A few days ago, the New York Times carried a piece by Peter Baker which made the case that Biden at 79 years of age is "testing the boundaries of age and the presidency".
Baker gets straight
to the point referring to Biden’s upcoming trip to the Middle East that was
initially supposed to be combined with his recent trip to Europe. But Biden’s
aides deemed the schedule “might be unnecessarily taxing for a 79-year-old”,
hence it was broken into two.
Baker reminds his
readers that just a year and a half into his first term, Biden will be more
than a year older than Reagan was at the end of two terms. Also, Biden would be
86 at the end of his second term, ‘testing the outer boundaries of age and the
presidency’.
Baker cites Biden
aides who acknowledge Biden looks older than just a few years ago and that this
has become "a political liability that cannot be solved by traditional
White House stratagems like staff shake-ups or new communications plans."
Baker states that
Biden's “age has increasingly become an uncomfortable issue for aides and
Democrat strategists who do
not think Biden should run again"
Baker points out that
Biden often “shuffles when he walks, and aides worry he will trip on a
wire" and Biden's speeches are "flat and listless".
There is mention of frequently losing his train of thought and even
struggling to summon names of this colleagues
Baker cites examples
of Biden referring to his Kamala Harris as “President Harris” and stumbling
over words such as “kleptocracy”. Barker refers to Biden confusing Ukraine
with Iran and mistaking Senator Mark
Warner, Democrat of Virginia with his late Republican senator John Warner from
Virginia.
Barker refers to the
White House having to walk back Biden’s ad-libbed comments, vowing
a military response if China attacks Taiwan or proclaiming that
Putin “cannot
remain in power” in Russia, both were the equivalent of declaring war
with a powerful foreign adversary.
The situation has
deteriorated to such an extent that Biden's aides often hold their breath
during live events to see if he makes it to the end without a gaffe.
Barker claims
that the White House seems “determined to guard Biden against unscripted
interactions with the news media” resulting in taking part in fewer press
interactions compared to his predecessors. Biden has given just 38
interviews so far, far fewer than his predecessors Trump (116), Obama (198),
George W. Bush (71), Clinton (75), and George Bush (86).
Baker also points out
that during his European trip that foreign leaders “protectively treated him
like an elderly relative”.
While posing for
photos, Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany gently pointed Biden in the direction
of the cameras. Also, prior to a meeting, when a reporter twice shouted a
question about getting grain out of Ukraine, and Biden couldn't hear the
question, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, came to the rescue, responding
that “We’re working on it”.
Baker reveals that
Biden’s working day ended by 3.30pm both during the meeting with the Group of 7
leaders and at the NATO summit.
Baker refers
to Biden keeping away from public view at night when in the White House
and Biden's aides guarding the occurrences during Biden's weekends in
Delaware. Biden's fall from his bicycle last month, also gets a mention.
Baker states in
bullet points that Biden has become a liability because of his struggle to
inspire during times of political
tumult and economic
distress. Baker also cites Biden's failure
to lead allies internationally, especially in building a coalition of Western
powers against adversaries such as Russia and China.
The piece quotes
David Gergen, a former adviser to four presidents who feels “it’s inappropriate
to seek that office after you’re 80 or in your 80s” because “you’re not quite
as sharp as you once were.”
Baker cites a June
survey by Harvard’s Center where 64 percent of voters believe Biden is too old
to be president.
The piece
incongruously pivots to President Trump making unfounded claims about his
cognitive abilities.
Baker also mentions
Reagan’s final years where aides secretly assessed removing him from office
using the 25th Amendment’s disability clause but ultimately concluded he was
still fit. Baker also mentions that Reagan was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease five years after
leaving the White House, implying that he was impaired much before.
This is Baker's
attempt to paint false equivalence.
Beyond his cognitive
abilities, Baker refers to his overall health owing to his age. Baker reveals
that aides are cautious about exposing him to the coronavirus, they are tested
once a week and if they plan to meet with Biden they are tested that morning
and are compelled to wear N95 masks.
Baker seems skeptical
about claims from Biden aides that Biden is “intellectually engaged, asks smart
questions at meetings, grills aides on points of dispute” and stays up working
late when required.”
Baker seems skeptical
about claims from Biden’s adviser for 40 years Mike Donilon and Deputy White
House chief of staff Jennifer O'Malley Dillon that Biden is outpacing his
younger staff and driving his schedule.
So what do we make of
this piece?
The New York Times is
the mouthpiece for the Washington Democrat establishment. Hence this piece
must be read as an official declaration of war on Joe Biden with an aim to
prevent him from running in 2024.
The Democrats via the NYT are distancing themselves from Biden as
they campaign for the mid-terms urging voters not to punish Democrat lawmakers
for Biden’s numerous catastrophes.
Last month, the NYT interviewed
50 Democrat officials regarding their frustrations with Biden.
This piece is a message for Biden that these attacks will be more
vicious in the coming months and the only way Biden can turn these brickbats into
bouquets is to announce he is not seeking re-election in 2024.
If Biden makes that announcement, the NYT and others will be lauded
and applauded as a great statesman who made supreme self-sacrifice for the
betterment of the nation.
Also appears on American Thinker
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