In the two days’ time since I posed the rhetorical question “When are Democrats going to face the reality that Biden has cognitive issues and pull the plug?” the situation appears to have grown dramatically worse. The former vice president suffered two episodes this past week in which his memory and ability to articulate thoughts both came off as badly impaired.
In both cases, he appeared to have been working without a prepared script, though even with such a safety net he still has his “moments.” Besides, a president of the United States is often called on to speak extemporaneously, such as during press conferences. How do the Dems envision him navigating those sometimes-choppy seas?
The first of his two recent lapses came during a virtual appearance on “Anderson Cooper 360,” carried by CNN. Watching Biden flounder and fumble is actually painful. Take a look. The tweet provides a word-for-word reconstruction of he said:
Will this presidential election be the most important in American history?
BIDEN: "Um, you know, there's a uh, during World War… Two, uh, you know, where Roosevelt came up with a thing that uh, you know, was totally different than a, than the, the, it's called, he's called it a, you know, the World War Two, he had the World, the War Production Board." pic.twitter.com/RzOjwnQ4fk
— Trump War Room – Text TRUMP to 88022 (@TrumpWarRoom) April 17, 2020
The second instance was one in which he seemed to lose track of his train of thought. This time his wife was present and tried to chime in to help.
WATCH: Joe Biden can't remember what he was saying. pic.twitter.com/kGiDhKtMpA
— Trump War Room – Text TRUMP to 88022 (@TrumpWarRoom) April 16, 2020
Presidents are sometimes called upon to put in 15- and 16-hour days. It is clear that Biden is simply not up to the challenge of a schedule that rigorous. What the Democratic National Committee needs to ask itself — and answer candidly — is whether this is a man who they would be comfortable entrusting with the nuclear football.
