Biden has had his time

There was the film, the books and even the opera. There were dolls, Halloween costumes, tattoos, memes, t-shirts and mugs. Ruth Bader Ginsburg was an icon in the United States. A brilliant jurist, champion of women’s rights. A sort of American legend.




But the legend was overshadowed by its failed release. Suffering from cancer, RBG clung to her seat as a Supreme Court justice. During the presidency of Barack Obama, many encouraged her to retire, which would have allowed the Democratic leader to appoint a successor who would have continued to defend his progressive values. Justice Ginsburg refused.

She died at age 87, just 45 days before the November 2020 presidential election – leaving just enough time for Donald Trump to replace her with Amy Coney Barrett, darling of the Christian right. With this appointment, the third of his term, President Trump managed to bring a conservative turn to the highest court in the country.

PHOTO JACQUELYN MARTIN, ASSOCIATED PRESS ARCHIVES

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, in October 2019

We are therefore not exaggerating in saying that the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, although expected, constituted an earthquake in the United States. The shock wave is still being felt.

In Alabama, hospitals last week stopped offering fertility treatments in the wake of a ruling that frozen embryos are children. “Make no mistake: it’s because Donald Trump overturned Roe v. Wade », wrote Joe Biden on

It’s fair game, but it’s a cruel reminder that RBG’s legacy is going up in smoke. All this waste because she thought she was irreplaceable.

Today, Joe Biden finds himself in the same situation. At 81, the president is hanging on, even as more and more Democratic commentators push him out.

They do it politely, but without hiding a certain sense of urgency: the presidential election of November 2024 will not be a vote like any other. If Joe Biden loses, Donald Trump will become president again. This will be the start of a dangerous political era – and not just for the United States.

However, despite everything Americans know about Donald Trump, despite the multiple scandals and legal disputes, the Republican candidate is ahead in the polls. A lot can happen between now and November, but based on these early polls, Joe Biden could bite the dust.

And it will probably be, in part, because American voters will have found him too old to keep him in the White House.

It is always fascinating to observe the wear and tear of power among leaders. In a few years, the hair on the temples turns gray and dark circles appear under the eyes. But with Joe Biden, it’s of a completely different order. Go back and see the crowds he took four or five years ago. Compare with those of today. “Democrats who deny the decline are only deluding themselves,” says Ezra Klein, columnist at New York Times, in his podcast1.

In 2019, Joe Biden jumped on stage energetically to address his supporters. Today he moves with careful steps, stiffly. He speaks slowly, in a muffled voice. At the dawn of an electoral race that will determine the future of the world, he seems more frail than ever. “Joe Biden looks like he’s turning into a statue of Joe Biden,” jokes The Atlantic2.


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