A Reflective Biden Harbors Some Regrets as His Term Winds Down

The New York Times ^ | Dec. 25, 2024Updated 4:29 p.m. ET | Katie Rogers

[E. Pluribus Unum]

President Biden has less than a month to go until his one-term presidency ends, and he is feeling reflective.

He is voicing regrets about his decision not to sign his name to Covid relief checks and about his longtime reputation — once considered a virtue — of being the poorest lawmaker in Congress. And now, with a planned visit to meet with Pope Francis at the Vatican next month, the president is signaling that he may have additional issues on his mind.

The visit, White House officials said as they issued a readout on Mr. Biden’s call with the pope last week, is officially to discuss world peace. But according to a person familiar with his plans for the trip, Mr. Biden is also going to the Holy See to seek solace and “relief” as he exits the world stage. Pope Francis, that person said, has become an ally and sounding board, trading occasional phone calls with Mr. Biden. Some of those conversations have been casual check-ins of the “Hey, how you doing?” variety.

Throughout his long career, Mr. Biden’s penchant for narrating his life experiences has shaped how the public understands him. We know the stories: Childhood struggles with a stutter created a scrappy, bully-fighting neighborhood crusader. Mistakes and bad timing upended earlier attempts at the nation’s highest office. And the devastating losses of his first wife and two children created a wellspring of resilience.

But the regrets he has let slip in the lame-duck portion of his presidency are different from the traditional Biden lore he spun on his way up the ladder. As he makes his way down, his recent comments and actions reveal more about Mr. Biden’s thoughts on the current political landscape, one that is drastically different from the one he entered after winning his...

[enumerated]

“He is voicing regrets about… his longtime reputation — once considered a virtue — of being the poorest lawmaker in Congress”

I really thought this was The Bee..

[N. Theknow]

A reflective Biden?
Asshat can’t remember what he did five minutes ago.

[clearcarbon]

"A Reflective Biden Harbors Some Regrets as His Term Winds Down"

[silent majority rising]

And, poorest member of Congress? Are they all worth more than 50 million?

[alternatives?]

Maybe he wishes he had asked for 15%.

[pepsi_junkie]

We know all about Corn Pop and hairy legs.

And calling black kids roaches, everyone leaves that part out for some reason.

[rbg81]

and about his longtime reputation — once considered a virtue — of being the poorest lawmaker in Congress

---

Oh, boo-hoo. What is his new worth now? I’m sure it’s very healthy considering all those years of the “Big Guy” getting ten (10) percent. Not to mention his pensions (congressional and presidential). Of course, now that his biz is drying up and no one is buying his “paintings”, maybe Hunter needs a cash transfusion to cover his lifestyle, including expensive blow and ladies of ill-repute.

[frank ballenger]

I know George Washington and Winston Churchill must have been in Biden’s mind. If any room in there after which pudding is on the menu tonight.

Washington’s 1796 Farewell Address included the warning against foreign entanglements leading to being dragged into their wars, urged Americans to set the country’s needs above their local interests, he supported the US Constitution, warned against delaying paying off national debts and warned against political factions that would try to divide the country and obstruct laws as this would weaken the government without amending the Constitution as the remedy.

[Migraine]

Lucy pulled the football again. I fell for clicking on a NYT link, flat on my south 40.

[irishjuggler]

“Barack Obama would be the last one standing.”

Can’t tell. ‘25 could be the year the decades of Kools catch up to him.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

I figure 2025 might be the end of Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton and Joe Biden. Barack Obama would be the last one standing.

Cankles can't be that far behind.

[Governor Dinwiddie]

#30: "Can't tell. ‘25 could be the year the decades of Kools catch up to him."

A lifetime of Kools, sodomy, and drug abuse has a way of catching up with you.

[liberalh8ter]

Don't worry. His reflection is more about not putting his name to Covid relief checks than it is about violating anyone's civil or Constitutional rights. His vanity is still intact, apparently.

[4Liberty]

[gundog]

... the poorest lawmaker in Congress.

His gun-free zone laws are certainly some of the poorest laws ever conceived.

[maddog55]

Biden’s life has been one long plagairistic nightmare. All BS and lies.

[heavy metal]

wonder if he sees his reflection in a mirror...

[Cincinnatus.45-70]

Yep, looking in a mirror is the only reflecting he’s going to be doing.

[Liz]

Biden on 60 Minutes----The Cringe Episode

[quantim]

The worst president of all time and the worst pope of all time, what could possibly go wrong.