Biden Is Doing a Good Job, But He Should Quit in 2024
Published in Der Standard
(Austria) on 3 November 2023
by Manuel Escher (link to original)
(Austria) on 3 November 2023
by Manuel Escher (link to original)
Translated from
by Kirsty Low.
Edited by Laurence Bouvard.
The U.S. presidential race will be tight, and defeat cannot be ruled out. With a year to go until the election, this is Biden's last chance to leave on good terms.
No, Joe Biden is not doing a bad job at all. And yes, under his leadership, the U.S. has responded sensibly to the many crises that Biden has faced. His policies are sound, and his many years of experience have been on show in negotiations with Republicans in the Senate and House of Representatives. No part of U.S. behavior suggests that the 80-year-old is no longer up to the task — on the contrary, the U.S. government is doing an extremely difficult job responsibly. This has long convinced many commentators, including the author of this article.
But unfortunately, it's no good. The idea that the president is too old for another term, his mind is fading, and his body is cooperating less and less has become entrenched in the minds of many voters. From Biden's slip-ups to his often-slurred speech heard in some important speeches — all of this plays its part. And there is a kernel of truth in there, of course: No one can say whether Biden would have the level of fitness needed in his job by the time he would end his second term at 86 years of age.
Polls suggest that a close race lies ahead for the Democrats with Biden — and possibly defeat at the hands of Donald Trump. Knowing what we know today, Biden should have chosen not to run again last spring. But unfortunately, we cannot turn back time. This is his last chance to leave on good terms. The U.S. president would be doing his country a great service if he were to take it.
No, Joe Biden is not doing a bad job at all. And yes, under his leadership, the U.S. has responded sensibly to the many crises that Biden has faced. His policies are sound, and his many years of experience have been on show in negotiations with Republicans in the Senate and House of Representatives. No part of U.S. behavior suggests that the 80-year-old is no longer up to the task — on the contrary, the U.S. government is doing an extremely difficult job responsibly. This has long convinced many commentators, including the author of this article.
But unfortunately, it's no good. The idea that the president is too old for another term, his mind is fading, and his body is cooperating less and less has become entrenched in the minds of many voters. From Biden's slip-ups to his often-slurred speech heard in some important speeches — all of this plays its part. And there is a kernel of truth in there, of course: No one can say whether Biden would have the level of fitness needed in his job by the time he would end his second term at 86 years of age.
Polls suggest that a close race lies ahead for the Democrats with Biden — and possibly defeat at the hands of Donald Trump. Knowing what we know today, Biden should have chosen not to run again last spring. But unfortunately, we cannot turn back time. This is his last chance to leave on good terms. The U.S. president would be doing his country a great service if he were to take it.
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