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.

@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.

Because he hasn’t always been a rich pensioner. He has had a life, has experienced many things. He has been a child in a a young working family. He has been the father of a young, working family. He has young working family members.

He, and other people in their 70s, have experienced life. They have built up wisdom and knowledge of life. Not just the passion of youth, but the knowledge and experience that comes with age.

Personally, I’d rather have someone older who has knowledge and wisdom than someone younger who is all passion without experience.

The President isn’t a manual labour job. It’s his brain that matters. He has said he wants to heal. That’s an excellent start.

SchrodingersImmigrant

Oh really?

Ageist. Personally I don’t care so long as Toddler Trump is out.

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.

I don’t think people are avoiding this. I’ve seen it discussed countless times and people have rightly expressed their serious concern about it. I don’t think Biden is the dream candidate of many democrats.

But I think you’re underestimating just how profoundly important ‘not trump’ is. Not only because Trump’s behaviour towards women is so much worse, but because of the genuine threat he posed, literally to the lives of some people. I’m not excusing Biden’s weird behaviour, but let’s not lose sight of the fact that trump has literally called Nazis good people and told white supremacist groups to ‘stand by’. The threat level posed by his presidency to anyone who isn’t a white man is huge.

Harris wouldn’t have won this election had she been running for President. Trump has dragged America too far to the right and polarised politics too extremely. Biden has many issues (though I don’t consider age one of them) but he is a steady pair of hands wrapped up in a palatable package that meant many people who voted for trump 4 years ago could contemplate voting for Biden this time.

What now matters is the extent to which they can reunify and calm the country in the next 4 years, to give Harris a fighting chance when her time comes.

He looks fit for his age. He is also much better than the alternative! And yes, the VP may have a bigger role to play than some VPs because of his age. I’m very glad Trump is out!

@CJsGoldfish

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?

There’s a lovely story about a reporter going to do an interview with Carter when the latter was well into his 80s. Carter’s aide told the reporter that he would do the interview while out on his morning run. Fine said the reporter, I’ll walk beside him, how fast can a man in his 80s be. Not long after Carter’s security car driving behind picked up a totally out of breath and knackered reporter....

He got through the election which is a test of strength and stamina if I ever saw one.

But I think you’re underestimating just how profoundly important ‘not trump’ is.

No, definitely not. I understand the issues at stake.

Harris wouldn’t have won this election had she been running for President. Trump has dragged America too far to the right and polarised politics too extremely.

Candidates don’t drag the electorate, they have a more symbiotic relationship with it. Harris wouldn’t have won, but as the US is a democracy that’s their collective right.

Of course another old white guy isn't the answer....long term, but they needed to get Trump out and Biden was seen as a safe pair of hands that stood a chance of defeating Donald Trump, they were right. I'm not saying he's the best person for the job but Trump was dangerous and an embarrassment to his office, the fact that he's been replaced by an intelligent, politically experienced grown up can only be a good thing. I agree with the pp who said that Biden is the Trojan horse to get Harris into office. It shouldn't have to be that way, I agree but it's better than not doing anything.

Of course it’s not being ageist he is now the oldest president ever he won’t run a second term and he was looking tired at time’s during the campaign it was extremely apparent when Obama took to the stage

But many democrats felt to beat Trump you needed another white older man not too far to the left and Biden fitted that role

No Sir David Attenborough should not retire or the many other people who are still working passed retirement age but it’s not comparable to the role of being the President all the pressure the meetings all the travelling (obviously not right now) look how they age within a few years

Kamala Harris may run for the next election but she will have to align herself more into the centre. Trump received more votes than in 2016

It shouldn't have to be that way, I agree but it's better than not doing anything.

I’m not sure why so many people think sneaking a presidential candidate into office is a good thing or even a possible thing, bar the first few months/year. America is a democracy. If they don’t like Harris for President, they will vote her out and elect someone they do like. Her job is to persuade them.

I’m pretty thick skinned but even I think this is blatantly ageist

@pinkearedcow I see daily fail also carrying the ‘story’ that he hates Britain. @ivfbeenbusy it’s total nonsense.

Being proud of your Irish heritage and not wanting a civil war in Ireland is not anti British.

Candidates don’t drag the electorate, they have a more symbiotic relationship with it. Harris wouldn’t have won, but as the US is a democracy that’s their collective right.

Who suggested otherwise?

But I disagree that candidates don’t drag an electorate. We’ve seen plenty of evidence of trump’s effect on the tenor of the electorate in the last 4 years.

I wish he'd stop doing that wee run in when he comes onstage, I feel he has to show how fit he is and it's unfair on him. Just walk on and hold your head up man, be proud of yourself.

Speccy

I just made a point that follows on from the idea (which I felt was implied) that Harris somehow deserves to be elected, or somehow scaffolded into the presidency, or worse, snuck in under cover of Biden.

She just needs to convince more people.

Is it grueling though? Think about it - he has a team around him for literally everything - he won't even have to get up and go to a filing cabinet. It will all be handed to him. Long haul flights will be nothing like our long haul flights, the best drs, staff for absolutely everything - the list goes on - I guess it's about the president as a decent human being and not so much about physical strength but mental strength and attitude. I like Biden and especially Kamala Harris and I'm so glad it's over and finally trump will be gone!

Good ‘ol Sniffy Biden who thought his opponent was George Bush!
Scary! Possibly even scarier than Trump.
Lucky America!

Trump is hardly young - and unlike Biden he appears to live on a diet of junk food and is (very definitely IS, not appears to be) batshit crazy.
The experience he has will be very much needed after four years of Trump chaos - and time to pass that experience on and hone Harris into a potential candidate for the future.
And in the current situation, the demands of international travel will be a lot less.

Everyone is different. Some people seem old at 60, others are still full of energy and dynamism well into their eighties or beyond.

It's stupid (and ageist) to judge people by their age alone. People should be judged as individuals. I have seen no evidence yet that Biden has struggled to keep up with the pace of a grueling presidential campaign, nor have I seen any real indicators of him having lost his cognitive sharpness - despite Trump's campaign to characterise him as "Sleepy Joe". And tbh, even if his mind is slightly less sharp than it used to be, I have no doubt that his cognitive abilities still far outstrip those of President Trump, but I presume that is a matter of innate intelligence and mental stability rather than age.

I actually think it's rather sad that youth would be valued over age and experience. It says a lot about our society.

I’m guessing your grandparents didn’t travel in their own plane with bed/shower for their US/SA trip I’m also guessing there will be a lot less travel due to COVID.

I think many people worrying about Biden's age are really concerned about a black female taking over if something happens to him.

WaterOffADucksCrack

Why?