@POTUS spoke with @VP and @WHCOS at approximately 11:35am this morning. @POTUS was in good spirits and at that time resumed his duties. He will remain at Walter Reed as he completes the rest of his routine physical.
— Jen Psaki (@PressSec) November 19, 2021
Vice President Harris was acting president, under the 25A, while President Biden had a routine colonoscopy as part of his annual physical exam. Something like that happened with Bush/Cheney too. Trump never wanted Pence to be acting president and don't think that ever happened. Until today, no woman (or POC) was acting POTUS too.
Hopefully, she did something at least symbolic during her 85 minutes or so (per a question to Jen Psaki in the press briefing later on). VP Harris has been involved in a range of things, including a recent climate related summit in France, and (unlike Biden in two terms) has repeatedly cast a tie-breaking vote.
Today, President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate two leaders to the bipartisan United States Postal Service Board of Governors to replace outgoing Governors Ron Bloom and John Barger.There is so much happening, but the state of the post office [which I served a few years back during Christmas rush] has been a major concern for some time now. As noted in one article, the move amounts to the "replacing two key allies of Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, including its Democratic chairman."
Some want Biden to make the very serious move of directly supporting DeJoy's removal on for cause grounds. Given the current independence of the post office, this would be a very controversial approach, especially since there is some debate on HOW compelling his wrongdoing really is. Having a clear Democratic majority to remove him would be another way to go.
The White House page discusses it here. And, the basic idea appears to be that the turkey(s) is/are symbolically given to the president, who then symbolically "pardons" them, lets them go. Whatever. It's still stupid, and if anything, I think some rather not be reminded of what they are eating. On that front, maybe it is mildly helpful. I'm a vegetarian, so won't be eating turkey myself. And, given our treatment of them, find the whole thing (down to the cutesy names given to the birds) at best stupid.
So, the word is not really being used as the "pardon power" usually though it does provide a lay-up opportunity for criticisms of failures, including of President Biden in that area. (I answer the op-ed in comments there -- I really do hope President Biden and his Administration does more, fear he won't do enough, but think there is some overheated "he has done nothing" stuff.)
After I wrote this, the remarks at the event were posted on the White House page. The usual lame jokes. A reference to the importance of tradition. Well, not every tradition (and this isn't that old) needs to be kept. Some serious stuff about giving thanks. Tossing in some vaccination stuff.
Timely. Not noted, but covered in media accounts, is him laughing off a serious question regarding pardoning people, particularly his promise to give relief to those in prison for marijuana crimes. As I noted, his remarks had some serious stuff, if "on message." I am not surprised he handwaved this part. But, it very well did provide an opening to say more.
A recent letter signed by a few senators flagged the issue. When there is a story that the Senate Majority Leader is on the side of doing more than a mild (if important) reform of banking rules because of the fear it would prevent a key opening to do more, this is not really a minor issue. I'm not saying I think President Biden will do nothing here. But, the pressure is appropriate. The criticism is appropriate.
And, this turkey pardon thing should end.
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Thanks for your .02!