The thing about older people

[edhopper]

Last edited Sat Feb 24, 2024, 11:13 AM - Edit history (1)

As someone who is nearing 70, I find there are differences from my younger self. Yes, there are times I have to search for words, or forget where my keys are but I don't think I have lost any mental acuity. And I have a lot more knowledge than when I was younger. I have also slowed down, not because I am physically impaired, but because I have become more patient and less edgy. I take a little more time to think things through. I don't fret when things are delayed.
All this is to say that in Biden. I don't see a man who has lost a step, I see a man acting his age. It is not the same way as a youthful, dynamic President like Obama, but it is no less effective in governing.
When I see Biden answering a question by pausing and speaking softly, I see a man being thoughtful and wanting to say exactly what he means.

As opposed to some demented buffoon who shouts bullshit.

This is not a man who has lost his sharpness. But the media only shows the rare times he stumbles. Go through this video and watch some of his answers.

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[Diamond_Dog]

1. Agree with you 100%

Unfortunately the shallow minds in this country think loud, brash, and hateful is what they want in a President.

[snowybirdie]

2. You are on target

And I'm sure Biden was a calming influence on the younger, less experienced Obama. They made a great team. Joe is fine and will carry on as a great President!

[patricia92243]

3. I am 80 and could be President because I would surround myself with smart, efficient

people that could do the things I did when I was 20. Then I would do the things that an 80 year old is good at.

[Harker]

6. That's the key to responding to anyone making the argument that President Biden is too old.

When one votes for a Democratic candidate they get the whole party.

[Cha]

67. Well done.. I'll be in that decade

This year. It’s what happens when we’re still here.

🕯️🕊️💙🌊🇺🇸

[Harker]

4. I think you put that very nicely.

Wisdom comes with age only when it's cultivated.

Those who think it's an automatic process are often old fools.

[DownriverDem]

5. Biden pauses

because he doesn't want to stutter. It's a coping method. I'm for the Biden/Harris team all the way.

[edhopper]

7. This is also true

When he pauses mid sentence. But i also see him pause before answering, because he wants to say the right thing, not juwst bloviate like some other politicians.

[Rebl2]

55. I also

noticed when Obama, when answering questions from press, would often pause before he answered their questions. I think he did this to organize his thoughts and was being careful in how he answered their question. I appreciated that, and that he was thoughtful in how he answered their questions.

[Demobrat]

66. Yes. I worked closely for years with a colleague

who stuttered. I know what it looks like when a person is controlling a stutter. That is exactly what Biden is doing.

The media knows this. They just prefer to present it as something else, for their own reasons.

[Bev54]

8. And when Biden does stumble over words, it is often because of his stutter.

[Hope22]

9. All of this...

And as Laurence O’Donnell says. A successful president can be in a wheelchair, can take naps in the day and still be successful. My comment…Our press has certainly turned into a hateful manipulative lot.

[Stuart G]

48. Was Franklin Deleno Roosevelt Successful?

[Hope22]

56. Your comment is very rude to people who navigate on wheels. Nt

[LisaM]

70. I think that was a rhetorical question.

Few here would argue that FDR was successful.

[twodogsbarking]

10. His age makes many things more difficult but he overcomes it. That is what counts.

[mountain grammy]

11. As someone who just made it to 76

I’m closer to Biden’s age and he inspires me every day.

[yellowdogintexas]

76. I want to be Joe Biden when I grow up. Well he is only 6 years older,.

so I really want to be Opal Lee when I grow up.

[Seinan Sensei]

12. Good comments, all

I agree ... uhm ... TOTALLY

(And yes, I, too am old)

[TheKentuckian]

13. Speaking only for myself and being a somewhat younger

I'd say if I am being honest that I have definitely lost acuity and am relying on experience, knowledge, and hopefully at least on occasion wisdom to make up the difference.

I worry that the day will come when I cannot fully make up the difference.

I'm definitely less what I'd call sharp. Processing is longer and more prone to distraction.
Assimilating new information more difficult.
The mind not quite as voracious. Comprehension takes effort and concentration sometimes when it was like magic since I was very little.

I have said recently that if I was as sharp as I was when I was twenty and knew what I knew now then I'd be on to some things.

I've got a lot of data in the drive and a ton of RAM but it runs slower than the new stuff and the processor is no longer bleeding edge with the latest instruction sets.

I am not a jealous natured person but I truthfully am envious of no slippage, being conscious of my own is unsettling to a little scary.

[FailureToCommunicate]

14. Compare Pres Biden's occasional slip, or verbal hesitation to TFG's. Here is some of TFG's "poetry"

from another post on DU:
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100218716456

Talk about being unfit for leading our Democracy. Yikes.

I am about ten years younger than the President. I could not possibly keep up the kind of daily schedule he has to. And certainly not with the weight of the fate of the World on my nearly every policy decision.

Plus he has the advantage that he is surrounded by competent staff and support that I can only DREAM of having.

I think we'll be fine.

I ridin' with Biden/Harris

[Farmer-Rick]

30. Some of the comments made by the stinking Nazi

To a group of conservative Black folks:

"I got indicted a second time and a third time and a fourth time, and a lot of people said that that’s why the Black people like me."

"I’m being indicted for you, the Black population."

“The lights are so bright in my eyes that I can’t see too many people out there. But I can only see the Black ones. I can’t see any White ones, you see? That’s how far I’ve come,” he added as the crowd cheered. That’s how far I’ve come. That’s a long — that’s a long way, isn’t it?”

“Would you rather have the Black president or the White president who got $1.7 billion off the price? (Of a new Air Force One)"

He complained about some weird names for his social media platform he was given. His comments come off as rude insults to names of people.

"I'm being discriminated against."

"The Black people are so much on my side because they see what happens to me, happens to them."

"The Black people embraced my mugshot more than anyone else."

"Think of this, ahhhh ah, (implying this is President Biden) Jim..from..N..B..C yes, yes. Mr President ah, what's your...favorite...color of the ice cream and flavor of the ice cream? Ah, OK, then he picks up a card and he reads the answer. My favorite color is black. But my favorite ice cream is vanilla so..."

Just a few very cringe worthy highlights.

I think the brain of the Trump has got the senility.

[FailureToCommunicate]

49. Yikes yikes yikes. How can ANY thinking person -of ANY color- this is blob is fine?

Or, fit to be freaking President?

[3Hotdogs]

15. The problem is, it doesn't seem to matter with voters.

He is not our strongest candidate.

[llmart]

24. He's our only candidate.

And this Democratic will back him all the way back to the White House!

[walkingman]

44. Did I miss something or someone?

[edhopper]

45. Just the musings of an old man

when I woke up this morning.

[shrike3]

62. Who is?

Thus far I have not seen any Democrats poll stronger than he has.

[c-rational]

16. You are so right edhopper. I also see a thoughtful man with wisdom to offer, remembreing

that wisdom is knowledge and experience. That is why we do not often times find windom in young people. There was great op yesterday on framing the arguments, and we Dems should frame the argument that we have the wise one who is best equipped to carry us forward in this present day world.

[twodogsbarking]

17. Not all poems rhyme.

I'm not as bold
And often cold
I am from the fold
They call gold
This I will hold
Until I mold
And my coffin
Is rolled
And my things are sold
This I am told
For I am old.

[dlk]

18. The media can't find any dirt to throw at Presidents Biden

His age is all they can come up with.

[Mr.Bee]

19. As someone who is nearing 70,

I find we are the ones the young people should be listening to, rather than 'Okay Boomer'.
We are the ones who have lived the history not being taught because of cuts to education.
We are the ones who grew up with JFK and the threat of being drafted into the Vietnam war.
We lived through Nixon, the sexual revolution, Earth Days, Reagan, Bush...
We have all the real life experience that we can tell young people when they go off on how things were, we can tell them 'It didn't happen that way at all'.
Next time you talk to a young person, be it a friend, coworker or relative, set them straight, and tell them.
Tell them you remember how the country was when we had a 91% top tax rate, jobs were plentiful, and billionaires didn't own everything.
Including our government.

[edhopper]

35. Well said

[calimary]

65. EXCELLENT post, Mr.Bee.

I remember all those things, too.

When I stop and think of all those events we witnessed, firsthand, it reminds me of the heritage we must make sure our young ones know about. Those were some monumental and pivotal moments in American history. And we saw them happen with our own eyes.

[FakeNoose]

20. Well said, my friend!

I'm a few years ahead of you but we're in the same ballpark. I know a lot of stuff, it just takes me a little longer to remember it all. But I know it's still there, and that's the same with Joe Biden.

By comparison to Chump, whose "knowledge" was never there to begin with, and who has burned way more braincells on his way to age 76. If Joe Biden's doctors are truthful when they say he's in great shape - and I believe they are - we should have no reservations about electing him for a second term.

The differences between Biden and Chump are stark and terrifying, even when you discount their party affiliations. I can't believe anyone would hesitate over voting for Biden.

[paleotn]

21. Mental acuity? He's lost none of what matters. Neither have I. But it's not just that.

In my mind, if I had only known then what I know now. How many of us have told younger folks in our lives this? "It's not that bad. I've been there, done that and have a closet fully of tee shirts. Tell you what, this is what you do...."

That's why nearly all civilized societies venerate their elders as well springs of knowledge that keep us as a people from making the same goddamn mistakes twice.

Funny aside. Long ago, we told our brood in their very early teens there's nothing you can do that will shock us. We've either done it, know someone who did or have heard of it from reputable sources. We're black sheep children of the 60's and 70's, young adults in the 80's, so don't even try. It's useless and quite boring. Dad gave me the same words of wisdom..."I fought and killed Germans in Europe and all that entails. I doubt there's anything you can do that I'll find novel, so it's wasted effort to even try." I still lived my life and he would simply smile and say..."well, that was dumb and here's why."

[Basic LA]

22. When does his age become a liability?

I mean, if he has to use a walker, would that impact his electability? We're talking optics and the general voting public (we've met them, right?).
As a 78-year-old, I'm wondering about the physical ravages of age.
We Dems are accepting of differences of all kind. But let's not kid ourselves as to how others think.
Maybe a wheelchair would be less concerning than the way he moves now. He's our candidate, and we can't fool around and let Trump win again.

[hay rick]

29. His age liability is real but vastly exaggerated by the media.

Trump's manic behavior is tied to his obvious dementia and misrepresented as healthy energy. The "liberal media" is not our friend.

I am also 78 and have adjusted my lifestyle to accommodate reduced energy and less reliable focus. Based on my personal experience, I am in awe of Biden's ability to handle a presidential schedule. I am concerned about his ability to maintain that schedule over an additional 4+ years. Kamala Harris' unpopularity, which has been carefully and relentlessly nurtured by the media, is also a campaign liability.

[edhopper]

46. What the ever loving fuck!!

Biden does not need a wheelchair , a walker or a cane! He is fit as a fiddle.

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[FailureToCommunicate]

52. We HAD a President in a wheelchair. He did pretty well, as I recall.

The infirmity had zip to do with his ability to govern.

[llmart]

33. Electability

I seem to recall a young, black man who ran for President where many people including some Dems thought he'd be great but not electable, yet he won - twice.

I, for one, don't give a rat's ass what the less informed populace think about age or skin color or gender. I still have hope that our better selves will prevail.

[Generic Brad]

36. If wheelchairs were concerning, Greg Abbott would not be governor of TX

There are multiple reasons that guy is a horrible leader, but the wheelchair is not one of them.

FDR was one of our greatest presidents and he was mainly wheelchair bound. It was not a factor in his ability to lead.

Physical limitations do not equate to limited mental acuity.

[Basic LA]

41. Than you agree with a wheelchair?

Would his maybe occasional use of a wheelchair be better than a walker, or the way he moves now?

[Generic Brad]

43. I disagree with your premise

I'm extremely weary of the "what if" Biden bashing.

[edhopper]

47. Again, what the fuck are you talking about

Biden does not need any help walking. It's the same thing, when you are older, you walk more carefully because balance isn't as good with age and a fall can be more dangerous.
He isn't running for linebacker for the Baltimore Ravens, he is running for President.
Where are you getting this wheelchair shit?

[Basic LA]

54. We can't pretend everything's fine.

Our candidate has trouble walking & talking. We're cool with it; he's our guy no matter what, but this election is too important for denial. We can be outraged at anyone who notices his advanced age. We can attack the entire premise of age. Or we can think of ways to minimize the drawbacks. We must win this.

[edhopper]

57. He does not have trouble walking and talking

I think my OP was pretty clear. What you are saying is bullshit, pure and simple.
And I am done replying to these inane posts of yours.

[Basic LA]

61. No need for the 'tude.

This is a place for civil discussions. We're on the same side. We can disagree w/o being disagreeable.

[shrike3]

63. Trouble walking and talking?

[Basic LA]

64. Must be my imagination.

No one else seems to notice.

[GenThePerservering]

71. He has a life-long stutter

of course he takes it a little easier when he speaks. He also THINKS before he speaks.

His walk is fine. He's 80 - he's not going to pogostick around. I see people half his age who are slower.

Yes, I think it's your imagination.

[Basic LA]

73. OK, let's hope so.

I'm 78 btw, I know what age is.

[shrike3]

80. Must be. I don't see it.

[spooky3]

23. I think some people react to his slow walk and squinting

Which are normal at that age and even younger. But these have ZERO to do with his job performance. Some people are not looking at the job performance, and that, to me, is ageism (and a double standard, since they are perfectly fine with TFG’s incompetence and corruption).

Rather than fan the flames of bigotry, as the NYT does, the media should call this out.

[deurbano]

25. I'm 69. I returned to Berkeley in 2022 to finally finish my Sociology BA, and I graduated last year.

I got all A pluses, which was quite an improvement over my previous GPA! Of course, at my age, I actually did (most!) of the reading, which (it turns out) can be quite helpful. I was very worried about how I would do, since admission to Berkeley is a lot more competitive now, and I have taken any slight indication that I’m slowing down as a sign of serious cognitive decline. (I’m extremely anxious by nature, and tend to catastrophize!) I was very relieved to find I could still excel as a student, and in fact, my instructors considered me to be one of the top students in each class… and a few told me they appreciated how much they were learning from me. (It was shocking how much even the graduate student instructors didn’t know about critical events I actually lived through… like the realignment of the parties when Southern Dems switched to the GOP over civil rights.)

On the other hand, my fluid intelligence was not as… fluid. I was still quick at analysis and understanding (etc.), but (compared to my younger self) I felt a bit slower at word retrieval and crafting oral (not written) responses or arguments… although that might also be a reflection of not having been immersed in academic vocabulary for so many decades. At the same time, my crystallized intelligence (based on all that I’ve experienced and learned through those decades) helped make up for that, and so did my cognitive reserve. If I encountered personal limitations, I could find ways around them.

I also wrote a paper (not assigned) on Du Bois that examined the racial wealth gap by comparing two families–my own white family and that of Nikole Hannah-Jones (The 1619 Project). I was born in a MS Delta county adjacent to the county where her Black father was born, and race played a pivotal role in our families’ contrasting trajectories in term of wealth accumulation. My professor, who used to be the head of the American Sociological Association, really loved it and wanted to publish it… but he told me to leave it in his hands (8 months ago), and then I never heard back (except I learned he might have retired). I guess one thing I didn’t outgrow is being timid about advocating for myself, since I haven’t pursued it. (I’m great at advocating for others, though!)

For Joe Biden, who was never the best public speaker, always made gaffes, and has lived with a speech disability his whole life, I don’t think public speaking should be the measure of his ability to govern. Of course, I’ve always thought charisma and eloquence are overrated qualities for elected officials. (They are definitely icing on the cake, but not the most important qualities.) The main requirement (for me) is supporting the right policies, and then being able to get them enacted as effectively as possible, given the existing constraints, and Biden has more than exceeded my hopes in that regard. In fact, I really underestimated him… not because of age, but because I had assumed he would be more moderate than he has turned out to be.

[LiberalFighter]

26. And making sure he doesn't say anything he should say regarding classified or not ready to disclosed info.

[LiberalFighter]

27. The times I have seen and heard him talk for an extended period shows he has it together.

[getagrip_already]

28. I'm only 65, but I find my energy goes in more useful directions than it once did

I used to expend a lot of thoughts and energy in areas that really didn't have any useful purpose. In fact, some could say some of was decidedly counterproductive and unhealthy.

I find I don't do, or think like that any more. My energy goes into more healthy directions. Maybe it's age. Maybe it's wisdom. Maybe I'm just out of fucks to give.

But, I'm probably a better person as a result.

So there's that.

[Pepsidog]

31. You have much more wisdom and common sense than many younger people.

[republianmushroom]

32. Agree.

[Freethinker65]

34. I think a more recent video would be more convincing to those that need convincing

That being said, I still have confidence that Biden and his administration are more than just qualified and competent. They have done an amazing job even being thrown obstacles from the Courts and US House. The return to stability and reason, after the Trump years, is something I do not want to give up.

[redqueen]

37. K&R

Everyone who works with him day to day says the same. He is as sharp and knowledgeable as ever, unlike tsf.

[highplainsdem]

39. +1,000,000

[llmart]

40. An old man guided this country through the worst pandemic we'd ever experienced.

While the doofus orange imbecile was telling people to drink bleach, the more intelligent ones of us were listening to the old man with decades of medical and scientific knowledge.

[Silent Type]

42. 70s here, but I question whether younger people see it like I do. As Bill Maher said a few weeks ago,

"I'd take Joe Biden's head in a lab jar filled with green slime to trump, anyday."

[nowforever]

50. A wise grandpa

The wisdom that comes with age is profound. Biden is wise enough to also surround himself with people with great knowledge and compassion. I see him now as more reflective and thoughtful person than his younger self was. No way he would let Thomas skate through to the court like he did as a younger man. I will take a wise grandpa over the lunatics I see on the other side.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

51. President Biden has not lost a step and is an amazing person

[Polybius]

59. Well that's a little far

Everyone over 80 has at least lost a small step. Even Jack Lalane at 80 could only swim around NY once.

But yeah, Biden at 81 looks great.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

68. I am not too worry about the fitness issue if TFG is the opponent

The Biden campaign will be glad to compare the physical condition of President Biden to TFG. Again, we are not comparing President Biden to the almighty but against his opponent.

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[BarbD]

53. We older folk have made mistakes, seen mistakes and learned a lot.

Yet, American society worships the young. You couldn't pay me enough money to re-live my teenage years with all the angst that went along with it. Now at 86 I relish and enjoy my four great grandchildren. The message I continually give to my progeny is that we are all in this together, and have to continually be alert and work for a better world. And VOTE!

[JustAnotherGen]

58. Kick / Rec

[Joinfortmill]

60. Amen. The 'old' thing is getting old. Stupid has no age limit, but age can bring wisdom. So keep that in mind, people.

[Hope22]

72. Late night talk hosts and comedians love to hit Biden on this.

I turn the channel immediately when they do this. Let the ratings reflect that it isn’t funny.

[eppur_se_muova]

77. You're only young once, but you can be immature forever. Better Biden than a return of the toddler-in-chief. nt

[Mr.Bill]

69. I am 70 now and I could not perform

the job of being President of the United States. But there's a reason for that.

There also has never been a point in my life when I could have performed that job.

[moniss]

74. With age comes the ability

to know the importance of reflection before coming to decisions. I wish my younger self had shut his mouth more, opened his ears more and reflected on decisions more. But as my German great uncle was fond of saying "Too soon oldt, too late schmart."

[GenThePerservering]

75. I often feel around my peers

like they're more like my parents - another, older generation. I do not feel that way with Biden - I feel like he speaks to a far broader range and understands the concerns of any generation. The student loan forgiveness for sectors of beleagured students struggling with debt is an example, and there are more to speak to all generations. He's a uniter.

Also, most presidents are showing wear after four years in the White House - Biden looks pretty much the same, unless he's looking brighter. He has so much experience that he can weather things better IMHO.

[betsuni]

78. Obama was criticized for being cautious and careful, speaking slowly, using a teleprompter.

Democrats are roasted over coals for the tiniest thing. Obama, Hillary (being cautious: SHE'S HIDING SOMETHING), now Biden.

[Bumbles]

79. With any kind of good fortune . . .

. . . we all will grow old. I am 81 and loving the life I now live. With encouragement from my son, I live more in the moment. I think more clearly than I did when I was younger, though my reaction times may be slower. That may be a good thing, especially in a thoughtful leader. I believe I do have more wisdom earned through a life mostly well lived. I admire President Biden more than I thought I would. He has a steady hand, a good heart and the best of intentions for our country and the great variety of people who inhabit it. I am amazed by his stamina and persistence, and his ability to connect with people genuinely. He and Kamala have my vote and I will, once again, work the phones for them. I shudder to imagine the alternative, and those who vote for it will live to regret their vote.