From JVL-- The Bulwark: "Biden Has Done a Good Job"

"2. Biden Has Done a Good Job
In the weeks leading up to the Russian invasion, Joe Biden used his administration to loudly and transparently demonstrate that Putin’s irredentist claims were bunk and that the looming invasion was a premeditated act of aggression.

He simultaneously worked—quietly—with NATO and the EU to achieve a larger consensus than there has been on any military matter before the alliance since . . . well, let’s call it a generation.

Biden did not draw lines in the sand. He did not personalize the conflict. He did not turn himself into the star of the show. He did not allow anyone, anywhere, to believe that this was about America.

Since the invasion, Biden has been a full partner with our European allies. He has not pushed them into decisions. He recognized that having a united front was more important than any particular aspect of the response. And after only four days Europe came to the conclusion—on its own—that it would do everything the American foreign policy establishment had wanted. Biden understood that these countries needed to come to the decision to fight back on their own, and not be publicly cajoled into it.

For example:

Twitter avatar for @Dzana1407
Dzana Gellert
@Dzana1407
When asked why Germany completely changed its attitude against arms delivery to Ukraine, a high-ranking politician said: "The calmness and prudence of @POTUS, who did not put us under pressure, but gave us time to think about it ourselves! Thank you Mr. Biden! Wow 😍🇩🇪
February 27th 2022

5,984 Retweets19,365 Likes
Biden also understood that the EU and NATO are actually very powerful allies and that when they work in concert with the United States, we represent a significant geopolitical force.

At home, by not being publicly domineering, Biden has made it much harder for Republicans to polarize public opinion over Ukraine. Because Joe Biden has not allowed Ukraine to become an issue about Joe Biden. This should make the continued prosecution of Russia more tenable in the short and medium term.

Biden has done all of this—a hawk’s dream response—without escalating the conflict or pushing the West closer to kinetic warfare with Russia.

The West is stronger because of the actions of the Biden administration and Russia is weaker because of them.

The last month has represented America’s best showing in foreign policy in a generation, and this with a president playing a weak hand in a crisis forced on the country.

It would be nice if Biden got some credit for this from the public. He’s only making it look easy.¹

Get #RealTalk on Ukraine, Russia, politics, and everything else. No tribalism. No bullshirt"

Hillary for NY State AG -- is my current fantasy-- I hope she runs!!!

With Letitia James making the decision to run in the Democratic Primary for NYS Governor... It is my hope that Hillary throws her hat in for AG.

They say revenge is sweet... and in her case, it would be karmic.

I think we are screwed for 2022

And unfortunately, the Democratic Party cannot message to save its life. I think the Biden Administration may as well grab power as nakedly as the Republican Party. What about what about what about.... who cares? It obviously doesn't matter who is right it is how many people can you convince to say you are right. Just keep repeating it and make it so.

Red Bull, Elon Musk, and Matt Gaetz: Politics and the attention economy.