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In the first volume of his memoir, The Promised Land, former President Obama says the smartest decision he ever made was choosing Joe Biden as his vice presidential running mate. And hes right. Too bad he didnt listen to Biden more, once he got to the White House.

Its no secret that Obama and those around him never took Biden seriously. They praised him publicly, but privately they clucked, raised their eyebrows, and made him the butt of jokes. To this day, Obamas treatment of Biden is nothing short of embarrassing.

Obama wanted Hillary ClintonHillary Diane Rodham ClintonPresident Biden, on special interest money are you more an 'Obama' or a 'Hillary?' Kamala Harris, Bill Clinton to hold talk on pandemic's impact on women Drawing a line from minority discrimination to electoral outcomes MORE, not Biden to succeed him and pressured Biden not to challenge Clinton in the 2016 primary. He tried to talk Biden out of running in 2020 and didnt endorse him until every other Democratic challenger had dropped out. As Amie Parnes and Jonathan Allen reveal in their new book, Lucky, after Biden won the presidency on Tuesday, Nov. 3, Obama didnt call to congratulate him until Saturday, Nov. 7.

And, as Biden himself confessed to CNN, not once in eight years not once! did Barack and Michelle ObamaMichelle LeVaughn Robinson ObamaMichelle Obama jokes living in the White House prepared her for quarantine Michelle Obama slams 'leaders who won't take a stand to save lives' following Boulder shooting Press: What Biden could have taught Obama MORE invite Joe and Jill BidenJill BidenMegan Rapinoe visits White House to mark Equal Pay Day The Hill's 12:30 Report - Presented by Facebook - COVID vaccine developments Biden's dogs return to White House MORE to their private quarters in the White House. Ouch!

Too bad. If only Obama had paid more attention to Biden, he might have proven a more consequential president. In only 63 days, Bidens already shown more skill in dealing with Congress than Obama did in eight years. Like Obama, he reached out to Republicans on his first big legislative priority. He held his first Oval Office meeting with Senate Republicans. He offered to work with them in responding to the coronavirus pandemic with a robust stimulus package.

But, unlike Obama, he didnt waste two years, waiting for Republicans to come around. Once it was clear that Sens. Susan CollinsSusan Margaret CollinsDemocrats divided on gun control strategy Overnight Health Care: Senate confirms Levine for HHS, first openly transgender official | Progressives up pressure on Biden to back COVID vaccine patent waiver | Former Operation Warp Speed chief fired over sexual harassment allegations Senate confirms first openly transgender official, approving Levine for HHS MORE (R-Maine), Mitt RomneyWillard (Mitt) Mitt RomneyDemocrats divided on gun control strategy Remembering Ted Kennedy highlights decline of the Senate Vivek Murthy confirmed as surgeon general MORE (R-Utah), and others werent serious about compromise offering only a $618 billion alternative to his proposed $1.9 trillion stimulus plan Biden decided to charge ahead with Democratic votes only. On March 11, he signed the American Rescue Plan, for which Biden is already being compared to FDR and LBJ (a comparison which Biden himself would admit is premature, at best).

What Biden gets, which Obama never did, is that once you arrive in the Oval Office, you cant waste any time. As president, you have to strike first and fast. Your best opportunity to get big things done is in your first two years, when you still have the wind at your back, popular support, and, most importantly, all the votes you need.

Despite a 256-vote majority in the House and Senate majority that was filibuster-proof for part of his first two years, Obama failed to take advantage of it.

Even though he didnt need them, he tried to win Republican votes by agreeing to a paltry $800 billion stimulus package, yet not one House Republican and only three Republican senators voted for it. He wasted a year trying unsuccessfully to convince Sen. Chuck GrassleyChuck GrassleyBiden takes sales blitz to swing-state Ohio Cruz accuses Democrats of playing 'ridiculous theater' in proposals following mass shootings Senate Judiciary chairman says he 'can't keep up' with number of mass shootings MORE (R-Iowa) to support the Affordable Care Act.

Even with only a razor-thin advantage in both houses of Congress, Bidens not going to make that same mistake. He knows that when youve got the power, youve got to use it before you lose it. Having secured the $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package, Biden now plans to move on infrastructure, voting rights, climate change, and other priorities. If Republicans want to come onboard, fine, but Biden has determined to plough ahead with or without them.

Americans want action more than they want bipartisanship.

Press is host of The Bill Press Pod. He is author of From the Left: A Life in the Crossfire.

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