Marilyn Monroe singing “Completely satisfied Birthday Mr. President” in her iconic sultry voice this isn’t.
No, that is extra like if far-left filmmaker Michael Moore coughed “Completely satisfied Birthday” into your face — whereas sporting Monroe’s skintight costume.
President Joe Biden was “having fun with” his 81st birthday on Monday, and whereas that may usually be a trigger for celebration, the president’s second full yr as an octogenarian isn’t getting off to probably the most rousing begin, at the least based on Politico.
The outlet referred to as it a “not so pleased birthday for Biden” on the outset of the article and would go on to color a grim image for a person who genuinely seems to be looking for re-election.
Whereas Biden has a litany of points with which he should grapple, starting from his troubled son all the best way to the decrepit state of the U.S. economic system, these points are all — in principle, at the least — fixable.
(Sure, if historical past is any indication, Biden gained’t magically turn out to be father or undertake fiscally accountable insurance policies in a single day, however they’re at the least within the realm of far-flung risk.)
What isn’t almost within the realm of risk is reversing or mitigating the very trigger for celebration Monday: Biden, already the oldest president in U.S. historical past, is now 81.
With an octogenarian president, these are, fairly actually, uncharted waters for this nation.
Now, if Biden have been 81 however the economic system was booming, crime was down, the borders have been secured and the U.S. was thriving on a world stage?
These considerations about Biden’s traditionally superior age for his put up would nonetheless be there, however they might be way more muted if the nation have been thriving. A thriving nation merely wants a steward to keep up the established order.
The USA, sadly, isn’t thriving and subsequently wants an precise chief excess of a steward.
The polls replicate that American voters are starting to come back to this realization — and so too are these closest to Biden.
“Even these in Biden’s internal circle, together with relations, fear in regards to the optics of age,” Politico reported. “These shut allies consider that Biden is mentally up for the job, however some acknowledge that the president can at instances seem frail, based on two individuals concerned within the conversations however not licensed to talk publicly about inner deliberations.”
The problem for Group Biden is that “the optics of age” are hardly optics in any respect. The president’s falling on stairs and struggling to string together coherent sentences should not the optics of growing old, however the precise outcomes of it.
Take, for instance, this “plan” that Biden’s handlers have for him, as referred to as out by Politico.
“As famous on his latest bodily, Biden’s gait has stiffened following foot fractures he suffered taking part in along with his canine in late 2020,” the outlet reported. “Individuals near the president have mentioned having him stroll shorter distances whereas on digital camera.
“They’ve additionally advocated, at instances, buying and selling in formal sneakers for extra snug ones — each to make his stride appear much less stiff, but in addition to scale back the danger of falls.”
Needing your crew to deal with you as for those who have been an invalid is kind of the ignominious birthday current.
Extra so than that, nonetheless, these plans are the equal of utilizing a Band-Assist on a gunshot wound — certain, they might maintain issues collectively only a smidgen longer, however they aren’t precisely addressing the basis drawback.
Strolling shorter distances in additional snug sneakers doesn’t change the truth that Biden will probably be 86 if he wins and finishes a second presidential time period, which is almost 10 years older than the second-oldest president to occupy the Oval Workplace (Ronald Reagan left workplace at 77).
The comfier, shorter walks additionally don’t magically repair the state of the economic system or shore up the nation’s porous borders.
Till all these points are addressed, questions on Biden’s capacity to guide, win re-election and govern will persist.
This text appeared initially on The Western Journal.
