Let’s rewind the tape to 2020, a year when the United States felt like it was stuck in the spin cycle of a cosmic washing machine. Amid a global pandemic, civil unrest, and political chaos, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris emerged as the "dynamic duo" promising to bring calm to the storm. Their campaign slogans practically screamed “Decency Restored!” and “Build Back Better!” – the kind of slogans that sound great until you realize no one defined what “better” meant. But hey, after four years of Trump, many Americans thought, “How bad could it get?” Turns out, that question was rhetorical, and the universe answered it anyway. Spoiler alert: really bad. Buckle up, folks, because this rollercoaster’s got loops, corkscrews, and no seat belts.
The Promises That Paved the Path to Power
Biden and Harris campaigned on a platform of unity, empathy, and bold action. They were going to fix everything: COVID, the economy, climate change, racism, healthcare, and even your slow Wi-Fi. Their promises flowed like cheap beer at a college party. Remember the pledge to "shut down the virus"? Bold words for a pandemic that was laughing in the face of global efforts. Then there was the promise to "restore America’s soul," which, frankly, sounds like the tagline for a bad superhero movie. Student debt forgiveness? Sure, but only in theory. Raising taxes on the super-wealthy? If by "super-wealthy" you mean the middle class, then yes, mission accomplished. They sold voters a Costco-sized box of hope with a side of virtue signaling, and Americans bought it. Some were left wondering if they could return it without the receipt.
Let’s not forget the Green New Deal-inspired climate promises. Biden promised net-zero emissions and ambitious infrastructure projects. But climate activists quickly found themselves ghosted, as fossil fuel projects like drilling leases in Alaska quietly moved forward. Meanwhile, big promises about tackling systemic racism and police reform were made with the kind of enthusiasm that evaporates the moment the campaign ends.
The Great American Circus: A Presidency Unfolds
The Afghanistan Fiasco
Let’s start with the crown jewel of incompetence: the withdrawal from Afghanistan. After two decades of war, Biden promised to bring American troops home. Admirable, right? Except the execution looked like it was planned by a drunk guy scribbling on a cocktail napkin. Chaos doesn’t even begin to describe it. Thousands of Afghan allies were left stranded, billions in military equipment were abandoned, and the Taliban took selfies in our Humvees like they had just won the Super Bowl. Oh, and let’s not forget the 13 young U.S. service members who tragically lost their lives in a suicide bombing during the evacuation. The administration called it a success. Most Americans called it an embarrassment. Somewhere, Murphy’s Law was nodding in approval.
The scenes at Kabul’s airport were gut-wrenching: desperate Afghans clinging to planes, mothers tossing their babies to soldiers over razor wire, and Taliban fighters looking like kids in a candy store as they posed with abandoned American weaponry. The administration’s response? Blame the previous administration, blame the Afghan government, and when that didn’t stick, blame bad luck. It was a masterclass in passing the buck, but Americans weren’t buying it. This wasn’t just a failure; it was a symphony of incompetence played on a broken kazoo.
Meanwhile, NATO allies voiced their frustration, calling the withdrawal poorly coordinated and damaging to international credibility. Veterans’ groups also slammed the administration, describing the move as a betrayal of those who served. If there was a checklist for "How to Lose Trust in Leadership," this disaster ticked every box.
COVID-19: From Pandemic to Political Football
Ah, COVID-19—the global crisis that quickly turned into the political Hunger Games. When Biden took office, the pandemic was already a raging dumpster fire. But instead of grabbing a fire extinguisher, he decided to toss in some kerosene for good measure. Sure, vaccines were rolled out under Trump’s Operation Warp Speed, but Biden’s team made them the Holy Grail. It wasn’t about convincing people; it was about mandating them. Take the jab or lose your job—that’s one hell of a campaign slogan, isn’t it?
The irony was thicker than the masks we were told to wear. Remember "my body, my choice"? The progressive wing, always shouting about personal autonomy, suddenly turned into a chorus of "Do as you’re told!" People who refused the vaccine were painted as villains, fired from their jobs, and ostracized like they’d shown up to Thanksgiving wearing a MAGA hat. And let’s not forget the media. Oh, no. The Ministry of Truth kicked into high gear. Social media platforms became censorship factories, silencing anyone who dared to question the mandates, the vaccines, or the ever-changing "science." It wasn’t a conversation; it was a dictatorship—dictated by algorithms and corporate overlords.
Speaking of corporate overlords, let’s talk about the money. Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson weren’t just making vaccines; they were printing cash. And COVID testing? That was a gold rush for the connected few. Shady contracts, inflated prices, and deals that smelled worse than a gym locker after leg day. You couldn’t walk three feet without seeing a testing site run by some shell company that popped up overnight. Meanwhile, small businesses were getting crushed under lockdowns and mandates. Mom-and-pop shops were forced to shut their doors permanently, while Amazon was busy delivering yoga pants and ring lights to your doorstep at record speed. Big-box retailers and tech giants? Thriving. The little guys? Left for dead.
And the CDC—oh boy, the CDC. Their guidance had the consistency of oatmeal left out in the sun. Masks on. Masks off. Two shots. No, three. No, wait, make it four, and add a booster every six months just to be safe. At one point, it felt like they were pulling COVID guidelines out of a hat. The public was left dizzy and disillusioned, wondering if "following the science" was just code for "let’s see what sticks."
It wasn’t just the policies—it was the hypocrisy. Celebrities and politicians were caught partying maskless while the rest of us were told to stay six feet apart and avoid grandma. Kids were kept out of school for months, falling behind in ways we won’t fully understand for years. All the while, the narrative was carefully curated, dissenting voices silenced, and the powers-that-be patting themselves on the back for their "compassion."
COVID wasn’t just a pandemic; it was a business opportunity, a political weapon, and a lesson in how quickly freedoms can evaporate when fear takes over. It wasn’t "We’re all in this together." It was "You’re in it, and we’re cashing in on it."
The Booming… Wait, What?
Remember the "workers’ market" of 2020-2021? Unemployment dropped as businesses reopened, and the housing market exploded. But was this a Biden-Harris miracle? Not exactly. Much of the economic activity stemmed from Trump’s CARES Act and a pent-up demand from lockdowns. Biden’s stimulus checks and extended unemployment benefits added fuel to the fire, but it wasn’t long before cracks appeared. Inflation soared, wages couldn’t keep up, and "Help Wanted" signs became permanent fixtures.
The housing market became a feeding frenzy, with prices skyrocketing and bidding wars becoming the norm. First-time buyers? Forget about it. Meanwhile, landlords raised rents to historic highs, pushing millions to the brink of homelessness. The administration’s solution? Pretend it wasn’t happening and hope no one noticed. Spoiler alert: people noticed.
While Wall Street enjoyed record profits, the average American faced skyrocketing grocery bills and higher gas prices. The administration blamed supply chain issues and "corporate greed," conveniently ignoring how its own policies exacerbated the situation.
Ukraine: The Beginning of the End
Then came February 2022, when Russia invaded Ukraine. Biden’s response? Open the American checkbook. Billions in military aid poured into Ukraine while Americans struggled with rising gas prices and inflation. Critics argued the war became a blank check for the defense industry and a wedge issue dividing the country. Ukraine’s plight was heartbreaking, but many Americans wondered why their tax dollars were funding a proxy war instead of fixing crumbling infrastructure and skyrocketing healthcare costs.
It’s hard to feel unified when you’re deciding between paying for gas or groceries while billions are wired overseas. The arms manufacturers were likely the only ones smiling. The administration, however, couldn’t articulate an endgame, leaving Americans wondering if this was just another endless conflict with no clear resolution.
Kamala Harris and the Space Kids… and Other Oddities
Ah, Kamala Harris. The first female VP made history, but her tenure has been… peculiar. Who could forget the bizarre NASA promo where Harris hired child actors to feign enthusiasm about space? It was cringier than a middle school talent show. Harris’s public appearances often felt like poorly rehearsed skits, filled with awkward laughter and empty platitudes. Meanwhile, her supposed leadership on border policy was non-existent as the crisis escalated.
Her infamous word salads became late-night comedy fodder. "We must do what we have been doing, and that time is every day." Inspiring, isn’t it?
The Border Crisis: Open Gates, Closed Minds
Ah, the border. The place where chaos meets incompetence, and nobody’s wearing a name tag. Under Biden, the southern border became less of a boundary and more of a suggestion. You know, like those "No Parking" signs everyone ignores. Millions of undocumented immigrants poured in like it was opening night at Disneyland, and the administration responded with the enthusiasm of a DMV employee at 4:59 PM. Border towns became overnight triage centers, scrambling to deal with a flood of people, while D.C. debated the best angle for their next press photo.
And where were the progressives? The same folks who used to shout about immigrant rights like it was a religion suddenly went quieter than a mime convention. Turns out, it’s easy to hold up signs and chant slogans when you’re not the one dealing with overflowing shelters and collapsing local economies. The promise of "humane immigration reform" turned into a joke so bad, even late-night comedians wouldn’t touch it. Humane? Yeah, if you think shoving desperate people into overcrowded detention centers is the moral high ground.
And let’s not forget the cartels. Oh, they’re loving this. For them, it’s Black Friday every day. Drug trafficking? Skyrocketing. Human smuggling? Booming. They’ve got business models that make Silicon Valley jealous. And while Biden’s team pats themselves on the back for being "compassionate," the rest of the country is left wondering if compassion comes with a side of complete incompetence. Meanwhile, national security is circling the drain. But hey, at least they’re consistent—they’re failing everyone equally, immigrants and citizens alike.
The Economic Decline: Inflation, Frustration, and Empty Pockets
Let’s talk about the economy—if you’ve still got the stomach for it. Inflation didn’t just rise; it exploded like a can of soda left in the freezer. Groceries? Up. Gas? Up. Rent? Up. The only thing going down is the number of dollars in your wallet. The administration called it "transitory," like it was just a bad flu season. But for the average American, it felt like being mugged by your own bank account. And just when you thought it couldn’t get worse, it did. Recession fears loomed, and businesses were caught in a perfect storm of labor shortages, supply chain fiascos, and rising costs. It’s like the economy had a midlife crisis and bought itself a one-way ticket to hell.
Meanwhile, big corporations are laughing all the way to the bank. Amazon, Apple, Tesla—they’re doing just fine, thanks for asking. Small businesses? Not so much. They’re dropping like flies at a bug zapper convention. And here’s the kicker: for all the administration’s talk about "taxing the rich," guess who’s actually paying the price? That’s right, you. The average Joe. The guy who works two jobs and still can’t afford a tank of gas. The wealth gap has become so wide, you could fit a cruise ship through it, and for some reason, that ship is always owned by Jeff Bezos.
The Decline of Biden Himself: Gaffes, Gears, and Ghosts in the Machine
And now, let’s address the elephant in the room: Joe Biden himself. Or, as he might accidentally call himself, “Joe Byron.” Watching Biden is like watching your grandpa try to program a VCR—it’s endearing until you realize he’s in charge of the free world. His "gaffes" have become the stuff of legend. Forgetting names, losing his train of thought, wandering off stage like he’s chasing an imaginary ice cream truck—it’s all there. It’s like he’s living in a perpetual episode of Candid Camera, except the joke’s on us.
The media, bless their hearts, tries to spin it. "He’s folksy," they say, as if forgetting the name of your Defense Secretary during a war is just a charming quirk. But let’s not sugarcoat it. This isn’t folksy; it’s frightening. It’s like watching the pilot of your plane forget which lever does what. And the real question isn’t just about Biden—it’s about who’s actually steering the ship. Is it Kamala, with her laugh that could shatter glass? Is it a bunch of corporate lobbyists with more power than your vote? Or is it some shadowy, cigar-smoking cabal pulling strings from behind the curtain? Take your pick—none of the options are comforting.
Every public appearance is a gamble. Will he forget where he is? Will he mispronounce a world leader’s name? Will he accidentally declare war on Canada? Nobody knows, and that’s what makes it so terrifying. It would be funny if it weren’t so tragic, but hey, that seems to be the theme of this administration. Tragic comedy on a national scale, starring Joe Biden. Coming soon to a border town, grocery store, or international summit near you.
Concluding the Chaos
Four years of the Biden-Harris administration have been a rollercoaster of unmet promises, policy missteps, and national division. From the disastrous Afghanistan withdrawal to the economic struggles exacerbated by inflation and an unchecked border crisis, the administration often felt like it was stumbling in the dark. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s war drained resources and morale, COVID policies alienated millions, and Biden’s mental fitness raised questions about the integrity of American leadership.
The promises of "unity" and "building back better" now feel like relics of a campaign long forgotten. For many, the Biden-Harris years will be remembered as a period of missed opportunities and deepening divides. One thing’s for sure: 2024 can’t come soon enough.
© 2025 Tantrum Media. All rights reserved.
Sources:
- White House Briefing Room archives
- Congressional Budget Office reports
- Department of Labor statistics
- Pew Research studies on public opinion
- News coverage from AP, Reuters, and The Wall Street Journal
- Fact-checks by Politifact and Snopes