Wednesday, September 13, 2023

Joe Biden 's age: Democrats can and should answer that and then shut up.

What is at stake is more than about Biden's perceived condition as being too old to serve a second term.  It is about the continuity of the country's direction set in motion by Biden and the team Biden has assembled in his administration that would remain in place no matter who leads if he was unable to complete a second term.

My son an international business consultant. recently left  EU  borders to travel to a non-EU member country. He presented his passport to border officials who asked him, "Trump or Biden?. He avoided getting into a prolonged conversation, so he answered: "One is too old, and the other is crazy". All three, the border guards, and he broke into laughter.  That is the question the world is asking, and now the opinions about Biden's age reached a crescendo, dominating columns and media on both sides of the political divide. 

The discussion should be more than about Biden, one person. It should and can be about the team and direction of the country. It is about considering the alternatives, not only to Biden but the MAGA GOP.. Democrats need to promote the team the administration's direction that would be in place regardless if  Biden sits in the director's chair, stop whining, and quit agreeing with the GOP. 

Democrats need to focus on continuing the course Biden has set, which is in contrast with MAGA's promise of conflict, retribution, and chaos. Biden has shown in the past four years, in spite of the perception he is old and feeble, he has been extremely effective in implementing his agenda; the question is, can he continue for four more years. There has been no indication he is not able to maintain that level of engagement.   He owes much of his success to the team he has assembled. It is a matter of total speculation, though "what if" is a valid discussion that applies to both  Biden and a three years younger Trump. 

Trump may appear macho, but his mind is frozen in a lifetime of narcissism, using fear of retribution, scofflaws,  and demagoguing to benefit his self-interests.  What if Trump also has health issues? He has a history of writing his own annual physical result report, trying to mask the seriousness of his COVID-19 infection, using a flunky to write it, and recently an outright lie about height and weight when being booked in the Fulton jail. He may look robust, but that has he been hiding? What The GOP needs to answer that one, too. What "if"? More extreme MAGAs? 

 The next issue: Can Biden beat Trump in the coming campaign? Biden's case: he has done it in 2020. If Democrats focus on the larger issue of the direction of the nation and the contrast with MAGA, he can do it again.  Focusing on his age issues is unhelpful as campaign season begins..

 David Ignatius of the Washington Post, a true heavyweight in shaping views, raised eyebrows with a column arguing Biden should not run again because of his age.  He faced pushback on MSNBC from Host Mika Brezinski.  If not Biden, who? Ignatius could not offer an opinion. Mika challenged him, " Aren't you criticizing VP Kamal Harris as one not worthy or able to step in if Biden became unable to continue in a second term? (For the record, I think Harris has it in her on the basis of pre-VP performance,  but she has not been given much of a chance to show it).   Ignatius, however, inadvertently answered himself in the discussion when he failed to answer the question of who not, if not Harris or Biden. Whoever the Dems pick, he said, will have the Biden team he has assembled to carry on.  Biden has a great, capable bunch of advisors, and that would still be in place whoever took Biden's place as a candidate would be in place.  Wait a minute. David Ignatius.  Isn't that also be the reason Harris should also be acceptable.  She, too, would have te team behind her.  That is the answer to Harris jitters: the administration and advisors would also be in place to back up Harris and continue the success Democrats are praising and touting now on behalf of Joe Biden's record..

https://time.com/5105096/donald-trump-physical-exam-transcript/

Doctor: Trump Dictated Letter Attesting To His 'Extraordinary' Health : The Two-Way : NPR

Donald Trump prison: No, he does not weigh 215 pounds like he told the Fulton County Jail. (slate.com)

Washington Post columnist David Ignatius says Biden should not run for reelection | The Hill

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