# President Joe Biden and the runup to the 2024 election **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [November 15, 2021, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-joe-biden-and-the-runup-to-the-2024-election/954384 "2021-11-15T14:54:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 39
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2024, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-joe-biden-and-the-runup-to-the-2024-election/954384/772 "2024-02-15T20:15:06Z")
No, it means that Trunp isn’t displaying the obvious cognitive deficits that Biden is displaying. Although he might be starting to. I think people see Biden and Trump’s age differently. In Biden’s case it’s his mental acuity that is in question. I have never seen anyone comment negatively on his physical fitness. He’s trim, he can still ride a bike, he can jog a bit if he needs to - I’d say Biden’s physical health is as good or better than anyone 81 years old should expect. That’s not his problem. Trump, on the other hand, still seems to be able to speak quickly and extemporaneously. He does not present as anywhere near as compromised as Biden intellectually. But he’s a fat slob with a bad diet and a florid, angy disposition. He could drop dead of a heart attack or have a stroke any time. So the key worries about Trump’s age are likely the chance of a physical episode, while Biden’s problem is more about his mental capacity. That’s the way it looks to me, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2024, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-joe-biden-and-the-runup-to-the-2024-election/954384/773 "2024-02-15T20:25:09Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > Oh, I agree. But Biden isn’t going to get away with a basement campaign this time around. A debate would dispel rumors of his failing mind, and refusal to debate, like his refusal to take a cognitive test, looks suspicious and will only make things worse. > > 86% of Americans think Joe Biden is too mentally compromised to be president for four more years. That should be a five alarm fire in the DNC. Biden either has to go out and really demonstrate that he’s got all his faculties, or he will lose the next election. > > If you are really scared of Trump, you should be equaly concerned anout Biden. Because as things stand now, Trump is likely to beat him. And if Biden IS starting to show signs of dementia or senility, it’s only going to get worse. And I think he definitely is. Can he make it to the election without doing or saying something that makes it clear he is unfit? > > And if one of the court cases or his health takes Trump out of the game, Biden is in even worse trouble. The two men need each other, as they are the only people they can each beat. Neither should be running for President. > > I still think the plan is to get Joe through the primaries, then have him announce a health issue and resign before or at the convention. This frees the electors to vote for anyone else, and they do not have to pick Kamala Harris. Otherwise, once the convention is over, if Joe drops out Kamala takes over. And she’s even less popular than Joe. There is no guarantee Harris takes over the Presidential candidacy if Biden resigns. The Democratic Party Rules say that the DNC fills the vacancy. (Charter, Article 2, Section 1(c)). > [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > Say hello to presidential candidate Gavin Newsom. Then say hello to the Republican campaign ads showing California’s “tax the rich” surplus turned deficit while Newsom hosted dinners at his Napa winery during the COVID-19 lockdowns. On top of that, the party then has to explain why President Harris isn’t the nominee - not only to the voters, but to Congress, where any credibility she may have just got pulled out from under her. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2024, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-joe-biden-and-the-runup-to-the-2024-election/954384/774 "2024-02-15T20:25:27Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > No, it means that Trunp isn’t displaying the obvious cognitive deficits that Biden is displaying. Biden certainly is not. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2024, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-joe-biden-and-the-runup-to-the-2024-election/954384/775 "2024-02-15T20:26:50Z")
If only we had a thread with clip after clip after clip after clip after clip after clip after clip of ~~Trunp~~ Trump displaying the obvious cognitive deficits that Biden isn’t displaying . . . if only. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2024, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-joe-biden-and-the-runup-to-the-2024-election/954384/776 "2024-02-15T20:30:04Z")
Moderating: Let’s make sure we’re discussing Trump in Trump threads and Biden in Biden threads. For those who wish to discuss Trump’s mental acuity or lack of same, here’s the thread for that: > [@Is Trump confused?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589): > > People make a lot out of inconsequential political gaffes. Imagine it was you making big speeches or having every musing recorded, despite arduous and frequent travel. Not to mention people continuously trying to ask you loaded questions. Still, this is what politicians sign up for. So is this anything? In October, in a speech in Derry, N.H., he informed his audience that Viktor Orban, the strongman who rules Hungary, is “[the leader of Turkey](https://www.politico.eu/article/trump-confuses-turkish-and-hungarian-leaders-orban-erdogan/).” In November, in a speech in Claremont, N.H., … ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2024, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-joe-biden-and-the-runup-to-the-2024-election/954384/777 "2024-02-15T20:32:18Z")
I could populate a thread with at least a dozen videos of Biden inviting dead people on stage, getting lost in the Rose Garden and having to be directed to where he should go, looking completely lost and wandering in circles, falling off his bicycle while at a stop, tripping repeatedly going up the stairs of AF1, walking out of the room in the middle of a ceremony with everyone looking confused at his departure, etc. I see them every day in my Twitter feed. I don’t know how many of them are selectively edited or otherwise distorted to make Joe look worse. And I don’t care, because I ignore them, and DON’T post them here because that kind of stuff is useless. But pretending they aren’t out there and people aren’t talking about isn’t doing the Democrats any favors. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2024, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-joe-biden-and-the-runup-to-the-2024-election/954384/778 "2024-02-15T20:39:54Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > I have never seen anyone comment negatively on his physical fitness. > [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > falling off his bicycle while at a stop, tripping repeatedly going up the stairs of AF1 Well, now you have. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2024, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-joe-biden-and-the-runup-to-the-2024-election/954384/779 "2024-02-15T20:41:28Z")
No, that would be symptomatic of loss of balance, a mental condition. However, to be fair it could also come from a loss of core strength. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2024, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-joe-biden-and-the-runup-to-the-2024-election/954384/780 "2024-02-15T21:00:08Z")
I just hope he doesn’t try to ride his bike up the stairs into Air Force One. I think that would be a bad idea. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2024, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-joe-biden-and-the-runup-to-the-2024-election/954384/781 "2024-02-15T21:19:58Z")
I can’t think of anything that would dispel rumors of his age issues faster. Who do we talk to to make this happen? ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2024, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-joe-biden-and-the-runup-to-the-2024-election/954384/782 "2024-02-15T21:22:29Z")
Nothing is going to stop the rumors because they are not based on reality. Same as the immigration “crisis” at the border or whatever other bullshit thing the right wants to make up next. You can’t acknowledge this bullshit and treat it like they have valid concerns, they don’t. They never do. About anything. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2024, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-joe-biden-and-the-runup-to-the-2024-election/954384/783 "2024-02-15T21:41:19Z")
Talking about border issues as ‘bullshit’ and denying that there are any issues with Biden’s age at all are really good ways to help elect Trump. Huge percentages of the country, including majorities of Democrats, disagree with you. Guess how many Americans agree that the border is not a problem at all? **Seven Percent** That’s your cohort. Everyone else agrees that it is a problem, and 46% think it is a _crisis_. If the Democrats and Republicans go into this election playing games with the border issue, the party who is seen as the one not serious about the border will very likely lose the election. [https://thehill.com/regulation/national-security/4394219-most-americans-in-new-poll-see-situation-at-border-as-a-crisis-serious-problem/](https://thehill.com/regulation/national-security/4394219-most-americans-in-new-poll-see-situation-at-border-as-a-crisis-serious-problem/) And we can quibble over how many of the 86% who think Biden is too old are worried about his mind, but it damned sure isn’t zero, and is almost certainly at least part of the worry for the majority. Dismiss them at your peril. Mock them, and you are actively helping your side lose support. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2024, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-joe-biden-and-the-runup-to-the-2024-election/954384/784 "2024-02-15T21:46:39Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > If none of those doctors have seen fit to order a cognitive test, that’s a pretty good judgement on his mental state. I rather think it is a pretty good judgement on the tests. Consider this regarding the [Montreal Cognitive Assessment](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montreal_Cognitive_Assessment): > [@](#): > > A score of 26 or over is considered to be normal. . . . > > In a study by Ihle-Hansen et al. (2017), of 3,413 Norwegian participants aged 63–65, of whom 47% had higher education (over 12 years), under 5% of subjects scored 30/30 with a mean MoCA score of 25.3 and 49% scoring below the suggested cut-off of 26 points, leading the authors to suggest that “the cut-off score may have been set too high to distinguish normal cognitive function from MCI”. This doesn’t mean the test is worthless in normal clinical use as one input to an evaluation of how a patient, who inevitably has strengths and weaknesses, is doing. The quote above does mean such tests are worthless as a way to give the public a yes or no answer on whether Biden is slowing down. It isn’t just this one test. All the tests have issues if misused for a purpose they were not intended. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2024, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-joe-biden-and-the-runup-to-the-2024-election/954384/785 "2024-02-15T21:50:18Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > Talking about border issues as ‘bullshit’ and denying that there are any issues with Biden’s age at all are really good ways to help elect Trump. I agree with you here. Telling voters that their concerns are illegitimate is a political mistake. However, as seen in my last post, I don’t agree with you on the potential value of a cognitive test. I’m not sure what Biden can do about the age issue, but getting tested cannot possibly be it. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2024, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-joe-biden-and-the-runup-to-the-2024-election/954384/786 "2024-02-15T22:01:57Z")
The second best option would be to debate Trump. Biden has been President and Vice President. He should be able to debate rings around Trump, and as I recall he did ok last time. Besides, Trump,will likely refuse, then it looks like Trump is the one with something to hide. This would be a smart political play. Biden should aggressively demand that Trump agree to at least one debate. The only reason not to do that is if Biden truly can’t do it any more. Then it’s too risky. But if he is seen as the one refusing the debate, everyone will suspect that anyway. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2024, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-joe-biden-and-the-runup-to-the-2024-election/954384/787 "2024-02-15T22:03:24Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > Talking about border issues as ‘bullshit’ and denying that there are any issues with Biden’s age at all are really good ways to help elect Trump. They are also true, so there we are. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2024, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-joe-biden-and-the-runup-to-the-2024-election/954384/788 "2024-02-15T22:05:20Z")
I take it you’re not a fan of “The Wisdom of Crowds.” ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2024, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-joe-biden-and-the-runup-to-the-2024-election/954384/789 "2024-02-15T22:08:45Z")
Tommy Lee Jones said it best in Men in Black: “A person is smart, people are dumb panicky dangerous animals and you know it”. You can’t deal with bullshit by treating it as legit even if people are believing it. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2024, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-joe-biden-and-the-runup-to-the-2024-election/954384/790 "2024-02-15T22:13:57Z")
The debate seems to be ranging between those who think Biden is fine to great! and those who think he is working with serious cognitive impairment. The latter group are pretty clearly assessing the situation based on political leanings or fears, rather than evidence. To me, though, the more significant issue is not Biden now (he’s fine), but Biden in 2025–2028. His parents both lived into their late 80s / early 90s, so there’s probably less of a risk than for the average man in his 80s, but it’s nevertheless a decade where men who reach it often suffer severe health issues, whether physical or cognitive, up to and including death. No human is free of those risks, of course, but nobody seems to be acknowledging that even a healthy 81-year-old is at SIGNIFICANT risk of something debilitating happening over the next four years. If the alternative is Trump, there’s no question in my mind that this is the lesser risk, but present Biden doesn’t worry me at all. Future Biden worries me a fair bit. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2024, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-joe-biden-and-the-runup-to-the-2024-election/954384/791 "2024-02-15T22:14:02Z")
Trump was the one who turned down a debate last time. There’s no reason to believe Biden won’t be willing to debate him again. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-joe-biden-and-the-runup-to-the-2024-election/954384.md?page=38) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-joe-biden-and-the-runup-to-the-2024-election/954384.md?page=40)