As it stands now, Biden's ambition does not go any further than a naive desire to take the nation back to the time before Trump "makes it [America] like it used to be." Two things can be said about this ambition. First, unfortunately, historical times cannot simply be reversed. Second, to limit your goal in this fashion means you fail to realize that "like it used to be" perforce embodies the problems that led to the "time of Trump" in the first place. Thus, Biden's present thinking can only provide superficial and ultimately unsatisfactory answers to challenges facing both the U.S. and the world beyond.
Part IV -- Then there is Foreign Policy
Biden and his present advisers "largely embrace the core principles that have driven U.S. foreign policy for decades," namely, the U.S. must lead the world, spread pseudo democracy, be loyal to its allies, etc. Here Biden is most often "yesterday's man."
Israel: Biden has been a loyal friend of Israel even during the tensions that arose when he was vice president under Obama. He has known Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for 30 years and considers him a good friend. As vice president, Biden once told Uzi Arad, one of Netanyahu's advisers, "Just remember -- that I am your best f*cking friend here."
If this holds true, what can one really expect from Biden the president? It would come as a surprise if Biden reversed Trump's over-the-top embrace of the Zionist state. He has already said that, as president, he would not move the U.S. embassy out of Jerusalem. Even in the face of astronomical U.S. debt, Biden probably will still insist on giving billions of dollars to a Zionist state that, on multiple counts, stands in stark violation of international law.
Venezuela: It would appear that Biden would have little trouble following up on the Trump administration's promotion of a rightist coup in Venezuela. For all intents and purposes he has backed Trump's aggression in this arena and, of course, done so in the name of democracy.
Iran: Biden says he continues to support the 2015 nuclear deal Obama helped negotiate with Iran -- the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). However, he does so from the stereotypical American view that Iran continues to be "a destabilizing factor in the Middle East." As president, he claims that he will rejoin the agreement. This would certainly be a positive move, but don't be surprised if the Iranians are a bit suspicious of Biden -- after all, they too know his political biography.
Part V -- Conclusion
A conciliatory, mediocre leader, who has shown little ability to resist the will of lobbies and donors, might find greatness when forced to face novel challenges. But that does not happen very often, and from all we do know about Joe Biden, the odds are against him blossoming in this fashion.
If elected, Biden will face three immediate challenges: (1) a nation struggling to overcome plague, (2) an economy in deep recession, and (3) a world climatically self-destructing (Biden's record on climate change is "sketchy") According to the NYT, Joe Biden, secluded in his basement, is trying to prepare himself to meet these challenges. However -- and here is the key factor -- he is doing so as the machine politician he has always been -- and that one-dimensionality will certainly help define the results. Trump might well be dethroned, but there will be no new and better world emerging under Joe Biden. When all is said and done, perhaps things will become less bad.
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