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.

Old white men. It appeals to the voters. Look at right wing Charlton Heston saying ‘old white men built this county up 🙄 they’re deluded.

Let’s hope Kamala Harris gets the second term.

Fucking phone! ‘Old white men built this country my 🙄

Here’s what I don’t understand - Donald Trump is only a few years younger: why not the fuss about his age?

There was plenty of fuss about his age. Remember when he had to prove he could drink a glass of water? When he slipped down the ramp?

I think people in the US generally work on for longer than here don't they? He's only slightly older than Trump anyway so I don't suppose it bothered the voters. He seems like he will step aside for Kamala Harris when the time is right too.

@flaviaritt

But this response has just proved my point : people are making judgements about Biden based upon what they THINK he should be able to do based on his age, rather than his proven capabilities and experience. Remind you of anything?

I’m not. I am inferring things from his actions, words and behaviour, and from my knowledge of the performance decline that affects all of us with age (albeit unevenly). And yes, it reminds me of the democratic process. None of us have seen his medical records. We simply get told stuff and see stuff and form an opinion. It’s what voters have to do. Now, I am a UK resident so this doesn’t affect me directly, but indirectly it affects the whole world who sits in the Oval Office. I will form an opinion because I can’t help doing so.

Just to clarify: you have a right to an opinion. Just because I am challenging it does not mean that I want this right to be taken away. You don't need to keep repeating your right to an opinion. I respect your opinion. But I like debating people who disagree with me and I think you have some good points which challenge and shape my own. I hope that clarifies things.

sevencontinents

It’s perfectly fine, yes!

He probably won’t run for a second term - Kamala Harris will instead.

In the meantime he seems perfectly capable of handling the role. People respond to ageing differently. My grandpa is well into his eighties and his mental faculties are perfectly sound. He is every bit as coherent, articulate, intelligent and competent as he has been his whole life. He’s physically fit. He organises golfing trips abroad for him and several friends every year, he’s the chairman of his golf club and head of his local rotary. He looks after my even more aged great aunt a few days a week. He walks miles every day. He could easily be president and he’s nearly a decade older than Biden.

My take is it be be Biden for 2-3 years than Kamala will take over. Anything is possible and I can see trump pulling out every last card to get the vote recounted, interesting times ahead.

I think shoehorning Harris into the chair would be the worst decision they could make. She needs to be elected before she assumes office, or she will be a weak and unpopular President and get spanked at the next election.

It's a balance between being seen to have sufficient experience and wisdom and the wherewithal to make progress. Biden is switched on and ready to serve. I'm happy that he's beaten Trump and hopeful he can repair some of the divisions.

I think shoehorning Harris into the chair would be the worst decision they could make. She needs to be elected before she assumes office, or she will be a weak and unpopular President and get spanked at the next election.

I agree. She would have a weak mandate at a time when it’s really important to have a strong one. I think it’s more likely that Biden will see out his full term but not run again, and she could run in the next election.

@KurriKawari

Stop being ageist.

This.

@Chocaholic9

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

Agreed.

Biden is clearly a million times better than trump, for one thing he is a proper politician.

But his card isn't totally clean either is it! Rumours, accusations of inappropriate sexual touching...

Long service in politics means nothing really. There are plenty people who serve years in careers and get passed over for promotions in favor on younger more energetic individuals who may not have years of experience but have what the company needs at that point in time.

I’m happy to concede that Biden is going to be ok in spite of his age but I just think that given the times we find ourselves in, perhaps world leadership needs a shake up and I’m not sure another old white guy is the answer.

I really think that there needs to be a cut off around 60. How on earth could these rich pensioners have any sort of an idea what young working families are going through! It’s absolutely ridiculous.

Because he’s put his entire life into politics and it’s what he’s wanted to do. Also, you know nothing of his personal health.
He’s spoke about his age being a factor and has implied he only intends to be a one term president, supporting Kamala to run after him.

The needed a strong candidate - the older, sane, decent, kind looking, dependable, white man was absolutely the best option to compete with Trump’s loyal fan base, of which there are many. Harris will be an excellent standby but there is no way she would have been voted in if she was running.

It is amazing how far people will go, mentally speaking, to avoid all the pictures out there of Biden sniffing women’s hair, holding both sides of their faces, generally draping himself all over them. Because he’s not Trump.

If Biden died in office, it wouldn't be 'shoehorning' Harris in - it would be the due process, in the way that Johnson took over from Kennedy when he was assassinated.

BTW Kennedy also made much of his Irish connections.

Let’s hope he doesn’t die in office. That would be awful for Harris’s election prospects.

It’s absolutely ridiculous

No more ridiculous than the idea that a young working person could know what's best for pensioners, or those who have never faced serious illness should have a say in health service provision, or insight into a different eithnic group, or sex.

The idea is that you listen and represent, not come directly from the ranks of. Because the former is possible, the latter is not

He looks a sight healthier than Bodger.

@flaviaritt be careful. Threads are shut down when talking about this. Which is bit ironic on parenting website with predominantly women...

@twilightermummy

I really think that there needs to be a cut off around 60. How on earth could these rich pensioners have any sort of an idea what young working families are going through! It’s absolutely ridiculous.

That certainly doesn't only apply to wealthy pensioners, do you think Johnson, Cameron or Blair have any idea what its like to be poor? Jeez our 55yo PM was happy to see children go hungry... until popular opinion forced another U turn.

Biden appears to have a firm grasp on issues such as health, cv, climate change & values international institutions such as EU, UN, NATO,
As to whether he will serve a 2nd term? who knows, thats down to his party and the voters but i think its fantastic that Trump has gone and Biden has a female vice president, a US first.