The press gathered to get vital information on the standard briefings and get answers to their political queries. One man stood on the podium as the leader, answering and disclosing matters of national concern.
However, during the Q and A session, the influential political figure froze mid-sentence. The man in question was senate minority leader Mitch McConnell. He apparently suffered an episode of Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) or a short-term stroke.
The Republicans poured in well-wishes for their leader. And people forgot about it in a few days, given that Mr. McConnell quickly recovered from his state. But then, the same episode repeated a second time during another conference, where he froze for 30 seconds and remained unresponsive.
Even after he resumed, the senate leader was unable to fathom the questions, while an aide had to repeat them to him. This prompted an online discourse on whether political leaders tasked with such paramount legislative responsibilities should have an age limit.
Raising similar concerns, a popular Washington Post columnist, David Ignatius, wrote an op-ed explaining his stance on why President Joe Biden should not run for elections in the second term. He clarifies that Biden has been quite efficient in implementing policies that ex-president Trump failed at. However, according to Ignatius, he is not fit to continue his presidency as the oldest president.
Who Is David Ignatius?
David Ignatius is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author, best known for his work as a columnist for The Washington Post. He has covered international affairs and politics for over three decades.
His literary contributions include topics such as espionage, terrorism, and geopolitics. Ignatius has also written non-fiction books on American foreign policy. One of his notable works is America and the World: Conversations on the Future of American Foreign Policy. He is widely respected for his insightful analysis and thought-provoking commentary on global events.
Ignatius has received recognition for his work, including the James Aronson Award for Social Justice Journalism and the Polk Award.
Moreover, he has published several articles analyzing and praising Biden’s political journey, even during the Obama administration. President Biden has also favored the coveted journalist.
But the recent opinion piece by David Ignatius for the Washington Post ignites the discourse of whether Biden is fit for the next term of his presidency.
What Did David Ignatius Say to Joe Biden?
Before putting forth his argument, Ignatius prefaced his article by suggesting that Joe Biden has been one of the most efficient presidents to implement various legislations successfully. He said–
“What I admire most about President Biden is that in a polarized nation, he has governed from the center out, as he promised in his victory speech. With an unexpectedly steady hand, he passed some of the most important domestic legislation in recent decades. In foreign policy, he managed the delicate balance of helping Ukraine fight Russia without getting America itself into a war. In sum, he has been a successful and effective president.”
He then stated how Biden managed to pull a string of wins by first defeating Trump in the 2020 elections, prosecuting the Jan 6 rioters, and forming a special counsel with Jack Smith to indict Trump.
However, according to Ignatius, this isn’t enough to run an administration. He cites a recent Associated Press-NORC poll that gives two significant inferences–
- “77 percent of the public, including 69 percent of Democrats, think he’s too old to be effective for four more years.”
- Biden’s presidency will be marred by the age-limit discourse, where the right-wing media might overshadow his competency by bringing in his age.
Ignatius pointed out that “It’s been the subject of dinner-table conversations across America this summer.” Biden would be 82 when starting a second term.
Ignatius feels that VP Kamala Harris has failed to gain the traction to amass substantial votes, with only 39.5% approval ratings. He further suggests that the now-Mayor of Los Angeles Karen Bass, or Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo are far more competent prospects.
He also points out that Hunter Biden’s trials have tarnished Biden’s chances as a strong democratic candidate against the Republican representatives.
To sum it up, Ignatius concludes his op-ed by stating–
“Biden has in many ways remade himself as president. He is no longer the garrulous glad-hander I met when I first covered Congress more than four decades ago. He’s still an old-time pol, to be sure, but he is now more focused and strategic; he executes policies systematically, at home and abroad. As Franklin Foer writes in “The Last Politician,” a new account of Biden’s presidency, “he will be remembered as the old hack who could.”
What is your take on the Ignatius opinion piece? Do you think he made conclusions out of feelings and not facts? Was he wrong in his views on VP?
Do you believe that age should be a deciding factor in politics? Let us know in the comments section below.
Source: Washington Post.