AP Photo/Gerald Herbert
Everyone over 40 or so knows that with age comes some physical changes. Most of us aren't as quick, are losing some endurance, and we get tired faster than we used to. Those of us who are over 60 know that even better - but not everybody ages at the same rate. That's why, when discussing the fitness of older people for certain jobs, we must examine the person and their capacity, not just their age.
Joe Biden, at 81, is failing. There can be no argument about this any longer - not after last Thursday.
Now another data point may shine some light on his abysmal debate performance. Joe Biden, it seems, is only fully alert and active for about six hours a day.
After President Joe Biden‘s public implosion during his dumpster fire of a debate performance on CNN, the dam has finally broken, with current and former aides to the president anonymously breaking ranks and pointing fingers. Alex Thompson reports that “the public split screen” between the incoherent and slack-jawed octogenarian on Thursday and the relatively competent campaigner galvanizing rally-goers the next afternoon is no accidental chasm.
“Biden’s miscues and limitations are more familiar inside the White House,” Thompson writes. “The time of day is important as to which of the two Bidens will appear. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Biden is dependably engaged — and many of his public events in front of cameras are held within those hours. Outside of that time range or while traveling abroad, Biden is more likely to have verbal miscues and become fatigued, aides told Axios.”
It's called called "sundowning," and the Mayo Clinic describes it thusly:
The term "sundowning" refers to a state of confusion that occurs in the late afternoon and lasts into the night. Sundowning can cause various behaviors, such as confusion, anxiety, aggression or ignoring directions. Sundowning also can lead to pacing or wandering.
This is, almost certainly, what happened to Joe Biden in the first 2024 presidential debate.
This isn't going unnoticed, of course.
Couple Biden’s six-hour workday with the fact that he’s spent 40% of his presidency on vacation, and our own Zachary Faria asks a great point.
Yes, Joe Biden spends almost half of his time showing off his shriveled grandpa bod on a Delaware beach, which is an option that's just not available to most Americans - and it is something that most Americans just aren't able to do. Old Joe also works less than half the time that his predecessors have been engaged in being, you know, the leader of the free world.
This lack of capacity has been apparent for some time, of course. And the implications are apparent, as well; the leader of the free world, the man with a thumb on the nuclear button, the man who is commander-in-chief of all of our armed forces, arguably the most powerful individual on the planet, and he's only fully alert and capable from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.? What happens if a major event occurs at, say, 6:30 p.m.?
Then we'd be in serious trouble.
We've seen a lot of talk about the Democrats replacing Joe Biden at the top of their ticket, which appears to be difficult but not impossible.
What is less apparent is how many Democrats understand that this is not just a matter of winning or losing an election. This is a matter of national security. The president, the man in charge of the executive branch, the commander-in-chief of our military, is non compos mentis most of the day. Rest assured that unfriendly powers - like Iran - are aware of this.
