Joe Biden

ronib

I can’t believe that a country the size of America doesn’t have a larger pool of potential presidential candidates.
Biden doesn’t impress. Trump even less so. Pleased to be here for the time being.

I thought exactly the same, neither of them have the skill to be in charge of any country. There must be a normal decent person somewhere in the USA

Maybe they're taking on at B&Q. Why don't you write to him and suggest it?

nanna8

Trust you to say that. I would have expected no less and could almost feel it coming. He is too old.

Quite I agree plus he does not support the Uk much. He should be at home with his family or if he wants to work he should have a part time job, he is just too old and doddery for such an important position.

foxie48, your probably right. There has been some criticism of KS, but even as they point out his flaws, I think people will vote for him because he’s likely to win just as they could well do for Joe Biden.

"I expect parties choose candidates by how likely they are to win."

Volver I think this is exactly why Biden will be chosen to run again, it's not about competence, age or anything other than, he's the most likely to win for the Democrats!

You are not going to get "perfect" in any leader Amalegra. However, it seems many are prepared to make perfect the enemy of the best.

It seems all anyone can come up with against Biden is his age. Confucius said, “Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without.” We are human beings, not machines.

My own opinion is not important really as I am not an American citizen. However whoever is elected as POTUS will of course have a huge impact on the world we are all part of and which I still like to call relatively ‘free’. Despite President Biden’s good qualities, I do wonder if if he is quite up to this HUGE job going forward. The optics, which unfortunately DO matter these media impacted days, are not always the best. However the possible alternative (Trump) seems far worse to me and he’s no spring chicken either! And there is a certain dictator in Russia who hopefully is fast approaching his sell by date….

So, the heart of the matter...

The problem with Biden isn't his age, it's that many people think he doesn't have the mental capacity.

So you can't dismiss people's capabilities just because they are old. And this thread is full of people saying "he's too old".

I can't think if a clearer way to write that...

If I’m old and still perfectly able to do things…

But that is the difference. If you’re still perfectly capable, there isn’t a problem, it’s when you’re not…

Oh, sorry, didn't realise I was responsible for addressing every point in your post.

I also told my father he mustn't drive and hid his keys.

If I'm old and still perfectly able to do things, I hope some self righteous "middleagester" won't take it on themselves to decide on my behalf that I'm not.

‘Oldsters’ to me seemed the opposite of ‘youngsters’, which is why I chose to write it like that.

You haven’t addressed the issue of being ‘past it’ regarding driving Volver.

I think what I wrote is perfectly reasonable.

I suspect no one would mention to Volver that she might be too old for anything.

I hope if I get too old to do certain things and didn’t realise it, it would be pointed out to me, and I would be sensible enough to take the well meaning advice.

Or climbing a ladder to do a job that they are too shaky to do safely?

I once told my 86 year old father that he wasn't to climb a ladder to fix the roof of his shed, so he got his friend to do it. His friend was much more capable, having been a joiner in his youth.

His friend was 93.

Tell people that things are too complicated for them because they are too old?

Call people oldsters?

Do you think that is a reasonable way to behave? I suspect Betty Boothroyd would have had your guts for garters.

volver3

I expect parties choose candidates by how likely they are to win.

The oldest MP ever was 96 years old. Died in office. Bill Cash is 82. Edward Heath was 84. Dennis Skinner 87.

Do you think anybody tried to tell them it was all too complicated for them?

What an insult.

Well, to be honest, some of it probably was/is (too complicated).

And if nobody ever tells anyone they are too old to do something, how do they know? We are all guilty of thinking we can manage things when we can’t.

So we never point out to an elderly parent that they shouldn’t still be driving their car say? Or climbing a ladder to do a job that they are too shaky to do safely?

Youngsters need guidance, but as we age, so do some oldsters also.

I don’t think that is insulting, just common sense actually.

Foxygloves

Be afraid, be very afraid, not least of the fact that things could change in a heartbeat leaving President Kamala Harris in charge who up till now has signally failed to shine, showing herself as verbally inept as her boss.
Visiting the Demilitarised Zone in 2022, she managed to confuse North and South Korea, praising the “important relationship” and “alliance” between Washington and Pyongyang. She was widely mocked after appearing in a saccharine promo video for space exploration alongside a group of winsome youngsters, who, it emerged, were professional child actors who’d auditioned for the roles.
She “don’t impressa me much”

But just as we have in this country, the alternative party is far, far worse. Sad, but that has probably always been the case. Some are simply not natural entertainers but that never came high on my list.

Just to avoid #everydaysexism as well as #everydayageism

Betty Boothroyd was still debating fiercely in her 90s; Nancy Pelosi is 83 and still an active politician; I doubt anyone would say Ruth Bader Ginsburg was not fully on top of her role at 87.

I expect parties choose candidates by how likely they are to win.

The oldest MP ever was 96 years old. Died in office. Bill Cash is 82. Edward Heath was 84. Dennis Skinner 87.

Do you think anybody tried to tell them it was all too complicated for them?

What an insult.

Taken to it’s logical conclusion, if no one is ever to be deterred by age, then anyone however old, could run for premiership, or in this country, to be an MP. The old people in my mother’s care home, some of whom were up and about every day, going on outings and enjoying the provided activities, any of them them could stand as an MP. So of course no party would entertain the idea of having them represent their party, is that ageism? Or discrimination by age? And if they stood independently, I don’t think many, if any, would vote for them. The truth is that they are too old for the job, because it would be too much and too complicated for them. So what of ageism? Or discrimination by age? It follows then that some people are unable to do a particular job, because they are unable to by age and capacity. The question is, is Biden too old? Is he capable? If not, is discrimination by age appropriate?

I can’t believe that a country the size of America doesn’t have a larger pool of potential presidential candidates.
Biden doesn’t impress. Trump even less so. Pleased to be here for the time being.

I'm with you on Kamala Harris, Foxygloves

NanKate - the truth is, Attenborough comes across as slower than he used to be (to me).
I know he's always seemed quite slow but he seems particularly slow now.
Would be interested to know if he is slower or just that everyone else (younger) has speeded up!

She’s a clever, professional woman. I hope she isn’t massaging her husband’s ego with a view to remaining First Lady. I wouldn’t have attributed such shallow motives to her but surely she must wonder if her husband is up to another term.

If I was an American I would ask Dr Jill Biden why she was not advising her husband to step back now.

Surely the Democratic Party must have good younger candidates?

Loved that Matt joke Foxygloves😲😂

Foxygloves

Be afraid, be very afraid, not least of the fact that things could change in a heartbeat leaving President Kamala Harris in charge who up till now has signally failed to shine, showing herself as verbally inept as her boss.
Visiting the Demilitarised Zone in 2022, she managed to confuse North and South Korea, praising the “important relationship” and “alliance” between Washington and Pyongyang. She was widely mocked after appearing in a saccharine promo video for space exploration alongside a group of winsome youngsters, who, it emerged, were professional child actors who’d auditioned for the roles.
She “don’t impressa me much”

Given the not-so-good choices, I'd select Biden over the person who had a stomp after he legally lost, is a mysoginistic, racist, sexist, rule breaking liar and cheat. Just my opinion.

None of the candidates "impressa me much" (Nor Shania, I bet).