Opinion
By Steve Nicklas, 11-20-23
A pair of glorified political events took place last week, with common threads. Both were unrelated and spontaneous. And both had more pomp than circumstance.
Considering the political climate, the commonalities make sense. Neither event accomplished too much, other than to push favorable headlines. And both seemed like acts of desperation.
You see, Joe Biden and Ron DeSantis are both grasping for political survival. With similarly flailing campaigns, they covet publicity even if it is manufactured.
Biden’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping didn’t have relevant timing or meaning. With sagging popularity and lagging poll numbers, Biden needs a publicity boost and a refreshed narrative.
DeSantis is also in a sinking boat. If you don’t remember, he is the absentee Florida governor slogging along in a political mission for Biden’s seat.
DeSantis called a special session primarily over the attacks on Israel, although states have little influence in foreign matters. Yet DeSantis directed significant money toward the dire cause, like a seasoned politician.
Wearing his governor’s cap, DeSantis and his state legislature provided $45 million to Jewish schools and synagogues in Florida for extra security. Also, additional financial help was given to farmers and others impacted by Hurricane Idalia.
At least the special session provided a photo opportunity for DeSantis. His sputtering election campaign needs a tune-up, lagging frontrunner Donald Trump by an insurmountable margin.
DeSantis pretty much needs one of the 91 charges against Trump to land – to give him an outside shot at the Republican nomination. In other words, to pull a Burmese python out of a hat.
In their haste, state legislators barely addressed the 800-pound alligator in the room. Home/business insurance is the thorniest and most pressing issue, though legislators and DeSantis glossed over it during the session.
Likewise, Biden is struggling in his re-election campaign. Four out of five Americans feel the U.S. economy is in poor shape, according to a recent Fox News poll. Even though Biden is traveling the country touting his “Bidenomics” agenda.
“Bidenomics is really synonymous with creating lots of inflation,” says Ryan Payne, president of Payne Capital Management. Even though inflation numbers have declined, they are substantially higher than under the prior administration.
Biden again adopted a conciliatory tone in the meeting with Chinese leaders. This is in stark contrast to Trump’s confrontational approach.
“The United States does not seek conflict,” Biden says. Meanwhile, Biden is removing some sanctions against China in return for its help in curbing the inflow of deadly fentanyl into the U.S.
However, U.S. Congressman Rob Wittman doubts the plan. “You don’t capitulate to China first and hope they follow suit,” says Wittman, of Virginia. Many assert that Biden is compromised with China. You have to wonder, witnessing Biden’s passive conduct and the reports of his family receiving millions from China.
However, leaders of major U.S. companies are cheering on Biden’s open-arms policy with China. They showed up in droves to fawn over Xi at the meeting, held in temporarily clean San Franciso. The Wall Street Journal took notice in its editorial: “U.S. CEO’s on the Chinese menu.”
The target for both Biden and DeSantis is obviously Trump, who is polling significantly better than in previous elections in 2016 and in 2020. Although they don’t outwardly admit it, you know their hopes – that Trump gets into further legal trouble.
So maybe they can’t beat the Orange Man Bad (Trump’s nickname) in a fair election. But they feel they can topple the Orange Man Clad – in prison overalls, that is.
Steve Nicklas is the managing partner of Nicklas Wealth Management in Fernandina Beach. He is also an award-winning columnist. His columns regularly appear in weekly newspapers in Northeast Florida and in Southeast Georgia, and on his website at www.SteveNicklasMarketplace.com. He has published a book, “All About Money,” of his favorite columns from the past 20 years. The book is available on Amazon. He has also done financial reports for area radio stations and for National Public Radio in Jacksonville. He can be reached by email at [email protected] or by phone at 904-753-0236.
