Joe Biden ist just like many octogenariens.....

[KekseKekse]

.....who doesn't realise that he is past his prime and needs to leave it to someone else in the Democratic Party to run for the US presidency. Just like an octogenarian car driver, who insists that they are fit to drive, when everyone around them can see otherwise and it's up to their nearest and dearest to take away their car keys or report them to the DVLA.

Unfortunately, in the case of Joe Biden, he is wilfully refusing to listen to everyone telling him that if he tries for another term against Trump he will lose and give that awful man more power.

Today Biden said in an interview that only if a doctor told him he wasn't capable of standing would he listen. So, just like a lot of elderly drivers whose reflexes and reaction times are seriously on the decline , but won't listen until they have an accident, or worse, kill someone. I just despair!

There's three questions

Can an eighty-one year old be competent to be president? Yes, I'm sure there are people that age out there who'd still be up to the job.

Is this particular eighty-one year competent to be president? Judging from his debate performance, no, probably not any more.

Is it acceptable to risk putting even a completely competent eighty-one year old in the job for four years given the risk of age-related mental deterioration during that period? Opinions vary.

I think lower age for US Pres is 35.

I guess it wouldn't be as bad if they had systems in place where he could be removed
I'm not saying the UK political system is perfect in anyway but prime ministers can be removed from power by their own party and have beenbin recent years
I know it was for very different reasons but I'm sure if any PM stated showing signs of cognitive decline and there were great concerns about their ability there would be a leadership battle.

I help an older family member. There are doctors notes, potential competence tests and massively increased insurance as you get past about 75 for older drivers

OH the irony, you can't drive a care. Run a country? Crack on friend.

I saw a really shocking video on Twitter today of Biden sniffing / touching extremely uncomfortable children (girls) at public events. It gave off definite Jimmy Saville vibes.

I’m surprised this extremely creepy behaviour by Biden hasn’t received more coverage. Is it just because the major papers and news organisations in America are all heavily Democrat leaning?

Ah, actually it turns out Biden is a creepy predator with women of all ages, eg:

www.thecut.com/2019/03/an-awkward-kiss-changed-how-i-saw-joe-biden.html

I guess it wouldn't be as bad if they had systems in place where he could be removed

They do; it's called the 25th Amendment, Section 4: https://constitutioncenter.org/the-constitution/amendments/amendment-xxv

More background here: https://constitutioncenter.org/blog/how-the-constitutions-25th-amendment-works

I’m surprised this extremely creepy behaviour by Biden hasn’t received more coverage. Is it just because the major papers and news organisations in America are all heavily Democrat leaning?

More likely, perhaps, that many are so terrified of Trump becoming President that they'd rather not mention it?

There was a time when anyone who did drew the ire of his supporters, who'd instantly insist "Ah, so you want the orange megalomaniac", except his supporters seem to have gone a lot quieter - probably because there's now so little to say

To be fair these rumours have been doing the rounds for years. I don't particularly follow US politics and even I'm aware of them. Hence Fox News 'sleepy, creepy Joe Biden' moniker heard my me on a trip to the US in 2019.

And before anyone criticises me for watching Fox News on holiday...I'd heard how bad it was and wanted to see for myself. Tucker Carlson didn't disappoint 😂

Ah yes I do see it’s been covered a lot in the US and internationally. Here’s a Sky News Australia video about it for example:

Leader of the free world no less

I think that one may have been where the clip was edited and "sniffing noises" inserted, @Manhere2024, but there are far too many others where the actions are clear and not susceptible to manipulation

Not sure I'd call Biden a deliberate creep though; I don't do armchair diagnosis, but if it's true he suffers dementia isn't a lessening/misunderstanding of boundaries said to be one of the symptoms?

https://www.reuters.com/article/fact-check/video-of-biden-loudly-sniffing-a-baby-is-digitally-edited-idUSL1N38W1WG/

They should both resign. Trump is 78 too.

Associate Editor of The Hill is being interviewed now on Sky News. He says Biden’s situation is absolutely dire and he will surely stand down as nominee within the coming week.

This wouldn't surprise me and as others have said I wonder if covid is being used as a gentle way out.

Either that or some democrat purposely tried to infect him in the hope he'd have to stand down. Not a conspiracy, I just don't have a very high opinion of politicians !!

Have you told that to the airline industry? 😁 Some jobs do have an upper age limit, and for good reason. I think POTUS should be one of them.

OP here!

I've been at work today so just catching up with the discussion.

I'm coming up to mid 60s. So I'm no spring chicken dissing her elders as I'll soon be one myself.

I said "many" octogenarians. I didn't say all of them are unfit to drive a car. But it is true, as I am finding out that, I am getting that little bit slower and it's now downhill from now on. 😉

Seriously though, as you have said everyone ages differently, but they do age. For some, their mental and physical abilities may be fairly good compared to others in their 80s or 90s, if lucky, but they are never the same as when they are were in their 30s or 40s.

All signs of Biden's (and Trump's, when/if elected) cognitive abilities are being closely scrutinised and both are found wanting for different reasons.

It's just that right now, in the case of Joe Biden, it was suspected before, but the evidence is now clear to see, and does represent what happens to "many" octogenariens. As other posters have said once it shows it can be a very past process for some, but not all.

Who knows what the timescale of progress is with Joe Biden?

Therefore, again demonstrating the madness of the Democratic Partner for not anticipating this and not choosing another nominee.

The Democrats cannot pretend this was not an issue. In March 2023 before he announced members of the public were saying that they would be disappointed if he was the candidate and angry if he was due to age. It might not be fair but it’s still true. (Washington post article). Arguably part of what made them pick Biden last time was that only a white man could beat Trump, so that time unfairness went in Biden’s favour.

It’s good having a team around you but ultimately the President exercises power unless Article 25 is used so there should be someone who can do the job. As discovered with Trump a lot is about norms not law so if a President is not so incapable for that power then they can do a heck of a lot of stuff.

Dementia is a generic term for a number of different conditions thst cause long term memory loss including Alzheimers
Some of which can cause loss of boundaries and disinhibition, We don't know wether hes be diagnosed with Dementia yet or which one.

Listening to the Today programme this morning it was said there are rumours that Biden is going to stand down this weekend.....

It doesn’t appear to be dementia. But rather some doctors who specialise in neurgocial conditions, who are hesitant to diagnose, all feel he presents like he has Parkinson’s.

Hard to tell. His face looks quite mask like, but that could be the face-lift.

Yes I’ve just seen that Rory Stewart is saying on Twitter that he thinks Biden will go in the next few days.

What are people’s thoughts on Michelle Obama as the Democratic nominee? I know she’s said in the past that she’s not interested in a political career of her own, but I read on the BBC last night that her name keeps coming up in Republican circles as the one person they’d be afraid of running against.

I’m sure it’s very unlikely, but oh wouldn’t it be wonderful to have a grown up like her in charge! Plus I’d love to see her tear Trump into little bitty pieces during a debate!