I get it, Biden is old and that’s a problem, but why doesn’t anyone seem to have a problem with the fact that Trump is almost the same age, has 34 felonies, raped at least 2 women, went to Epstein’s Island 11 times, sexualized his own daughter, stole classified documents, aligned himself with Xi and Putin, and can’t remember common names?

Is all of that really better than being 2½ years older than he is right now?

  • conditional_soup@lemm.ee
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    34
    ·
    5 months ago

    I keep seeing this sentiment, and it boggles me. Last season’s winning horse just debuted this season with a huge limp, and the response from some people has been “it’s fine, stop panicking, we’ll win if we just keep betting on it.”

    • OpenStars@discuss.online
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      13
      ·
      5 months ago

      Also, his debates last time weren’t… ideal, but he at least remained awake during them!? Anyway, I’m with you: I understand someone wanting him to win, but how on earth can this be considered a done deal already?

      There is a time and a place to stop all questions and get to work. But we aren’t there yet!? And being ready to change one’s mind based on the most current set of facts is literally the hallmark of the Age of Enlightenment, as opposed to e.g. the divine right of rulers to continue for as long as they wish to?

      • Lemminary@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        18
        ·
        5 months ago

        at least remained awake during them

        It’s fine if you want to criticize Biden, but can we stop with the Sleepy Joe bullshit? It’s nothing but Trump’s political slander.

        • OpenStars@discuss.online
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          9
          ·
          5 months ago

          I mean did you…

          watch the…

          thing, you know the thing, that does the stuff?

          Please note, I’m not suggesting to not vote Democrat. Also, the sleepy Joe stuff back then was different than it was here during this debate?

          • Lemminary@lemmy.world
            link
            fedilink
            arrow-up
            11
            ·
            edit-2
            5 months ago

            Yes, not the whole thing, but I watched enough and I’m not even American. Is there a specific part you’d like to point out?

            This is also relevant and worth considering: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/biden-quips-almost-fell-asleep-onstage-debate-rcna160075

            Also, can you type normally, please? I’m not sure what your formatting is trying to convey but it feels either sarcastic or condescending for no good reason.

                • conditional_soup@lemm.ee
                  link
                  fedilink
                  arrow-up
                  4
                  ·
                  5 months ago

                  The difference is that Biden has markedly declined from previous performances. He spent most of that night stumbling, mumbling, and struggling to speak clearly, none of which is his stutter, because a stutter is a very specific speech impediment. He was downright difficult to understand on average, and flat out unintelligible at worst. Even when he got riled up, like with the losers and suckers remark, it sounded like he was having trouble forming word sounds accurately, like he has dysarthria. Even in carefully curated campaign material, like asking for donations, he sounds out of breath and like he’s struggling to speak clearly.

                  • OpenStars@discuss.online
                    link
                    fedilink
                    English
                    arrow-up
                    1
                    ·
                    5 months ago

                    Excellently articulated. Perhaps there’s a simple explanation for all of this - perhaps he’s sick, or if we really want to get conspiratorial, even maliciously poisoned? (I’m trying to convey something that would be outside of his control hence not remotely his fault in any way.)

                    The thing is, it doesn’t matter. He could have cancelled the debate altogether, but instead he rushed through it. This seems reminiscent of his handling of the withdrawal from Afghanistan, which tbf was 99.9% Trump’s deal, except the handling of it was Biden’s, and revealed some about his personality, to ignore his advisors and substitute his own knowledge for theirs. Which is fine, it’s his prerogative as President to do exactly that, except… he was wrong. The first and basically only job of a leader is to pick good advisors and listen to them, so as to be correct. (Then, if time, train someone else to do likewise.)

                    This is also reminiscent of Bill Clinton’s handling of his sexual scandals - it happens, but then he went and lied about it to the Supreme Court, which was a whole other thing.

                    So now, people are - FOR SOME REASON - not quite trusting that what Biden is saying is truthful. Maybe he means well, maybe it really is temporary, but again, none of that is relevant. He needs to reassure people, if not last week’s opportunity then create some new one, that he really does have what it takes to go the distance and be the leader of the United States of America for the next four years.

                    Fuck, I’m freaking out, bc Trump is going to win.:-( Anyway, thank you for keeping your head about you as the rest of us lose ours - your calm and cogent analyses of things are helpful to read:-).

          • John_McMurray@lemmy.world
            link
            fedilink
            arrow-up
            4
            ·
            5 months ago

            Three fucking years, Joe being senile was a “conspiracy theory” and then they trot captain Alzheimer’s out

            • OpenStars@discuss.online
              link
              fedilink
              English
              arrow-up
              3
              ·
              5 months ago

              Tbf it really did seem a conspiracy theory back when it started. He used to be fairly energetic, despite being old. But, time passes.

              The problem now is that unlike conservatives, liberals don’t take as kindly to being lied to, and to say that he’s both too old to speak and also not too old to be President… it just doesn’t sit right.

              • Ensign_Crab@lemmy.world
                link
                fedilink
                English
                arrow-up
                4
                ·
                5 months ago

                Particularly when the same wing of the party was utterly vicious about Sanders’ age when he was 75 back in 2016.