Joe Biden

I had high hopes for Hillary Clinton …

He is certainly better than the alternative, so Biden would get my vote.

Mine too if the alternative is, as predicted, the ghastly Trump.

Apparently 70% of Americans don't want him to run again. And certainly not up plane steps. He keeps stumbling.

From what I see of him on the international stage, I quite like Biden, and he is certainly very experienced in government, but I do wonder if he has the stamina for another term in what is a physically and exhausting role. I am mystified why a country the size of USA just cannot come up with the candidates, it looks as though in 2 years time there will be the choice of an experienced but tired candidate or a republican maniac (either Trump or De Santis from what I have read). Is the role so awful that nobody wants it, or is the process of selection off putting? Didn't put Trump off though.....

I am not ageist, and think it is a shame he had to wait so long to get into office, but Biden is looking tired.

As someone who retired at 73, I admire anyone still firing on all cylinders at eighty.

Joe Biden has been a good POTUS. But he should, at the end of his term rest on his laurels and let someone younger do the most demanding job in the world.

A commentator for the Democrats stated that we will have to make sure we don’t tire him out on the campaign trail because when he gets tired he stumbles
I could say more about his mental capacities but I think I’ll refrain 😉

I groaned out loud when I heard on the news that he’s going to run for office again😩 that means he’ll be up against the Donald yet again and who knows next time the orange one will win.
He isn’t firing on all cylinders varian that’s the trouble!

As one of the younger gransnet members I'm kinda shocked by the comments

I am glad he is running again, he looks fitter than I am lol

VioletSky

As one of the younger gransnet members I'm kinda shocked by the comments

I am glad he is running again, he looks fitter than I am lol

VioletSky
With respect that’s not something to laugh about as a young woman.

Middle aged

But fair, my dad is fitter than I am too

Siope

Of course there is ageism inherent in some posts.

He runs; he cycles; he does weights, Films of him on, for example, plane steps show him practically running up and down them. His schedule for recent visits to Ukraine and Poland, and to Northern Ireland and Ireland don’t suggest that he tires easily. He appears to have no balance issues.

So where does doddery come from?

If people are referring to his gaffes, they don’t seem to have worsened with age; he has been renowned for them pretty much his entire political career. The same is true for the pauses in his speech, which are the result of controlling a stammer.

He’s a skilled consensus builder, which, it feels to me, is no bad thing in the present day USA. I do have issues with some of his domestic and foreign policy positions, which I’m happy to debate.

My only real gripe is that he hasn’t sent me anywhere near enough stimulus checks [sic], bother him, although that suggests the American economy is in better shape than it was under his predecessor.

I wonder how many of his critics were affective in there youth as he has been in he older years.

I thought this was interesting: Yes, most Americans do not want Mr Biden to run again. But reluctant Democrats will line up behind their nominee. And, more importantly, an even higher number do not want another four years of Mr Trump. Among voters in general, Mr Biden’s numbers (minus ten points if you subtract those who feel negatively about him from those who feel positive) beat Mr Trump’s (minus 19). (The Economist, Apr 25th 2023)

MerylStreep

A commentator for the Democrats stated that we will have to make sure we don’t tire him out on the campaign trail because when he gets tired he stumbles
I could say more about his mental capacities but I think I’ll refrain 😉

I think the speeches he’s been making have been pretty amazing and inspiring.

Don’t assume Harris will end up as running mate she is far from popular, if Biden does not complete the term as president is Harris really the right person?.

It certainly would be good to see a woman in the White House, and not as the First Lady!

Anyway I heard today that should Biden win the next time around, by the time his second term ended, he would be 86 years old. Now whilst we cannot judge everyone in that age group to be ‘past it’ it certainly is rather old to be in charge of the free world. Whilst Attenborough, the late Queen, or Clint Eastwood are/were to all appearances, exceedingly clear minded and physically competent at a great age, we have no knowledge whether Biden will fit that description in a further four to five years. In fact, the majority of people do not fit that description at the age of 86. Bearing this in mind I would think Biden would probably be doing the wise thing to step down at the end of this term.
However, I might add, he hasn’t asked my opinion and will doubtless make up his own mind. And since I’m not American and have no vote in America, it could be argued it’s nothing to do with me.

The same is true for the pauses in his speech, which are the result of controlling a stammer.

Yes, people seem to forget that.

Well - he does look a bit shaky to be honest. Being POTUS is a demanding job with a punishing schedule. It is good that he feels he is able to carry on and his wealth of experience is a plus; but sadly his age might be a deterrent to people who might otherwise have voted for him, and that is very concerning if it lets in the Trump camp.

He has a powerful running mate, it seems. Well done him.

Luckygirl3

Well - he does look a bit shaky to be honest. Being POTUS is a demanding job with a punishing schedule. It is good that he feels he is able to carry on and his wealth of experience is a plus; but sadly his age might be a deterrent to people who might otherwise have voted for him, and that is very concerning if it lets in the Trump camp.

Fortunately Luckygirl3 if age is a criteria the Donald is out too, as he’s 77 this year.

I hope Biden succeeds. Harris is the fall-back in case he dies. The Republican alternative is too awful to contemplate in an increasingly fractured world.

It doesn't make sense not to take age into account for a lot of things. Having your hand on a nuclear button being one of them. We are all aware of the effects of ageing and denying it will not make it go away.

Daisymae

It doesn't make sense not to take age into account for a lot of things. Having your hand on a nuclear button being one of them. We are all aware of the effects of ageing and denying it will not make it go away.

There's opinions, there's facts and there's prejudice.

This is the third category.

I know I appear obsessed with him, but anyway...

Attenborough, 97
Farage, a sprightly 59

Whose hand would you prefer on the nuclear button?

volver3 But youare being ageist yourself. Each person has to be looked at as an individual and not judged by their birth date.

Joe Biden has made a lot of gaffes, nothing to do with his style of speech to control his stammer. And it was embarrassing to see him unable to find his way off a stage recently, and wandering around looking vague, and eventually having to be guided off.

Sparklefizz

I have no idea how you came to that conclusion. I am saying nobody can write off Biden just because he is old, that his capabilities have to be looked at as an individual. It's not me who is consigning all old people to the pile of "not fit for purpose".

Joe Biden has made a lot of gaffes, nothing to do with his style of speech to control his stammer

To be clear, I did not say his gaffes were because of controlling his stammer. I said the pauses in his speech are a result of that, and his gaffes - which are a separate issue - are very far from new, and thus cannot be blamed on his age.

Happy to discuss any clear evidence to the contrary, bearing in mind he has a much higher public profile now, so more people within and without the USA seeing this doesn’t mean he’s doing it more.