IT'S TIME TO GO, JOE
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I’ve been a liberal Democrat all my voting life. Over the years, I have cast a few ballots for Republicans — and never regretted that. But there’s no way I could vote for the presumed Republican nominee this November and, sadly, I’d be hard-pressed to vote for President Joe Biden.
As ABC’s Martha Raddatz noted after last night’s interview of President Biden by political commentator George Stephanopoulos, “Aging is not like a broken bone.” A bone can heal. A fracture can mend. There might be residual weakness in the leg, hip or arm after a break, but life goes on pretty much the same. You return to the pickle ball court, you pick up the Ping driver, you continue walking on the treadmill — and you go back to your day job.
Old age just keeps getting older. And tougher. And rougher.
Biden turns 82 in November. He’s survived countless losses and setbacks in his eight decades that would take down many people, including the devastating loss of a wife and child, a brain aneurysm, the death of a beloved son and the conviction of another son. As President of the United States, he’s got the most difficult job in the world. It’s not 9-5, there are no true weekends off, and forget the reprieve of a two-week vacation. It’s not a day job. When you’re President, it’s 24/7 365 days a year of leadership, problem solving, decision making, stress.
Biden said, “Folks, I know I’m not a young man, but I know how to do this job.” Yes he does. But can he keep doing it for the next four years? Into his mid-80s? I have memories of Nancy Reagan whispering answers and ideas into Ronald Reagan’s ears as his second term dwindled down. He had clearly succumbed to some form of dementia — despite how his aides and wife tried to circle the wagons so no one knew.
A headline in one of today’s national papers read: IT’S NOT FAIR, MR. PRESIDENT, BUT IT’S REALITY.”
For me, reality at 82 means giving up stressful activities that I’ve done easily all my life. Because they’re not easy any more! It means relaxing and putting my feet up, because I’m tired in ways I never felt in my 60s and 70s. There is no doubt in my mind — after a horrendous debate performance and a lukewarm warm interview with Stephanopoulos — that President Joe Biden is stressed, tired and definitely not the vibrant politician he has been most of his life.
C. S. Lewis said, “If you are on the wrong road, progress means doing an about-turn and walking back to the right road; and in that case, the man who turns back soonest is the most progressive man.”
It’s time to go, Joe. Sorry, but it’s the right thing to do.
