The Price of Biden’s Policies, the Need for Putin’s Exit, and More Commentary

From the Right: The Costs of Biden’s Leadership
A recent WSJ analysis on Joe Biden’s presidency reveals that he “wasn’t fit for the role from the outset, much less by
day 1,000,” suggests Seth Mandel from Commentary. To make matters worse, “the international crises that emerged during
Biden’s tenure were managed by limiting the flow of information between him and the outside world.” “It’s clear aides were reluctant to inform him of unfavorable news. Was Biden even aware of the real situation in Ukraine? When the administration stalled on addressing the
Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza for months,” who ultimately made that call? “The necessity of asking these questions alone” indicates “that the world bore a heavy cost to safeguard the delicate mental state of the U.S. president.”

Ukraine Desk: Time for Putin to Depart
“Putin’s aggression towards Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has evidently turned personal,”
observe Jonathan Sweet & Mark Toth at The Hill. “He is afflicted by Ukraine Derangement Syndrome: a deep-seated contempt for the Ukrainian populace” has “subdued his rationality.” “Surrounded by sycophants, Putin is leading his largely conscripted makeshift army towards ruin.” For Ukraine, “the choice to submit or face extinction” is “essentially the same option.” “Trump must put a stop to Putin’s bluster and posturing,” to show “him that victory is unattainable” by “removing the protective cover Moscow enjoys on the battlefield thanks to the Biden administration.”
“Anything short of that will leave Putin unwilling to negotiate, coming only to buy time and try to deceive Trump into a poor agreement.”

White House Watch: Is ‘Never Trump’ Coming to an End?
Can “Never Trumpers” reconcile “with populism, if not with Donald Trump himself?” questions Fred Bauer at UnHerd. “One key figure of the ‘Never Trump’ movement, Bret Stephens, has recently used his column” to “disassociate himself” from the group. “In pragmatic political terms, Trump’s conservative adversaries have compelling reasons to seek some form of populist reconciliation.” “Foreign policy might also serve as a basis for some Never Trumpers to distance themselves from the Democratic Party.” “Trump’s unexpected victory in 2016 spawned an elite coalition that depicted him and his supporters as a dire threat to American democracy.” “Even by its own benchmarks, that crisis narrative has left a legacy of failure. Instead, rejuvenating American democracy might necessitate heeding some of the lessons of populism.”

Libertarian Perspective: The Crime Surge Post-COVID
“The restrictive responses to COVID-19 inflicted significant harm,” remarks J.D. Tuccille from Reason. However, “lockdowns also fueled a rise in crime that briefly disrupted a decades-long decline in homicides.” “The majority of violent offenses” are committed by “teenage boys and young men in their twenties. Displacing them from jobs and classrooms,” and often “leaving them financially constrained,” was “a perfect formula for disaster.” “What’s the right approach?” “We must learn from past errors. It’s essential to minimize societal disruptions and absolutely prevent government officials from arbitrarily closing businesses and educational institutions. A free and thriving society, it turns out, is far more content and peaceful compared to the outcomes of the autocratic dictates of public health officials.”

Elex Desk: Are Democrats Learning Anything?
“Following their devastating losses and the GOP’s gains in the 2024 elections, one might expect the Democratic Party to retreat from radical leftist proposals,” sarcastically observes Zachary Faria at the Washington Examiner. Yet, it’s “clear the party has not gleaned any lessons.” “Democrats managing states and cities vow to prioritize the protection of illegal immigrants and to oppose the Trump administration in efforts to retain illegal immigrants in the country.”
“Prominent congressional Democrats” have suggested that UnitedHealthcare’s controversial figure, Luigi Mangione, “might have a valid perspective.” “Three Senate Democrats are advocating for the elimination of the Electoral College.” “It would be difficult to assert that Democrats learned anything from the 2024 elections, as it’s apparent they have internalized no lessons whatsoever.”

— Compiled by The Post Editorial Board