Joe Biden, now demonstrably unfit for the presidency, should step aside

Biden owes it to the country to acknowledge that non-dementia-related cognitive decline is common at his age, and that physical stamina also tends to diminish – and that if he or those close to him see or feel any of those signs from him, he should opt out of the race. One need not suffer from dementia, nor need one be embarrassed, to admit that one may not be fully up to the rigors of the presidency.

Second, even if Biden is not physically or mentally compromised, he is ethically compromised when it comes to China. This is crucial. China is a nation with evil leaders, committed to world domination. Its current crackdown on Hong Kong, its attempts to militarily dominate Pacific shipping lanes, and of course its morally repugnant handling of the coronavirus outbreak, are all evidence that the next U.S. president should be fully committed to containing its hegemonic aims.

On this front, Biden is entirely undependable. Amidst all the hubbub about his dealings with Ukraine, much of it overblown, what most people missed is that his behavior toward China was far more egregious. By bringing his son Hunter to China on Air Force Two, essentially to enable Hunter to snag a sweetheart business deal there, Biden completely compromised his moral standing, and his family’s financial standing, with regard to these Chinese thugs.

Finally, there is sexual assault. This issue is complicated. Biden is right that there are discrepancies in the stories of his accuser, Tara Reade, and absolutely right that her claims should be “fully vetted” to “look at the facts, check it out, find out whether any of it — what she says or asserted is true.”