NEWS: “Biden Should Take Voters’ Concerns About Age Seriously.” New York Times Editorial Board adds: “The president has not taken advantage of the chance to ease voters’ concerns by engaging regularly with the public.”
REGARDLESS of President Biden’s failures, from 2021 to current days, age could be a serious issue, especially that the old person concerned is the Chief Executive of the world’s most powerful nation. Cognitive decline may begin after midlife, but most often occurs at higher ages or 70 or higher. So at 80 this year, Biden is really old. Donald Trump, who could be Joe’s Republican rival next year, is 4 years younger, but that isn’t young, either.
Both of them would do fine hangin’ with Willie Nelson, 90, if Willie could recognize them, that is. Keith Richards, 79, would be a better bet.
Seriously though, Biden and Trump are the oldest U.S. presidents ever. At #3 is Ronald Reagan who took office at age 69 and left White House at 77. Next: William Henry Harrison, 68 years old, Potus in 1841. But sadly Mr Harrison died just 31 days into the job, marking the shortest presidency in the country’s history. Didn’t really matter if he was old or young. The 5th oldest American prez in office was James Buchanan, 65 years old when he took office in 1857, just a few years before the Civil War. He did not seek reelection. Abraham Lincoln succeeded him in 1860.
Wondering who was the youngest commander in chief of the United States at the time of their election? John F. Kennedy, 43. He didn’t finish his term. If he did and, most likely won again? He would have been “only” 50 by then. 👴🗽👴
YOU may ask, so what if President Biden is “that” old? Yet at 80 today or 84, if he wins next year and leaves the Oval Office in 2028, he’ll be alongside the “age” company of Fidel Castro, who quit the Cuban political pedestal at age 82. (He ruled from 1959 to 2008; died in 2016, age 90.) Mao Zedong was also along that AARP row. Mao ended his reign as Chairman of the Chinese Communist Party at age 82, the day he died (1976).
Fidel and Mao were bosschiefs though a lot longer than any U.S. president. Senor Castro served for 49 years; Mao, 22 years. (Almost like Ferdinand Marcos Sr. of the Philippines, 20 years!) Meanwhile, the longest serving Potus was Franklin D. Roosevelt, 12 years, but he was President for four terms. He died relatively “young” though at 63.
For my trivia fix, who is the oldest currently serving head of state? Paul Biya Cameroon, 90 years old. Fact is, there’s a lot more guys who were older than Biden or Trump who sat at the center of leadership table, such as Mark Eyskens, Prime Minister of Belgium in 1981, who was 90. Or H. D. Deve Gowda, PM of India for a year ( 1996-1997), and Hüsamettin Cindoruk, Acting President of Turkey in 1993. They were 89 year old leaders. And more on that “aching back” club.
Anyhow, who is the oldest living former state leader? Khamtai Siphandone of Laos, 99 years old. 👴🗽👴
SO much for the age issue, okay? Old or young, I don’t think President Joe Biden should opt for reelection. For the sake of the Democratic Party, the United States of America and its 331.9 million people, and the global community.
The clear as sun failures of Joe Biden? Immigration chaos, ballooning debt, inflation murk. Lack, weak or inept foreign policy strategy that has crippled Washington’s power and influence on the world stage. Etc etcetera. There are more.
A Gen Z friend told me this: “At the start of his presidency, Biden halted oil and natural gas leases on public lands in an effort to curb carbon emissions and then a year or so later, allowed an oil company to drill in Alaska.”
Latest from New York Times: “Biden Faces Bleak Approval Numbers as He Starts Re-election Campaign.” And adds: “A Washington Post/ABC News poll shows challenges for President Biden and a disconnect between what Americans want and the options they have. 👴🗽👴
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