Age Is Not The Issue
I recently read the 300+ page Investigative Report created by Special Counsel Robert K. Hur about the classified documents found in President Joe Biden’s possession at various locations. In my humble opinion, the entire conclusion, and basis for that conclusion, could have been stated within the first 14 pages of the report, and actually it was. I found the report to be exhaustive and redundant.
The important take-aways are that no criminal charges are warranted. Regarding the various types of documents and personal notes and notebooks that were found in various locations, the report stated that the evidence did not establish guilt beyond a reasonable doubt and was not sufficient to convict. Much of the report was spent explaining how they came to that conclusion.
Among the various reasons mentioned in the report for not being able to establish guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, as stated on page 208, was Joe Biden’s memory. According to the author, during the 5 hour/2 day interview on October 8-9, 2023, President Biden “… did not remember when he was vice president …” and “He did not remember, even within several years, when his son Beau died.” On page 6, it was stated that Joe Biden presented at the interview “as a sympathetic, well-meaning elderly man with a poor memory.” Right away this drew national attention to President Biden’s age of 81. First of all, notice the dates of the interview. The first two days following the horrendously barbaric, October 7th, terrorist attacks against Israeli citizens by Hamas. I would assume that Joe Biden was feeling distressed, grieving and his focus was on more pressing issues than this interview. Secondly, the statement referring to his memory of his son’s death was totally irrelevant and callous. As a parent who has also lost a child, I can tell you that you will never forget that date as long as you live. If President Biden had a momentary loss of memory it was due to the undue pressure he was surely under, and perhaps a lack of sleep as well.
I am 65 years old, and I don’t always remember where I parked my car when I walk out of the grocery store, but that doesn’t mean that I’m senile. My father, Jack Schillinger, who is pictured with me, was 95 when this photo was taken in 2015. He had just won a national award for a lifetime of service to United Cerebral Palsy. He was intelligent and clear minded up until he took ill and passed in January 2017 at the age of 96.
A person’s chronological age does not alone determine their ability to work, think, problem solve or make decisions. The following well known people are still actively working in their fields well into their 80’s. Jane Fonda – 86, Lily Tomlin – 84, Robert De Niro – 80, Al Pacino – 83, Joe Pesci – 81, Bob Dylan – 82 to name a few. Furthermore, in President Biden’s case, he is not alone in his day to day duties. If he should forget something, he has staff who are always there to refresh his memory. Sure, President Biden has slowed down a bit from four years ago. Being president takes a toll on all who hold the office. But he still has the ability, experience, knowledge and wisdom that this country, and world, needs in a leader. The world doesn’t need another strongman.
During the recent State of The Union address on March 7th, President Biden spoke with confidence, clarity, wit, strength and a fierceness in his voice. I did not see an elderly man in the least.
In deciding who should be the next president, age should not be the issue. The issue is who will continue our democracy; our founder’s American Experiment? At least one candidate makes it quite clear that he reveres loyalty to him above all else. Along with this comes The Heritage Foundation’s “Project 2025” that plans to replace all of Washington, D.C.’s civil service employees with their own conservative loyalists and gives the president “absolute power” upon inauguration.
The issue is democracy and preserving it for future generations. Vote for a presidential candidate, who can win enough electoral votes, to do this. In order to send a clear message, a pro-democracy candidate must win the Presidency, and pro-democracy candidates must win Senate and House seats too.
The world does not need another strongman. We The People must make our choice known!
Submitted by Robin Katzenstein, a volunteer with The Union
Note: The views and opinions expressed by volunteer contributors are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the positions of The Union, a single-issue organization that welcomes all and is dedicated to protecting democracy.
If you’d like to help defend democracy in the US, we invite you to join The Union.
Perfect!