It's the holiday season and everyone in the White House is singing the same refrain: “Joe Biden, too old… tired… lacking energy and inspiration?” Let's see!” He would be inexhaustible and it would be his team that couldn't keep up their pace.
I have doubts. Some days I feel like he's visibly aging before our eyes. His speeches are whispered, murmured; he is confused and has trouble finding the thread; He walks by placing one foot flat in front of the other so as not to take a wrong step, falter and – oh horror! – fall in public.
The man dedicated his life to the American Republic: Senator at age 30 and for 36 years; Vice President for 8 years; Now, at age 81, he is in the final year of his first term as president.
However, in his opinion, this republic and its democracy are threatened by Donald Trump, and Biden seems ready to prolong the sacrifice to prevent him from returning to the White House. “If Trump wasn’t the nominee, I’m not sure I would be,” he admitted about 10 days ago at a campaign fundraiser outside Boston.
ONE VICTIM TOO MANY
From this admission by Biden, I didn't simply understand that Trump worries him so much that he sees no other solution than to pay a little more personally to break the beast once and for all.
What I'm also hearing in the Democratic president's comments is that it wouldn't take long to torture him to get him to admit he's at the end of his rope. Colleagues at AXIOS, the American online media, reported earlier this week that his son Hunter's legal problems are draining him of his vitality.
Hunter Biden has already been prosecuted for possession of an illegal weapon; Last week he was hit with new charges, including failure to pay nearly a million and a half dollars in taxes, charges that could, in the worst case scenario, land him 17 years in prison.
HEAVY CONSCIOUSNESS
Joe Biden, again according to AXIOS, would have suggested to those close to him that if Hunter had not run in 2020, he would never have been the target of criminal prosecution and would not have become the head of conservative media.
Now juxtapose these realities: the devastation of knowing oneself responsible for one's own son's daily misery; the normal tiredness of being 81; Finally, the awareness – I can't believe it's not working for him – that he won't be running for a second term.
Add in parallel the feeling of having put the country back together after the Trump years, the successful exit from the worst pandemic in more than a century, the country's realignment on future paths thanks to massive investments in green energy and a Reconciliation, welcomed by all, with the traditional allies of the United States.
Take a step back and look at the bigger picture…that's why I wouldn't be entirely surprised if the first big surprise of 2024 was a two-word message from Joe Biden: “Bye bye!”
WHO ELSE BUT JOE BIDEN?
Photo IF
Kamala HARRIS
- 59 years old
- Vice President
- Former California Senator
- Harris would likely be considered the front-runner if Biden withdrew.
- However, 53.7% of Americans disapprove of his vice presidency, compared to 36.3% approval.
Photo AFP
Gavin NEWSOM
- 56 years old
- Governor of California
- Former mayor of San Francisco
- Newsom is extremely ambitious, but will the average American be tempted by a man from a state as progressive as California?
Photo AFP
Gretchen WHITMER
- 52 years
- Governor of Michigan
- As an elected official from a traditional bellwether state, Whitmer could potentially attract moderate voters from similar Midwestern states.
Photo IF
Robert F. KENNEDY Junior
- 69 years old
- Environmental lawyer
- Son of Robert F. Kennedy, former Attorney General
- Nephew of John F. Kennedy, former president
- RFK Jr. belongs to the most legendary political family in the United States.
- However, this family rejected him because of his conspiratorial positions, particularly regarding COVID-19 and vaccines.