Who Ran the biden White House?

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   Readmikenowposted 5 days ago

   
   White House aides reveal who really ran the country as Biden slid mentally
   
   When it came to getting directive from the president, former senior cabinet aides told the WSJ that a “top-down” approach was used. Rather than discussing policy and direction with the cabinet officials, the White House would issue directives for each agency, the WSJ reported. It was a system that made it hard for the cabinet officials, the sources told the outlet, “to discern to what degree Biden was insulated because of his age versus his preference for a powerful inner circle.”
   
   “If I had an issue or I needed attention on something, I had multiple avenues to explore to raise the issue,” Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack told the outlet. “You don’t always have to raise the issue with the president.”
   
   Rather than meeting with Biden (who held nine cabinet meetings in four years), cabinet members typically met with the president’s advisers, including national security adviser Jake Sullivan and economic adviser Lee Brainard, the outlet reported. From there, the advisers would bring the meeting notes to the president and then report back to the cabinet official, former administration officials told the WSJ.
   
   Despite Treasury secretaries typically meeting with the president more frequently than others, the WSJ reported that Secretary Janet Yellen was kept at “an arm’s length relationship” and rather than dealing with Biden, typically was in touch with his advisers instead, according to people familiar with the interactions.
   
   Though always able to get a meeting with Biden, even Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin experienced a more distant relationship with the president as the years went on, the WSJ reported. Over the last two years, Austin’s invitations to regularly brief the president decreased and solo meetings with Biden became rare and typically virtual, according to the outlet.
   
   Bates denied that there had been any change in Austin and Biden’s relationship and frequency of meetings to the WSJ. A Pentagon spokesperson told the outlet that Austin typically called Biden on different defense matters.
   
   Aides also worked to keep Biden buttoned up on the campaign trail.
   
   When it came to private events, donors were “shocked” when officials told them that they would not be getting a “free ranging question-and-answer session,” the WSJ reported. Instead, donors were told to send in a couple of questions they had and they were later given notecards on questions to ask the president, according to the outlet.
   
   The White House told the WSJ that it was typical for staff to help walk high-ranking officials through events.
   
   Some lawmakers remarked to the WSJ about their lack of relationship and ability to talk to the president.
   
   Independent West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin told the outlet that the president’s staff play a much bigger role in day-to-day operations than he had seen from previous presidencies.
   
   “They were going, ‘I’ll take care of that,’” Manchin said.
   
   https://readlion.com/white-house-aides- … -mentally/

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      Sharlee01posted 5 days agoin reply to this

      I’d like to share my own view: I believe America has openly witnessed Joe Biden’s cognitive and physical decline. It’s been hard to ignore. From the way he walks now, slow and stiff, falling as he goes upstairs, to how he speaks, often softly, with words that run together, it’s clear to me that something has changed. I remember watching him during the presidential debate in 2024, and it was honestly painful. He seemed lost at times, confused, giving rambling responses that didn’t add up. That was a moment I think a lot of people realized he was struggling.
      
      There were other moments, too, like when he introduced President Zelenskyy as “President Putin,” or when he confused his running mate with his opponent. I don’t say this to mock him. I say it because I believe it's obvious, and it’s something that anyone working closely with him had to have noticed long before the public did.
      
      What bothers me even more is that many who were around him—people like Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer- were defending his health the whole time. They said he was sharp, capable, and energetic. But now, many of them have gone silent. Some are even coming forward, admitting they knew he was slipping. That feels dishonest.
      
      I also can’t help but wonder why more people didn’t speak up earlier. If the signs were this clear to the public, surely those around him saw it too. Yet instead of putting the country first, it felt like they protected the image at all costs. That doesn’t sit right with me.

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      Kyler J Falkposted 4 days agoin reply to this

      Let dying old men do so in peace. Biden had his time, and we watched sadly as he struggled.
      
      Those who propped him up, the many individuals acting as crutches and veils to cover the decline, they should be held accountable for their deceit of the American people.

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         Sharlee01posted 4 days agoin reply to this

         I very much agree.

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            Readmikenowposted 4 days agoin reply to this

            I would support a full investigation into who knew of his mental decline and when did they know it.
            
            WHO ran the White House under biden?
            WHO made the decisions?
            WHO decided how and where to enact policies?
            
            For four years we had a cognitively impaired person as the most powerful person in the world because of the lies and deceit of the democrats.
            
            He wasn't running things because he couldn't.
            
            There needs to be ACCOUNTABILITY for this horrible and dangerous turn of events.

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               Sharlee01posted 3 days agoin reply to this

               Mike, I completely see where you're coming from. It’s genuinely troubling to look back and realize just how much power was in the hands of someone who clearly wasn’t in full control of their mental faculties. The American people deserved to know who was actually running the White House under Biden. Who was making the real decisions? Who was shaping policy behind the scenes?
               
               When it became obvious that the president wasn’t fully in charge, Congress should’ve stepped in. This shouldn’t be brushed aside—it wasn’t just about Biden himself, but about those around him who chose to keep it hidden and keep the country in the dark.
               
               It’s unsettling to think how much happened behind closed doors, and how many critical decisions may have been made by unelected individuals. There’s still a real need to get to the bottom of it, because it set a dangerous precedent that could seriously impact our future if we don't learn from it.

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                  Readmikenowposted 3 days agoin reply to this

                  I agree with President Donald Trump that legislation should NEVER be signed using an autopen.
                  
                  If the president of the United States has to depend on an autopen to sign legislation something is VERY wrong.

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                     Sharlee01posted 3 days agoin reply to this

                     Using an autopen can raise serious concerns about authenticity, accountability, and the president’s direct involvement in decisions. If the public or officials feel that the president’s signature isn’t truly theirs, it undermines trust in the process. It also creates room for misuse, where documents could be signed without proper review, which can be seen as a lack of transparency. Add to that the issue with Biden’s cognitive decline, many already question how much he’s personally involved in decisions, and the use of an autopen only fuels those doubts. It’s a real concern when it comes to leadership and accountability.
                     
                     I imagine Biden's presidency will be investigated, and we may someday pull the veil back on just who was the one calling the shots.

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                        My Esotericposted 2 days agoin reply to this

                        Obama used auto-pens, Trump uses auto-pens (but apparently not for legislation, but PR I guess). the DOJ legal counsel said it fine and sometimes necessary.

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                           Sharlee01posted 43 hours agoin reply to this

                           Please reread my comment,  I was expressing concerns about the potential implications of a president using an autopen. I did not state, nor did I intend to imply, that it is illegal for a president to use one. I don’t believe anything I said suggests I view the use of an autopen as unlawful. I was simply sharing a personal perspective on its use, particularly in the context of the most recent administration.
                           
                           Mike and I were having an ongoing conversation related to the topic of his original post, "Who Ran the Biden White House?" The autopen came up as a point of concern, not because of any legal issue, but due to growing reports about President Biden’s cognitive decline and, more recently, aides coming forward with firsthand accounts raising similar concerns. My point was that, in light of those reports, the use of an autopen could understandably raise questions for some people.
                           
                           With the reports that have emerged about President Biden’s cognitive challenges during his time in office, do you now think it was something worth considering both then and now?  I would be interested in your view now, after the fact.

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                              My Esotericposted 27 hours agoin reply to this

                              I just stated facts to put your comments into context.

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                     My Esotericposted 2 days agoin reply to this

                     Why? What are you basing that claim on? It is legal, after all.

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                        Readmikenowposted 45 hours agoin reply to this

                        I think it would be important to stop the practice.
                        
                        biden was a cognitively impaired individual who was incapable of running the country.
                        
                        If a person holding the office of President of the United States is unable, because of a physical impairment, to sign legislation, they should not be president.

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                           My Esotericposted 27 hours agoin reply to this

                           So, it is your position that if Trump had his hands cut off and no prosthetics, he should resign from office. Is that what you are trying to say?

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               Ken Burgessposted 28 hours agoin reply to this

               This is the problem with Conservatives... you deplorables...
               
               You people who want to get to "the Truth" that want to base things on "facts".
               
               Its the problem with the old, archaic, pre-21st century thinking...
               
               Its about feeling and empathy... your truth... your facts... might not match mine... what makes your facts or truth more important?
               
               If it infringes on my sense of self... on my truth.. what gives you the right to impose?
               
               This is why DEI and comprehensive understanding of the racist system we exist in is so vital to correct the inequities inherit in society.
               
               It is vital... imperative... that racist, patriarchal... indeed, immoral and unethical "facts" and "truths" that the system has been founded on are eradicated... or if used, at all, in any sense... it is only so we can use it as a reference point for which to do the exact opposite!
               
               To undo the wrongs woven into our insidiously oppressive system we must ensure that the voices that have long been held in minority are the ONLY voices allowed to be heard and represented in shaping our future.
               
               Anyone trying to maintain, repair, restore, or reinforce the oppressive system that has brought us to our current state of human misery and suffering we have to endure today IS the enemy to Progress... to the Progressive future we strive for.

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   Kathleen Cochranposted 2 days ago

   I freely admit sometimes I post a question or statement just to stir the pot. This one is so obvious, I'm glad most non-MAGAs are not taking the bait.

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      Readmikenowposted 44 hours agoin reply to this

      There is no doubt the democrat party let a man who was cognitively impaired hold the office of the president.  Nobody knows who was actually running the country because biden's mental faculties were not in the normal range.
      
      We need to investigate how this happened.  Who knew what, when did they know it, and why nothing was done about it.
      
      The democrats have a lot to answer for in this situation.

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         My Esotericposted 27 hours agoin reply to this

         Well, if Biden was "cognitively unimpaired" (is that better than dangerously mentally ill like Trump?) then we need more like him.
         
         This so-called "cognitively impaired" president had the most productive first term presidency since LBJ.
         
         * He improved the lives of millions of people still suffering from pandemic related job loss with his American Rescue Plan which did not cause the pandemic-related inflation.
         
         * He did what Trump promised but failed to do in improving America's failing infrastructure with his Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
         
         * He did what Trump failed to do and made us less dependent on foreign (mainly Chinese) sources for semiconductor manufacturing (unless Trump kills it off) with his CHIPS and Science Act
         
         * He tried to get America ready to battle climate change (which Trump is currently dismantling), and lower medical costs, among other things, with his Inflation Reduction Act. Yes, it did help reduce inflation a little.
         
         * He protected injured veterans with hie PACT Act which Trump brought to a standstill with his illegal firing of VA employees.
         
         * He even got passed the first gun safety legislation in 30 years with his Safer Communities Act
         
         * Biden over saw the largest Jobs recovery in history,
         
         * Biden brought down the pandemic-caused inflation from approximately 9% to about 3%; inflation that Trump will cause to rise starting in June.
         
         Also important to note that unlike Trump, almost all of the "cognitively impaired" Biden's legislative wins were Bi-Partisan!
         
         So, sarcastically speaking, let's elect more cognitively impaired presidents like Biden but fewer dangerously mentally ill presidents like Trump

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            Readmikenowposted 22 hours agoin reply to this

            The reality is that under President Biden, the cost to service our debt has skyrocketed. Interest spending has increased by $540 billion or 153 percent in the three years since President Biden took office. Our country now spends more to service the debt than we do on our national defense.
            
            he truth is that there is no such thing as “canceling” or “forgiving” debt, it is just a transfer of debt.
            
            President Biden has “forgiven” $167 billion in student loans for over 4.7 million Americans. What the White House isn't emphasizing is that 87% of adults without student loans are being forced to pay for the 13% of adults who did.
            
            Additionally, bailouts are incentivizing colleges to RAISE tuition prices. Studies have found that universities have raised tuition prices by 60 cents from every dollar of taxpayer-subsidized loans.
            
            He is not forgiving student loans, he is placing the burden of loans onto the backs of working-class taxpayers.
            
            Biden said that the border crisis didn’t begin “overnight.” Actually, it pretty much did begin overnight—the moment he took office. Since he was sworn in as president, there have been an estimated 5.5 million illegal border crossings.
            
            Biden, with the power of the federal government, wants to ensure that your child will be gender-transitioned, whether you like it or not.
            
            The Biden administration also redefined Title IX protections for women to include sexual orientation and gender identity. Among other things, that could mean that gendered facilities in schools that receive federal funding could be eliminated or opened to the opposite sex.
            
            Biden is on the wrong side of that battle. He promotes extremist gender ideology, obliterates the wealth of the average American, empowers fanatical bureaucrats in Washington, and demonizes his fellow Americans, all while failing to uphold his constitutional duty to carry out the laws of this country and allowing millions of people to flood into this country illegally.
            
            The debacle of the US defeat and chaotic retreat in Afghanistan is a political disaster for Joe Biden, whose failure to orchestrate an urgent and orderly exit led to the unnecessary deaths of members of the US military.
            
            Americans Think History Will Rate Biden Presidency Negatively
            
            Many more Americans expect history to judge Joe Biden’s presidency unfavorably rather than favorably. Fifty-four percent of U.S. adults believe Biden will be remembered as a “below average” (17%) or “poor” (37%) president, while 19% say he will be evaluated as “outstanding” (6%) or “above average” (13%). Another 26% think he will be regarded as “average.”
            
            Compared with nine recent presidents included in the new Gallup poll, Biden rates most similarly to Richard Nixon, who has a -42 net rating (12% outstanding or above average versus 54% below average or poor). Biden receives more “poor” reviews than Nixon does (37% vs. 30%), but Biden gets more outstanding or above-average ratings.
            
            https://news.gallup.com/poll/654878/ame … ively.aspx
            
            biden will go down in as the worst president in the History of the United States.

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               My Esotericposted 19 hours agoin reply to this

               Under Trump, Pakistan and India began fighting a war. So, according to your logic, Trump started it.

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                  Readmikenowposted 7 hours agoin reply to this

                  I guess since India and Pakistan have agreed to a cease fire that seem to be holding, President Donald Trump is responsible for that as well.

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                     My Esotericposted 5 hours agoin reply to this

                     Yes, using your logic. The felon Trump both started and stopped the war.
                     
                     My logic says he had nothing to do with starting the conflict and some role in ending it.
                     
                     By my logic, Biden did not create the national debt as you imply. He did add to it but Trump added a lot more. I wouldn't be surprised that by the time his four years are up, Trump will have doubled the national debt as he takes apart America.

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               My Esotericposted 19 hours agoin reply to this

               How much of that debt was due to Trump? The most current estimate is that Trump's TCJA added $1.4 trillion to the debt.
               
               - Trump then added another $3 trillion.
               
               - Trump added another $2.2 trillion with the 2018 and 2019 Budget Acts
               
               - Trump add another $0.5 trillion by eliminating certain ACA taxes.
               
               All-in-all, Trump added $7.8 trillion.
               
               On the other had, Biden increased the national debt by $4.7 trillion with $1.9 trillion coming from the ARA and another $1.6 trillion from annual appropriations from 2022 to 2024.
               
               So, why are you focusing on Biden with the real culprit is TRUMP?
               
               BTW, Trump 2.0 is going be even worse.

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                  Readmikenowposted 7 hours agoin reply to this

                  Biden also permitted an invasion of illegal immigrant criminals into the United States.  Tens of millions of people costing billions of dollars.  That will go down in history as one of the worst things ever done by a president.

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                     My Esotericposted 5 hours agoin reply to this

                     So did Trump, Obama, Bush II, Clinton, Bush I, and Reagan.  Your point?
                     
                     I see you are still misleading people with that tired old conservative MYTH that those seeking asylum is costing the taxpayer money - they don't! - it has been seriously debunked. Previously I have offered multiple studies that show the migrants are a net positive. This is mainly because, as a group, they are more law-abiding and industrious than native born Americans.
                     
                     In fact, I will give you another study -
                     
                     "Furthermore, a report by the Wilson Quarterly highlights that as the immigrant population has grown, violent and property crime rates in America have declined, suggesting a correlation between increased immigration and decreased crime rates. "

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                        Readmikenowposted 3 hours agoin reply to this

                        "So did Trump, Obama, Bush II, Clinton, Bush I, and Reagan."
                        
                        No, sorry, you are really wrong on this one.
                        
                        The country has NEVER seen the level of illegal immigration experienced under the biden administration.
                        
                        President Donald Trump was able to secure the border in two months.

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         Kathleen Cochranposted 23 hours agoin reply to this

         "There is no doubt the democrat party let a man who was cognitively impaired hold the office of the president."
         
         And there is no doubt the republican party let a convicted felon and sex offender hold the office of the president.
         
         (Yes, I caved.)
         
         Not to mention January 6, not attending his successor's inauguration, filling his cabinet with dangerously unqualified people, and shamelessly letting him make obscene amounts of money off the office.

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            Readmikenowposted 22 hours agoin reply to this

            What I take from your response is that you don't deny the democrats put a cognitively impaired individual into the office of president.
            
            This means you must agree that biden was cognitively impaired.
            
            On that we both agree.
            
            It should be investigated and procedures put in place to make certain it doesn't happen again.

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