Lucas: Biden's chat with Pope out in left field - it's time for backup
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Given his wobbly track record to date — and with three years yet to go — the time may come to help President Joe Biden govern the country.
Ordinarily a vice president could be relied on for assistance in time of need, but in this case, the second-in-command is Kamala Harris.
And while Biden promised that Harris would be the last person in the room when he made an important decision, she is not even in the same building, let alone zip code, these days.
There is also the problem of a fractious and divided Congress, which spends most of its time creating problems for every solution. Biden cannot expect any help there.
And it is painfully obvious that Biden needs help, lots of help. And there is only so much hand holding his distraught-looking wife Jill Biden can do.
Biden has clearly slowed down both mentally and physically. He mumbles and meanders, forgets names, forgets what he is talking about and repeats and embellishes questionable old stories.
Biden's condition is understandable. For one thing, he's 80 years old, and 30 years past two operations for brain aneurysms. Those factors can't be working in his favor.
Perhaps that is why a befuddled Biden said to Pope Francis Friday, "You're the famous African American baseball player in America," and then proceeded to talk about Satchel Paige to the confused pontiff.
Biden cannot resign because it would mean turning the country over to Harris. And he will not be impeached.
Yet he needs help, and the country is crying out for steady and firm leadership to straighten out Biden's train-wreck of an administration and get the country back on the right track.
What the next Congress should do, following a Republican takeover of the House and Senate in 2022, is appoint a special advisory committee made up of five past presidents to help Biden run the country for the remainder of his term.
The committee would be made up of former Presidents Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, all Democrats, and Republicans George Bush and Donald Trump.
Of course, getting in the same room together would be like herding cats.
Combined they have 32 years of experience in running the country, so their experience and insight would be invaluable.
Biden and the progressives would balk at having the pushy Donald Trump on the committee since Trump will be running against Biden in 2024, if Biden is still in the game.
Also, Trump would spurn the appointment since his suggestion that the committee be named "The Five" would be rejected since it sounds like a Fox News program.
Instead, the committee would be called the Presidents Policy Advisory Committee.
Despite serving one term as president, Carter would be named PPAC chairman because at age 97, he is the oldest and is considered the worst president, until Biden.
Carter will bond with Biden, however, because he wrecked the U.S. economy during his tenure (1997-1981), just as Biden is doing now with skyrocketing inflation, empty shelves, Illegal immigration, scarce energy and outrageously high gas prices.
Bill Clinton's contribution to PPAC will be his slick election and campaign expertise. Even though he was impeached but acquitted by the Senate — just as Trump was — Clinton was re-elected. Trump was not.
George Bush's committee role will be twofold. As a former Texas governor, he will deal with the disastrous illegal immigrant invasion along the southern border.
Barack Obama, who is known for plucking Joe Biden out of obscurity by making him his vice president, bears a heavy responsibility.
Obama's job will be to accompany Biden at every public event, including such outings as audiences with the pope, to explain to people what the hell Joe Biden is talking about. Satchel Paige indeed.
Peter Lucas is a veteran Massachusetts political reporter and columnist.
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Gee, what an objective analysis
Thanks, I had forgot to put it under op/ed.
Never heard of the writer Peter Lucas, since he is a local New England writer, so I looked him up and to no one's surprise I saw he is entirely anti-Biden and anti-Democrat.
This is an article he wrote less than three weeks after Bidens inauguration
Peter Lucas: Some think the Biden administration and Dems are creating the dystopian society in Orwell’s ‘1984’His opinion pieces are just that, at best.
Yes, it is an opinion piece. Yes, Peter Lucas doesn't appear to be pro-Biden or pro-Democrat. Is there a problem?
" (inaudible) you're the famous African American baseball player in America," and then proceeded to talk about Satchel Paige
It was a longevity comparison, no more no less. Paige was a pitcher of baseballs into his late 40s, the Pope is a pitcher of ideas in his mid 80s.
So your opinion is that he was making an analogy?