Nicholas Grossman: The Real Reason for All the Biden Age Talk

[Nevilledog]

https://plus.thebulwark.com/p/real-reason-for-biden-age-talk

JOE BIDEN IS OLD. THIS MAY COME as a surprise to you, but it’s true. He started his presidency at the age of 78, older than Ronald Reagan was when he left the White House. Now Biden is 81, and if re-elected would start his second term at 82. His age was the subject of heated discussion all weekend thanks to the publication last Thursday of Special Counsel Robert Hur’s report on Biden’s inappropriate storage of classified documents after his vice presidency. Hur’s announcement clearing Biden of criminal charges included a description of the president—“a sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory” who didn’t remember what year he left the vice presidency or what year his son Beau died—that sparked days of news and opinion articles, cable news panels, and Sunday-show chatter.

The New York Times, for example, put multiple articles about Biden’s age at the top of their homepage the day after Hur’s report came out, including news and analysis pieces. They added three more the next day, also at the top of the homepage, along with an editorial—not their first on the subject of Biden’s age—plus multiple columns and newsletters.

For what it’s worth, I’m half Biden’s age and I can’t remember off the top of my head the year of the most important deaths in my life. I can sometimes reason my way toward an answer—for example, I remember my oldest kid doing a very toddler thing at a funeral—but I don’t just know the year. I also don’t know how much Biden telling prosecutors that he doesn’t remember was actual forgetfulness or standard evasions, like when Donald Trump as president said he “can’t recall” repeatedly in his written responses to Special Counsel Robert Mueller.

Still, yes: Biden is old. He’s always had gaffes, he’s always worked to hide his stutter, and now he’s having overt senior moments. He looks and sounds like an old man, and polls show that his age is voters’ biggest concern about him.

*snip*

[flor-de-jasmim]

1. One doesn't have to be old to have a "senior moment", and

even as a senior, I can say that not all "senior moments" involve dementia.

[Ocelot II]

2. There's a nice chart in this article - pass it around!

[redqueen]

6. Thank you!

Based on the excerpts in the OP I was going to skip it. Really appreciate you sharing that.

[TexasBushwhacker]

13. Yup. Biden's age matters because THEY'VE GOT NOTHING ELSE!!!

[Probatim]

20. Biden's age matters because of Kamala Harris' gender and race.

[et tu]

31. ah! there's the racial rub

[redqueen]

3. Does the author ever mention any "real" reason?

So much of the stuff that is posted here just does not seem to be worth reading.

[Ocelot II]

9. Yes. It's quite a good article.

The basic point is that Biden's age is used against him because there's nothing else wrong with him. "For Republicans, Biden’s age is just about the only true thing they can attack him on."

For Democrats, it's because they think his age is something other people will have a problem with. "Democrats’ Biden age discourse is often second- or third-order. There’s concern about his age among voters, yes, but more expressions of concern about that concern. There isn’t enough, there’s too much, you’re not allowed to say it, you won’t shut up about it, etc."

And for the media, it's "good for horserace coverage and “both sides” credibility. To make the levels of negative coverage remotely similar, Biden’s age and mental acuity have to, on their own, balance out many things (including Trump’s age and mental acuity). [see chart in the above post] So coverage in the press often inflates Biden’s age as an issue and effectively downplays the importance of Trump’s malfeasance, since there’s so much of it."

[JohnSJ]

5. If this is supposed to be a sympathetic article on Biden, it isn't. If it was favorable it would

be talking about his experience and accomplishments.

[Nevilledog]

8. It's a realistic look at how Biden's age is being covered.

[Ocelot II]

10. It's an article about how Republicans, Democrats and the media view Biden's age.

In that context it is quite favorable to Biden because it points out that his age is discussed so often because there's nothing else wrong with him and the GOP needs something; Democrats are worried about what other people think about his age; and the media talk about it because it's all they have to "balance" against the many things that are wrong with Trump.

[Elessar Zappa]

16. It's a good article.

It’s specifically addressing the age issue.

[Blue Idaho]

7. All that experience,

Wisdom, and talent doesn’t happen overnight. We are so lucky to have President Biden in the White House to undo all the evil bullshit TFG inflicted on our nation. Four more years can really make a difference for our democracy.

[LiberalFighter]

12. Imagine what it would be like if term limits were in effect for Congress.

Yes, there are bad people. But that is the fault of the voters.

I rather have some members with experience that can be passed on down to new members. Like Nancy Pelosi has done.

It takes time to know the ins and outs.

[LiberalFighter]

11. The older we get the more memories created.

But most of them are shoved to the back of our heads.

I don't remember what happened each day I went to work.
I do remember the company I worked for.

I don't remember each day I went to school.
But I do remember the schools I attended. But not the dates starting and ending.

I don't remember everything I did in the homes or places I lived in the past.
I do remember where those places were.

I don't remember all of the birthdays I had and any of the celebrations there might have been.
But I do know my birthday.

[republianmushroom]

14. With age comes wisdom, there are exceptions, trump foe instance.

But then trump never was wise.

[usonian]

15. IT'S BECAUSE OF HIS VICE PRESIDENT. END OF SENTENCE.

MISOGYNISTS AND RACISTS LIKE ONE OLD MAN AND NOT THE OTHER.



It's the elephant in the room.

[Lonestarblue]

18. I agree. Republicans went off the rails when a black man became president.

The possibility of a black woman taking over if something happens in Biden’s second term is too horrible for the party of racism and misogyny to contemplate.

[et tu]

32. nice visual!

[Mad_Machine76]

17. It is always hard to see all this talk about Biden's age and him being so enfeebled

and then seem him publicly speak. It's just such a glaring contradiction. I just don't feel particularly bothered about it. I mean, do people think that he's going to wake up one day and start WW3? No. Do I trust the people around Biden to speak up and prevent him from causing WW3 if he really WERE out of it? Yes. Do I feel the same about Trump? No!!!!
I think that for some on the left, the age "issue" is really more about them feeling that he is "out of touch" with their values, concerns, etc. and that they'd prefer to choose somebody else they perceive as more in touch with them and more progressive. I'm already starting though to see some of them abandoning the talk about voting third party or not voting as it grows closer to the election and realizing that Trump is going to be the GOP nominee again and that they're going to have to suck it up and vote Biden again to stop Trump.

[betsuni]

19. Yes, the attack on Democrats as not progressive centrist out of touch elites doesn't work so well on Biden.

[Lulu KC]

21. Yes, and it's the only thing they can find "wrong" with him

Other than the fact that he can't magically snap his fingers and fix the situation with Bibi. They're just desperate.

[Mr. Evil]

22. They attack Biden's age for one reason only.

It's the only (in their minds) derogatory thing they can use against him. That's all they have.

But, here's what I'd do to counteract that. Since TFG wants to get rid of the constitution, I'd remind the gun humping cult followers of his that should that happen they'd no longer have any 2nd amendment rights. As they say, 'be careful what you wish for.' Of course he says (even recently) he'd protect them. Just another lie.

[underpants]

33. They like one word attack campaign themes

With Hillary it was “Trust”.
With Joe it was “Senile” now it’s “Unfit”

[Baltimike]

23. They attack his age because they can't attack his record. nt

[Warpy]

24. The real reason is deflection from TFG's glaring deficits

Telling Russia to attack NATO countries? Telling Europe to just knuckle under to Putin? That man should be nowhere near our government, EVER. The "Biden is old" campaign is to deflect from the shit pouring out of TFG's sewer of a mouth.

Yeah, Biden's calendar age is up there. He is slowing down. However, he's not a fucking traitor, a squalling oversized baby, or a malignant narcissist who wants to destroy the whole country because we voted him out of office.

And that's what this campaign comes down to. You want to vote for the Democrat or the Russians?

[3Hotdogs]

25. Like all of us, I have been pondering on this since Summer. When Joe won the nomination in 2020, the thought was,

he will be a caretaker president. He will be there for only one term and then choose not to run for a second term. We were all ok with that. It was the safest way to beat Trump. And it worked.

That was then. The question now being raised, if he should even complete his first term. I think he should. He has done a great job, running the office of the president. But a second term? I can't imagine what his mental health will be in 2026.

There are two presumptive candidates. Both are having "senior moments." (For the record, I am 81.) Biden's are noticeable. Trump's are batshit crazy. Yet the media's focus is on Biden's mis-steps. That will not help keep Trump out of office.

Two presumptive candidates. One is a decent honorable man. The other is evil, dishonorable and dangerous to the country and even to the world. Yet the media's focus is on Biden's mis-steps.

The problem is, polls suggest that a Biden candidacy will toss the office to Trump.

I believe he owes it to the nation to withdraw his candidacy.

[JohnSJ]

28. Bullshit. Biden is an experienced incumbent, and if something happens to him, Kamala Harris

is more than able to jump in the job on day one if necessary

[3Hotdogs]

30. Thank you for your reasoned response.

[Silent Type]

29. Not sure about "owes it to nation," but reluctantly agree with post. I'm not worried about us boomers supporting Biden,

but I'm afraid much younger voters see Biden as ancient. Hopefully, they also see trump as unhinged, stinky, an adjudicated rapist, also ancient, a threat to democracy, etc., but voters often choose their candidates based upon perception/looks.

trump and Biden probably have equal likelihood of a Mitch McConnell moment in a debate, but I expect my anxiety level to be quite high for next 10 months.

[betsuni]

26. It's so stupid. It's not the Olympics.

[MMBeilis]

27. The Republicans and their campaign consultants always come up with some such issue and, like a "dog on a......

.......bone", they stay on that message and little else through the campaign. Everything from Willie Horton to "her emails" and they do it because it often works.

[et tu]

34. their base needs

the repetition so they can remember who to vote for~

[MMBeilis]

36. Yes indeed. This is where the whole "cult" thing comes into play. Not just remember, but get brainwashed.

[IbogaProject]

35. Nonsense, Biden isn't "Old", Biden is "Mature"

His Maturity enables him to do the job better then any of the potential GOP cannidates, especially vs the Current Speaker of the House or the Former Guy #45.