After reaffirming how much more they like President Biden than his predecessor, the editors of the Washington Post urge him to conduct a press conference:
But each of his 15 most recent predecessors, including Mr. Trump, held a full news conference within their first 33 days in office. Mr. Biden has been in office for 46 days. It was only after journalists’ complaints became increasingly loud — and following a wave of bad press — that Ms. Psaki announced Friday that the president would appear for an extended, unaccompanied question-and-answer session with reporters.
Though Mr. Biden regularly answers a smattering of questions after making announcements or other events, Post media critic Erik Wemple points out that these often perfunctory exchanges are no substitute for formal, solo news conferences at which reporters can ask follow-up questions, answers are supposed to be more than a couple of words long, and the president’s thoughts on a wide range of issues can be mined. Mr. Trump’s first news conference gave Americans an early sense of the chaos and indignity that would define his administration, as he ranted about cable news and personal grudges.
Mr. Biden should be eager to advertise his more thoughtful, reality-based approach. He should do so in front of reporters, for extended periods of time, and more often than his late start would suggest.
IMO those suggesting that Mr. Biden is not holding press conferences because he’s incapable of doing so are confusing his speech impediment with dementia but not conducting a press conference feeds the rumor mill. The editors are right. It’s past time for such a press conference.
As I’ve always said, I take a dim view of the Joe-as-senile portrayal. (That said, I think it was worse: it forced one candidate to deal with an intractable issue ripe for Monday morning quarterbacking, while the other was allowed to hide in the basement and throw spitballs thanks to a compliant media.) On the other hand, offering Biden the benign stuttering excuse is the same mistake on the other side of the spectrum. Just look at his public utterances from just a few years ago vs today. This is no sharp, vigorous man.
The deer in the headlights look and monotonic delivery as he reads – sort of – from his teleprompter. The repeated memory lapses, mood changes, confusion and disconnected train of thought are classic symptoms. The man is not senile, but has slowed down markedly and is behaving in a clearly elderly to pre-dementia manner.
There is a reason his handlers are, well, handling him.
I don’t know to what degree Mr. Biden is experiencing dementia. I don’t know to what degree I am. I’m merely pointing out that reports of his senility are greatly exaggerated.
From my POV Trump had as many or more changes. Watching old video of him from the 90s compared with now and they seem like different people. That said, I think it is too easy to be biased against someone you dont like and it is pretty easy to play internet doctor and make diagnoses without repercussions. Not something to dwell on.
Steve
Joe likes to be liked, that’s the way to read him.