After months of executive orders. legislative proposals, policy
announcements — most of which were designed to reverse
his predecessor’s actions or to introduce new programs,
President Joe Biden, facing significantly negative polls and
rapidly sinking popularity, has begun to pull back.
The Biden administration has reversed itself in two key areas
in recent days, including the Remain In Mexico program of the
Trump administration, and seeking the help of the oil and gas
industry in keeping recently rising energy prices down.
The successful Remain in Mexico agreement called for returning
apprehended undocumented immigrants to Mexico until they
either decided to return to their home country or could be
properly processed for legal immigration to the U.S, By the end
of 2020, it had noticeably reduced illegal Mexican border crossings.
President Biden, who as a candidate had advocated “open
borders,” ended the program after taking office, replacing it with
a “catch and release” policy which brought larger numbers of
undocumented and unvaccinated immigrants to the U.S., chaotic
conditions at the border, and widespread protests throughout
the southeastern states..
A federal court ruled that the Biden action was illegal, and
restored the Trump program, and the Biden administration has
said it will comply with the court order next month. (Mexico,
however, concerned by the sudden surge has indicated it might
want to renegotiate the agreement.)
President Biden, also as a candidate, said he opposed fracking
and for less usage of fossil fuels. On taking office, he took actions
to advance these views, but the result has been a large increase
in the price of gasoline and the prospect of oil and gas shortages
in the coming winter months. President Trump had promoted
policies supporting fracking, new pipelines and increased drilling
that made the U.S. energy independent.
Facing a consumer and voter revolt over sharply higher prices and
shortages, President Biden has now reached out to oil and gas
industry leaders to help with this energy crisis. His and fellow
Democrats harshly anti-coal views have also turned away union
and working class voters in Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia
and neighboring states — and polls now show clear majorities
of Hispanics, independents and suburban voters now oppose his
policies.
It is unclear what concessions Biden might make to induce the
oil, gas and coal industries to cooperate.
Whether by court order or political necessity, more Biden
administration reversals could occur in coming months as winter
and the 2022 national midterm elections approach — and the loss
of control of one or both houses of Congress becomes likely
and imminent.
If not, the red wave in 2022 could be a very large one.
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Copyright (c) 2021 by Barry Casselman. All rights reserved.
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