Happy Presidents Day. (Or “Presidents’ Day,” depending on your sources…)
At this writing, the current United States president is in Kiev, as you likely know by now.
Although the duration of his visit has not been made public, the early photo ops and comments have been a historic tour de force, brilliantly handled by the the advance teams, security personnel from both nations, and, most importantly, by President Biden, who has been strong, direct, and uplifting in his presentation and words.
Air Force One reportedly departed from Andrews Air Force Base at 4:15am ET Sunday. It was obvious to many observers since the Biden trip to Poland was announced that he would make a surprise trip to Ukraine.
Let us pray for the safety of President Biden and the entire, small group traveling with him, making an unprecedented trip to a war zone without American troops.
Assuming there are no unwelcome surprises, this trip, with its symbolism and the substantive announcement of more aid and more punitive measures against Putin, will likely go down as one of the most important moments of Joe Biden’s presidency, coming a day before the Russian strongman gives his own remarks marking the one-year anniversary of the conflict.
America (including Republicans) and the world should rally around President Biden’s courageous and unique trip, a huge moment in what has been one of the most important battles anyone alive today has seen — arguably the most important since the end of World War II.
The pictures and sound from the two presidents has already been historic and amazing.
I might update with more on the trip later today, but, for now, I’m going to leave what is a live TV story to live TV.
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It is, otherwise, a relatively slow holiday news day. A couple of essential reads for you (I read everything, I promise…):
* The New York Times on the U.S. government pressing China to stay away from aiding Putin’s war.
* The Associated Press:
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles toward its eastern waters on Monday in a widely condemned weapons test — its second in three days — that prompted Tokyo to request an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council.
* The New York Times on the Biden re-elect:
Whether he ultimately faces Donald J. Trump again or another Republican trying to be like Mr. Trump, the president plans a campaign message that still boils down to three words: Competent beats crazy….
While Mr. Biden seems eager for a rematch, it is hardly certain that he can replicate the 2020 outcome. Not only is his approval rating hovering at an anemic 43 percent, but two recent surveys, the Washington Post-ABC News poll and the Harvard CAPS-Harris Poll, found Mr. Trump leading by several points. Moreover, despite Mr. Biden’s legislative victories, 62 percent told The Post and ABC that he had accomplished “not very much” or “little or nothing.”
Biden aides scorn such surveys, saying that the polling system is broken, as proved by the midterm elections when Democrats did better than expected….
For the moment, with no Republican nominee to debate, Mr. Biden plans to play off House Republicans the way he did at the State of the Union, hoping they will turn off voters while he appears to focus on the country’s priorities.
More from the story, for true strung-out junkies only:
No leadership for the campaign has been chosen yet. Biden advisers have spoken with top Democratic campaign strategists, but at least three have indicated they are not interested in running the campaign and declined to have additional conversations about the post for a mix of personal and professional reasons, according to people informed about the discussions.
Among other things, there is a sense from younger campaign strategists that the crucial decisions will be made by Mr. Biden’s longtime aides in the White House, meaning that the official manager may not have a lot of control but will still take much of the blame for tactical and strategic mistakes.
Some of Mr. Biden’s most trusted political strategists are expected to remain at their posts in the White House and coordinate with the campaign from there, including Anita Dunn, Jennifer O’Malley Dillon, Steven J. Ricchetti and Bruce Reed. Mike Donilon, a senior adviser who has long been at Mr. Biden’s side, may switch over to the campaign but no decision has been made, according to Democrats close to the situation. Ron Klain, who just stepped down as White House chief of staff, and Kate Bedingfield, who is leaving as White House communications director, may help with the campaign in some capacity.
* The Washington Post profile of Trump budget guy Russell Vought is interesting as a profile, but perhaps more important as an indication of how tough a position Republicans are in regarding finding politically salable spending restraints:
In the 10-year budget proposal he has circulated on Capitol Hill, Vought characterizes this approach as part of an existential battle for the soul of the country. The plan includes $2 trillion in cuts to Medicaid, the health program for the poor; more than $600 billion in cuts to the Affordable Care Act; more than $400 billion in cuts to food stamps; hundreds of billions of dollars in cuts to educational subsidies; and a halving of the State Department and the Labor Department, among other federal agencies. While congressional Republicans have yet to release a budget plan, House GOP lawmakers are weighing cuts to these programs as a way to reduce the debt without touching Medicare and Social Security.
“America cannot be saved unless the current grip of woke and weaponized government is broken. That is the central and immediate threat facing the country — the one that all our statesmen must rise tall to vanquish,” Vought writes in his budget proposal. “The battle cannot wait.”
To quote Joe Biden, Good luck in your senior year!
* (Some) Iowans are noticing Donald Trump’s absence from their state, per the Associated Press.
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