From Staff Reports
PETOSKEY — Joe Daly is a resident of Petoskey and has been working in the banking industry for more than 38 years.
In response to the Record-Eagle’s “Pulse of the Voters” series, Daly refers to the classic: “Are you better off now than you were four years ago?” That was the question posed in the October 1980 debate between Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter.
“The answer is: ‘Heck, no.’” Daly said. “Americans are suffering because of the failed Democratic government policies, yet the president is bragging about the success of ‘Bidenomics.’ Rampant inflation is hurting the lower income levels the most.”
Daly also refers to “uncontrolled spending by our government,” pointing to the current national debt now exceeding $33 trillion.
“The Biden administration continues to expand government and expand regulations on many industries. A large portion of the jobs growth the Biden administration brags about – are government jobs – and are being paid for with borrowed money.”
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 636,000 government jobs created in 2023, he pointed out. “This is nearly 25% of all job gains in 2023.”
The source of that growth should not be the government, Daly said. “The solution to paying down our debt is to grow the economy by unleashing American capitalism and collect more of the resultant income taxes – and, at the same time, shrink our government.”
Foreign policy, workforce/labor shortages and energy dependence are other areas of concern he mentioned.
“I think that the student loan debt forgiveness obsession that Joe Biden has is going to hurt him,” Daly added. “He keeps rebuking the Supreme Court verdict and tries to find ways to buy voters – via transferring their student loan debt to other taxpayers. Hard-working Americans who paid off their student loans do not look favorably at President Biden trying to burden them with paying off their neighbor’s kids’ student loans.”
Lastly, an issue that Daly believes to be of concern is security at the southern border: “Joe Biden deliberately opened this border door on his first day in the office with his termination of the prior administration’s ‘Remain in Mexico’ policy. … Biden is oblivious to the child sex trafficking and fentanyl drugs pouring in.”
Biden hasn’t held true to his own statements in 2007, Daly pointed out. “He declared that ‘no great nation has uncontrolled borders,’ and warned that America must build a border fence and increase border agents to secure the nation against drugs, terror, and illegal immigration. He sure flip-flopped on this issue.”
Daly admitted that his concerns have changed since the last presidential election.
“In the 2020 election, the economy was not the most important issue. The Republican policies were working, and our country was enjoying a strong economy, low unemployment, low inflation, energy independence, contained borders and no wars. This all changed with Joe Biden’s first day in office.”
Although Daly favored Trump’s policies when he was serving as president, he doesn’t care for his behavior now. “I think that having Donald Trump as the front-runner is not good for the Republican Party – nor the country. I do not like him as an individual and I do not think he is electable.”
Since the last election, Daly said his opinion of Trump has weakened. “His demeanor appears even less presidential than it did during his four years in the oval office. I liked his policies and the results of same, but I don’t think he can win the 2024 general election.”
But his view of Biden hasn’t fared any better. “It appears to me that President Biden is suffering from a cognitive decline. The mainstream media makes excuses and covers for him,” he said. “In my opinion, he is not a viable candidate and I think he will not be the Democratic candidate.”
Both Trump and Biden should just go away and “enjoy retirement,” he concluded.
“Trump has too much baggage and Biden is clearly in cognitive decline. It’s sad to see the health decline in Joe Biden. The stress and pressure of the president’s job is not for the aged. We have a minimum-age requirement for president, and we should also have a maximum age limit.”
A lot will happen between now and the election. But, in November, Daly said he intends to vote for the Republican candidate – whoever that may be.