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KAHNTENTIONS

KAHNTENTIONS is a blog post written by Gilbert N. Kahn, Professor of Political Science at Kean University in Union, New Jersey. Beginning in 2011 KAHNTENTIONS was hosted by the New Jersey Jewish News which recently ceased written publication. KAHNTENTIONS presents an open and intellectually honest analysis of issues facing the United States, Israel, as well as Jews world-wide.

BY GILBERT N. KAHN

"These are the times that try men's souls."

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Biden’s Strengths and Missteps


President-elect Joe Biden is proceeding along a relatively steady path as he prepares to assume the Presidency on January 20. Despite the grossly irresponsible behavior that has been exhibited by America’s sore loser President, Biden has been moving ahead making appointments and setting forth his plans for the country. Like many Americans, Biden is praying that America’s Trumpian nightmare will just disappear into space; that the conspiratorial theorists will fold their tents; and that those continuing to declare that the election was a fraud will fade away. Unfortunately, Biden knows Trump has already given notice that he will hit the Biden attack button as soon as he flies out to Mar-a-Lago.


To date Biden has appeared to be virtually unflappable and been unresponsive to Trump’s maniacal rantings, regardless of the fabricated, pseudo legal obstacles Trump has placed in Biden’s route to the inauguration. Biden recognizes that President Trump has millions of faithful followers across the country. Yet, he also understands that after January 20th, Trump’s tweets ought to be consigned to the back pages of the news. Assuming the president-elect governs as he appears to be managing the transition, Biden ought to be able to control most of the public discourse.


There are two aspects of the president-elect’s activities to date which deserve to be evaluated. Biden has sought to develop a Cabinet and a White House staff that is the most reflective ever of America’s truly diverse population. He has sought to find more women, people of color, sexual preferences, and national origin than ever before. At the same time, Biden has used his desire for diversity to make some curious appointments. In addition, the incoming president has opted to re-hire numerous people who previously served him on Capitol Hill or in prior Democratic administrations.


Some questions arise already concerning two appointments from the Obama Administration. It was clear from all the vetting that she had underwent by the Biden team, that Susan Rice was destined to receive an appointment. Asking her to head the White House Domestic Policy Council makes little sense. Rice’s expertise and background is largely in international affairs, but Biden needed her selection to avoid a bitter confirmation fight and he had filled the top Executive national security staff positions. Rice had received great reviews while serving in the Obama White House and at the U.N., but she brings little substantive experience to domestic affairs. Similarly, the selection of Obama’s last chief of staff and former deputy in the National Security Council, Denis McDonough was a disappointing selection to head the Department of Veterans Affairs. While both Rice and McDonough are hardened Washington professionals, the particular posts to which they have been selected makes little sense.


Selecting General Lloyd Austin to be Secretary of Defense, objectively, was an excellent choice. Considering that Biden had chaired Senate committees which gave frequent advice and consent to numerous cabinet nominees, Biden understood the value and need to coordinate with key Senators before making appointments. In the case of General Austin, it appears that there was a slip up. Austin, as had General James Mattis in 2017, will need a special Senate clearance to take on the civilian position at the Pentagon given that he has not had a seven-year lapse from his completion of his active-duty service. Given the fact that many Democrats had opposed granting Mattis a waiver, Biden was setting up himself and Austin for an unnecessary confirmation battle given the need for Austin to obtain a waiver first.


There is a very important footnote to Biden’s appointment process to date which some of Biden’s critics on all sides have observed but not accepted. The president-elect has been very attentive to the preferences and concerns of the progressive wing of his party. He has not, however, kowtowed to them or given them a veto to any appointments to date. This group of the party may well be rather peeved at some of the overall selections that Biden has made, but this will not move the president-elect to respond. They may well complain, but Biden recognizes that his governing strategy will not permit many non-mainstream appointments. In the long run the policy direction of his Administration will have a far better opportunity to achieve its goals—many of which may well satisfy the progressives--if he keeps all the “chiefs” in the center.


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