A Bad Start

Joe Biden is off to a bad start in the New Year.  During an address to the country on the coronavirus yesterday, Biden told us, "There's a lot of reason to be hopeful in 2020."  But the gaffes are the least of his concerns.

A new CNBC poll finds Biden's rating on the economy generally is at a record high of 60%.  That would be a record high disapproval rating, and 72% of Americans disapprove of Biden's handling of inflation.

On the main issue that got him elected, COVID, 55% of Americans now disapprove of Biden's handling of the pandemic.  Eight months ago, he had a 62% positive rating on the virus.  Not surprisingly, Biden's oppressive mandates are part of his problem with the American people.

When asked how the Biden White House has handled the virus, 24% say Biden "has not gone far enough," 26% say he's done a good job and 50% say Biden "has gone too far."

You might be tempted to look at those numbers and think that the country is evenly divided, but that's not how it works politically. 

The people who think things are about right aren't upset, and their ambivalence generally means that they are much less likely to act or vote on this particular issue. 

From a political standpoint, the people who matter most are those most upset or most motivated to vote.  And on that score, by 2 to 1 margin Americans believe Biden has been too dictatorial. 

Every conservative official and officeholder should be able to handle this issue by saying, "I am not anti-science.  I support vaccines.  But I am adamantly opposed to big government mandates, and I am vehemently opposed to Biden's demonization of unvaccinated Americans."