Biden’s 2024 bid and the age issue

  • 4/30/2023
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US President Joe Biden’s announcement last week of his 2024 presidential bid came as no surprise to political analysts or voters. However, what did surprise many was the poorly executed video announcement that accompanied the news. The announcement featured photos of Biden, with his voiceover — it looked like a poor news report. The overall effect was lackluster and underwhelming. It is surprising that a candidate with such a long political history would make such a mistake. However, this was not the main issue that raised concerns. The 46th president of the US is the oldest person to hold the position. Now 80, his age has become a topic of concern for both Democrats and Republicans. Throughout his presidency, Biden has experienced several slips of the tongue and moments of forgetfulness. While his age and health may not be the only factors determining his ability to lead the country, they are certainly a cause for concern for all Americans. It is no secret that our cognitive abilities begin to decline as we age. This decline can lead to forgetfulness, slower processing speed and difficulty with decision-making. These issues can only be detrimental to carrying out a job as demanding as the presidency of the world’s only superpower. Biden has been known to stumble on the names of his Cabinet members on several occasions. One instance occurred in March 2021, during a speech at the White House, when he appeared to forget the name of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and instead referred to him as “the guy who runs that outfit over there.” He later corrected himself and apologized for the slip-up. Another instance occurred in December 2020, when he struggled to remember the name of his nominee to lead the Health and Human Services Department, Xavier Becerra. The progressive wing of the Democratic Party knows that no president would serve their agenda better than Biden. Dalia Al-Aqidi The US president has also had a few instances where he has stumbled or lost his balance in public. One notable incident occurred in December 2020, when he slipped and twisted his ankle while playing with his dog. Another instance occurred in March 2021, when he stumbled while climbing the stairs to Air Force One, but he recovered quickly and continued. But it seems the Democratic Party will not support anyone but Biden. Earlier this month, The Washington Post reported that the party would support Biden’s reelection, announcing that there are “no plans” to sponsor primary debates. This undemocratic decision sparked an angry response from Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who recently announced his bid to challenge Biden in the Democratic primary in an attempt to win the party’s 2024 nomination. “The (Democratic National Committee), at this point, has taken the official position that there will be no debate, and I think that’s unfortunate,” he told Fox News. The progressive wing of the Democratic Party knows that no president would serve their agenda better than Biden, so why would they open the door for a new candidate who might disagree with their radical goals? But four more years of a Biden administration could jeopardize the fate of the American people and America’s relations with its allies globally. Dalia Al-Aqidi is a senior fellow at the Center for Security Policy. Twitter: @DaliaAlAqidi

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