This is so painful. A little over four years ago I (reluctantly) came to realize that Joe was exactly what we all needed in that particular Covid moment. Grandpa in his slippers. Now, four years later, most of us want to take away the car keys but he doesn't want to stop driving.
I agree completely. I had to turn off Morning Joe this morning (Monday) because they are Biden apologists. But maybe before he (eventually) quits, he could kill Trump, as the Supreme Court said he could.
Amen. From your nonagenarian friend & fellow agitator: I admire & appreciate Joe Biden, which saddens me all the more . He hasn't watched the debate?? Forheavenssakes, why not? Aging may not be easy, but one can accept it with grace or deny it to one's peril. If Joe & Company can't see what a switch to a ticket with youth, energy & enthusiasm would mean -- i.e. a likely clear win (possibly big win) vs a frighteningly probable loss -- their heads are deeply plunged into the sand. Could we all please just seriously put the country first? 😠
thanks Leah... so much of this resonated with me... strangely... there is not enough time for everything.... that was the big surprise in reaching my twilight trajectory.... thanks for the good humor about it all too.... dan nicoletta
Louder, please, is on the money! Just went through a bit of a hassle getting problems with my otherwise-crucial hearing aids sorted out. Turns out the deal was a lot easier to fix ... if I had been at the top of my game. I'm doing ok for my 90+ years ... but definitely not where I used to be!
There are people who still depend on me. I'll do my best ... but "my best" really may not be enough.
i feel both compassion and frustration with biden. he's lost sight of his oath and purpose - to serve the nation...especially when the stakes are so very high and perilous. he apparently is more concerned with his own legacy - which would be so much stronger, if - like michael jordan - he knew to step down at the height of his game.
hey we never did make a plan for tea - still wanna meet up sometime this summer? xoxo
Thank you Leah for your excellent perspective on this crucial problem. We're with you. We're going to do what we can to help elect house and senate seats. I can't just moan, although I'm doing plenty of that.
Leah, That is a wonderful thoughtful post. It is sad to see the narcissism of Biden coming to the fore when our democracy, such as it is, is on the line. Robin's analogy says it all. I'm not sure the Lord almighty was watching the debate or the interview.
I cannot disagree with a word you wrote, Leah, but my frustration lies in the helplessness of the whole situation. Joe Biden is the only one who can decide to drop out and there's nothing the rest of us can do about it. "Nothing" isn't entirely true. We can talk to people. We can write. I've actually spoken to people lately who voted for Trump in the past (they're not easy to find in these parts, thankfully) who told me they refuse to vote for him again. One assured me that her republican friends feel the same way, but they can't bring themselves to vote for Biden, either. And they loathe Kamala. I think I've convinced a couple of them to ignore his name on the ballot and simply vote blue this time, for the sake of the SCOTUS and their grandchildren's future freedoms. Thanks for still putting your voice out there, Leah! I'm sure you have more freedom to do so here than you had with your newspaper column, though I still miss it a lot.
Well-said, as always, Leah. I'm frustrated that one party lines up behind a candidate - no matter what he does or how crazy he sounds - so it can win, and the other party falls apart just when it needs to do the opposite. The current president doesn't need to make quick decisions as in a debate to do his job. He's surrounded by competent people. He can delegate. If it's true he's a 10-to-4 president, that's better to me than someone who claims to want to be a dictator on day one and who spoke forcefully in the debate but wasn't truthful in what he said. If not Biden, who else? I know there are many younger people out there who could run. But we can't ignore the vice president as the presumptive choice, even though Harris' poll numbers are low. How can you bypass the first Black and Southeast Asian female vice president as presidential nominee? I hear a lot of talk proposing a lot of other candidates for president. Are we certain they can win the votes of those who consider themselves Democrats, win the independent vote, and attract those who can't bring themselves to vote for Trump? (I'm not saying Harris can; I'm saying it would be a huge slap in the face to her and a big part of the electorate if she is not proposed.) There isn't a lot of time here before the election. Leah mentioned that her sons didn't watch the debate. I know a 30-something young man who believes that politics is "entertainment." Politics shapes the laws and policies that protect our safety, environment, and rights; dismissing it as entertainment overlooks its profound impact on our daily lives. I'm usually optimistic but I feel very troubled about what's happening right now. As a boomer myself, I'm less worried about Biden's age than what happens if Trump wins.
What is tragic and frightening is that Biden will now be dragged down. He did a really good job as President in an extremely hard period. He wanted this all his life, he fought and won the job, but now he is behaving like RGB who left us in this perilous place with the Supreme Court. These are very big bad decisions and Biden’s family needs to step in. He is only going to make this race harder to win when what he could do is go like a gentleman and go down in history as a great man. Not an ego who doesn’t realize he’s taking the world down with him. Not just America. And I do not think he can win. Though of course I will vote for him if I have to but I can’t say the same for my sons. They may not vote at all. It’s unfathomable that Trump is even a candidate. But Biden is beginning to look like that, too.
Feel exactly the same way. He could go out and be celebrated with laurels. Instead, if he loses -- which seems probable right now -- he'll be damned for is ego.
This is so painful. A little over four years ago I (reluctantly) came to realize that Joe was exactly what we all needed in that particular Covid moment. Grandpa in his slippers. Now, four years later, most of us want to take away the car keys but he doesn't want to stop driving.
Exactly!
Are you still driving? 😂
I’ll vote for Biden, a field- promoted Harris, Buttigieg, Whitmer, or a ham sandwich, whatever the Dems nominate. Project 2025 must be stopped.
Agree completely
I agree completely. I had to turn off Morning Joe this morning (Monday) because they are Biden apologists. But maybe before he (eventually) quits, he could kill Trump, as the Supreme Court said he could.
Alice K
Erasmus Hall High School, 1957
Oh this made me laugh (and cry). New Utrecht, 1962
Erasmus Hall ‘57
Amen. From your nonagenarian friend & fellow agitator: I admire & appreciate Joe Biden, which saddens me all the more . He hasn't watched the debate?? Forheavenssakes, why not? Aging may not be easy, but one can accept it with grace or deny it to one's peril. If Joe & Company can't see what a switch to a ticket with youth, energy & enthusiasm would mean -- i.e. a likely clear win (possibly big win) vs a frighteningly probable loss -- their heads are deeply plunged into the sand. Could we all please just seriously put the country first? 😠
thanks Leah... so much of this resonated with me... strangely... there is not enough time for everything.... that was the big surprise in reaching my twilight trajectory.... thanks for the good humor about it all too.... dan nicoletta
His giving it his all (i.e., staying in the fight) is of no comfort to me! If he runs and loses, we're all doomed!
totally agree.
Louder, please, is on the money! Just went through a bit of a hassle getting problems with my otherwise-crucial hearing aids sorted out. Turns out the deal was a lot easier to fix ... if I had been at the top of my game. I'm doing ok for my 90+ years ... but definitely not where I used to be!
There are people who still depend on me. I'll do my best ... but "my best" really may not be enough.
It's a tough one.
Well said, as usual, Leah.
I'm so glad to still be able to check in to see what you're thinking!
Thanks so much. The whole spectacle is sickening … but not as sickening as the prospect of T winning
i feel both compassion and frustration with biden. he's lost sight of his oath and purpose - to serve the nation...especially when the stakes are so very high and perilous. he apparently is more concerned with his own legacy - which would be so much stronger, if - like michael jordan - he knew to step down at the height of his game.
hey we never did make a plan for tea - still wanna meet up sometime this summer? xoxo
Thank you Leah for your excellent perspective on this crucial problem. We're with you. We're going to do what we can to help elect house and senate seats. I can't just moan, although I'm doing plenty of that.
Leah, That is a wonderful thoughtful post. It is sad to see the narcissism of Biden coming to the fore when our democracy, such as it is, is on the line. Robin's analogy says it all. I'm not sure the Lord almighty was watching the debate or the interview.
As horrified as I am by this whole debacle, I can’t stop thinking about it. A fascinating tragedy (and “tragedy” will have a new definition if T wins)
I cannot disagree with a word you wrote, Leah, but my frustration lies in the helplessness of the whole situation. Joe Biden is the only one who can decide to drop out and there's nothing the rest of us can do about it. "Nothing" isn't entirely true. We can talk to people. We can write. I've actually spoken to people lately who voted for Trump in the past (they're not easy to find in these parts, thankfully) who told me they refuse to vote for him again. One assured me that her republican friends feel the same way, but they can't bring themselves to vote for Biden, either. And they loathe Kamala. I think I've convinced a couple of them to ignore his name on the ballot and simply vote blue this time, for the sake of the SCOTUS and their grandchildren's future freedoms. Thanks for still putting your voice out there, Leah! I'm sure you have more freedom to do so here than you had with your newspaper column, though I still miss it a lot.
Well-said, as always, Leah. I'm frustrated that one party lines up behind a candidate - no matter what he does or how crazy he sounds - so it can win, and the other party falls apart just when it needs to do the opposite. The current president doesn't need to make quick decisions as in a debate to do his job. He's surrounded by competent people. He can delegate. If it's true he's a 10-to-4 president, that's better to me than someone who claims to want to be a dictator on day one and who spoke forcefully in the debate but wasn't truthful in what he said. If not Biden, who else? I know there are many younger people out there who could run. But we can't ignore the vice president as the presumptive choice, even though Harris' poll numbers are low. How can you bypass the first Black and Southeast Asian female vice president as presidential nominee? I hear a lot of talk proposing a lot of other candidates for president. Are we certain they can win the votes of those who consider themselves Democrats, win the independent vote, and attract those who can't bring themselves to vote for Trump? (I'm not saying Harris can; I'm saying it would be a huge slap in the face to her and a big part of the electorate if she is not proposed.) There isn't a lot of time here before the election. Leah mentioned that her sons didn't watch the debate. I know a 30-something young man who believes that politics is "entertainment." Politics shapes the laws and policies that protect our safety, environment, and rights; dismissing it as entertainment overlooks its profound impact on our daily lives. I'm usually optimistic but I feel very troubled about what's happening right now. As a boomer myself, I'm less worried about Biden's age than what happens if Trump wins.
Of course I'll vote for Biden. But I think the Dems look like fools letting him being the candidate.
What is tragic and frightening is that Biden will now be dragged down. He did a really good job as President in an extremely hard period. He wanted this all his life, he fought and won the job, but now he is behaving like RGB who left us in this perilous place with the Supreme Court. These are very big bad decisions and Biden’s family needs to step in. He is only going to make this race harder to win when what he could do is go like a gentleman and go down in history as a great man. Not an ego who doesn’t realize he’s taking the world down with him. Not just America. And I do not think he can win. Though of course I will vote for him if I have to but I can’t say the same for my sons. They may not vote at all. It’s unfathomable that Trump is even a candidate. But Biden is beginning to look like that, too.
Feel exactly the same way. He could go out and be celebrated with laurels. Instead, if he loses -- which seems probable right now -- he'll be damned for is ego.
It’s wonderful dear Leah, thanks for this rather sorrowful and very — alas all too timely essay!!
Leah, great column. You nailed it, unfortunately.