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.

well said @BlueCatRedCat

I hope Kamala runs next term. I really like her and she would be a great first female president!

Thanks everyone. I’m neither in the UK or the US and the politics where I come from is absolutely the stuff from horror movies.
I love that here on MN you can’t just ask a simple question or raise a thought without being labeled as something ... ageist, racist,

My president is 74 currently. I’m well aware of Trumps age too. We are always told that the future belongs to the youth and the the youth are mostly the people who are vocal about current issues such as climate change, immigration, jobs etc you would think they would want someone who understood them better. Not saying Biden or trump or anybody over the age of 60 doesn’t understand the problems the younger and middle age people face but just not sure a 78 year old is the most representative of their causes.
What is the age of the average voter in America?

Maybe an older person can be more partial to all sides of a debate and less reactive than a younger person. I don’t know. Was just wondering that’s all.
David Attenborough is hardly in charge of the big red nuclear button!

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.
I loved Lee Lin Chin in Australia, she was iconic.

David Attenborough is hardly in charge of the big red nuclear button!

Although thinking about it after I wrote this... he probably should be!!!!

So, you've developed a sudden concern that Biden may, what, stumble and fall on the blow us all up button? You weren't concerned prior that little Donnie, four years younger, with his dexamethasone-fed mania, might (might still) nuke us? You're just puzzled that someone so old, in your mind, isn't kicking back on the recliner in their carpet slippers?

Bizarre.

@cbt944

So, you've developed a sudden concern that Biden may, what, stumble and fall on the blow us all up button? You weren't concerned prior that little Donnie, four years younger, with his dexamethasone-fed mania, might (might still) nuke us? You're just puzzled that someone so old, in your mind, isn't kicking back on the recliner in their carpet slippers?

Bizarre.

From where I come from we say Haibo! Talk about putting words in my mouth!

I can’t stand Trump... honestly whatever heals America from the hate and divisiveness he has brought open the Americans in the last four years is ok with me... was just a question looking for opinions.

His life ambition is to be the president that doesn’t stop with age, he has a calming influence which is a change from Trump, whose behaviour in is my opinion has been childish. He has a capable deputy if the worst happens. I am pleased to see anyone reach their life goals how ever old.

disclaimer: this post is light-hearted

If you Google the Curse of Tippecanoe then it seems it had to happen this way (Democrats putting forward an "elderly" candidate).

Basically the 9th president William Henry Harrison screwed some Native Americans out of their land, so they cursed him and all future presidents that were elected in a year divisible by 20.

He died of typhoid very shortly after.

The curse - spookily - actually came true. Every president since that was elected in a 00, 20, 40, 60 or 80 year has died in office. The two exceptions are Ronald Reagan and George W Bush, although the former was seriously injured in an assassination attempt and the later nearly died choking on a... pretzel

There was hope the curse was weakening, but I did like the irony when I saw the two candidates were well into their 70s, so the chance of them pegging it in office is as likely as not.

As I said, this is light-hearted, I obviously don't wish or laugh at the thought of death on anyone!

... Would be cool to have a black woman as president though...

Whilst I'm delighted Trump is gone and that Biden is now president elect, I whole heartedly agree with you OP. Seriously? Two men in their seventies? Is that the best the USA can do?
Surely a job that is as demanding as POTUS is really generally a younger man's game ?

Some people are still very fit at 80. Look at David Attenborough and how much he has done in the last few years and he is 94 now.

I’ve just read an article that says this will be the last election where so called ‘baby boomers’ will represent the majority of the votes and millennials will move into the majority. So it’s likely the face and age of leadership will change come 2024.

David Attenborough doesn't "run" An entire country

It isnt ageist to say that someone in their late 70s isn't compus mentus enough to be in that position. But then again then people are naive If they think he has any real power. The US president position has and always will be a puppet position and the real power is elsewhere

Biden is also deeply anti British and anti Brexit so don't expect any support on that respect

@KurriKawari

Stop being ageist.

You just have to accept that you are old.

It's ok.

I'm old too.

If you think otherwise, then you are in denial. Same with me. If I 'thunk otherwise, then I would be in denial too. It's ok to be an old bastard.

I'm counting on David Hogg (Parklands shooting survivor and gun control activist) to look after the future of the US, but it may take 20 years for him to be elected, and even then he might be too young - I seem to remember there is a lower limit on the age of someone running for President, but not an upper one. (Googled, yes you must be at least 35 years old to run for President, apart from having been born in the United States of America and been resident there for 14 years. So David Hogg has 15 years to go before he can start trying.)

I think once all the celebration is over (and it's great that Trump is out) America should really do some self examination and ask why Joe Biden was apparently the best person to contest this election. It's not the age for me (although I understand Biden does have a history of heart problems), but it should not have been this hard to defeat Trump. It's depressing that the Democratic person couldn't find a more electable candidate than Biden. Just look at Harris. She's right there, yet for some reason the consensus was she couldn't defeat Trump. And that was probably right. That America would rather elect Trump than a woman of colour suggests that theew is a long way to go in the next four years...

Yes Harris was right there and it is depressing to think that she needs a white man in his late seventies to open the door for her.

If he becomes too infirm, loses his marbles or dies then Kamala Harris takes over. So all good.

I’m fairly sure if he did start getting a bit of dementia before stepping down he wouldn’t be allowed to just wake up one day and decide to press the nuke button.....there must be a procedure and I’m pretty sure that senior military people would be involved in any decision and if necessary sit on him.

He seems healthy and fit, he’s coped with the campaigning. He will be surrounded by people doing a lot of the leg work for him. Apparently Trump spends hours a day watching the news so there must be ample opportunity for r&r time.

If he’s president for only one term that’s fine. I’m sure Kamala will be a good candidate.

Btw....does she identify as black? I’ve heard her refer to herself as a “brown woman” and her mother was from India so not sure she considers herself black? Just interested. I’d assumed she was mixed race and then saw a really nice clip of her talking about her mum.

*You just have to accept that you are old.

It's ok.

I'm old too.

If you think otherwise, then you are in denial.*

Agreed. There is so much fear of being considered an "ageist" that common sense has gone out of the window. At 78 he's way past his best to be the leader of a country in full physical and mental capacity and health. Why are we so afraid to say the obvious? JB looks fit and healthy but he's not in his 40s or 50s, he won't be able to cope with 14 hour days or punishing travelling for long. It's part of the AGEING PROCESS. There should be a time limit to go into politics, 70 is a good cut off line.

Having said this, I'm delighted JB won. If Trump had won he will be also too old with the added problems of being mentally deranged narcissist, unhealthy and an unfit arsehole.

@Jaichangecentfoisdenom

I'm counting on David Hogg (Parklands shooting survivor and gun control activist) to look after the future of the US, but it may take 20 years for him to be elected, and even then he might be too young - I seem to remember there is a lower limit on the age of someone running for President, but not an upper one. (Googled, yes you must be at least 35 years old to run for President, apart from having been born in the United States of America and been resident there for 14 years. So David Hogg has 15 years to go before he can start trying.)

Sadly I’m not sure America would ever vote in a gun control activist.

I think this is an important piece in helping to understand Biden and his motivation: edition.cnn.com/2020/11/07/politics/president-elect-joe-biden/index.html

Yes, he is old, but retirement in America doesn’t exist in the same way as other countries. I worked with a scientist who is well into his 80s now and sharp and still running a research group in the USA.

As far as I can tell, one of Biden’s main motivations for running is in place of his son Beau, who had wanted to but died 5 years ago. And the American population were not likely to vote for Kamala, so someone like Joe is a good choice. He’s a strong career politician, but he’s not egotistical. He’s a good choice under the circumstances

It's an interesting question OP.
Unfortunately, I do think there is a small element of ageism here: we are assuming that a 78 year old can't cope with the demands of the presidency because all old people struggle with things such as jet lag and the demands of working long hours. I think we need to be careful of judging old people as one group. I think we are seriously under estimating his experience and wisdom here also, which are traits that we here in the UK do not recognise as valuable contribution that old people can make to our society. People are also saying that he is not progressive, yet his VP is a black woma. I think we need to give him a chance.

I think maybe the American public just wanted trump out!