The Great Hero, Harriet Tubman

 Words of wisdom, timely and vital, from an actual hero, someone worthy of praise and emulation.

The Biden Case Demands Cognitive Testing

So, we see in the news the new book saying that Biden's closest advisors kept it a secret (or tried to) that Biden was losing his competency to do the job. Of course, this is abundantly clear in Trump's case, as well, and has been for years.

Nonetheless, because conservatives may be likely to agree when it's a Democrat president, I'll lead with Biden. It is becoming increasingly clear that Biden's closest advisors kept his cognitive decline as much a secret as possible.

As someone who has dealt with multiple family members and friends who've entered into cognitive decline in their last years, this is, in some ways, understandable. Loved ones want to support, defend and prop up their friends and family who are suffering from decline. I, for instance, let my father drive way longer than he should have been as he lost his ability to drive safely. I did, eventually, "take away the keys," but I waited way too long.

We want to believe in the best of our loved ones and give them the benefit of the doubt.

And THAT is why, in the case of high level politicians and other important roles, it is vital to have a neutral, fair assessment of people when any signs of cognitive decline start to emerge. Probably, at the least, beginning at somewhere between 60 and 70 years old.

Now, this is of course potentially unfair to the many wise elders who are on top of their game into their 80s and 90s. But that's why we should just institute it as a rule. There's no harm intended, just the recognition that as we age, some good portion of us will start lacking in cognitive ability.

It sure appears that was the case with Biden and it is clearly the case with Trump. This isn't a partisan thing. It's just a rule to gauge capacity for these vital roles.

No doubt, there are many conservatives who will be rejoicing to note that it appears true that Biden WAS in decline. The question is, will they be willing to institute some sort of series of assessments and abide by them when their own candidate is shown to be in clear decline?

https://www.npr.org/2025/05/14/nx-s1-5397210/biden-trump-election-original-sin-book