Facing criminal probes, is Trump 'too old' to run again? The answer may surprise you - The Beat MSNBC

[Rhiannon12866]

Both President Biden and Donald Trump would become the oldest president ever if elected to a second term, at 86 and 82, respectively. MSNBC’s Ari Melber reports on the facts and political considerations for age in campaigns. - Aired on 02/22/2023.

[hlthe2b]

1. I saw that live. Michelle Goldman is on this rage campaign against older candidates--is just awful.

Whoever the male guest was--really zapped her ageism at the end, but then Ari thanks them both for NOT engaging in ageism. Bullshit. I have never liked Michelle Goldman much, but I really detest her now. She was just ugly about the whole issue and this is not the first (nor the worst) show I've seen her on where she "performed" this way. Something tells me this is PERSONAL issue for her, but she crosses the line IMO.

[Rhiannon12866]

2. Well, I posted this since, though people persist in citing Biden's age, but not so for TFG

And I missed the entire show since I got home too late. As far as I'm concerned, age is irrelevant. The closest thing that I had to a grandfather was still more on the ball than most people at 101. Everyone ages differently. And the thing that galls me about even considering TFG has nothing to do with his age, it has to do with the numerous criminal charges against him, not to mention that he actually thinks he's qualified to lead the government that he attempted to overthrow?!

[hlthe2b]

3. Oh, I agree. Duers should see this because there are more and more who do not appreciate

that now, with democracy at its greatest risk, that age cannot be the principal factor. Especially true for the Presidency where more than ever, we need experience and a history of fighting back against the worst the RW can throw. Those that know effective strategy and are not intimidated by their own inexperience or insecurity--however well hidden--that all needs to be first and foremost above an arbitrary age.

But, yes, I'm glad Trump's age was at least mentioned but most of the discussion was targeted at Biden. But I did need to vent about Goldman.

[Rhiannon12866]

6. Well, you know that Ari Melber doesn't shy away from controversial guests

How many times did he interview Peter Navarro? And he not only exposed his plot to overthrow the government, he couldn't shut him up!

And, like I said, it's not the age, it's the level of competence and experience. Joe Biden, with 36 years in the Senate and 8 years in the Executive Branch, he's the most experienced POTUS in our history - and it shows. In these perilous times, I shudder to imagine anyone else making these historic decisions. God forbid, if it was TFG, we'd likely be the latest occupied province of Putin's recreated USSR. I visited the USSR back in the late '80s with my grandmother's peace group and saw first hand what it was like in an occupied country, then-Soviet Georgia. They were forced to adopt the language and the customs and the hate against their occupiers was palpable. President Biden is doing the right thing preventing this from happening to Ukraine.

[brush]

4. Ari should've objected immediately instead of acting as if...

she hadn't engaged in ageism at the end of the segment.

But aren't those age numbers wrong? trump is now 76 and will be 78 if (I shudder to think of it) he gets elected again in '24, and can't run again for a third term.

Also, Biden is 80 now, would be 82 if re-elected and can't run again for a third term in another four years at 86.

Goldberg really needs to STFU with the ageism as Biden has been one of the most effective presidents in just two years since FDR.

[Meadowoak]

7. I think the 86 and 82 numbers were meant to reflect their ages at the end of the term.

[republianmushroom]

5. 25 months and counting

[Mr.Bill]

8. Trump was never at an age

when he was fit to be president. Nor will he ever be.

[Rhiannon12866]

9. He's always been irresponsible and friendless, according to Mary Trump's book

And he sure hasn't improved with age, he's only gotten worse.

[Mr.Bill]

10. Mary Trump says

his emotional development (I think that's the term she used) was arrested at age two and a half.

[Rhiannon12866]

11. You're right, he used to bully his younger brother mercilessly.

And she attributes part of the reason to being without his mother at such a young age. After his elder sister was born, his mother was cautioned not to have any more children, her health was too precarious. But she went on to have Donald and then his younger brother - and ended up spending a lot of time in the hospital, so those young kids were on their own. But somehow I think that TFG was already irredeemable.

[Mr.Bill]

12. What I think of is a toddler (and we've all known some like this)

that just grabs things and yells MINE! That's the stage of development he is frozen in. Even if we were like that ourselves, we quickly grew out of it.

[Rhiannon12866]

13. You're right, he never grew up. He still has tantrums, as we have seen.

If he doesn't get his own way - on everything - that'd how he reacts. January 6th was the extreme example.

[Mr.Bill]

14. The Trump White House must have been like Kindergarten

with nuclear capability.

[Rhiannon12866]

15. Good description.

Looking back, I still can't believe that we endured him for a full four years. We came so close to disaster so many times. And it's going to take a generation of Democratic leadership to set things to right. Though I have to admit that President Biden has made amazing and laudable progress. He deserves some kind of award with all that he's faced - and managed to set to right. Just goes to show that experience - and maturity - counts. History will judge him well.