Sir, – If US president Joe Biden is unfit to run for a second term for reasons of physical and intellectual frailty, his fitness to continue in office clearly needs to be questioned. Republican politicians and supporters have already called on him to resign from office now.
Defence of Mr Biden remaining in office may soon become a major liability for the Democratic Party and their soon-to-be-decided presidential candidate as pressure from Republicans and, no doubt, from Donald Trump will mount on Mr Biden to quit as president.
In this context, serious consideration needs to be given to Vice-President Kamala Harris taking over as president in the national interest – now.
The need for Mr Biden to extend his convalescence after his recent illness could provide the opportunity for this to happen; Mr Biden would obviously need to be convinced to change his mind again.
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As a recently sworn-in president, Ms Harris would, almost certainly, secure the unanimous endorsement of the Democratic Party as its presidential candidate. She would also have access to the Biden-Harris funds already raised – and given how big a news story this would be, her campaign would be likely to attract far greater media coverage and financial support.
Campaigning for election as a recently sworn-in president would require boundless energy and true grit – but if a newly elected President Harris were given the opportunity to show the American electorate that she had these qualities, and could operate under this unprecedented level of pressure, then she would, I believe, have a real chance of winning the election. Cometh the hour, cometh the woman. – Yours, etc,
CHRIS FITZPATRICK,
Dublin 6.
Sir, – I wonder did US president Joe Biden’s courageous decision to bow to the inevitable have anything to do with the Lord Almighty? – Yours, etc,
AIDAN RODDY,
Cabinteely,
Dublin 18.
Sir, – Surely you must offer a prize for the genealogist who can prove that our esteemed Taoiseach is related to the prospective Democratic presidential nominee?
What a boost for Irish tourism. – Yours, etc,
BRIAN MURPHY,
Templeogue,
Dublin 6W.
Sir, – It seems the Lord Almighty has had a busy week.
Saving a former US president from being fatally wounded and having a chat with the current US president to withdraw from the race. Time for a holiday. – Yours, etc,
MIKE MORAN,
Clontarf,
Dublin 3.
Sir, – Judgments on Joe Biden’s legacy have already begun. How presidents are judged by history is complicated. While his political legacy will be debated depending on ideology, his legislative legacy includes positive economic, foreign, and social policy successes. Personally, I will remember him as a president of dignity, honour, and respect. Unlike Donald Trump, he chose national interest over personal interests. – Yours, etc,
ENDA CULLEN,
Armagh.
Sir, – The news of Mr Biden’s decision to stand down from the current US presidential campaign came as a shock, even if there was a certain inevitability to it, given his obvious health problems. His was a courageous decision to take but probably a bitter pill to swallow for someone who devoted his entire life to politics. However, that said, he will be remembered as the man who soundly defeated Donald Trump in the 2020 elections, thus saving American democracy until the next election. Far from being a loser, as Mr Trump regularly described him, he was actually a winner whose legacy will long outlast the man who made unscrupulousness a way of life.
History will be kind to Mr Biden. – Yours, etc,
FRANK RUSSELL,
Ballyvaughan,
Co Clare.
Sir, – Joe Biden is making a sacrifice. He is putting his country before himself. Nothing vindicates or dignifies Mr Biden’s good and productive term as president more than the manner of his completing it. Patriotism comes in many forms. Personal sacrifice is the loneliest form. We all think we can go on forever. We are wrong. I cannot understand why Mr Biden’s advisers insisted on exposing him in the way that they did, and I am relieved that Mr Biden is passing the torch of democracy to others in his party. – Yours, etc,
MICHAEL DEASY,
Bandon,
Co Cork.