I know this will spawn all of my BI political enemies to pile on, and so I'll regret opening the door to their nonsensical reasoning, but … here goes.

My stepfather was a Princeton scholarship winner, and graduate, a WW2 (navy) vet, Harvard law school, spoke 5 languages, global traveler and resident, successful businessman, relationship builder, and philanthropist.
He was known in DC as a Republican donor, and had photos with Presidents Reagan and Bush on his desk until he died at 93.

He was quite the man, and I am forever grateful he came to be my stepfather when I was still young and influenciable.

I remember his 81st birthday party. The family gathered in Corte Madera and midway through I recall seeing the dynamic of the entire table. He was at the head of the table, but it had turned into a quiet end of dialogue. In other words, he was sitting alone as everyone jabber-jawed in their own various rapid paced discussions.

The restaurant was crowded, noisy, and he just couldn't keep up!

I stopped whoever I was talking with to ask how he was doing, and he couldn't hear me well. Then his reply was much slower then the other dialogues, and he struggled to come up with much to say.

I drove home that night reflecting with my wife at how he was aging.
Previously, this was the guy who led the table in dialogue, telling stupid jokes, or fascinating stories, brokering comfort, relations and business agreements between people from opposite ends of earth.

I knew Biden as a member of the senate committee I worked for (lowest level) immediately out of college. He would talk and talk and talk, extemporaneously.

But just now, he was slow in reading the teleprompter, reflecting the same weakened voice I recall in my stepfather.
Every time Biden talks, I think of my stepfather. He's got the wisdom, the values, but lacks the vigor, the quickness of thought.

I wish he would have marched out of town as the conquering hero he was, "a transitional President". Snatch the baton from the evil Trump, pass it on to the next generation.

But as I've seen in all my aging parents, old folks don't like to fold, to yield control. The fight to stay on top of their game is akin to the fight for life itself!

All this said, if it comes down to a choice between Biden and Trump, or even any number of the insane non-leader Republicans vying for the prize, I will vote for Biden every day of the week - TWICE. When Biden does extemporate today, it's still in there.

And that's far more important than being quick with an ugly "zinger".

It's a shame Republicans are totally unprepared to seize upon Biden's weakness. They've got to find something more, better to offer. Otherwise, it's Biden and his declining faculties all the way.

concordtom said:

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But as I've seen in all my aging parents, old folks don't like to fold, to yield control. The fight to stay on top of their game is akin to the fight for life itself!

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If the powers that be politely ask Biden to step down, he would bite back, wouldn't he?

Look at this criminal idiot!

https://www.yahoo.com/news/trump-bails-fraud-trial-3rd-192819763.html

He came, he scowled, he got gagged, and left

Trump is in court crying for the third straight morning pic.twitter.com/9eH3ICpW23

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 4, 2023

I respect your honesty. He's from your tribe and he's your guy. I will offer this though - this may well end up being a 25th(?) amendment situation. I honestly question if he's actually running the show today or if it's his handlers making all the decisions then putting him in front of a teleprompter when it's absolutely necessary.

concordtom said:

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I was just now listening to Biden freewheel about Israel while roofing.
Damn, he's losing it. Just rambling and bouncing from train of thought to thought and doesn't know how to wrap it up.

You know how strongly I detest trump, but I wish Biden would step aside and let a democrat primary happen so we could choose someone younger, quicker mentally!

Someone in the audience noticed, too, that he was stuck and gave him an assist by suddenly giving a speech thanking him for welcoming all those Jewish people (who he was talking to) into the White House. The room erupted in conclusive applause, and Biden collected his papers, turned and left.

I imagine Foxnews will be all over it.

---

It is admirable of you to start this thread and follow up on your post.

We have a real problem with elderly politicians and judges simply refusing to relinquish power. It applies to both parties and federal judges. Biden, Pelosi, McConnell and Trump are all too old. I think there should be forced retirement at age 72-75. And it is even worse in the federal judiciary where "retired" judges often sit by designation with literally no way to determine their mental acuity.

I agree with your OP, concordtom, and most of the other responses on this thread. I am not as concerned about Biden's mental acuity right now, as I am concerned about how he might slip over the next five years. When somebody is 70, the next five years look better than when somebody is 80.

And the thing I am most concerned about is that his age may cause fence-sitters to not vote for him in 2024, resulting in more Trump. And having Harris as his VP ain't helping. (I might almost be okay with a GOP President for whom I might have some affinity and respect, but I am not seeing anybody like that out there.)

Huge mistake, IMO, for Biden to not have agreed to have been, like you said, a transitional President. I guess it's just ego, similar to that of Feinstein and Pelosi? I know Democrats aren't supposed to talk about it, but it's the elephant in the room.

I wish Biden would go, but if not and he wins, a competent team will run the country.

Biden is a figurehead that they roll out like Ron Burgundy to read a teleprompter.

With tRump, he will not be a figurehead. He is hands on and he is incompetent, stupid, senile, crooked and traitorous. No one competent will work for him so you will have moral and mental defectives like Stephen Miller, Steve Bannon, Matt Gaetz and Jim Jordan having major influence. tRump will also probably bring guys like Michael Flynn back into the fold.

Most of America deserves better than these two. Other Americans deserve worse.

bearister said:

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I wish Biden would go, but if not and he wins, a competent team will run the country.

---

This is precisely what needs to be emphasized whenever somebody brings up Biden's age.

Every administration is a team, and Biden's team is superb, having accomplished more in the first 2 years than practically every previous administration.

In total contrast, Trump's administration was notable for including so many amateurs whose only "qualification" was loyalty to Trump.

Biden's contribution is not his mental agility but his wisdom gained from long experience. Most of the policy alternatives and suggestions come from his team, while he has the final say.

When the choice is between "Biden" and "Trump," it is really between Biden's professional team and Trump's team of amateurs. There is simply no comparison, even if in a perfect world Biden would be 10 years younger.

I could live with that as a rule.
I was just saying she still seems sharp, unlike others on the list.

What I would do is create a cognitive ability test. If you want to serve beyond, you must pass some tests. And we ain't talking about no person woman man camera tv.

bearister said:

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I wish Biden would go, but if not and he wins, a competent team will run the country.

Biden is a figurehead that they roll out like Ron Burgundy to read a teleprompter.

With tRump, he will not be a figurehead. He is hands on and he is incompetent, stupid, senile, crooked and traitorous. No one competent will work for him so you will have moral and mental defectives like Stephen Miller, Steve Bannon, Matt Gaetz and Jim Jordan having major influence. tRump will also probably bring guys like Michael Flynn back into the fold.

Most of America deserves better than these two. Other Americans deserve worse.

---

So you would vote for a puppet so that you can get the amazing following talents to act as presidents because you would vote for these people to run the country if you could?

Ron Klein and now Zients who has not been able to navigate politics in Capitol Hill or manage East Wing vs West Wing

Xavier Becerra, the clear medical expert from his years as a lawyer and politician, to lead our health and human services

Buttigeg who has been extremely late in responding to any actual transportation issues

Harris who is more about using as many words as possible, playing the gender and race card, and avoiding any difficult problems

Mayorkas who claimed there is nothing to see here as immigration became such an issue that even state Democrats were venting and now are saying that they need to build a wall

How about the great geniuses that Biden appointed as chair of the SEC (Gensler has been the worst commissioner in recent history) and as chair of the FTC (30 year old Khan who has the worst record in court, proposes rules that make actual knowledgeable M&A professionals shake their heads, constantly ignores dissenting voice among other commissioners, breaks regulation and has destroyed economic value).

Maybe Blinken (although there have been deterioration in foreign affairs not of his creation) and Yellen (foot fault on inflation but at least competent).

These are the folks we should rely on to vote for a puppet as you claim?

The only person who appointed worse (although his choice in FBI and SEC leaders were exceptional) was Trump but I would not view Biden's appointments for cabinet or key agencies as the reason to vote for him. The only argument is the other guys may be worse. But not a strong point or reason to get excited about voting for a puppet.

Slava Palestini said:

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OsoDorado said:

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bearister said:

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I wish Biden would go, but if not and he wins, a competent team will run the country.

---

This is precisely what needs to be emphasized whenever somebody brings up Biden's age.

Every administration is a team, and Biden's team is superb, having accomplished more in the first 2 years than practically every previous administration.

In total contrast, Trump's administration was notable for including so many amateurs whose only "qualification" was loyalty to Trump.

Biden's contribution is not his mental agility but his wisdom gained from long experience. Most of the policy alternatives and suggestions come from his team, while he has the final say.

When the choice is between "Biden" and "Trump," it is really between Biden's professional team and Trump's team of amateurs. There is simply no comparison, even if in a perfect world Biden would be 10 years younger.

---

Biden's team is so superb that his administration's favorability is even worse than Trump's.

---

So, you prefer Trump's team of amateurs, led by this madman:

Trump claims Biden is letting terrorists into the country because “Barack Hussein Obama” and just repeats the name over and over again before saying the capital of the United States looks like “shit” pic.twitter.com/9xkxqcEOCs

— Acyn (@Acyn) October 12, 2023

Trump will end democracy as we know it.
Full stop.

concordtom said:

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Trump will end democracy as we know it.
Full stop.

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Never said Trump was the better choice. Would never vote for him.

But not excited about our democracy that provides us with Trump and Biden as the only two choices.

And Trump will not end democracy. If all it took was a moron and narcissist to end democracy, we would not have survived the Harding administration.

Hyperbole and inability to think calmly will not make you any more persuasive.

Now write an essay on tRump's surrounding cast in 2016 and probable cast in 2024 and sell it over Biden's team.

calbear93 said:

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concordtom said:

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Trump will end democracy as we know it.
Full stop.

---

And Trump will not end democracy. If all it took was a moron and narcissist to end democracy, we would not have survived the Harding administration.

Hyperbole and inability to think calmly will not make you any more persuasive.

---

Inability to understand how complete Trump's takeover of the Republican party has been, and how long it took to methodically implement that takeover will not make you more persuasive.

Trump does not support "democracy" unless it results with him in power, and a lot of planning has already been done to vastly expand his presidential authority should he win again.

Making sure Trump never resumes authority is essential to maintaining democracy as we know it.

OsoDorado said:

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calbear93 said:

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concordtom said:

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Trump will end democracy as we know it.
Full stop.

---

And Trump will not end democracy. If all it took was a moron and narcissist to end democracy, we would not have survived the Harding administration.

Hyperbole and inability to think calmly will not make you any more persuasive.

---

Inability to understand how complete Trump's takeover of the Republican party has been, and how long it took to methodically implement that takeover will not make you more persuasive.

Trump does not support "democracy" unless it results with him in power, and a lot of planning has already been done to vastly expand his presidential authority should he win again.

Making sure Trump never resumes authority is essential to maintaining democracy as we know it.

---

Our democracy survived a civil war, corruption, almost a dictator in FDR, assassination of president, criminal conduct and resignation by Nixon, and January 6 attack. If it is dependent on one man's commitment to democracy, we would not have survived.

There will always be another Trump. There are already Trump mini-me's. What matters is our system of government (which many here want to also tear down for expediency) and the people's tolerance for dictators.

And yes, posting pictures of Trump as a Nazi, devil, etc. is not persuading anyone other than making others question the poster's sanity.

He is bad enough without the hyperbole. He is a self-centered, self-focused, narcissist con man. No need to exaggerate.

We also don't need to treat Trump (we already went through this once) as an existential risk creating hyperventilating anxiety for fear of our democracy when folks like you at the same time star fake liberal posters who want to bring down own checks and balances for expediency sake.

bearister said:

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Now write an essay on tRump's surrounding cast in 2016 and probable cast in 2024 and sell it over Biden's team.

---

Who here has promoted Trump's ability to hire good people like you did with Biden?

Stop with the whataboutism and admit that the argument that we should vote for Biden despite him being a puppet (your implication) because of his exceptional staff does not stand.

OsoDorado said:

---

bearister said:

---

I wish Biden would go, but if not and he wins, a competent team will run the country.

---

This is precisely what needs to be emphasized whenever somebody brings up Biden's age.

Every administration is a team, and Biden's team is superb, having accomplished more in the first 2 years than practically every previous administration.

In total contrast, Trump's administration was notable for including so many amateurs whose only "qualification" was loyalty to Trump.

Biden's contribution is not his mental agility but his wisdom gained from long experience. Most of the policy alternatives and suggestions come from his team, while he has the final say.

When the choice is between "Biden" and "Trump," it is really between Biden's professional team and Trump's team of amateurs. There is simply no comparison, even if in a perfect world Biden would be 10 years younger.

---

One might add that one reason they had to veer towards amateurs, was the rampant turnover in staff.

The hundreds of thousands who died in the Civil War protecting the Union will be glad to know the preservation of America's democracy was a fait accompli and not an act of great dedication and commitment from those carrying the torch at the time.

dajo9 said:

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The hundreds of thousands who died in the Civil War protecting the Union will be glad to know the preservation of America's democracy was a fait accompli and not an act of great dedication and commitment from those carrying the torch at the time.

---

You seem like a very likable, genuine and authentic person.

Since the extent of my reference was that our democracy survived a civil war without any mention of absence or superfluousness of the sacrifice to win the war, you may be a confederate and may believe that our democracy did not in fact survive the civil war. May explain why you are so intent on getting rid of our current checks and balances because you are still pouting about losing a few elections.

What an amazingly caring (you seem to really care deeply about those soldiers) and value-add person you are.

You must be a C-suite type of leader because your level of authenticity is inspiring.

calbear93 said:

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dajo9 said:

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The hundreds of thousands who died in the Civil War protecting the Union will be glad to know the preservation of America's democracy was a fait accompli and not an act of great dedication and commitment from those carrying the torch at the time.

---

You seem like a very likable, genuine and authentic person.

Since the extent of my reference was that our democracy survived a civil war without any mention of absence or superfluousness of the sacrifice to win the war, you may be a confederate and may believe that our democracy did not in fact survive the civil war. May explain why you are so intent on getting rid of our current checks and balances because you are still pouting about losing a few elections.

What an amazingly caring (you seem to really care deeply about those soldiers) and value-add person you are.

You must be a C-suite type of leader because your level of authenticity is inspiring.

---

I know it's your m.o. to immediately resort to angry personal attacks but you really shouldn't get so worked up. You relax. We'll safeguard American democracy for your children.

dajo9 said:

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calbear93 said:

---

dajo9 said:

---

The hundreds of thousands who died in the Civil War protecting the Union will be glad to know the preservation of America's democracy was a fait accompli and not an act of great dedication and commitment from those carrying the torch at the time.

---

You seem like a very likable, genuine and authentic person.

Since the extent of my reference was that our democracy survived a civil war without any mention of absence or superfluousness of the sacrifice to win the war, you may be a confederate and may believe that our democracy did not in fact survive the civil war. May explain why you are so intent on getting rid of our current checks and balances because you are still pouting about losing a few elections.

What an amazingly caring (you seem to really care deeply about those soldiers) and value-add person you are.

You must be a C-suite type of leader because your level of authenticity is inspiring.

---

I know it's your m.o. to immediately resort to angry personal attacks but you really shouldn't get so worked up. You relax. We'll safeguard American democracy for your children.

---

Only in your mind do we have the kind of relationship where we know each other well enough for you to presume to know me that way I don't know you. I only know your persona here reflected in your lame posts. Not once have I read a single post of yours and thought any real person believed any bs you pretend to believe.

Me angry with you? Why would I be angry? What impact do you have in anything meaningful in my life for me to be angry with you? Not at all. Having actual experience in things you pretend to know, I actually know the opinions you express reflect true ignorance. Anyone who has any real knowledge know what a bs artist you are. That engenders more humor than anger. Because you cannot actually debate on real knowledge, you do resort to twisting words and deflecting. If calling you out for those low character attributes in your posts is viewed by you as me being angry, you must get angry responses all the time. You are too insignificant to engender any anger. Just mockery.

calbear93 said:

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dajo9 said:

---

calbear93 said:

---

dajo9 said:

---

The hundreds of thousands who died in the Civil War protecting the Union will be glad to know the preservation of America's democracy was a fait accompli and not an act of great dedication and commitment from those carrying the torch at the time.

---

You seem like a very likable, genuine and authentic person.

Since the extent of my reference was that our democracy survived a civil war without any mention of absence or superfluousness of the sacrifice to win the war, you may be a confederate and may believe that our democracy did not in fact survive the civil war. May explain why you are so intent on getting rid of our current checks and balances because you are still pouting about losing a few elections.

What an amazingly caring (you seem to really care deeply about those soldiers) and value-add person you are.

You must be a C-suite type of leader because your level of authenticity is inspiring.

---

I know it's your m.o. to immediately resort to angry personal attacks but you really shouldn't get so worked up. You relax. We'll safeguard American democracy for your children.

---

Only in your mind do we have the kind of relationship where we know each other well enough for you to presume to know me that way I don't know you. I only know your persona here reflected in your lame posts. Not once have I read a single post of yours and thought any real person believed any bs you pretend to believe.

Me angry with you? Why would I be angry? What impact do you have in anything meaningful in my life for me to be angry with you? Not at all. Having actual experience in things you pretend to know, I actually know the opinions you express reflect true ignorance. Anyone who has any real knowledge know what a bs artist you are. That engenders more humor than anger. Because you cannot actually debate on real knowledge, you do resort to twisting words and deflecting. If calling you out for those low character attributes in your posts is viewed by you as me being angry, you must get angry responses all the time. You are too insignificant to engender any anger. Just mockery.

---

Relax. We'll take care of it.

dajo9 said:

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calbear93 said:

---

dajo9 said:

---

calbear93 said:

---

dajo9 said:

---

The hundreds of thousands who died in the Civil War protecting the Union will be glad to know the preservation of America's democracy was a fait accompli and not an act of great dedication and commitment from those carrying the torch at the time.

---

You seem like a very likable, genuine and authentic person.

Since the extent of my reference was that our democracy survived a civil war without any mention of absence or superfluousness of the sacrifice to win the war, you may be a confederate and may believe that our democracy did not in fact survive the civil war. May explain why you are so intent on getting rid of our current checks and balances because you are still pouting about losing a few elections.

What an amazingly caring (you seem to really care deeply about those soldiers) and value-add person you are.

You must be a C-suite type of leader because your level of authenticity is inspiring.

---

I know it's your m.o. to immediately resort to angry personal attacks but you really shouldn't get so worked up. You relax. We'll safeguard American democracy for your children.

---

Only in your mind do we have the kind of relationship where we know each other well enough for you to presume to know me that way I don't know you. I only know your persona here reflected in your lame posts. Not once have I read a single post of yours and thought any real person believed any bs you pretend to believe.

Me angry with you? Why would I be angry? What impact do you have in anything meaningful in my life for me to be angry with you? Not at all. Having actual experience in things you pretend to know, I actually know the opinions you express reflect true ignorance. Anyone who has any real knowledge know what a bs artist you are. That engenders more humor than anger. Because you cannot actually debate on real knowledge, you do resort to twisting words and deflecting. If calling you out for those low character attributes in your posts is viewed by you as me being angry, you must get angry responses all the time. You are too insignificant to engender any anger. Just mockery.

---

Relax. We'll take care of it.

---

Yeah, you post away on BI to a better world. What a hero.