10 Things to Look Forward to in the Biden Administration

There is a lot to look forward to in the Biden Administration, such as controlling the pandemic and regenerating the economy. My list focuses on the manner in which Biden’s administration can and should approach their broad to-do list. So, here goes:

1. Expect real experience and expertise in the government. Biden comes into office with the right credentials, a broad policy background in the Senate, and eight years’ experience at the highest levels of the Executive Branch. He surrounds himself with people who proved their chops in the Obama Administration, where he saw their abilities first-hand. They all know Congress (some of them possibly know the Republican side too well for the Republicans) and will be able to craft reform regulations or legislation to get the Federal government working again. They will use their knowledge of people at all levels of the Executive Branch to get information and solicit cooperation, which will make government work better.
2. Expect honesty. Biden has said, “I will never lie to you” in public many times during the campaign and the transition. I expect that he will live up to this. It means the country will hear bad news from the administration as well as good news as time goes by. I believe that the Biden-Harris team understands that public credibility is hard to build and easy to destroy, and will act accordingly.
3. Expect “creative federalism.” I believe that the Biden Administration Will work hard to work collaboratively with state governments and eliminate competitive situations between states, and between states and the federal government. This will be especially important in the steps to bring the Covid pandemic under control. The states have decried the lack of national leadership, and they are likely to get more leadership than they expect or desire — especially states with Republican governors. However, Biden has made it clear that the pandemic is a national problem, and nationwide coordinated efforts are the only way to get it under control. Look for the biggest pushback from states with doctrinaire Republican governors: Florida, Texas, and the Dakotas.
4. Expect a measured approach to rollbacks of the prior administration’s actions and behaviors. Biden wants to reunite the American people, not seek retribution for the last administration’s misdeeds. Those misdeeds cut deeply into the foundations of our democratic republic. It may be necessary to replace the “norms” that facilitate our democracy, with laws and regulations, which were trashed by the prior administration. Furthermore, if the misdeeds involve breaking the law, individuals from the dowager President on down need to be held accountable. Wholesale preemptive pardons may prevent trials, convictions, and detentions. However, evidence gathered may be useful to state prosecutors, beyond the reach of presidential pardons. More importantly, the American people may learn a lesson. To this end, Biden must choose the next Attorney General well and let her or him do their job objectively without fear or favor. Finally, a public truth and reconciliation commission, working alongside DOJ investigators, may serve as a public window on what happened and how it damaged their government.
5. If the “New Year Miracle” in Georgia happens, expect an ambitious legislative agenda. This agenda starts with but goes beyond funding efforts to control and eradicate Covid disease, prevent recurrent pandemic outbreaks, and rebuild the injured economy. We could see the beginnings of efforts to reverse the damage of climate change and to rebuild all aspects of the country’s crumbling infrastructure beyond building a senseless wall. Passing elements of these broad initiatives may be possible by stripping Republican votes here and there. Still, to move quickly the Democrats must emasculate and sideline the Republican majority leader, and that can only be done with an evenly divided Senate and Vice President Harris in the Chair.
6. If the Democrats lose one or both Senate seats in Georgia, expect a restrained legislative agenda. Look for plans, issues, and budgets that Republicans cannot object to without continuing to look like the evil, self-serving hypocrites they are. For example, Republicans will suddenly become very worried about the deficit and debt problem, which magically disappeared four years ago. Republicans gave away years of tax receipts from wealthy Americans and corporations — and didn’t use them to increase wages, develop human resources, or increase productivity. There will be no Republican support for programs that may help Americans and relieve the burdens created by the pandemic and the awful economy it created.
7. Expect strong efforts to regain credibility with our worldwide allies. This will take time and consistent messaging. A bipartisan approach to this messaging will go a long way. That will require Republican legislators to behave independently, a lost art among them, and support foreign policy and actions. Let’s understand this: Most of our allies’ leaders and diplomats know more about our democracy and government than most Republican voters. It’s not just what we say, it will depend on what we do. Heaven knows, Biden and his team are articulate and credible people.
8. Expect a blunt approach to Russia. The dowager President has demonstrated over and over that he has a soft spot for Russia. He has allowed Russia to directly attack our interests worldwide, even as it appears to do inestimable damage to our public and private information security systems. He takes Russia’s side consistently when bad things happen or when Russia threatens other nations. Clearly, this will change, and a more objective and punitive response to Russia’s continued misbehavior will be welcomed by our allies. Although the Russians have a lot to account for, the Biden Administration will coax or prod the US back into several arms control agreements that were allowed to expire.
9. Expect a measured approach to the Middle East. The Middle East was a morass of competing interests, loyalties, and commitments in 2016. Commander Covid and his minions did little to calm the waters. Actually, they made matters worse by pulling out of the Iran nuclear accord (known to the policy wonks as the JCPOA), pulling away from the Iraqi Kurds, and taking sides with Israel in the perennial conflict with the Palestinian Arabs. The Biden administration will have to rebalance our policy approach to this caldron, keeping an eye on some consistent guiding principles that all the actors – state and non-state understand where they stand with us and our allies.
10. Expect a measured approach to China. It is safe to say that China has used Commander Covid’s erratic and self-conflicting behavior that masquerades as a “China Policy” to advance China’s own interests worldwide — and many of those interests are contrary to those of the U.S. and our allies. On the other hand, there is no doubt that our economy, and possibly China’s economy, depends on a healthy exchange of goods, services, and cash. The Biden Administration will work hard to find a way to balance this situation to protect our interests while respecting china’s legitimate need.

These are my thoughts, with some inputs from my wife, who is smarter than me. I invite others to add the hoped-for actions they expect from the incoming Biden Administration. Perhaps through our elected Democratic representatives in Congress, we could share these pints with the President-Elect’s transition team – as if they don’t have enough to do.