With 35% of the vote, you have chosen Joseph Robinette Biden Jr., 46th president of the United States, to be your Good Guy of the Year.
The Biden administration was hampered before it even began. Typically, the point of the 79-day transition is to allow the new president and his administration to be ready on Day One. With COVID raging, the economy in free-fall, and American alliances frayed, Joe Biden needed as much of a head start as he could get.
Instead, the Trump administration continued to lie about the election results thereby undermining the legitimacy of President-Elect Biden’s victory—especially in the eyes of tens of millions of Trump voters. Trump and his minions in the White House refused the most basic cooperation normally extended to incoming administrations: Biden was barred from receiving high-level intelligence briefings; the Biden team’s efforts to mitigate the worsening coronavirus pandemic that had already killed in excess of 230,000 Americans were thwarted.
Lack of cooperation also slowed down the security clearance processes by blocking access to classified operations and back channel conversations which in turn increased risks to national security. The Biden team was also not able to meet with current government employees.
Despite being dealt the worst hand of any incoming administration in my lifetime, and despite an obstructionist Republican Party, in eleven months President Biden and his administration have:
Distributed 508 million vaccines (208 million Americans are fully vaccinated).
Donated 600 million vaccines doses to countries in need.
Cut child poverty in half, thanks to the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan.
Created over 5.4 million jobs through November 2021—more than during the 12 years of the last two Republican administrations.
Re-entered the Paris Climate Accords.
Put together the most diverse cabinet in this country’s history.
Ended the disastrous 20-year Afghanistan war.
In addition:
Jobless claims are the lowest they’ve been in decades.
Wages are hitting record highs.
The stock market is up an incredible 40 percent.
It’s been one of the most successful first years of a first-term president in U.S. history. I think it’s safe to say President Joe Biden has risen to the occasion.
RUNNER-UP
Capitol police officer Eugene Goodman received 20% of your votes. Thanks to his courage and quick-thinking, he potentially saved the lives of congresspeople and congressional staffers when, during the January 6th insurrection, he confronted the rioters and diverted them away from the Senate chamber before it had been evacuated. On February 12, 2021, the Senate voted by unanimous consent to present him with the Congressional Gold Medal.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
José Andrés, for his World Central Kitchen(WCK), a non-profit NGO that he founded in 2010, which continues to provide healthy, high-quality meals to victims of natural disasters. In 2021 alone WCK fed thousands of people in India during the COVID surge, in Haiti after the devastating earthquake, and on La Palma after a volcano eruption.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, for his unceasing efforts to educate the American people and protect them from COVID-19 despite the obstructions of the Trump administration, attacks from Republican lawmakers, and threats to his life. Even though he’s 81 years old, Fauci agreed to stay in his post for President Biden.
Liz Cheney who, despite having been part of the Republican establishment for decades, as well as one of its most conservative members, has stood strong against her party’s dangerous willingness to give Donald and his inner circle a pass for trying to overthrow our government.
This list is perfect.
Love this whole idea of Good Guy of the Year. Thanks for creating this, Mary. And I agree whole heartedly with the final results.