Until a few days ago, I was feeling pretty optimistic about America’s prospects. Economically, we experienced strong growth and a sharp decline in inflation.And when a Democrat becomes president, Americans seem to be that way, apart from devoted Republicans who don’t see good, don’t hear good, and don’t say good. recognize This progress. Common sense prevails and democracy is increasingly likely to survive.
But watching the frenzy surrounding President Biden’s age has made me, for the first time, deeply concerned about the future of this country. It now seems entirely possible that American democracy will be irrevocably changed within the next year.
And the final blow will not be the rise of political extremism. Its rise certainly created the preconditions for disaster, but it has been part of the landscape for some time. No, what could turn this threat into a disaster is that the hand-wringing over Biden’s age overshadows the real stakes of the 2024 election. This reminds me of the 2016 uproar over Hillary Clinton’s email server, just as it reminds me of everyone I know. This was a small issue that may have ultimately swung the election to Donald Trump.
As most people know by now, special counsel Robert Hur, appointed to investigate allegations of fraud on the part of Biden, concluded that the president should not be indicted. However, his report included an unnecessary and totally unprofessional shot at Biden’s mental acuity, apparently due to the president’s difficulty remembering certain dates, i.e. As I wrote on Friday, it is based on the challenges faced by everyone, regardless of age. Mr. Hur’s mistreatment of Biden was the same as James Comey’s mistreatment of Clinton. Both Mr. Herr and Mr. Comey appear to have been willing to take political positions when it was not their job to do so.
This is a case of bureaucrats overstepping their bounds, at best carelessly, and at worst maliciously.
Yes, it is true that Biden is older, and he will be even older if he is re-elected and serves a second term. It would have been better if the Democratic Party had been able to choose a successor by consensus a year or two ago, and Mr. Biden could have stepped down in a way that would have been advantageous to his successor without causing any arbitrary behavior within the party. I think. But it makes no sense now to speculate whether that could happen. That won’t happen, and Biden will be the Democratic nominee.
It is also true that many voters think the president’s age is an issue. But there is perception and there is reality. As anyone who has spent time with Biden recently can tell you (and I do too), he is in complete command of his abilities, with total clarity and an impressive grasp of detail. Of course, most voters won’t be able to see him up close, and it’s up to Biden’s team to deal with that. And yes, he is quiet and speaks a little slowly, which is partially due to his lifelong struggle with stuttering. By the way, he also has a sense of humor, which I think is important.
Most importantly, Biden is a very capable president. For four years, President Trump has claimed that a major infrastructure initiative is on the horizon, even calling it “Infrastructure Week!” It became a joke. Biden actually passed the bill. President Trump promised to revive U.S. manufacturing, but he hasn’t delivered. Biden’s technology and climate policies, the latter of which passed against grim expectations, have led to a surge in investment in manufacturing. His Obamacare enhancements have given millions more access to health insurance.
To me, these accomplishments say more about Biden’s abilities than his occasional gaffes.
And what about someone who is only four years younger? Some people may be impressed by President Trump’s loud and mean comments. But what about what he actually says in his speech? They frequently put out a rambling word salad, filled with bizarre claims like Friday’s claim that if they lose in November, they’re “going to change the name of Pennsylvania.”
Not to mention confusing Nikki Haley with Nancy Pelosi or E. Jean Carroll with one of his ex-wives.
As I wrote last week, watching Trump’s speech reminded me of the awful things my father suffered last year, his incoherent fits and belligerence after dark. And what we should be worried about is Biden’s Mental state?
In recent days, as the national debate has been dominated by Biden’s age, President Trump has said that he would intervene to help a NATO member that has fallen into “delinquency” if Russia attacks one. He declared that he had no intention of doing so and even hinted at the possibility of intervening. Encourage Such an attack. He seems to see NATO as just a defense racket and is still unsure how the alliance will function over time. Incidentally, Lithuania, a NATO member named by President Trump, spends more of its GDP on aid to Ukraine than any other country.
Again, I wish this election wasn’t a fight between two old men, and I’m worried about American elder politics in general. But like it or not, this is going to be a race between Biden and Trump. And somehow, clear-headed, knowledgeable candidates are more heated because of their age than their ranting, fact-challenging opponents.
As I said earlier, just the other day, I was feeling somewhat optimistic. But right now, I am deeply concerned about the future of our country.