
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">President Biden participated in his first one-on-one media interview since leaving office in January. The honor – if that is what it be – went to a foreign news agency – BBC. He followed up with an appearance on “The View” along with his wife, Jill.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The first obvious question is: How well did he do in view of the notable physical and mental decline that led to his withdrawal from the 2024 presidential campaign? While he did not have any dramatic “senior moments”, his overall demeanor on BBC was that of an old man. His voice was weak, and his speech was hesitant. He seemed the same on “The View” but had Dr. Jill to run interference.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">In the BBC interview, Biden benefited from VERY friendly – an occasionally fawning – questions from Nick Robinson. ; Robinson would often lead his questions with flattering comments. ; The result of an interview that was mostly platitudes, reverie and romanticism. ;</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">For example, Biden was asked to talk about the Great War and his feelings when visiting Normandy. We got the “great sacrifice by so many brave men and women” Memorial Day speech. Not that what Biden said was not true, but it was not new or appropriate to a serious interview.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Biden was asked about his son, Beau. ; And understandably, Biden praised him and his service. ; Conspicuous by their absence were questions about his son, Hunter.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Robinson asked leading questions about the threat to democracy – and Biden responded according to the Democrat party line. Biden said he worries about the American democracy. His only direct attack on Trump was over the issues of the Panama Canal, Canada and Greenland. “What President talks like that?” he rhetorically asked.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">In terms of his accomplishments as President, Biden gave the same talking points he delivered from his bunker during the campaign – most of which were rejected by the voters. The toughest question was whether it would have gone better for Democrats if Biden had dropped out earlier. The former President did not think it would have mattered. I tend to agree.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">There was no question about Afghanistan and Abbey Gate – and amazingly not a single question about the border crisis &#8230; inflation &#8230; Hamas (and terrorism in general). No insightful questions. No tough questions. Nothing newsworthy.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Biden was not challenged on his weakness in dealing with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. ; He did nothing as Putin amassed troops on the Ukraine border – and then he pursued a too little/too late policy that prolonged the war to the standoff we see today. ; The sanctions he piddled out over months and years were anemic &#8212; and were only somewhat effective in the third year of the war. ; Yet, Robinson never pursued the war in any detail.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">In his one inquiry about ceding land to Russia, Biden said giving the Russian dictator any Ukrainian land was appeasement. Too bad he did not make that his policy goal while in office. In terms of his “too little/too late” policies, Biden said he gave Ukraine all that they needed – and he feared doing more would provoke Putin to go nuclear. It was obviously NOT all they needed.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Biden’s appearance on “The View” was more of the same with one notable exception. Jill Biden resorted to the old cover-up lie &#8212; that old Joe was sharp as a tack. She said that she was with him day and night and saw how hard he worked with full energy and uncompromised mental acuity. Uh huh!</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Perhaps the most interesting thing to come out of Biden’s return to the public forum was the reaction of Democrats. ; In a CNN interview, political analyst, S.E. Cupp said “Democrat voters are over him. Democrat lawmakers are angry at him. ; And Democrat donors are done with him. ; They don’t want him around.”</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Democrat strategist Alyssa Farah Griffin was just as harsh. She said that Biden is the messenger “that no Democrat wants to see out there right now.” ; Griffen referred to his “mixed legacy” and things like the Afghan surrender</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Other Democrats feared that a reemerging Biden would remind people why so many preferred Trump – and just when they believe they have Trump on the ropes.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Just as telling is the number of invitations Biden receives from Democrat leaders to support their campaigns and participate in their political events. ; The answer is close to none.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">For his part, BBC’s Robinson – and the ladies of “The View” – were not lobbing softballs, they were pitching wiffle balls. It could not have been soppier if the interviews had been conducted by Jill Biden. There is something pathetic in seeing a has-been trying to reclaim the days of glory. But that is what we got.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">So, there ‘tis.</p>

Biden back in public … and no one cares
