Surely Joe Biden just wants to sit at home?

[ssd]

I mean at his age. Wouldn't he rather sit in the house, comfy slippers, newspaper etc and just relax? I just watched him meeting the Israeli leaders, he is so stiff and slow. Taking aside the politics, which is everything here but its not what im discussing, surely Biden is just too old for that job? Is that ageist or just common sense,? America must have many brilliant politicians who could do a more robust job.
(And im not even mentioning trump)

Is it a power thing maybe?

He's way too old. It's incredible.

Such a huge country full of talented people, and Biden is who they have as president.

Plus, I think hugging Netanyahu before we know exactly who blew up the hospital is wrong.

It's obviously 100% a power thing.

I'm no fan of Biden (or Trump!) and think that both of them are way too old to be the American president. But, he does seem to be doing a whole lot more to try and resolve the situation than our much younger politicians.

When he hugged Netanyahu he didn't bend. I thought maybe he was holding back a little but i think he just can't bend over comfortably.
I dont know whether to feel sorry for him or think ridiculous old bugger

Mind you Nancy Pelosi is 83. Bloody hell. They must put something in the water in America. Im in my 50s and like nothing more than a nice walk and a cuppa. Guess im not cut out for higher office.

The latter

If he wanted to sit at home inn his slippers, presumably he wouldn't have gone for the top job.

Robert F Kennedy Jr has announced he’s running against Biden but having read this I don’t want him to be President either

https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2023/06/robert-f-kennedy-jr-presidential-campaign-misinformation-maga-support/674490/

300 million Americans and Biden and Trump are they best they can do?
Having said that...we got Johnson and Truss so we can't feel smug.

It'll be a combination of (1) he genuinely enjoys the "lifestyle" and all that goes with it (2) he's used to it - and perhaps missed it during the four years after he ceased to be VP and also was no longer a senator and (3) being convinced, both in his own head and by various factions and individuals with their own agenda, that he was the Democrats' best hope in 2020 and is their best hope in 2024. He likely won't feel that he can step down and risk being "responsible" for Dems losing the Presidency at the next election, especially when Kamala Harris is looking less and less likely as an "acceptable" successor. (Look at how rude people were about Ruth Bader Ginsberg retiring from the US Supreme Court, just for example.)

As for WHY he's (perceived as) the only viable candidate - who the fuck knows? Trump's still far and way the favorite to be the Republican Presidential candidate so yeah, people are bonkers.

(That said, he's usually pretty spry physically, all things considered - maybe feeling the effects of a long flight?)

So your question is about ageism….

Upon observation he prefers to be the President of the United States. to be the President.

As for competence hugging without bending would make him incompetent if he was the President of the United States of hugging lithely.

The world is ruled by old (majority white) men: Biden, Putin, Netanyahu, Jinping and - unofficially - Murdoch 🤷‍♂️

Here…

Ageism involves stereotyping or discriminating against people based on their age and can occur both in the workplace and in your personal life.

Ageism can be directed at older adults and young people alike. However, some cultures tend to glorify youth, so older adults are more often the victims of age-based discrimination and negativity.

I might be wrong but I get the impression he feels a sense of responsibility. Like he feels he’s the only one who can stop Trump and the whole crazy crowd of them on the right.

It would be such a terrible, existential disaster if Trump or his like got in again, that I don’t blame him. If he abandoned Ukraine to Russian invasion as he (Trump) has basically promised to do, or rowed back even further on the environmental commitments, that’s basically it for humanity and certainly democracy.

If Trump etc went further with removing women’s rights were again in dystopia land, and it would spread across the world/ stop developing countries from, well, developing.

No he’s an absolute shit show. Nothing like his father at all (I know his father had faults but they weren’t these ones)

Does Biden not have credible advisors or a PR team?
Did he seriously just address the horrific attack as it seems it was done by the other "team"
This is not a game
What is wrong with these people

I know i thought that comment about the other team was woefully dismissive. Elise doucet described his speech as folksy. She was being kind.

Lyse Doucet

I had this exact same thought yesterday op when I saw the plane setting off for the trip. Wouldn’t you think “really do I have to?’ Mind you I wonder that about the Rolling Stones too and they are significantly fitter than Biden.

But there are some 80 and 90+ people who seem to just have the drive to keep at it, look at Attenborough, the queen, murdoch etc. I suppose they are unusual and are in the public eye, so when compared with the older people we know, our 80+ parents or neighbours or whatever, it seems amazing. I don’t think it’s ageist to think that a lot of people Biden’s age wouldn’t be up for being US president though.

Re Biden himself, it does appear he’s being managed and supported very closely, it does appear he has some health concerns and he does say some bizarre things. I don’t know what’s going on or if there are age-related issues or other issues.

It's the realisation of a lifetime's ambition. Why would he not want to do it when he's been working towards it for more than 50 years.

Their political system is ridiculous. Reminds me of the way the Vatican selects Popes. It’s an absolute embarrassment that the choice of such a powerful nation is a choice between Trump and Biden. My god.

@ssd
You could edit your posts so they are not ageist.

Others too.

Reading this thread and the criticisms of him, the age of Biden is irrelevant.

So yes according to this definition below, there are some posts on this thread that are ageist.

Anyone happy to edit on that basis?

Just check it out…

Are you being ageist?
Making ageist comments?

Ageism is similar to racism or sexism. It involves stereotyping or discriminating against people based on their age and can occur both in the workplace and in your personal life.

Well heaven help the whole planet if either Biden or Trump are elected next year. It's a truly shocking state of affairs that this is the best the US can do when the world is facing all that we are facing. Frankly the best we can hope for is that both of them drop dead before the election. The resultant chaos will not be pretty but at least they'll make some changes through being forced to.
Please don't mention De Santis though...

I just said to DH, it really is like sending your Grandad out to sort the problem. But the US political system is so weird, and I do think that he feels a responsibility of sorts, so we are where we are.