Joe Biden and Mitch McConnell struck up a friendship during their nearly quarter-century in the Senate together. Now in their 80s, the Democratic president and the Senate GOP leader appear to be giving political cover to each other as they fend off questions about their advanced age and health issues.

Notably, McConnell, R-Ky., 81, hasnā€™t joined Donald Trump, 77, and other Republicans who have attacked Bidenā€™s age, health and mental acuity as he seeks re-election.

And after McConnellā€™s second freeze-up last week, Biden was one of the first to call McConnell, telling reporters that his ā€œfriendā€ sounded like ā€œhis old selfā€ and that such episodes are a ā€œpart of his recoveryā€ from a fall and a concussion this year.

  • Fredselfish@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Sickening to hear Biden call McConnell a friend. His fucking serious? Because if he is then means he dumber than thought. Our the whole blue vs red is all theater and they are all playing us for fools. Which is the most likely case.

    • downpunxx@kbin.social
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      1 year ago

      If youā€™re confused why Joe Biden is doing this, you donā€™t understand the American form of government, how no one party can achieve anything on itā€™s own without consensus, and that the hyper partisan fuck it all Republicans must be wooed, and have their balls cupped, in order to be soothed and tricked into thinking they really donā€™t need to be so destructive, and that is what Joe Biden does, then you donā€™t know much, and you donā€™t know Joe Biden. Heā€™s been doing exactly this for the last 5 decades in elected office, and heā€™s really really really fucking good at it.

      • MrVilliam@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        This. Heā€™s not nearly as progressive as Iā€™d like, but he accomplished much more in his first 2 years than I thought he could get done in 2 terms. The railroad strike thing was a massive letdown, but I understand that a major focus in that moment was the state of the economy, and it was very much getting back on track and an industry-wide strike wouldā€™ve resulted in more supply chain shit, more inflation, and damning criticisms that he failed to solve economic woes because heā€™s too weak. He was looking at the bigger picture. A decent person wouldā€™ve supported the strikes, but Jimmy Carter proved that a decent person doesnā€™t make for a very good president. Sometimes, you have to make tough decisions that conflict with your personal beliefs for the good of the entire country.

        As an armchair quarterback who doesnā€™t really know the nitty gritty details, I think I wouldā€™ve looked into nationalizing the rail industry entirely. If itā€™s so important to national security that the workers are barred from striking and the companies are running the industry so poorly that even with unions they are skeleton crews with shit benefits and pay with an awful safety record, then those companies have lost the privilege of privatization.

    • givesomefucks@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      During the primary Biden kept saying he should be president because of his great relationships with republican Senators and that because of that heā€™d be able to get Rā€™s to vote with the Dem partyā€¦

      He legitimately believes theyā€™re all a bunch of buddies.

      I still dont know if itā€™s better or worse if heā€™s delusionalā€¦ But either option isnā€™t great