So are you ever just going about your day, maybe on the way to the grocery store, or riding your bike, when all of a sudden, out of nowhere, it hits you: the guy in the picture above — that guy — is likely to become the 46th president of the United States? Yeah, me too.

Anyway, while I was bouncing around the internet this morning, looking for stuff that piqued my attention enough to write about, I came across the following tweet, And there, in all his glory, was Joe. Being Joe. You know what I mean; that deer-caught-in-the-headlights look that Joe all-too-often has plastered all over his face, as he vacantly stares at the camera — and script — directly in front of him? Yeah, that look.

Being the inquisitive sort I am, I decided to take a peek at the short video in the tweet, just to see what might be behind that nobody’s-home fixed gaze. I wasn’t disappointed.

There was Joe, heroically telling us how he and his pal Barack entered office, 11 years ago — actually, it was just a month short of 12 years, but who’s counting? — during the “Great Recession,” and because of their heroism — and brilliance of epic proportion, of course — Joe and Barack saved us from a “Great Depression,” America.

And the best part? Joe — sans Barack — is gonna “do that all over again.” [Cue: emotional patriotic music.]

Joe Biden says he saved us from a Great Depression 11 years ago and he will “do that all over again”

pic.twitter.com/SgbaNlumLn

— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) December 3, 2020

Let’s “unpack” (hate that usage) things a bit, shall we?

Let’s begin with a basic truth: presidents of both parties often get more credit and blame for economic conditions than they deserve, given that much of what happens is outside their control. Note: I didn’t say they don’t deserve some of either; just not as much credit as they braggingly claim — nor as much blame as they run from like Michael Moore running from a spinach and flaxseed smoothie.

While it’s true that 2019 marked the 11th straight year of economic expansion — then 2020 happened — the Obama years also saw the National Debt balloon by nearly 70 percent, from just under $12 trillion to more than $20 trillion. Additionally, Joe “forgot” to mention that Obama gutted the work requirements for welfare, nearly doubling the number of Americans on government assistance, which Trump properly restored, including tightening work requirements for SNAP — Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — reducing the number of Americans on “food stamps” by 70 million, through January 2020.

Here’s the thing.

We — both sides of the aisle — can go back and forth all day long about which administration best managed the economy, to the extent that an administration can “manage” an economy, but grandiose claims of heroics — in this case by Biden — are little more than hollow words. Moreover, while the current COVID spike is triggering new shutdowns, it’s hard to imagine a “Great Depression” in the offing — that is, unless Joe Biden does become president — and save us from it. Again.

Then again, given that all-too-common vacant stare, “hollow” is the operative word.