Sorry, DU. We can't ignore Joe's age. So let's take the issue head on.

[Cyrano]

This post is about our lives, our country, and our freedoms. It may get me kicked off of DU and I'm willing to take that risk. But, like it or not, it's going to be a major factor in next year's election. We can't make believe it doesn't exist because the Republicans are going to mention it every hour of every day. And the time to start fighting for President Joe Biden is right now.

If Trump is their nominee, we'll be looking at a contest between an 81 year old man with most of his faculties intact, and a 78 year old man whom, it can be argued, is unfit to be president for, (perhaps), legal reasons, and definitely, because of the danger he presents to America and the world. Donald Trump is the second biggest threat to humanity, running a close second behind climate change.

MAGAs worship Trump. Sane Republicans want to see him gone and forgotten. And my guess is that these sane Republicans will vote for Joe, before, once again, giving a mentally deranged man the power to destroy us all.

To put that as plainly as possible, Donald Trump wants to be universally loved. He wants to be "Dear Leader,." He wants absolute power. And if he can't have those things, he's willing to destroy the entire world. If that isn't crazy, what is?

So here's the choice. Stand behind an aging Joe Biden. Or vote for a madman.

I really don't care what crap the Republicans throw out there, but this is the choice. And it's the job of each and every Democrat and sane human being to make the reality of the upcoming election known to all. It's about sanity vs madness. It's about our freedoms vs totalitarianism. It's about all of our lives vs a barbaric world.

[Scrivener7]

2. We all need to learn the phrase "virtually the same age."

And then we need to learn how to toss into conversations the fact that, due to obesity, eating habits and lifestyle, the defendant, though "virtually the same chronological age" likely has a MUCH older "biological age."

And every Democrat who appears on every media outlet needs to say the same words.

BUT PS, I agree with you. Telling people to shut up about his age does not put the issue of age to rest.

[onecaliberal]

4. I'm not telling anyone to shut up about it.

It’s simply a non issue to me considering all things. This is the entire ballgame.

[Scrivener7]

7. But obviously it is an issue for some, and the media is making it an issue.

Our side needs to be able to deal with that.

So far we haven't and we've let the "he's to old" narrative go viral.

[onecaliberal]

11. The problem is the corporate media will parrot that no matter what we say.

Since when do they listen to anything we say? They don’t hang on Biden’s every word. They breathlessly repeat ad nauseam the vile filth that escapes that thing on the other side 24/7. It is THEIR responsibility to inform the public. Not campaign for their corporate master.

[Scrivener7]

36. And yet they don't. And they haven't for decades. So now what?

[MorbidButterflyTat]

24. I don't get that

"...we've let the 'he's to (sic) old' narrative go viral."

We did that, huh. We let that happen.

What should "we" have done to stop it?

[Scrivener7]

35. *sigh* I register your disdain.

[betsuni]

37. Stop It spray.

Are you letting/allowing/not stopping all the bad things? You need all-purpose Stop It spray. Buy some today!

[onecaliberal]

38. Exactly. I can't possibly be calling BS loudly anymore than I am considering I have zero political

Power. The media knows exactly what it’s doing.

[Polybius]

22. Is 4 years "virtually the same age?"

What would be the cutoff? 5 years? 7? 2?

[ExWhoDoesntCare]

26. Well, it's not four years

More like 3.5.

But it's still closer in age than it is between Biden and anyone else on the traitor thug circuit.

[Scrivener7]

40. Yep. In terms of public messaging, it sure is.

If we say it often enough, if every Democrat who is ever asked the question on a news show says it, if it is part of the answer every single time the issue comes up, then yep. It is "virtually the same age."

This is about getting a concept into people's heads. It doesn't require precision. It requires repetition.

[LakeArenal]

3. Whose ignoring it? Just because many of us don't give a shit about age doesn't mean we ignore it.

Personally, I don’t give a shit what republicans think of it either.

The choice couldn’t be more clear no matter who runs on the Repuke side

[MorbidButterflyTat]

25. +1 zillion

President Biden vs. a goddamn CRIMINAL TRAITOR.

Anyone falling for the MAGAt BS, and getting bent out of shape over the President's age are the ones making the "too old" narrative "go viral."

[LakeArenal]

29. Yep.

[piddyprints]

5. Well, we also can't argue with Joe Biden's experience

and expertise in dealing with the shit show tfg left behind and wants to resurrect.

I love Biden's line, "Don't compare me with the almighty, compare me with the alternative." Indeed!

Still, my husband, who is a Democrat and votes for Democrats in every election, mentioned Biden's age to me last week and it really upset me. It was almost as if he was spewing right wing talking points. But maybe it was just a dose of reality, because that's what's being talked about.

What is clear to me, and should be clear to most sane people, is that Joe Biden v. Donald Trump should be a no-brainer. The difference in their mental facilities could not be clearer. Joe Biden is still at the top of his game while tfg seems to be sinking deeper into the batshit pit every day, not to mention the naked evil that he espouses.

If the MSM would do their jobs, we wouldn't even be having this discussion. They SHOULD be talking about President Biden's successes and tfg's failures. President Biden's character and tfg's criminality. The fact that all this impeachment talk is just a smokescreen and payback. Joe Biden has done nothing wrong. I could go on and on. They are complicit. How well do they think they'll do when they all get fired and tfg installs his own "news" reporters? Is that when they're wake up, when it's too late?

Edit: I just came across this: https://www.democraticunderground.com/1017862529

Hillary speaks for me!

[LiberalFighter]

6. Age should not be the only factor to consider.

If his health was an issue or his mental acuity. Sure.

But Biden has proven he is more fit than the other guy. And he has the experience too that others don't have.

[muriel_volestrangler]

8. I've seen plenty of discussion of Pres. Biden's age on DU

I really can't see where the "we can't ignore it" comes from. We don't ignore it.

[AntivaxHunters]

9. It's definitely a huge issue among voters

And Mitt Romney certainly didn't do him any favors yesterday when he announced he wouldn't seek reelection saying basically he was too old & how it's time to pass the torch to young people.

I think perhaps the counterpoint has to be "yes Biden may be up there is years but he's also not a fascist piece of shit!"

[peggysue2]

21. Romney had a lot of other factors as well to consider

Saying he was too old was equivalent in my mind to saying "I want to spend more time with my family.' The extra bonus here provides a wink-wink to the Biden Is Too Old Brigade.

However, yesterday I read that Romney's bid for another senate term was predicted as an uphill battle at best. In addition, Romney has spent gobs of money on security for himself and his family from incessant MAGA threats. One advisor reportedly suggested that Romney 'think about the safety and welfare of his grown children.' Again, reportedly that was the final, deciding factor: that some crazy MAGA would go after a family member as happened to Nancy Pelosi's husband.

I never voted for Romney but I do think he's basically a rational human being. Yeah, he's said some dumb stuff but in the end, he might be simply tired of the continuous shit-show that is now the Republican Party.

He's had enough. Can't blame him for that.

[Maraya1969]

10. Maybe we should be pointing at tfg's age and bad health. If anyone's will die om office it is him

[brush]

12. And water is wet and trump ain't no spring chicken either. We know...

and we're ridin' with Biden and will get out our vote, and keep hammering the message that trump is a deranged, traitorous criminal suspect who has been indicted four times and is probably going to jail.

Our coalition of progressive whites, Black voters, Asian-American voters, Latino and Native voters, women still upset over Roe being rescinded, suburban soccer moms, the LGBTQ+ community, sensible Indies (and Indies are now 50% of the electorate), and let's also add never-trumper republicans and traditional republicans who want trump gone...we outnumber trump's magats and will beat their ass again in 2024.

I repeat, ridin' with Biden in 2024

[pandr32]

13. Three years apart are indistinguishable in the adult population.

It matters when you are young, or older and waiting to qualify for benefits, etc.
To make tRump the younger choice is asinine.
The focus needs to be redirected to a couple things:
1. Ability to meet a busy, demanding schedule and get it done.
2. Effectiveness.
3. Qualifications.
4. Readiness.
5. Diplomacy.

Clearly, in a one to one match-up on these categories, tRump loses.
He was unable to make the schedule, so he changed it.
He was not effective at anything but helping sow chaos, weaken our international profile, encourage hate and division, and pad his pockets.
He had no qualifications unless you take mob affiliation.
Readiness? No. In fact, he is facing legal jeopardy and is tangled up in federal and state courts--which is what he wants to impeach Biden in an attempt at false equivalency.
Diplomacy? He is mentally unstable and unsuitable with no diplomacy skills whatsoever.

[ExWhoDoesntCare]

31. I wouldn't say all adults are indistinguishable at 3 years

There's way more difference between someone 18 and someone 21 than there is between two people who are 30 and 33.

That's why marriage is more likely to work between, say, a 40 y/o and 60 y/o, but is less likely to work out when a 20 y/o and 40 y/o get together. Same gap of years; however, people who are 40 & 60 will tend to have more mature attitudes, outlooks and expectations in common than a couple who are 20 & 40. From what I remember of being 30, I had more in common with the average 50 y/o than I did with a typical 22 y/o. I remember what 22 was like, but I was so very over it by 30 that most 22 y/o people bored me, while I felt more n sync with a 50 y/o who likewise was over the 22 y/o thing.

Made the later years with my uncles and aunts quite interesting. Suddenly one day, they weren't the annoying and stiff-upper-lip prudes I thought they were. They were even...fun to be with. I never thought that day would come--but they were. It was like once I made the adult cut, then they could be their real selves around me at last.

[pandr32]

39. I have to agree re: 18-21

Technically, they are adults, but young ones. I was referring to adults generally above that age.

[Botany]

14. Right now Joe Biden is doing the best job of being President I have ever seen in my lifetime, ...

... he is highly skilled, is getting "stuff done," he is a really nice guy who has taken hurts that would
have crippled another person, and used them to drive himself to try to help other people when ever
and where ever he can.

And now lets talk about the 400 lbs gorilla in the room in that he is 80 years old and might die* or become
disabled to the point where he can no longer continue on as POTUS but if that happens he will being using
his great skill set to help the country he loves and for a country that loves him too. These latest polls are
bullshit hit pieces not true statically valid samples much like the Rupert Murdoch/WSJ poll prior to the 2022
that promised a "red wave" that didn't happen and the only reason the GOP has the house now is because of
massive gerrymandering.

Joe B doesn't need one of the toughest jobs in the world at his age but I for one along with millions of other
Americans and other people around the world are thrilled that he is doing it and he is also doing it too because
his son asked him from his death bed to do it.

* News Flash we are all going to die end of story.



The man makes me proud to be an American.



and he saved this too ... Boundary Waters.

[BannonsLiver]

17. Very happy to have Joe

But I’ll take Obama 7 days a week and twice on Sunday. DU has a problem with recency bias IMO.

[MorbidButterflyTat]

30. +1

Agree.

[Botany]

33. He saved this too ... The Cooper River and Bristol Bay Alaska

The one of the most important wild run salmon fishery in the world. A renewable resource
that is worth trillions.

[liberalmediaaddict]

15. Think we've got bigger things to worry about

Biden was old 3 years ago and 81 million people voted for him.
The bigger issues to worry about...
- His Vice President is very unpopular and some people worry that if something happens to Biden she isn't ready to run the country

- people believe the economy is awful and it's all Biden's fault. They believe the economy does better under Trump and Republicans.

- The Hunter Biden issue is never going away. With the impeachment hearings and indictments Republicans and the both sides media are going to frame this race as a "battle between special counsels."

Even if Biden decided not to run for re-election and Democrats nominated someone younger 2024 would still be a close race. The right wing propaganda machine is simply that good at bringing down Democrats and portraying us as just as corrupt and incompetent as they are.

Personally if Trump is the Republican nominee I will crawl over glass to vote against him for the third time. I stand behind Biden & Harris 100 percent.

[Fiendish Thingy]

16. I think there's a bigger issue than Biden's age, although it's related

At some point, the age attacks about Biden’s competency will fade, because they won’t have much impact, and the primary attack, IMO, will be on the actuarial fact that Biden may not live through the end of a second term, which will in turn lead to Republican hysteria over…

PRESIDENT HARRIS!

Now, the GOP hasn’t had a 30 year head start in smearing Harris like they did with HRC, but it’s really all they’ve got, so be prepared for it to take Center stage by next summer.

Now, if for some reason, Trump is not the nominee, then I might become a smidgen more concerned about the age issue, but as it stands now, I’m not.

[usonian]

19. The age issue is a cover (what isn't with them?) for racism and nmisogyny.

They LITERALLY throw shit against the wall and see what sticks.

and ketchup

[peggysue2]

27. I agree

Harris will be hammered. It's just gearing up although Kamala has been demonized from the start--she's a crazy liberal, she's not qualified, she's done nothing of import as VP, and Dear God, she dances and laughs. She's also a woman of color, oh my!

This will be geared up to the moon in Hillary-like fashion. Nikki Haley has already been pounding the message that a vote for Joe Biden is really a vote for Kamala Harris to assume the presidency because Biden will most definitely die shortly after reelection (Nikki's crystal ball) or Joe will simply resign and hand the reins to Harris.

It's a Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid meme. Which is all these wanna-be candidates have to add to their distortions and deflections.

Anything to take the focus off the disaster of Trump and the America First movement.

Also agree that with Trump as the nominee, the age factor will be diluted given enough time. Why? Because Trump is already falling apart. His abrupt leave-taking in Iowa, for instance, was all about his poor stamina. And to be honest? He looks horrible.

In the end, the electorate's choice is clear, stark:

America or Trump.

[LuckyCharms]

18. I can ignore his age. Age is irrelevant when health is good.

With age, comes wisdom.

Also, I can't think of anyone, regardless of age, who can get shit done like Joe Biden can.

I can't think of too many people who have more genuine empathy than Joe Biden does.

I can't think of too many people who have dealt more successfully with grief than Joe Biden. That indicates strength and understanding.

Joe Biden is a certified badass, and if his health should take a turn, well, Kamala Harris would be a hell of a POTUS.

[TexasBushwhacker]

34. Especially compared to TFG

Trump is 3.5 years younger, but is obese, eats a junk food diet and gets no exercise other than climbing in and out of golf carts.

If it's Trump vs Biden next year, which former Biden supporters would switch to Trump? I'm not concerned about any Trump voters staying with whoever ends up being the GOP candidate. I am only concerned about the flippers and I just don't see that happening. Biden still won by 7 Million votes, and since 2020 more GOP voters have died of COVID-19 or old age than Dems. Those dead voters have been replaced with young voters that skew Dem by a hefty margin. Let's not forget the marginally right leaning independents that are mad as hell about the Dobbs decision.

I don't think we should be complacent, but I don't think Joe's age is a really issue. Of course, the MSM has to have something to talk about.

[MineralMan]

20. OK. Head on, I plan to vote for and campaign for Joe Biden.

I can see no reason not to, and plenty of reason to do so. In the even of his death or inability to continue as President, I am confident in Kamala Harris's ability to step in competently and in keeping with my preferences.

What's the argument against voting for Biden? So far, I haven't heard one that isn't based on age.

[BeyondGeography]

23. Yeah, he's old, but he just needs to settle on a voice and avoid the riffs to nowhere

because his story is solid. He doesn’t have content issues.

Calm Joe is the best. Shouting Joe, not so good.

Disciplined Joe is very good. Undisciplined Joe, very bad.

Humble Joe, aces. Defensive Joe, danger danger.

Calm Joe and Patriotic Joe is a bulletproof combination. Much better than Shouting Joe.

Calm Joe must be careful not to mumble. Calm Joe can raise his voice every now and then if that’s what it takes to avoid mumbling.

There are optical issues, let’s be honest. He walks like his age…the fewer steps to and from the podium the better. Have people approach him don’t make him go to them. Whatever. I don’t know the answer, staffers, figure it out.

[treestar]

28. Age can be a factor but not the only one

What a great job he is doing - how fit he is for his age and he has a younger VEEP why overlook that so much, MSM?

[tavernier]

32. The only thing that bothers me

is how much quicker he is mentally than most people on the planet. He remembers everything and his mind works very much like a computer. How come I didn’t get that ability?

[betsuni]

41. Biden himself jokes about it.

Biden has "most of his faculties intact"? What faculties are not intact?

Accusing Democrats of "ignoring" things makes me cranky.

[Midwestern Democrat]

42. Honestly, there's nothing we can do about it. Nominating an 82 year old man for a four year term is

a gamble - there's no way to spin it otherwise - all we can do is convince people it's a gamble worth taking, considering the alternative.

[GreenEyedLefty]

43. "We" already made that fucking choice

in 2020. There was a field of great Democrats of all ages but "we" picked Biden as our candidate.

I think the real issue going on here besides ageism, which is pretty fucking gross, is racism.

People are finally waking up to the fact that Biden chose a black woman as his running mate and they don't like it. So they're making his age this huge issue.

I'll take 1,000 Bidens all the same age over the nutjob Republican caucus made up of people half Biden's age.

I don't know what else to say. Congratulations on buying into the Republican talking points, I guess?

I stand with Biden and Harris, full stop.