Biden president at 78.

[mikkyr]

I just don’t really understand... 78? He will be 82 at the end of his term. They’ve made such a big deal about Trump being one of very few presidents who failed to secure a 2nd term so will Biden run again at 82? And then we have a 86 year old US president at the end of that term?

Is the consensus that Biden won’t see out this term and hand over to Harris?

I recall my grandparents needing 2 days of recovery after their UK-SA air travel at a younger age and there is no jet lag to factor in.
How is this guy going to cope? And quite honestly why does someone who should be enjoying their retirement have any desire to be president. I get these men live off power but why do voters think this is reasonable.

Stop being ageist.

Dunno but he has the teeth of a 21 year old

Harris will take over I think and that’s no bad thing I don’t think the american public would of voted for a black woman to become the president outright but this way by default would be the best outcome,
We just need to get rid of Boris and get someone anyone decent to lead our country then again pigs may fly who have we got to choose from?

I think he only got in because the alternative was fucking awful.

Not every 78yo is the same. My Mum’s uncle was well into his 90s, still bounding about and working. I feel like I’m about to keel over and I’m 26.

So racist sexiest trump is better...

Okay

And quite honestly why does someone who should be enjoying their retirement have any desire to be president.

Nobody should be doing anything. People can live their lives how they want, not dictated by what people think they should be doing at their age.

I think the consensus is that he will be a one-term president. It's not ageist to point out that the idea of an 86 year old, in one of the most gruelling jobs on earth, is utterly ridiculous. The international travel alone would do you in at that age.

Thank God for that.

Now the US can get on with healing the damage and the world as a whole stands slightly more chance of dealing with global warming.

So fucking what?

At the very least he is not Trump and can speak English.

@WantANewHome he has a full set of false teeth.

Seen Jimmy Carter lately? Still building houses for Houses or Humanity in his 90s.

82? Meh. My dad is 80. Sharp as a tack.

Anyway, he's picked a strong capable running mate so what's the real problem?

And quite honestly why does someone who should be enjoying their retirement have any desire to be president. I get these men live off power but why do voters think this is reasonable.

He's spent 50 years in public service for the country he loves. He's aspired to be president for over 30 years, this was his third run. He's well liked and respected on both sides of the aisle. It was him that helped Obama get any sort of cooperation from the Republicans during Obama's time in office - Obama had only had a couple of years in senate before he became president and he was not particularly liked outside his party, Joe had all the political connections. His son died 5 years ago, and told his dad before he died that Joe needed to make sure he had a purpose in his life. He's seen his beloved America torn apart by a sociopath, and has stepped up in the hope he can heal the divisions. Not all older people aspire to sit in a chair watching daytime TV for the remainder of their lives. Why not give him a chance?

Maybe we should reframe it as Wisdom.

He's been around a long time, seen a lot come and go, age has a lot to offer.

We could look on it as the Dream Team leading the US, Experience & Wisdom plus Energy & Grit

Perhaps OP thinks David Attenborough should stop fighting for the environment and enjoy his retirement.

I’m not saying Trump is better. I’m just questioning why a 78 year old wants such a grueling job and if it’s the best outcome for the US. If he is the best guy for the job then I’m all for it.
Why aren’t there younger candidates?

Beautifully put Bluecat

When I was in America, I got the impression it wasn't so ageist as here, that exierience and wisdom were valued. Noticeably, there were older female newsreaders, which you don't get here.

The British seem unusually obsessed with age. I cannot tell you how fed up I am of friends who have to mention their age in every single concersation once they hit about 40. It's incredibly tedious and a bit odd.

Maybe it's because people here age unusually quickly, due to bad diet and lifestyle, and assume everyone else is the same?

Queen Elizabeth is 94, still going pretty strong...

Some people stay fit though. My aunt still easily ran a couple of miles at 80. My grandfather thought nothing of a 10 mile beach hike at age 82. Both were mentally just as sharp as when they were 50 too.

@mikkyr

I’m not saying Trump is better. I’m just questioning why a 78 year old wants such a grueling job and if it’s the best outcome for the US. If he is the best guy for the job then I’m all for it. Why aren’t there younger candidates?

From what I have read and seen, they needed someone who would take votes off Trump, they tried something different four years ago and failed.

If they had just put up Harris, they wouldn't have won anything, now she actually has a better chance to run for President in four years time (obviously depending on how these four years go)

I am an armchair expert who reads a lot, but I am not in America or American, so I have no idea how true this is, but to me it made sense just to get Trump out

@mikkyr

I’m not saying Trump is better. I’m just questioning why a 78 year old wants such a grueling job and if it’s the best outcome for the US. If he is the best guy for the job then I’m all for it. Why aren’t there younger candidates?

There were several younger candidates, Kamala Harris among them, but Biden won the Democratic nomination. I think he was seen as a safe, centrist choice by party members and had a real chance of beating Trump. They were right!

Kamala Harris is the heir-apparent in case he doesn’t complete his first term and it’s highly probably that if Biden does hang In there, he’ll step aside for her to run 2024.

*probable

Trump's hardly much younger!

William Gladstone served as Prime Minister until he was 84, and that was in the 19th century without modern medicine.

I'm not worried about Biden's age. If he stays healthy he'll be up to the job no problem. I don't think he'll quit mid term, but it would not surprise me if he doesn't seek re-election.

If he gets sick, that's why there's a VP. And someone doesn't have to be old to get sick.

I think @BlueCatRedCathas nailed it.