Biden’s presidency is confused. But not for the reason you might think.

Biden is often accused of being incoherent. Perhaps a fair comment given some of his gaffes. But a broader incoherence underlies his political career since he announced his intention to run for president way back in April 2019.

The oldest white guy won the most diverse primary of all time in a social context which sought to raise the voices of women and people of color more than ever. A primary campaign with just a few cents in the bank after tanking in Iowa and New Hampshire. And a general election campaign fought largely from his basement.

Whatever weaknesses the president had or still has, he has simply had one of the best starts to an administration in decades. Electorally, doing far better than expected — no sign of the Red Wave, increasing a Democratic majority in the Senate, and not to mention a personal mandate of over 80 million votes.

As such, he raised daunting legislative expectations. The filibuster needed to be gone; two new states needed to be added (in Washington DC and Puerto Rico); Voting Rights and Build Back Better needed to be passed immediately; judges needed to be confirmed at the rate of knots; and COVID needed to disappear.

He’s not quite done that, but he has achieved a remarkable amount, including passing judges quicker…