Seems to me that Joe is not smart at all, instead he seems mean and stupid with an evil streak like a cheap crook who came upon a scheme to make money off his name and he did it for years. Then he got mixed up with someone truly evil who was also very smart who perhaps used Joe the Schmoe as a dupe.
This evil person slyly convinced Joe that his plan, Joe’s plan, could be even more effective if he did it internationally with a goal of hurting the foundation of the USA.
The truly evil guy intended to take over the country, then take over the UN with HIS goal being to rule over the world, something straight out of the comics but perhaps this evil guy was corrupted by someone even more evil.
I agree with you. Obama schemed his way to the top. Biden blundered his way to the top. As you noted, the real question is who sponsored Biden.
And as you also noted, that sponsor is pure evil.