After the death of California Senator Dianne Feinstein, American voters have been forced to confront the stark reality that their elected leaders, Joe Biden and Donald Trump, could face health challenges in office if either wins the 2024 election.
The Growing Questions About Biden’s Health
President Biden, at 80 years old, faces mounting questions about his health. Recent incidents, such as his wanderings during a Vietnam veteran’s medal presentation, have fueled speculation.
Trump’s Concerns
On the other hand, Trump, at 77, appears physically healthier, but his claims that Biden might lead the world into World War Two have stirred concerns.
Feinstein’s Passing as a Warning
The recent death of California Senator Dianne Feinstein, aged 90, while still in office following health issues like shingles, memory loss, and falls, serves as a sobering reminder.
The Head of Politico
Politico’s head of news has highlighted this concern, Alexander Burns, in his recent article titled ‘Feinstein’s Demise is a Warning for Biden and Trump.’
A Warning to Both Parties
In the article, Burns emphasizes that Feinstein’s passing should be a warning to those who believe they can defy their mortality for political gain.
Burns writes, “It should be a warning to the people in both parties who believe they can bend their own mortality to an electoral calendar or a personal timeline for legacy-building.”
The Trend of Aging Politicians
Burns also argues that the trend of politicians remaining in office despite declining health needs to change.
He notes, “There is a phenomenon in politics whereby if someone is old and infirm but remains alive for a while in a diminished state, they can almost persuade people that they are immune to death.”
McCain and Ginsburg
Politicians like John McCain and Ruth Bader Ginsburg exemplify this phenomenon. John McCain, a Republican senator from Arizona, passed away at 81 after battling brain cancer in 2018.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a Supreme Court Justice known for her liberal dissent, succumbed to cancer at 87 in 2020. Both cases underscore the inevitability of aging and health issues.
The Inevitability of Aging and Health
Burns asserts that it is unsurprising when elderly politicians like Feinstein face health challenges or pass away. He emphasizes that “death keeps its own calendar.”
This reality applies to politicians on both sides of the aisle, including Trump and Biden.
Senator Mitch McConnell’s Health Concerns
Senator Mitch McConnell, aged 81, has faced questions about his health. He has famously had public instances of freezing up on camera after a fall earlier in the year.
A Doctor’s Note
Like Biden and Trump, McConnell has refrained from addressing questions about his physical and mental state but has given a questionable doctor’s note clearing him of any health issues.
The Need for Honest Acknowledgment
Burns criticizes the White House for responding to inquiries about the president’s age with “snark and brittleness.”
The Actual Risks
Burn writes, “If anyone in American politics knows that death keeps its own calendar, it is him (Biden). The president cannot be oblivious to the actuarial risks involved in seeking a second term — risks to himself, his party, and the country.”
The Heightened Discussion of Fitness for Office
The fitness of elderly politicians for office has become a prominent topic of discussion in recent years.
Both Trump and Biden have faced concerns about their cognitive abilities, with incidents like Trump’s gaffe-laden speech and Biden’s mic being cut off during a press conference.
The Ultimate Contingency
Burns concluded by writing, “Electoral politics is a contingent business, and mortality is the ultimate contingency,” however, “The only mystery is how few senior statesmen and stateswomen seem to grasp this.”
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The post “Death Keeps Its Own Calendar” Feinstein’s Passing Raises Concerns About Aging Politicians – Is This a Warning to Biden and Trump? first appeared on Wealthy Living.
Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / Rob Crandall. The people shown in the images are for illustrative purposes only, not the actual people featured in the story.