Thank you for this post. Nate Cohn and Ezra Klein are driving me crazy with their polling and “suggestions”. Joe is sharp and knows the ropes. He doesn’t “speechify” as the other one does but he gets policy done ✅ that actually benefits the regular citizens. And a President Harris is not “scary” to most Dems, just mostly the Republicans.
The problem with Ezra Klein is that someone paid too much for his education, and it made him arrogant in his youth to think that he has any insight into Joe Biden's age, or anything else having to do with this presidential election. He looks pretty young to me. Closer to my 18-year-old daughter in age, who by the way is not directly paying for her college education because she is going to uni in Germany, and that already shows she is a more critical thinker than Klein. She is not worried about Biden's age, and she is a Gen-Zer. What she is worried about is Trump winning. While Biden might not win, it won't be because of his age, but because of idiots like Klein who think he is "too old" in years is equated with his biological age. At 43 the doctor told me I had the fertility of a 20 year old. So, knock 23 years off my age biologically. It is not surprising. My maternal grandma lived to be 99.5, my mom is pushing 90, and my paternal great-grandmother lived to be 109. I know a lot of people in their 90s because of my mom. The other day, a group of 5 in their 90s up to 97 were sitting at the table next to us, fit as you please. The men were starting to sing as they downed a bottle of wine with their 3 women companions for dinner, but also bent down to pick up something the waitress dropped while walking spryly around the room and stopping to converse with different friends at other tables. The conversations were all lucid. So if we knew everyone's biological age, not their age in that years, I imagine Joe Biden would be younger. No one is questioning Warren Buffett, who is still running the multinational company Berkshire Hathaway at 92. The USA is a national company with international outreach, and Biden is doing an excellent job running it at 81. He has a wife who can keep an eye on his health, and in Harris, a vice president who not only brings her own wisdom to the job, but also has excellent tutelage under a master statesman for 4+ years. Ezra Klein looks too young to understand age, unless he has aging parents who are not aging as well as Biden. If they are, then shame on him. They need to tell him off. I am in Germany and in my art group is a woman fit as a fiddle who is 91. She looks like she is around 70. She is sharp, creative, and talented, and has an incisive discussion on art, politics and life. She lives independently and gets around on bike, public and her car when she is transporting bigger things to our workshop. Americans need to understand age in a biological context, and stop worrying about Biden and start worrying about Trump. He is a Russian asset who has corrupted his entire party to serve an enemy of our Nation. Let's reserve our speculation on who can replace Biden for in 3 years when we look at the next election cycle.
Michael Thompson PhD once came to the private school in which I taught and said, it is fine to trust your children with things they are developmentally ready for, and not those they are not. So, where is Ezra on life's scale of development to understand age and capabilities? Not where I am, that is for sure. Wisdom is smartness plus experiences. Ezra may have bright commentary on things within his ken, but this is clearly beyond. Also, because Americans are such sheep, they hear age is a problem and they all go bleating, "baa, baa, baa! Age is a problem!" I despise this part of the jumping on the bandwagon nature of the country. I also have to say, the NYT is not having sharp, incisive commentary on the election, they are having the kind of commentary I expect from Fox News, except for the Republicans on staff who are turned off by Trump and can express it. This is the limit of their understanding too. How many journalists had conscious thought before Ronald Reagan was president? If you are not from an alert position at that time, then how would you understand what the USA was like before Reagan, and the horrendous harm he did to our country and planet? You would not. Not if you have not lived elsewhere where government is not vilified like he made it be. The average person was not able to look at his hypocrisy and say, "Wait, if he thinks no government is good government, what is he doing in government?" The answer: he was a puppet of powerful people and self-serving. Is anything different with today's Republican party? Ezra might as well join it as far as I'm concerned. And this is me being not as mean about it as I could be. I have a child who I want to have a future on this planet. People like Ezra get in the way of that.
I think you are way harsh on Klein, even though I agree with everything else you say. He is about 40 years old (Generation Y, Millennial) and thinks he's got a handle on it all--- and with the NYT venue to bolster him. This is the problem I have in general with the NYT. It's not my old NYT anymore in sensibility especially now in the online news and comment era. He needs pushback and hopefully we are. He's just one voice though. I push back. I have more life under my belt.. finally. (I am just pre-boomer.. I hate these group categorizations but they have validity re world experience).
I understand it is considered harsh, but for me it was toned down, because I am furious as well as disappointed in what a crappy, crappy publication the NYT is turning out to be as regards this election. I was even harsher with the NYT editor that wrote to me when I complained about the fact that they are stuck on Biden's age and nothing else. Young Mr. Aiden Gardiner. http://www.aidangardiner.com/about
Given that they are disparaging my mother at 90, and I have several people in my life who are 90+ through her and otherwise. Of course my mom has even more friends who are 90+. Ezra Klein lumps them all into one group. I also am even more furious at the racist and misogynist tone to his complaints, because every president runs with a vice president, who steps in if something happens to them. He is in essence treating Kamala Harris like the invisible woman. He disgusts me like all people who pretend to be "progressive" or "liberal" do when they show a different side, which negates all that. As far as I am concerned Ezra Klein could be on the payroll of the FSB with his talk. What you should be talking about is how mean and offensive Ezra Klein is being, and how he is helping both Trump and the Putin by his speculation. It is not good journalism because he does not know the topic of age from his BUTTHOLE, and allowing this discrimination to go on is not acceptable. I should be picketing his home, but 1) I cannot afford to just fly there, and 2) I don't have the time. I am currently living abroad in a city where at least 50% are 60+. So, in negating Joe Biden's efficacy for no other reason than his age, Ezra Klein insults the 13,000+ US residents who are 80 and above. https://knoema.com/atlas/United-States-of-America/topics/Demographics/Age/Population-aged-80-years#:~:text=Total%20population%20aged%2080%20years%20and%20over&text=In%202020%2C%20population%20aged%2080,average%20annual%20rate%20of%202.43%25.
So, I am not way harsh on him, but his editor should be. I am just being somewhat harsh, and he deserves it.
Should I go on and list the numbers of women offended? Black and Brown people? Instead I have just said he is not up to the task of this job, but he apparently does not know it. That may have devastating effects on outcome of this election. I want my child to have a planet with a future. We owe it to all of our children. Supporting Putin and Trump, both of whom are nuclear trigger happy despots will not do it.
I, too, have had concerns with the NYT, lately. They, along with Wapo, appear to be attempting to be like the video media who rely on ad revenue via TV and the click bait of those media online. Hate sells. So, mimicking and reporting on the absurdities of the right over the accomplishments of the left (particularly under President Biden) probably attracts more viewers/readers and satisfies the investors, best of all.
Well I am happy for you that you can get your anger out this way. I hope you read my other comments on this nearby. I am not far from you in opinion but less in degree of anger and its effectiveness. I am not familiar with Gardiner or what is he saying or the importance of it. ( I have been a lifelong reader of the NYTimes.. many years. I know it's change... and realize it had to).
They are of a younger generation that have not gone through what we have. The world is different. They and their kids will make this world, and are doing so. Rupar! It's almost out of our hands. It's important that we get through to younger people, particularly those in influential positions. I don't think you do with such anger other than get it out of your system to defend those of us that are fortunate enough in body and mind. And then you think you are doing something effective. Are you? Can you? I stick up for older people. I am one. (my mom lived to 103! was politically aware to 90 at least). I know the pluses and minuses of being older every day. I know about people. I think I know about communicating.
I have my problems with Biden and I do not associate that with his age at this point: how bent he is, forgetful. It's more his fearfulness in foreign policy re Ukraine and weakness about distancing from and threatening Israel (which will cost him.) He never was a good campaigner, even when young. When I think of voting for Biden I think that he may not complete another term, and Kamala Harris would be fine. The alternative, Trump, is unimaginable and would be immediately. I don't go to fantasy in my mind about who I would rather.
The younger generation are used to entertainment, have very busy lives ( some shallowly about "getting and spending") and curate where their vital information comes from, some if it does at all, UNTIL they maybe start paying attention to what's in the thicker air around them. That is what Klein is taking part in.. spreading the jitters.
We older folks have the time to think, evaluate, remember and read if we are healthy enough. I think instead of anger, we need to teach, and teach with lovingkindness and respect.
Been teaching my whole life. I think I get through. My own children are not of the ilk of Ezra Klein and do not see older people as disabled, doddering oldies to be put out to pasture. You ignore the sexism and racism. I can not. That may make me angrier than you. Discounting that Biden has Kamala to step in is a big deal, and treating her, a Black women as invisible should anger every woman. Finland, Denmark, Indian, Israel, Liberia, Sri Lanka, Iceland, Argentina, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Namibia, Barbados, CAR, UK, Portugal, Bolivia, Dominika, Norway, Malta, Philippines, Haiti, Lithuania, Nicaragua, France, Poland, Turkey, Canada, Burundi, Rwanda, Liberia, Ecuador, Ireland, Latvia, Panama, New Zealand, Senegal, Ukraine, Germany, Argentina, Moldova, Croatia, Kyrgyzstan, Costa Rica, Trinidad and Tobago, Australia, Slovakia, Brazil, Mali, Kosovo, Thailand, Malawi, South Korea, Slovenia, Transnistria, Latvia, Poland, Croatia, Mauritius, Nepal, Marshall Islands, Myanmar, Estonia, Serbia, Singapore, Romania, Ethiopia, Georgia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Greece, Gabon, Togo, Estonia, Tanzania, Tunisia, Hungary, Sweden, Italy, Peru, Dominica, and more. We have not. It is people like Ezra Klein, who clearly write with a White male reader in mind who contribute to this. You should be offended too.
He was somewhat off on Israel Gaza too. He seems over-sure of himself, then misses things because of his sureness.. then digs in.. "over thinks" his POV when it's really his gut feelings leading it all I suspect, not fair reasoning. The truth it seems is that Klein has the major jitters and this is the way it comes out. But he ALSO has the venue: the NYT and its praises flow. This is more effective than just another opinion, spreading the panic.
Linda….I will turn 80 this year and feel like 60! I still run my interior design business because people still appreciate my talent and enjoy being with me! Most of my good friends are all younger than me and last weekend we entertained one friend’s 25 year old daughter and her 26 year old sweetheart at our house in the country because they thought spending the weekend with us would be great. BTW I still get hit on by men in their 60’s and have male friends in their 40’s. I am fortunate to still feel relevant and attractive. There are many other women and men like me. In European communities and other places around the world older people are respected for their wisdom and experiences in life which give them an invaluable perspective on life. Very disappointing to see Ezra Klein put out such a negative screed about Joe Biden’s age. And feed into the repulsive Repug BS. As Simon Rosenberg says: Joe Biden is a good president and has accomplished great things and the Dems keep winning….why give TFG and rhe Repugs any ammunition against him? Dems should join together and not spend time diminishing Biden and subsequently shooting themselves in the foot and weakening Biden’s candidacy!
Gail I love your story. It rings like how life really is when one gets past 60, not how those who are younger imagine it. When they say age is just a number they mean that life and years affect people differently. When 1 in 10 Japanese is 80 or older it means that old is not what it used to be.
It’s intellectually lazy of Klein to go on about how great a brokered dem convention would be without reading/researching what happened the last time. In 1968. And how that chaos on live tv solidified Nixon’s win. I swear, people who act like this want trump to be elected because his chaos & cruelty is good for clicks which is good for their bottom line.
Why is Klein’s piece getting so much attention? It’s ill-considered and brings nothing new that pundits haven’t been saying for months. Perhaps his fanboy excitement over a brokered convention in Chicago of all places (Lawrence O’Donnell was brilliant on this point) was new, but it’s the kind of thought you’d expect to see excoriated rather than promoted. Why has this become a focus point for Democrats?
In this case I think it's something of a useful strawman. I've recently seen several center-left pundits suggest similar, along with response pieces critically reviewing their arguments. So I was familiar with the argument if not Klein's piece in particular. This rebuttal is just as sound as others I've seen, and apparently still needed?
Yes precisely. I am not a social psychologist but Klein is going full on with these jittery feelings that are in the air. Responding to Klein is a way of getting the case out there and further evaluating/discussing the way forward. We should not sleepwalk into this nomination. Klein, to my mind, is expressing panic and this may bring on what he fears if the panic is widespread.. a Greek tragedy. So yes, it's all good to a point.... to a point.
None of these pundits know a thing about Newsom. He will not stand up to any scrutiny. When he was mayor of San Francisco he was married to Kimberly Guillfoyle, which gives you an idea of his judgment and the party going on in City Hall. Klein and others who think he could win a presidential campaign are gambling with the future of democracy.
yes but.. there are others as well. Democrats have a great back bench!! But this is about winning this election with only a few months to go.. and no one sticking their head out from that bench.
"...the general election campaign hasn’t really started and most voters aren’t paying attention yet." An important point to remember but the Republicans are getting their message through - national abortion ban, no IVF, women suffering in anti-abortion red states, Trump found liable for rape, FBI informant found to have lied and being a front for Russians, and more and more. It's also important to remember that the function of a critic is to point out flaws, which is not difficult because everyone and everything has flaws; a critic does not create. Those calling for Biden to step aside are also such a small number that they are statistically irrelevant. I do read many of these articles because they help me to think about the issues and clarify my own thinking. But, I don't decide to see or skip a movie because of the opinion of a critic. I also don't decide to vote for someone, or not vote for them based on what a critic says. I actually think for myself. Since Biden has done such a good job to date, far from perfect but good, this leaves some in the media in search of something to write that'll get attention. I agree that everyone should watch Lawrence O'Donnell's monologue. Lawrence also talks about the Chicago Democratic Convention of 1968, the one with riots outside and chaos inside. If you don't remember, Democrats lost that election. Lawrence wrote a book about it, Playing with Fire.
I remember the '68 convention, and watching in horror as demonstrators were attacked and beaten...by law enforcement. I don't like to think what would happen if some of the loonier MAGAs were to show up. Let's please not do that again.
No one is replacing Joe Biden because Joe Biden hasn't taught anyone to replace him. There's no real system in place for apprenticing new politicians, new potential candidates—in his career, why has Joe Biden (or Nancy Pelosi, or Dianne Feinstein, or even folks on the right like Mitch McConnell, or…or…or…) never taken anyone under his wing and taught them how to politic the way he does and then given them his backing for candidacy of a position he was leaving, and made that apprenticship a leading reason for why I should vote for that candidate? What are our leaders doing to actively raise up the next generation of leaders?
Nancy Pelosi can’t be faulted-the transition to Hakeem Jeffries was smooth and he’s demonstrated excellent leadership in holding the caucus together. Biden has been giving Harris responsibilities that allow her to learn and be out front, in ways that we don’t often see with VPs. I don’t think Biden is the reason why Harris isn’t considered a strong presidential candidate (and I don’t think it’s Harris’ fault either). Her identity presents strong headwinds in a racist and misogynistic country. Since there are 3 excellent contenders for Feinstein’s seat I don’t know what else you would want for succession.
She chose Jeffries and those of us that wanted more progressive policies didn't support her in this. The Democratic Party is not going to indefinitely push off the will of Progressives by demanding our votes and then never following through. If what the current party leaders are doing with their continued hypocrisy regarding Ukraine/Russia and Palestine/Israel and Biden's at best tepid efforts to claim reproductive rights matter to him are the best Democrats can do for us that's not enough. The veto of the ceasefire this week followed by a fundraiser at an AIPAC supporter's home with a ludicrous pay to play minimum was such bad optics Putin was probably delighted.
Another point I've heard discussed is that jettisoning Kamala Harris, the actual VP, would alienate a lot of core Dem voters, including Black women. This seems hugely problematic to me.
At some point, we just gotta call it straight up, Biden is in a very difficult spot. If he loses, his entire legacy is going to be bringing back Trump. I think that’s the likely scenario. Biden forestalled fascism but couldn’t kill it. Biden is going to lose because of disenchantment and apathy not because Trump has some overwhelming coalition of support. I cannot believe progressives shrug at another Trump term but simply cannot abide by a second Biden one.
Thank you for saying this! Joe Biden has been a very good president and the country is better off under his leadership.
Ezra and Nate and all the other naysayers need to pull their heads out of their rear-ends and recognize that Biden is the best nominee we have for the upcoming election.
I listened to both Ezra Klein's podcasts on this. The 2nd was Ezra digging in after all the waves he made promoting ( essentially) the jitters about Biden. It seemed to me that his case had holes in it- first promoting chaos and the jitters, into the unknown, without knowing who would or could end up with the nomination AFTER the primaries yet. If Biden emerged after all he would be wounded by the process. And what is more democratic about such an "open convention" (by, as Berlatsky says, party regulars) than primary voting? People should get off their A's and vote in the primaries! That would be a good thing!Klein unnerved me doubling down on pushing the jitters about Biden. This could be a Greek tragedy- running so hard away from what you fear you actually CAUSE it. I don't think Klein is benign here. But then again this is part of the democratic openness and discussion. We do not salute. We consider the alternatives and the possibilities.
By the way- every name so far mentioned in place of Biden I cannot see appealing to the country well enough for one reason or another, not the least of which is that they are unknown by most, regional and, yes, female!! I would add Sheldon Whitehouse, Elizabeth Warren, Jay Inslee- there are so many more doing the great work they do. Going for the presidency is an AWESOME step to take. People just shout names out! I can too.
As well.. the worst that can happen with Biden (health failing, age related forgetfulness, and Harris taking over) is not the SURE things that will happen with Trump and we don't even know who HIS VP would be--that malicious opportunist Stefanik??).
The biggest threat to Trump or Biden is a younger candidate. The RNC and DNC smugly assert "No problem - we choose the candidates." However, neither party has any control over the physical or mental health of their frail elderly candidates. Either candidate could be forced to drop out due to poor health or injury. As the average life expectancy of an American Male us under 78, either candidate could just drop dead. At 77, several of my prep school pals recently did just that - here today and gone tomorrow. If either candidate is replaced, the new younger candidate will have a huge edge with voters, most of whom are well under age 75.
Thanks for the comment, Noah. I agree that age may not be a huge impediment to getting elected to public office. However, this is a unique election between two candidates of historically advanced age. If either one fails physically or mentally between now and election day, age will be a huge burden as the opponent will surely be much younger and hardier.
Once in office, age past 75 is a growing impediment to physical and mental health. Most of my career as an organizational psychologist has been providing direct support to top federal officials in DC - admirals, generals, agency heads, and 7-year detail to the White House. Unless one has worked on a daily basis with folks at very high levels of influence, it is difficult to appreciate the physical and emotional stress of their daily lives - POTUS especially.
Presidents and candidates travel a great deal locally as well as in the air nationally and internationally. Their lives are one meeting after another - often having to make deals and decisions that can have enormous consequences for public health and safety, not to mention the national economy. That sort of schedule is very stressful and hard on elderly bodies and minds. Most of those I worked with in government were ready to retire at 70 or sooner.
Everyone by age 70 has several chronic health problems (e.g., vision, hearing, high blood pressure, arthritis) as well as some cognitive-emotional deterioration. Neither Biden nor Trump are in good health even for their age. Both have shuffling gaits which indicate various chronic health issues that never go away - only worsen. Trump is a self-indulgent fat slob with a junk-food addiction who likely has a cholesterol reading off the chart. At his age many male executives have already been treated from stroke or heart attacks - if still alive. Biden's stiff gait, regardless of underlying cause, greatly increases his vulnerability to falls – Trump’s gait too.
Falls are the number one cause of death among the elderly not to mention disabling injury. The public has seen the President fall several times on TV. He and Trump both likely have had falls off-camera such as when getting out bed or the back seat of a limo. Thus, both men are indeed at risk of dropping dead right now. That risk will continue to increase over time.
Thank you for this post. Nate Cohn and Ezra Klein are driving me crazy with their polling and “suggestions”. Joe is sharp and knows the ropes. He doesn’t “speechify” as the other one does but he gets policy done ✅ that actually benefits the regular citizens. And a President Harris is not “scary” to most Dems, just mostly the Republicans.
The problem with Ezra Klein is that someone paid too much for his education, and it made him arrogant in his youth to think that he has any insight into Joe Biden's age, or anything else having to do with this presidential election. He looks pretty young to me. Closer to my 18-year-old daughter in age, who by the way is not directly paying for her college education because she is going to uni in Germany, and that already shows she is a more critical thinker than Klein. She is not worried about Biden's age, and she is a Gen-Zer. What she is worried about is Trump winning. While Biden might not win, it won't be because of his age, but because of idiots like Klein who think he is "too old" in years is equated with his biological age. At 43 the doctor told me I had the fertility of a 20 year old. So, knock 23 years off my age biologically. It is not surprising. My maternal grandma lived to be 99.5, my mom is pushing 90, and my paternal great-grandmother lived to be 109. I know a lot of people in their 90s because of my mom. The other day, a group of 5 in their 90s up to 97 were sitting at the table next to us, fit as you please. The men were starting to sing as they downed a bottle of wine with their 3 women companions for dinner, but also bent down to pick up something the waitress dropped while walking spryly around the room and stopping to converse with different friends at other tables. The conversations were all lucid. So if we knew everyone's biological age, not their age in that years, I imagine Joe Biden would be younger. No one is questioning Warren Buffett, who is still running the multinational company Berkshire Hathaway at 92. The USA is a national company with international outreach, and Biden is doing an excellent job running it at 81. He has a wife who can keep an eye on his health, and in Harris, a vice president who not only brings her own wisdom to the job, but also has excellent tutelage under a master statesman for 4+ years. Ezra Klein looks too young to understand age, unless he has aging parents who are not aging as well as Biden. If they are, then shame on him. They need to tell him off. I am in Germany and in my art group is a woman fit as a fiddle who is 91. She looks like she is around 70. She is sharp, creative, and talented, and has an incisive discussion on art, politics and life. She lives independently and gets around on bike, public and her car when she is transporting bigger things to our workshop. Americans need to understand age in a biological context, and stop worrying about Biden and start worrying about Trump. He is a Russian asset who has corrupted his entire party to serve an enemy of our Nation. Let's reserve our speculation on who can replace Biden for in 3 years when we look at the next election cycle.
I’m baffled by this turn in Ezra’s punditry. He should be sharper than this.
Michael Thompson PhD once came to the private school in which I taught and said, it is fine to trust your children with things they are developmentally ready for, and not those they are not. So, where is Ezra on life's scale of development to understand age and capabilities? Not where I am, that is for sure. Wisdom is smartness plus experiences. Ezra may have bright commentary on things within his ken, but this is clearly beyond. Also, because Americans are such sheep, they hear age is a problem and they all go bleating, "baa, baa, baa! Age is a problem!" I despise this part of the jumping on the bandwagon nature of the country. I also have to say, the NYT is not having sharp, incisive commentary on the election, they are having the kind of commentary I expect from Fox News, except for the Republicans on staff who are turned off by Trump and can express it. This is the limit of their understanding too. How many journalists had conscious thought before Ronald Reagan was president? If you are not from an alert position at that time, then how would you understand what the USA was like before Reagan, and the horrendous harm he did to our country and planet? You would not. Not if you have not lived elsewhere where government is not vilified like he made it be. The average person was not able to look at his hypocrisy and say, "Wait, if he thinks no government is good government, what is he doing in government?" The answer: he was a puppet of powerful people and self-serving. Is anything different with today's Republican party? Ezra might as well join it as far as I'm concerned. And this is me being not as mean about it as I could be. I have a child who I want to have a future on this planet. People like Ezra get in the way of that.
I think you are way harsh on Klein, even though I agree with everything else you say. He is about 40 years old (Generation Y, Millennial) and thinks he's got a handle on it all--- and with the NYT venue to bolster him. This is the problem I have in general with the NYT. It's not my old NYT anymore in sensibility especially now in the online news and comment era. He needs pushback and hopefully we are. He's just one voice though. I push back. I have more life under my belt.. finally. (I am just pre-boomer.. I hate these group categorizations but they have validity re world experience).
I understand it is considered harsh, but for me it was toned down, because I am furious as well as disappointed in what a crappy, crappy publication the NYT is turning out to be as regards this election. I was even harsher with the NYT editor that wrote to me when I complained about the fact that they are stuck on Biden's age and nothing else. Young Mr. Aiden Gardiner. http://www.aidangardiner.com/about
https://www.nytimes.com/by/ezra-klein
Given that they are disparaging my mother at 90, and I have several people in my life who are 90+ through her and otherwise. Of course my mom has even more friends who are 90+. Ezra Klein lumps them all into one group. I also am even more furious at the racist and misogynist tone to his complaints, because every president runs with a vice president, who steps in if something happens to them. He is in essence treating Kamala Harris like the invisible woman. He disgusts me like all people who pretend to be "progressive" or "liberal" do when they show a different side, which negates all that. As far as I am concerned Ezra Klein could be on the payroll of the FSB with his talk. What you should be talking about is how mean and offensive Ezra Klein is being, and how he is helping both Trump and the Putin by his speculation. It is not good journalism because he does not know the topic of age from his BUTTHOLE, and allowing this discrimination to go on is not acceptable. I should be picketing his home, but 1) I cannot afford to just fly there, and 2) I don't have the time. I am currently living abroad in a city where at least 50% are 60+. So, in negating Joe Biden's efficacy for no other reason than his age, Ezra Klein insults the 13,000+ US residents who are 80 and above. https://knoema.com/atlas/United-States-of-America/topics/Demographics/Age/Population-aged-80-years#:~:text=Total%20population%20aged%2080%20years%20and%20over&text=In%202020%2C%20population%20aged%2080,average%20annual%20rate%20of%202.43%25.
He insults those in Germany who are 80 years and above. https://knoema.com/atlas/Germany/topics/Demographics/Age/Population-aged-80-years#:~:text=Total%20population%20aged%2080%20years%20and%20over&text=In%202020%2C%20population%20aged%2080,average%20annual%20rate%20of%202.72%25.
He insults 1 in 10 Japanese people who are aged 80 and above.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-66850943
So, I am not way harsh on him, but his editor should be. I am just being somewhat harsh, and he deserves it.
Should I go on and list the numbers of women offended? Black and Brown people? Instead I have just said he is not up to the task of this job, but he apparently does not know it. That may have devastating effects on outcome of this election. I want my child to have a planet with a future. We owe it to all of our children. Supporting Putin and Trump, both of whom are nuclear trigger happy despots will not do it.
I, too, have had concerns with the NYT, lately. They, along with Wapo, appear to be attempting to be like the video media who rely on ad revenue via TV and the click bait of those media online. Hate sells. So, mimicking and reporting on the absurdities of the right over the accomplishments of the left (particularly under President Biden) probably attracts more viewers/readers and satisfies the investors, best of all.
Well I am happy for you that you can get your anger out this way. I hope you read my other comments on this nearby. I am not far from you in opinion but less in degree of anger and its effectiveness. I am not familiar with Gardiner or what is he saying or the importance of it. ( I have been a lifelong reader of the NYTimes.. many years. I know it's change... and realize it had to).
They are of a younger generation that have not gone through what we have. The world is different. They and their kids will make this world, and are doing so. Rupar! It's almost out of our hands. It's important that we get through to younger people, particularly those in influential positions. I don't think you do with such anger other than get it out of your system to defend those of us that are fortunate enough in body and mind. And then you think you are doing something effective. Are you? Can you? I stick up for older people. I am one. (my mom lived to 103! was politically aware to 90 at least). I know the pluses and minuses of being older every day. I know about people. I think I know about communicating.
I have my problems with Biden and I do not associate that with his age at this point: how bent he is, forgetful. It's more his fearfulness in foreign policy re Ukraine and weakness about distancing from and threatening Israel (which will cost him.) He never was a good campaigner, even when young. When I think of voting for Biden I think that he may not complete another term, and Kamala Harris would be fine. The alternative, Trump, is unimaginable and would be immediately. I don't go to fantasy in my mind about who I would rather.
This was excellent:
https://www.msnbc.com/the-last-word/watch/lawrence-on-what-they-don-t-tell-you-about-the-dump-biden-fantasy-204684869613
The younger generation are used to entertainment, have very busy lives ( some shallowly about "getting and spending") and curate where their vital information comes from, some if it does at all, UNTIL they maybe start paying attention to what's in the thicker air around them. That is what Klein is taking part in.. spreading the jitters.
We older folks have the time to think, evaluate, remember and read if we are healthy enough. I think instead of anger, we need to teach, and teach with lovingkindness and respect.
Been teaching my whole life. I think I get through. My own children are not of the ilk of Ezra Klein and do not see older people as disabled, doddering oldies to be put out to pasture. You ignore the sexism and racism. I can not. That may make me angrier than you. Discounting that Biden has Kamala to step in is a big deal, and treating her, a Black women as invisible should anger every woman. Finland, Denmark, Indian, Israel, Liberia, Sri Lanka, Iceland, Argentina, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Namibia, Barbados, CAR, UK, Portugal, Bolivia, Dominika, Norway, Malta, Philippines, Haiti, Lithuania, Nicaragua, France, Poland, Turkey, Canada, Burundi, Rwanda, Liberia, Ecuador, Ireland, Latvia, Panama, New Zealand, Senegal, Ukraine, Germany, Argentina, Moldova, Croatia, Kyrgyzstan, Costa Rica, Trinidad and Tobago, Australia, Slovakia, Brazil, Mali, Kosovo, Thailand, Malawi, South Korea, Slovenia, Transnistria, Latvia, Poland, Croatia, Mauritius, Nepal, Marshall Islands, Myanmar, Estonia, Serbia, Singapore, Romania, Ethiopia, Georgia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Greece, Gabon, Togo, Estonia, Tanzania, Tunisia, Hungary, Sweden, Italy, Peru, Dominica, and more. We have not. It is people like Ezra Klein, who clearly write with a White male reader in mind who contribute to this. You should be offended too.
He was somewhat off on Israel Gaza too. He seems over-sure of himself, then misses things because of his sureness.. then digs in.. "over thinks" his POV when it's really his gut feelings leading it all I suspect, not fair reasoning. The truth it seems is that Klein has the major jitters and this is the way it comes out. But he ALSO has the venue: the NYT and its praises flow. This is more effective than just another opinion, spreading the panic.
Linda….I will turn 80 this year and feel like 60! I still run my interior design business because people still appreciate my talent and enjoy being with me! Most of my good friends are all younger than me and last weekend we entertained one friend’s 25 year old daughter and her 26 year old sweetheart at our house in the country because they thought spending the weekend with us would be great. BTW I still get hit on by men in their 60’s and have male friends in their 40’s. I am fortunate to still feel relevant and attractive. There are many other women and men like me. In European communities and other places around the world older people are respected for their wisdom and experiences in life which give them an invaluable perspective on life. Very disappointing to see Ezra Klein put out such a negative screed about Joe Biden’s age. And feed into the repulsive Repug BS. As Simon Rosenberg says: Joe Biden is a good president and has accomplished great things and the Dems keep winning….why give TFG and rhe Repugs any ammunition against him? Dems should join together and not spend time diminishing Biden and subsequently shooting themselves in the foot and weakening Biden’s candidacy!
Gail I love your story. It rings like how life really is when one gets past 60, not how those who are younger imagine it. When they say age is just a number they mean that life and years affect people differently. When 1 in 10 Japanese is 80 or older it means that old is not what it used to be.
Linda I hope you have a blog!
It’s intellectually lazy of Klein to go on about how great a brokered dem convention would be without reading/researching what happened the last time. In 1968. And how that chaos on live tv solidified Nixon’s win. I swear, people who act like this want trump to be elected because his chaos & cruelty is good for clicks which is good for their bottom line.
He addressed this specifically. So yeah, he’s aware of the history
Different from having lived it.
As for me and my house, we will vote for good ol' Brandon.
Why is Klein’s piece getting so much attention? It’s ill-considered and brings nothing new that pundits haven’t been saying for months. Perhaps his fanboy excitement over a brokered convention in Chicago of all places (Lawrence O’Donnell was brilliant on this point) was new, but it’s the kind of thought you’d expect to see excoriated rather than promoted. Why has this become a focus point for Democrats?
In this case I think it's something of a useful strawman. I've recently seen several center-left pundits suggest similar, along with response pieces critically reviewing their arguments. So I was familiar with the argument if not Klein's piece in particular. This rebuttal is just as sound as others I've seen, and apparently still needed?
Yes precisely. I am not a social psychologist but Klein is going full on with these jittery feelings that are in the air. Responding to Klein is a way of getting the case out there and further evaluating/discussing the way forward. We should not sleepwalk into this nomination. Klein, to my mind, is expressing panic and this may bring on what he fears if the panic is widespread.. a Greek tragedy. So yes, it's all good to a point.... to a point.
We have come a ways from my opinion here in February....Klein has met his moment with Biden's help.
None of these pundits know a thing about Newsom. He will not stand up to any scrutiny. When he was mayor of San Francisco he was married to Kimberly Guillfoyle, which gives you an idea of his judgment and the party going on in City Hall. Klein and others who think he could win a presidential campaign are gambling with the future of democracy.
How about Warnock in, say, 2028? I haven't followed him closely, but he seems to have a unique combination of dignity, charisma, and compassion.
yes but.. there are others as well. Democrats have a great back bench!! But this is about winning this election with only a few months to go.. and no one sticking their head out from that bench.
This was months ago and the doubt has increased about Biden.
"...the general election campaign hasn’t really started and most voters aren’t paying attention yet." An important point to remember but the Republicans are getting their message through - national abortion ban, no IVF, women suffering in anti-abortion red states, Trump found liable for rape, FBI informant found to have lied and being a front for Russians, and more and more. It's also important to remember that the function of a critic is to point out flaws, which is not difficult because everyone and everything has flaws; a critic does not create. Those calling for Biden to step aside are also such a small number that they are statistically irrelevant. I do read many of these articles because they help me to think about the issues and clarify my own thinking. But, I don't decide to see or skip a movie because of the opinion of a critic. I also don't decide to vote for someone, or not vote for them based on what a critic says. I actually think for myself. Since Biden has done such a good job to date, far from perfect but good, this leaves some in the media in search of something to write that'll get attention. I agree that everyone should watch Lawrence O'Donnell's monologue. Lawrence also talks about the Chicago Democratic Convention of 1968, the one with riots outside and chaos inside. If you don't remember, Democrats lost that election. Lawrence wrote a book about it, Playing with Fire.
I remember the '68 convention, and watching in horror as demonstrators were attacked and beaten...by law enforcement. I don't like to think what would happen if some of the loonier MAGAs were to show up. Let's please not do that again.
Hope Biden wins
I had a choice, and I voted early in Virginia's Democratic primary. Biden all the way. Klein, Reich and others need to shut up and fight MAGA. Period.
No one is replacing Joe Biden because Joe Biden hasn't taught anyone to replace him. There's no real system in place for apprenticing new politicians, new potential candidates—in his career, why has Joe Biden (or Nancy Pelosi, or Dianne Feinstein, or even folks on the right like Mitch McConnell, or…or…or…) never taken anyone under his wing and taught them how to politic the way he does and then given them his backing for candidacy of a position he was leaving, and made that apprenticship a leading reason for why I should vote for that candidate? What are our leaders doing to actively raise up the next generation of leaders?
Nancy Pelosi can’t be faulted-the transition to Hakeem Jeffries was smooth and he’s demonstrated excellent leadership in holding the caucus together. Biden has been giving Harris responsibilities that allow her to learn and be out front, in ways that we don’t often see with VPs. I don’t think Biden is the reason why Harris isn’t considered a strong presidential candidate (and I don’t think it’s Harris’ fault either). Her identity presents strong headwinds in a racist and misogynistic country. Since there are 3 excellent contenders for Feinstein’s seat I don’t know what else you would want for succession.
She chose Jeffries and those of us that wanted more progressive policies didn't support her in this. The Democratic Party is not going to indefinitely push off the will of Progressives by demanding our votes and then never following through. If what the current party leaders are doing with their continued hypocrisy regarding Ukraine/Russia and Palestine/Israel and Biden's at best tepid efforts to claim reproductive rights matter to him are the best Democrats can do for us that's not enough. The veto of the ceasefire this week followed by a fundraiser at an AIPAC supporter's home with a ludicrous pay to play minimum was such bad optics Putin was probably delighted.
Thanks for reminding me why I no longer subscribe to the NYT or WaPo.
Another point I've heard discussed is that jettisoning Kamala Harris, the actual VP, would alienate a lot of core Dem voters, including Black women. This seems hugely problematic to me.
At some point, we just gotta call it straight up, Biden is in a very difficult spot. If he loses, his entire legacy is going to be bringing back Trump. I think that’s the likely scenario. Biden forestalled fascism but couldn’t kill it. Biden is going to lose because of disenchantment and apathy not because Trump has some overwhelming coalition of support. I cannot believe progressives shrug at another Trump term but simply cannot abide by a second Biden one.
Thank you for saying this! Joe Biden has been a very good president and the country is better off under his leadership.
Ezra and Nate and all the other naysayers need to pull their heads out of their rear-ends and recognize that Biden is the best nominee we have for the upcoming election.
I listened to both Ezra Klein's podcasts on this. The 2nd was Ezra digging in after all the waves he made promoting ( essentially) the jitters about Biden. It seemed to me that his case had holes in it- first promoting chaos and the jitters, into the unknown, without knowing who would or could end up with the nomination AFTER the primaries yet. If Biden emerged after all he would be wounded by the process. And what is more democratic about such an "open convention" (by, as Berlatsky says, party regulars) than primary voting? People should get off their A's and vote in the primaries! That would be a good thing!Klein unnerved me doubling down on pushing the jitters about Biden. This could be a Greek tragedy- running so hard away from what you fear you actually CAUSE it. I don't think Klein is benign here. But then again this is part of the democratic openness and discussion. We do not salute. We consider the alternatives and the possibilities.
By the way- every name so far mentioned in place of Biden I cannot see appealing to the country well enough for one reason or another, not the least of which is that they are unknown by most, regional and, yes, female!! I would add Sheldon Whitehouse, Elizabeth Warren, Jay Inslee- there are so many more doing the great work they do. Going for the presidency is an AWESOME step to take. People just shout names out! I can too.
As well.. the worst that can happen with Biden (health failing, age related forgetfulness, and Harris taking over) is not the SURE things that will happen with Trump and we don't even know who HIS VP would be--that malicious opportunist Stefanik??).
The biggest threat to Trump or Biden is a younger candidate. The RNC and DNC smugly assert "No problem - we choose the candidates." However, neither party has any control over the physical or mental health of their frail elderly candidates. Either candidate could be forced to drop out due to poor health or injury. As the average life expectancy of an American Male us under 78, either candidate could just drop dead. At 77, several of my prep school pals recently did just that - here today and gone tomorrow. If either candidate is replaced, the new younger candidate will have a huge edge with voters, most of whom are well under age 75.
people biden's age in good health don't generally just drop dead; that's not a good summary of what life expectancy means!
and to the extent there's research on it, older candidates don't actually tend to suffer at the polls. Seth Masket is worth reading: https://smotus.substack.com/p/on-age-and-vote-shares
Thanks for the comment, Noah. I agree that age may not be a huge impediment to getting elected to public office. However, this is a unique election between two candidates of historically advanced age. If either one fails physically or mentally between now and election day, age will be a huge burden as the opponent will surely be much younger and hardier.
Once in office, age past 75 is a growing impediment to physical and mental health. Most of my career as an organizational psychologist has been providing direct support to top federal officials in DC - admirals, generals, agency heads, and 7-year detail to the White House. Unless one has worked on a daily basis with folks at very high levels of influence, it is difficult to appreciate the physical and emotional stress of their daily lives - POTUS especially.
Presidents and candidates travel a great deal locally as well as in the air nationally and internationally. Their lives are one meeting after another - often having to make deals and decisions that can have enormous consequences for public health and safety, not to mention the national economy. That sort of schedule is very stressful and hard on elderly bodies and minds. Most of those I worked with in government were ready to retire at 70 or sooner.
Everyone by age 70 has several chronic health problems (e.g., vision, hearing, high blood pressure, arthritis) as well as some cognitive-emotional deterioration. Neither Biden nor Trump are in good health even for their age. Both have shuffling gaits which indicate various chronic health issues that never go away - only worsen. Trump is a self-indulgent fat slob with a junk-food addiction who likely has a cholesterol reading off the chart. At his age many male executives have already been treated from stroke or heart attacks - if still alive. Biden's stiff gait, regardless of underlying cause, greatly increases his vulnerability to falls – Trump’s gait too.
Falls are the number one cause of death among the elderly not to mention disabling injury. The public has seen the President fall several times on TV. He and Trump both likely have had falls off-camera such as when getting out bed or the back seat of a limo. Thus, both men are indeed at risk of dropping dead right now. That risk will continue to increase over time.
Absolutely excellent!!