Sen. Mitt Romney, 76, announced his retirement in 2024 from the U.S. Senate taking a much-deserved shot a politicians who ought to retire because of age. Romney sent exactly the right message that it’s time for the octogenarians or those getting close to the distinction to move over, let the younger generation lead the country. Romney’s retirement message was directed to former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), 83, who announced recently she would seek reeelection. But Romney’s real aim was 80-year-old President Joe Biden who, Democrats, Republicans and independents all think should not run in 2024. Biden said while running against Trump in 2020 he would be a placeholder president, completing the mission of knocking the 77-year-old former president out of the White House. Biden completed his mission but now seeks four more years at age 82.
Biden likes to tout his manic energy, boasting his overseas travel proves he’s fit for another four years. But listening to his voice or looking at his gait tells a very different story. Tripping in public and his gaff-prone speech doesn’t begin to tell the real story of Biden’s cognitive decline. Biden’s speech hesitancy tells the real story of an artificially propped up politician, no longer able to function independently but manufactured by his PR team, carefully scripting his every move. Biden’s decision to run again speaks volumes about he’s not running the show but letting his 77-year-old sister Valerie Owens and 72-year-old wife Jill Biden call the shots with hundreds of other White House employees. But how patriotic is it to leave the United States in the hands of an enfeebled leader? Romney raises the issue of age for Biden and 77-year-old former President Donald Trump.
Trump’s trying to prove a point that in the “land of the free and home of the brave,” the U.S. government can’t politically persecute politicians because they don’t like a brand of politics. If the government convicts Trump of fake charges, largely concocted by partisan Democrats seeking to end his political career, then there’s no rule of law under the Constitution left in the United States. Russian President Vladimir Putin said yesterday that what’s happening to Trump is proof of the rotten nature of what’s left of U.S. democracy. Political prosecution was something the Founding Fathers worked hard in the Constitution and Bill of Rights to stop. Rule by the mob was regarded to the Founding Fathers something that must be stopped in perpetuity. But today’s Democrat-controlled media mob proves that the Constitution no longer protects citizens against abusive prosecution.
Romney wants the country to take a hard look at how perverted the U.S. justice system has become now run by aged, selfish politicians, only looking out to preserve power at the expense of democracy. Democrats and the press think there’s nothing wrong with prosecuting Trump on “racketeering” charges in Georgia or possessing worthless old classified docs in Mar-a-Lago. When it comes to Jan. 6 riots, Special Counsel Jack Smith has no facts that Trump planned-or-organized the Capitol mayhem. Yet Democrats and the press have spent 24/7 trying-and-convicting Trump in the media, making getting a fair trial impossible. “The times we’re living in re-demand the next generation step up and express their point of view and to make the decisions that will shape American politics over the coming century,” Romney said, asking Biden and Trump to step aside in 2024.
Romney’s message is really quite simple that aging politicians need to know when to hang it up. He sees no effort by Pelosi or Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to gracefully bow out, especially with Pelosi and McConnell’s neurological problems. McConnell was given a clean bill of health by Capitol physician Brian Monahan, after two recent petite mal seizures while speaking to the press. Romney tried to use himself as an example to gracefully end his political career. For certainly politicians addicted to the media attention, it’s a difficult sacrifice to give up the stage. Announcing his retirement, Romney can’t help take a parting shot at Trump who was especially critical of Romney when he ran against former President Barack Obama for president in 2012. Romney didn’t like Trump saying “he choked like a dog,” referring to Romney 2012 campaign.
Aging politicians become more than vanity with Biden, ending generations of diplomacy, détente and arms control with Russia. Biden’s reckless decision to fund a proxy war using Ukrainian troops against the Russian Federation has turned U.S. foreign policy and national security on its head. Biden says he has all the energy but he lacks the judgment to lead the country. Biden’s foreign policy has alienated Russia and China to the point of military confrontation. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said recently that China is gearing up for war with the United States. Can 2024 voter risk giving Biden another four years knowing what he’s already done to U.S. foreign policy and national security? Whoever becomes the next president, they must pull the U.S.—and world—back from the brink and return to the prevailing global order that enables all countries to live in peace and prosperity.
About the Author
John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He’s editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.
