. Looking ahead to the upcoming year, that probably means fewer public laws being enacted, an increase in appointments to executive branch and judicial posts, and more oversight and investigations pertaining to the Biden family. The recent finding of classified documents in locations where Joe Biden worked and resided after his stint as vice president conveys the negative impression of recklessness and will surely be probed with the same fervor by Republicans that Democrats had in probing former President Donald Trump for the same offense.
Stalemates between the parties and chambers of Congress could also hamper actions like expanding the debt limit, which, although necessary in the short term, will further endanger the country’s economic standing.
On the domestic front, there is certainly room to improve federal strategies to combat violent crime. That less punishment of criminal defendants may be warranted with victimless offenses doesn’t mean that the sanctions for hurting or killing others should be similarly reduced. Pertaining to foreign affairs, the ongoing border crossings of migrants have reached an unsustainable level, putting pressure on all involved. There must be a massive infusion of resources sent to the Southern border area to try to stem illegal crossings. Asylum and discretionary entry exceptions should also be clarified, though that may have to wait for rulings by the Supreme Court this summer.
Though presently underwater in his popularity, Joe Biden still beats former President Donald Trump in a hypothetical 2024 presidential election rematch. Trump has already declared his intention to run for the office again. Whether Biden does so in 2023 is yet to be seen, but it is certain that the events of the year will have a major impact on whomever aspires to the Oval Office.
