White House Report Card: 'Ten thousand million jobs' and other great feats | Washington Examiner

S E E D E D   C O N T E N T

This week's White House Report Card finds President Joe Biden either riding a pretty good wave into the fall elections or manning a Titanic-sized economic and border crisis heading straight for an iceberg. It just depends on perspective.

Democratic pollster John Zogby, grading an "A," sees the president coming out of the woods. His approval rating has edged back up to Trump territory, the talk of a "red wave" on Election Day has faded from the liberal press, he's stepped back from previous harsh references to MAGA backers, and the focus is more on the death of Queen Elizabeth II than the president.

"A very good week," graded Zogby.

Our conservative grader Jed Babbin found the week so hilariously bad that he graded up to a D- "just for the sheer entertainment value." He cited bizarre economic bragging by Team Biden, including the press secretary's claim the administration had created "ten thousand million jobs" — or more jobs than there are people on Earth.

It was also a week that saw interest rates hit a 14-year high, more personal wealth wiped away for a total of $6 trillion under Biden, and Gallup's finding that inflation is causing "hardship" among 56% of the country, especially in the middle and lower classes. And border officials said that deaths reached 750 on the border since the president came into office and signaled the border open.

Different from other weeks, the president did get out to campaign a bit and helped to break ground on a new chip factory. He also traveled to the British Embassy to sign the queen's condolence book under the watchful eye of first lady Jill Biden, who pushed him away from the cameras when he started to ad lib. He also had a celebratory moment with the Obamas during the unveiling of their official White House portraits.

Jed Babbin
Grade D-

Biden and his team delivered a week that was alternately enraging and amusing and ended up, like so many of their earlier weeks, as just another face plant.

Biden's big speech last week was a demonstration of a rapturous version of Trump Derangement Syndrome. When Biden labeled Republicans "semi-fascists," even some of his usually worshipful media hesitated.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre: "We have created nearly ten thousand million jobs since President Biden took office, which is the fastest job growth in history." pic.twitter.com/0SCnED2jiE — Breaking911 (@Breaking911) September 4, 2022

This week, Biden both tried to back away from that and simultaneously labeled MAGA Republicans (those who like Trump) a danger to democracy. The real danger to democracy is a president who won't allow dissent, which is Biden to a T.

The feeling is mutual. College football season has arrived, and there is no revival of the "Let's go Brandon" chant from last year. But fans at a few games were readily heard chanting the more direct "F*** Joe Biden."

The Saudis dissent from Biden easily because, thanks to his anti-energy policies, we are again dependent on OPEC for oil. Having gone to beg oil from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Biden thought we'd be OK on oil imports. But this week, the Saudis gave him the back of their hand, announcing a reduction in oil production. Maybe that fist-bump with MBS wasn't a gesture of friendship.

Last week, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre argued with a reporter that the hundreds of illegal immigrants coming across the border unvaccinated was a different issue from not allowing an unvaccinated tennis champ to play in a tournament. She said it was entirely different, but no one could see how.

President Biden signs condolence book at the British Embassy (@UKinUSA) following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
"We mourn for all of you. She was a great lady. We were so delighted we got to meet her." pic.twitter.com/XOOdTDj02h — CSPAN (@cspan) September 8, 2022

This week, she argued that her tweets that the 2016 election was stolen by Trump were different from her insisting that no one should question election results. It's only OK if she does it, and nobody else should.

Now, math can be hard, and we understand that Jean-Pierre isn't a descendant of Werner von Braun. But you got to admit that when she said that Biden has created "ten thousand million jobs" since his presidency began, that's nothing short of hilarious. (That would be 10 billion jobs, which would employ more people than the current population of planet Earth.)

It's tempting to grade another F this week, but I'll give the Biden jokers a D minus just for the sheer entertainment value.

John Zogby
Grade A

Is Biden better off than he was four weeks ago? The short answer is yes.

Former President Barack Obama looks at President Joe Biden as first lady Jill Biden speaks during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House on Sept. 7, 2022, in Washington. The Obamas unveiled their official White House portraits during the ceremony. (Andrew Harnik/AP)

His September polling approval rating is 43%, much better than 38%. Gas prices continue to slide and are approaching less than $3 a gallon in some states. Children are back in school. In school!

The fall campaign, now in earnest, is at an equilibrium, with precious little talk about a "red wave." The president may not be in total control of the conversation, but he is out campaigning, touting his record, and portraying the other side as evil, not stupid and deplorable.

And mostly everyone is talking about the old queen and the new king, which is better than trashing the old president. A very good week.

Jed Babbin is a Washington Examiner contributor and former deputy undersecretary of defense in the administration of former President George H.W. Bush. Follow him on Twitter @jedbabbin

John Zogby is the founder of the Zogby Survey and senior partner at John Zogby Strategies. His weekly podcast with son and partner Jeremy Zogby can be heard here. Follow him on Twitter @ZogbyStrategies