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Martha Woods's avatar

Clint Eastwood is 92 and just made another movie. Age is irrelevant. Anyone can die at any age. His experience and heart are stronger than ever and he is as optimistic as I was at 20.

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Bill Alstrom (MAtoMainetoMA)'s avatar

Being able to make a movie and being able to make that wonderful NATO speech (and it was fabulous) does not make one the best choice to be the leader of the free world.

Trust me. Biden wakes up every day in pain. He gets out of bed with some difficulty. And then he gets moving and things hurt a little less. He gets focused soon and makes great decisions (mostly). I am proud of him.

But someone who is in his/her 50s or 60s could get more done much faster. That's a fact. Does his "experience" outweigh his lack of youthful energy? Maybe. But it speaks volumes about our lack of faith in the hundreds of more capable younger Democrats who could do the the job. And who would inspire Gen Y and Z to vote.

I'll support Joe. Because he WILL be the candidate. I admire and respect him. But if we lose this election, it will be because thousands of young people might just stay home.

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Martha Woods's avatar

Um, the proof is in the pudding as they say. Biden, using his experience and relationships has had immediate impact in less than four years. Clinton, Bush(s), Obama combined did little in comparison. Obama tried to do much more but he wasn't able to permanently move the needle. If I recall correctly, Biden provided a great assist in getting the ACA pass and took a hit from Obama supporters for getting ahead of Obama for bringing lgbta+ rights into the forefront. Youth does not equal better. Ten of the 25 richest men in America are in their late 70s early 80s...Warren Buffett and Leonard Lauder in their 90s! I'm sure they all have aches and pains. However, FDR who was only in his early 50s when he was elected had it much worse physically and had poor health and served 3+ terms. If Biden gets four more years...get out of the way because he won't be resting on his laurels. If young people stay home over his age God help them .....climate change is real and no Republican has any ideas on what or how to even begin.

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Mitchell Pressman's avatar

So many good, heartfelt comments in this thread. Biden probably wouldn't have entered the race in 2018 and won if not for the fact that he was the candidate who most clearly understood and expressed the stakes involved. We all wish, including Biden, I bet, that we would be as wise at a younger age, but so be it.

One note about Obama: One glaring reason he wasn't able to "permanently move the needle" is that his successor rode the wave of white backlash that occurs every single time Black Americans have surmounted a racist barrier. His successor spent the next four years actively dismantling or attempting to dismantle everything Obama accomplished.

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Martha Woods's avatar

Exactly. It was very sad to watch. And of course McConnell made it all possible by giving them wind at their backs over the supreme court nominee.

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Virginia Witmer's avatar

Yes, Martha. We must keep reminding ourselves and others that climate change is VERY real and that Republicans refuse to recognize it. Bill Nye, тАЬthe science Guy,тАЭтАЩwas on television yesterday saying that from now on no breaks in storms, fires, floods, etc. Has anyone else gotten their home insurance bill for next year? Mine doubled (in a condo in downtown Chicsgo) and we had tornado warnings all around us yesterday. Are we prepared to have (kill/off-or make serfs of poor survivors) Republicans running the country?

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Martha Woods's avatar

We are of like minds.

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Nancy W's avatar

тАЬBut someone who is in his/her 50s or 60s could get more done much faster.тАЭ

Bill... I couldnтАЩt disagree with you more! Stamina is as much (or more) a state of mind as it is physical ability. IтАЩm almost 80 and from what I have observed, especially lately, President Biden has more stamina than any 10 80-year-olds I know put together. (I live in a Senior Living Community). And I donтАЩt really understand your point that things need to get done faster. Thoughtful deliberate progress comes first in my mind. Also, think FDR. Biden is the person we needed/need for this point in history. IтАЩm glad you will still vote for him.

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Bill Alstrom (MAtoMainetoMA)'s avatar

Your thinking is well reasoned and thoughtful. I stand by my thinking that it is long overdue for us boomers to pass the torch.

My biggest concern is with youth turnout. Turnup.org is a place where young people are making things happen. A good thing.

I'll vote blue, no matter who. The alternative is fascism.

And for inspiration, contrary to my premise, our Senator Markey (old guy) was re-elected after primarying young Joe Kennedy!

So I am looking forward to being very wrong!

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Bridget Collins's avatar

Bill, I don't know that's true for everyone

Two of my aunts lived into their 80s and neither one of them complained about pain.

The one who was 84 went out every day and met with friends until covid -- then she learned how to use Zoom.

She walked everywhere and if it weren't for her lupus reacting with other medications, we'd still have her.

A friend's father was playing tennis three times a week in his mid 80s.

There are family members younger than me who do wake up in pain, who do suffer from ailments like arthritis.

Look at Jimmy Carter building houses in his 80s.

Sometimes it's the luck of the draw.

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Bill Alstrom (MAtoMainetoMA)'s avatar

All good and fair points. My greatest concern is voter turnout. Young voter turnout.

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Bridget Collins's avatar

Point out to them that for all his age, Joe Biden is living in THIS century and dealing with this century's issues. Using this century's reality as his starting point.

A lot of Republicans half his age can't say that.

You might also remind them that if they don't want to be boomers, they could start by avoiding our mistakes.

All the Eugene McCarthy folks who thought Humphrey was too old gave us Nixon, Watergate and four more years of Vietnam (and Cambodia.)

All the Stein voters in Wisconsin gave us Trump.

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