This is the time of the year that we typically think about New Year's resolutions.
Generally, the resolutions center around how we can improve ourselves. We want to lose weight, exercise more, spend more time with family, or do better at our jobs. Frequently, our resolutions are challenging, and sometimes we fail at them, but that's the idea: to put ourselves to the test, to do better.
But I think Joe Biden must have missed that memo. If you think about the resolutions he could make — if he were being honest and truly cared about America — there would be so many things. Chief among them might be a resolution to stop playing games and properly secure the border, not just letting everyone walk in. Or maybe stop inventing whoppers or smearing Americans who support someone other than him?
But none of those things were his resolution, according to Jennifer Jacobs.
Jacobs is the White House reporter with Bloomberg, among the reporters who are following Biden down in St. Croix for his week-long vacation. Biden is staying free at the beachfront home of billionaire Democratic donors Bill and Connie Neville. He hasn't said much while on the island apart from announcing an early lid on Thursday. While his son Hunter went with him to Camp David the prior weekend, Hunter did not accompany him on this trip to St. Croix.
Jacobs reported how Biden went to church on Saturday but didn't answer questions from reporters.
Jacobs said that Biden’s motorcade also stopped in downtown Christiansted so that Biden and his wife, Jill, could tape a short interview with Ryan Seacrest that will air as part of the New Year’s Eve coverage on ABC. So that sounds like not much of an interview — like just the standard "We wish everyone a happy New Year" thing.
Biden also had dinner at a local restaurant, Too.Chez.
But the thing I found rather striking was what he said about his New Year's resolution when asked. It wasn't to do better or do more for the country; it was that he hoped he would be able to come back next year [to St. Croix].
That's not a resolution; that's something he's been able to do because of his money and privilege. Not all Americans have the same good fortune, perhaps in part because of Biden's crushing inflation and high interest rates. They need the money for other things — like ordinary life expenses.
Such a "resolution" also puts himself and his pleasure first. "Next year" at the same time would still be on our dime, even when he loses, and I could fully see him doing that. His resolution is to close out his time occupying the office with more vacation after already taking more than 400 days of vacation during his term.
That says so much about him and his time in office. His legacy is always being on vacation.
Fortunately, in November, people are very likely to give him a pink slip and allow him to go on permanent vacation.