Joe Biden wants to do it again and run for a second term with the support of the Democrats. But the 80-year-old’s biological clock ticks louder every day. Two examples from the recent past show how dangerous the democratic bet is.
how old is too old This question has been plaguing the United States ever since President Joe Biden announced his re-election. Political opponents have been slandering the 80-year-old for years because of his age. Biden is “unfit for office” — ie, unfit for office. At the end of a second term, he would be 86 years old.
Born in 1942, the US president is also a target on the international scene. Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev recently called him a “senile, desperate grandfather”. Respect for a man who holds the most influential political office in the world sounds different – even if the bar is set quite low for Putin’s confidant.
Joe Biden’s legendary slips of the tongue
What is certain is that Biden has repeatedly provided his critics with ammunition. Unforgettable are his legendary slips of the tongue and sayings that are hard to understand once he breaks away from the teleprompter. Or when he went into the audience looking for a congressman, apparently forgetting that she had died the previous month. It also caused a stir when Biden fell off his bike last year. The reactions were often the same: typical “Sleepy Joe”.
Biden is a “healthy, strong” man
In contrast, supporters of the president never tire of emphasizing that Biden, who overcame a childhood stutter, has been improvising in public speeches for decades. However, the most recent White House medical report shows signs of wear and tear – though the US president is described as a “healthy, strong, 78-year-old man.”
His personal physician, Kevin C. O’Connor, publicized Biden’s medications. The president takes prescription drugs to control his cholesterol levels and atrial fibrillation – an irregular heartbeat. Which is completely “normal” for a man his age. He also said he was “clearing his throat more and more often” when he spoke, which was probably due to acid reflux, and that his gait had become somewhat stiff.
This finding – which is already two years old – will not silence critics, nor send supporters into ecstasy. Because what happens when Biden can no longer respond sensibly to the crises of this world? The largest ground war since World War II is raging in Europe. And China is increasingly threatening to invade Taiwan. Everything Xi Jinping says and does indicates that this will happen in 2027.
Why age is a problem
Two examples from the US’s recent past show that the age of senior decision-makers can cause far-reaching chain reactions. Despite her advanced age, Judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg refused to relinquish her Supreme Court seat under the Obama administration. In 2020, she passed away at the age of 87. Donald Trump wasted no time in nominating arch-conservative judge Amy Coney Barrett.
Since then, a super-conservative six-to-three vote on the U.S. Supreme Court has determined the laws of the country. With well-known consequences: two years after Ginsburg’s death, the fundamental verdict Roe against Wade, which guaranteed women the right to an abortion. With a razor-thin score of five votes to four. Barett voted to repeal — sparking a political earthquake with her colleagues. Since then, health care for millions of women in the United States has deteriorated dramatically.
A more recent example also shows that age is not just a number. There has been a strange situation in the US Senate for weeks. The Democrats have a razor-thin majority of one vote because 89-year-old California Senator Dianne Feinstein is in the hospital.
In previous ballots, some Democrats swerved, making the senator’s failure even more significant. Before that, Feinstein stood out for having trouble remembering colleagues’ names and what happened in meetings.
Especially in US federal politics, the representatives are much older than the average citizen – the Republican senator from Iowa goes to extremes. Charles Grassley will be 95 when he completes his term. The US Senator likes to tweet videos of his morning runs and sometimes does push-ups at public campaign events.
Why are Democrats betting on Joe Biden?
According to a Reuters poll, nearly nine in ten Americans think the age limit for president should be 75 or younger. So why are the Democrats betting on Joe Biden despite his age and bad polls? The US president is considered the only serious candidate in the Democratic ranks who could beat Donald Trump in the upcoming US presidential election. Biden, who started three years ago as a “bridge builder” to a younger generation, now wants to “finish the job”.
Quite a few people may be hoping that Biden will experience a medical phenomenon experts call the “neuroplasticity of aging.” The brain continues to develop even as we age, and some brain functions can actually improve if people remain particularly active. There was certainly plenty to do.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
