He was sweet and well meaning, but he was old. He was hazy. His memory was poor. Doddering, confused, the self-proclaimed leader of the Free World seemed ready to check into a retirement village. That, at least, is the thick insinuation of the Special Counsel’s report on President Joe Biden’s mishandling of classified documents when vice president during the Obama administration.
The findings of the Special Counsel Robert Hur were not punitive. But they were laceratingly wounding. It seemed to resemble more of a nurse’s assessment of whether you need an upgrade in aged-care treatment, a bolstering of services for a person in declining years. (“Have you lost your mind, dear?”)
During the course of the investigation, things did not get better. “In his interview with our office, Mr. Biden’s memory was worse. He did not remember when he was vice president, forgetting on the first day of the interview when his term ended (‘if it was 2013 – when did I stop being Vice President?’), and forgetting on the second day of the interview when his term began (‘in 2009, am I still Vice President?’).”
At an ill-tempered press conference, Biden insisted that his memory was “fine”, that Hur should never have asked such questions as whether the president could recall when his son died and that he was “well meaning. And I’m an elderly man. And I know what the hell I’m doing. I’ve been president – I put this country back on its feet.”
The picture is not a good one. But then again, when was it? Prior to coming to power, Biden already had a bookshelf list of bungles, gaffes and misjudgements. The only question looming behind was the degree of intent behind them. In 1987, he notoriously plagiarised much of a speech by the then leader of the British Labor Party, Neil Kinnock and, to show he was on a hot streak, generously decorated his academic record from Syracuse Law School. Despite describing this as “much ado about nothing,” he withdrew from the contest for the Democratic presidential nomination that September.
His campaign team, terrified that he might verbally snare himself leading up to the 2020 election, tried their best to insulate him from penetrative public scrutiny. This was very much aided by the ravages and restrictions of the pandemic, which afforded him the perfect excuse to operate in conditions of masked isolation.
As commander-in-chief matters have only worsened. Figures, for example, were airily revised – a million dead US residents and citizens from the ravages of COVID-19 became the somewhat reduced figure of “over 100”. World leaders dead or alive were swapped in Biden’s memory channel – a flattering form of death revival, and a denigration of the living. Biden, for instance, confused the current French president, Emmanuel Macron, with the late François Mitterrand before a campaign rally in Las Vegas.
His geographical recall was not too good either. “Right after I was elected, I went to a G7 meeting in southern England. And I sat down and said, ‘America is back!’ and Mitterrand from Germany – I mean France – looked at me and said, ‘How long are you back for?’”
In terms of wars, he has remarked that Russia’s Vladimir Putin was “losing the war in Iraq”, which would have surprised the Russians, Ukrainians and everybody else. More could have been made by the Republicans about this in Congress, but then again, their aged warriors are hardly endowed with brainbox memories of sound recall or cognition either.
Other mishaps could cause titters of amusement – the harmless, dotty chap who muddles the facts, lighting up pub conversation. During his April visit to Ireland last year, light entertainment was caused by his confusion between the terroristic Black and Tan enforcers during the Irish War of Independence (1919-21) and the All Blacks, New Zealand’s fabled rugby team. The remarks were made in Louth in the context of speaking about a former rugby player and distant cousin Rob Kearney. “He beat the hell out of the Black and Tans,” an admiring Biden recalled.
The more significant, and dangerous problem is that a decaying, eroding memory can become the perfect pretext of making appalling policy even as it is forgotten, a form of erasure as things are being done. Policies long pursued and understood can be given the heave-ho. Biden’s belligerence over the Taiwan question, and whether a war over the province with China would be worthwhile, is a case in point.
Biden’s opponent does not, oddly enough, have that problem. Donald Trump, even at 77-years of age, has a habit of transmuting inability to faux talent. One never knows whether his confusions are intentional in their malice or genuine acts of indifference or imbecility. (He very intentionally forgot the existence of WikiLeaks after the 2016 election, despite lauding the organisation’s press achievements prior.) More recently, competing Republican contender Nikki Haley got switched with Democrat veteran Nancy Pelosi. Petulant, hysterical, and stubbornly adolescent, he has a form of counterfeit youth on his side, the child in rompers who always screams even after downing the milk. When he errs, he is not only forgiven but given candied approval by his understanding supporters.
What matters now is the sense that the errors and lapses have arisen because of Biden’s age, the causal attribution to worn memory that renders the ruling magistrate enfeebled and vulnerable to overthrow. The campaign trail till November 2024 will be long and vicious, and Biden’s team may well have to reprise their role as quarantine specialists for their leader. In the meantime, best consult the RAND Corporation study about the risks posed by dementia afflicting the US imperium’s aged security and intelligence community. It promises to only get worse.
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For such an ‘enfeebled and vulnerable’ ‘doddering and forgetful’ old stutterer, his achievements, since the real fool, have been outstanding and honestly and competently administered. The ‘inflation reduction act’ comes to mind. A good staff and cabinet can cover for the weaknesses all leaders have, intelligence not being one for Joe Biden.
Eight years of dodderers.
Trump guts them internally, forcing their public to vote for a man even older with a gamblers instinct, who can then go after exogenous things missed by trog Trump.
Several hundred million folk in the US and they cannot between them work out a decent candidate for a hard job- their political and information systems are so clogged.
Disneyland writ large..
Agreeing with Paul Walther – what is the matter with the USA that it’s dominant political parties cannot find a presidential candidate who is reasonably young and capable. A retiring age of 70 is what is needed
Notable omissions from Dr Binoy’s “senior moment” narrative construct:;
The times that Trump has announced his intention to install himself into dictatorship then launch a vendetta against his political ‘enemies’.
[Just like Putin]
That Trump is seeking, through legal means, to obtain absolute immunity from prosecution for any and all potentiallyvcriminal acts commited by the person of president.
[Just like Putin]
Is Dr Binoy OK with that as a prospect?
Thanks Lyndal.
You would probably know that their
senators and judges don’t have a set retirement age, which could explain the presence of some of the strangest people on earth in their Supreme Court. and Senate.
The likes of Connell, Feinstein, Pelosi…
D Trump has baldly stated his intention to install himself as dictator and undertake purges, Trump has simultaneously launched legal actions seeking absolute immunity from any criminal prosecution,
Did Binoy completely miss these items of news, were these factual details deemed unimportant/irrelevant, or are they simply too inconvenient to include in the authors narrative?
Reminds me of when Binoy went off about the ‘cancellation’ of Alex Jones (FREE SPEECH!), but completely neglected to mention that the broad deplatforming was directly, statedly on account of Jones abusing the aforesaid social media platforms by attempting to incite the murder of a senior public official.
Shoddy research or subjective bias?
Here’s the other option:
Corvusborus, agree. Too many of the Anglo faux anti-imperialist left share talking points with Murdoch’s Fox News etc. denigrating the centre right through left, anti-Ukraine, pro-Putin and avert their gaze from inconvenient facts by e.g. focusing on Biden’s age.
It looks to me like Biden has much greater ability to find competent people, to appoint them and let them do their jobs than Trump – on that basis alone a better choice.
And how much of the deep MAGA devotion is built on delusions that a US government that is paralyzed and doesn’t work is an improvement and they will be better off? Clearly not people who have actual experience of life in places where governance truly is ineffectual or nonexistent.
Weird article.
Is it trying to say the Democrats and Republicans don’t know about America, nor its politics?
Or perhaps a lay prognostication on leadership, power, lunacy and dementia?
[not sure I’d have the endurance to maintain the pace of the Presidency]
I like Roswell’s poster. Seems to me to be a choice between Democrats and a hope for some balance and democratic improvement, or the GOP and a Trump autocratic plunge into kleptocracy.
But the article seems to dance around any such analysis and conclusions.
I find this, ” … renders the ruling magistrate enfeebled and vulnerable to overthrow.”
What about the VP?
What of Democrat’s notion that Biden is best to take on Trump, and what of their other contingencies?
What does Bernie Sanders have to say? In these difficult times, it is easy to fall victim to despair and cynicism. We have no alternative but to stand and fight
And, I find this, “It promises to only get worse.”
Oh really … before what?
Before we all become so poisoned that we die?
Before the sky falls in?
Before the second coming?
Before Armageddon?
Or,
Before things evolve and become better?
Come on Clakka, surely you’re pulling the readers’ legs? Things evolving and becoming better? Ya gotta be kidding, right? Where in the local region of the known universe is that happening? Darwin gave us evolution, the Beatles sang about revolution, but the current gig is about devolution.
to all you agists, go get a life. I dont give a fig about how old somebody is. So long as they are competent at their job.
Joe Biden is smart enough to get smart people around him. The assumption is that a president does everything personally. Clearly not so and clearly, he takes advice. Is that a sign of senility or a smart man?
How does that compare to Trump?
Clearly takes no advice, thinks he is the smartest man around. And he is younger. Clearly he is dumb as dog shit….bleach anyone…..
Just saw a another report on aging populations and world population trends. Everything i read is looking through some lens, one type or another. Even in oz, its used as a whipping post for political agendas.
An aging population does not mean a shrinking work force . Thats the assertion………….it assumes NOTHING will change in work practices or society . Its a manufactured fear of the unknown.
Oh no, capitalism will run out of serfs.
Due respect to Dr Binoy but on this one I’ll go the old guy with Mr Moore.
G’day Canguro,
Are you suffering the trials of old age? [just pulling your leg]
The only 3 statements I made:
“Weird article”, and
“I like Roswell’s poster. Seems to me to be a choice between Democrats and a hope for some balance and democratic improvement, or the GOP and a Trump autocratic plunge into kleptocracy.”, and
“But the article seems to dance around any such analysis and conclusions.”
The remainder were limited provocative questions. They were certainly ‘loaded’, but not ‘leg pulls’, and were seeking discourse.
Always interesting to read your views, but to construe my final question as my view, is a bit rough.
🙂
Clakka, sorry matey… yes, a bit rough, but was also intended to be a bit of leg pulling. Should have had an explainer to that effect. A deliberate overlooking of the whole tenor of your piece to cherrypick on the final sentence. Won’t happen again. Ignosce quaeso. A senior’s moment. 🙁
Ha ha ha haar. Canguro,
Got the leg pull, and don’t really mind it being a bit rough. I contemplated going on to a pitched battle, per se on your devolution, but I had to go to relieve myself (a senior’s moment).
It’s lunch time now, and I’ve fixated on a ham-off-the-bone and swiss cheese on rye sandwich, but don’t have the ingredients.
So I’ve gotta dash to the shops.
Have a goodun.