Biden loses his train of thought, calls Harris 'Vice President Trump' in solo press conference
Biden loses his train of thought, calls Harris 'Vice President Trump' in solo press conference
President Biden has faced growing drop-out pressure from Democratic lawmakers, donors and from some voter polling after his debate flop against Donald Trump.
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Sigh... Well, that's it. I think he's done.
For the last five years, Republican attacks on Biden's age and health have been continuous and stupid. For 4.9 of those years, they've been clearly and utterly baseless, which is what makes this doubly infuriating.
He's had good moments since the "debate," several of which were good enough to make me think he was fine and this was just more Republican bullshit. And even the debate itself, I thought he warmed up after the first twenty minutes or so, and was happily willing to believe he really did just have a cold + jet lag + the general lack of resilience that comes with very old age. Hell, get me sick and then hopped up on cough medicine and I become completely incoherent.
But this... This is two weeks later, and he still couldn't hold it together. He still seemed listless and intermittently uncertain what was going on.
Maybe this is old age catching up to his speech impediment. Maybe it's not an actual decline, it's just the stress of the job and a lapse in his ability to make his mouth do what his brain wants it to do. Maybe.
But even if that's the case, even if that's all it is, communication is a core responsibility for the President of the United States of America. And for whatever reason, be it cognitive issues or just an inability to clearly talk, he simply isn't communicating well anymore.
I hate saying this. I really do. He's been a very good president. But he should step down and let Kamala Harris take the reins. It's time.
Your comment is the one most in line with my thought process.
I thought he did just fine in the debate other than having the cold. I've defended him since then both here, and to people in my real life. I still think he may be the best president in my life (since first term Reagan), and I was hoping he had a great time at NATO and was going to crush this press conference.
But while I was waiting for it to start, I saw the Putin flub. Then he comes out, sounds tired, sounds hoarse and keeps coughing, keeps pausing, keeps getting names wrong. We got creepy Whispery Joe again. It was so awkward and I felt so bad for him. He's done a great job, but it looks time to throw in the towel on this campaign.
I'm in an important state for presidential elections. If they keep him upright through November, he's my guy. If they put in another Dem, I'm with them. But I'm disappointed now it seems too late for him to leave with dignity. He deserves a good legacy, but now he's going to be Sleepy Joe, especially if he drags this out.
What happened with RBG was a tragedy for me and the country, but this could be apocalyptic for our democracy. I'm so mad that a felon is the solid choice for near half the country. I can't trust Biden to be our champion in this fight.
To anyone that didn't watch the conference, watch it. I don't know how anyone in good conscience can say pressing him to continue is for the best.
Covid probably sped up his mental decline.
I hadn't thought of that, but I guess it's possible. Since COVID first appeared, we've learned a lot about how it affects people when they don't take the time to fully recover and try to "push through," as it were.
And I can think of no job more prone to inducing people to try to "push through" than the presidency.
Being a sitting president also probably sped up his mental decline.