[imagesource:wikicommons]

While the South African elections are now done and dusted, the campaign engines are still running full steam in the US, with their general elections only five months away.

Coverage of the respective campaigns by Republican Trump and Democrat Biden is a fascinating watch for anyone who has even the slightest interest in their politics. Perhaps most intriguing is how the candidates are portrayed in the media, and how perspectives can differ wildly depending on which link you decide to click.

Despite the sneering bullshit Trump spews from his podium, many commentators seem to reckon that he may just manage to pull off a Trump sequel. Whether that’s a good thing or not, once again, depends on the commentators. But recently, even the pro-Biden media seems a little nervous over their candidate’s chances of keeping the wolf at bay.

Yes, Joe is looking a bit shaky at the moment, especially after the latest viral clip shows Barack Obama seemingly leading a ‘frozen’ Biden off stage at their star-studded $30 million LA fundraiser.

The event was headlined by George Clooney, Barbra Streisand, Julia Roberts and late night TV host Jimmy Kimmel, but so-called Conservative outlets only shared the clip of Biden stuck on stage before Obama reached for his arm and they walked off together.

Biden freezes AGAIN before Obama rescues him pic.twitter.com/ztTv60IOAk

— Daily Mail Online (@MailOnline) June 17, 2024

This clip follows a recent one at a memorial event for WWII veterans, in which Biden also appeared to be somewhat confused, with his wife eventually helping him to ‘exit stage left’.

Joe Biden highlights in Normandy on the 80th anniversary of D-Day:

– Sits in an invisible chair
– Forgets where his seat is
– Talks about how many Russians died in Ukraine
– Gets pulled away by Docta Jill as Macron greets D-Day veterans. pic.twitter.com/sWFsYpt1o5

— Greg Price (@greg_price11) June 6, 2024

The White House has accused ‘right-wing critics’ of selectively editing videos in a ‘misinformation’ campaign to question President Joe Biden’s mental state. They even shared other footage that they claim showed Biden was just pausing to take in the applause, but when dealing with an opponent like Trump, follow-up videos are pointless. The damage has been done.

Opinion poll after poll indicates that Biden’s age is drawing far more scrutiny from voters than Trump’s, and the mental acuity of both Biden, 81, and 78-year-old Donald Trump, has now become one of the biggest issues as the race heats up.

Biden allies have meanwhile been seizing on viral clips of Trump to argue that it is the Republican candidate who is lacking mental lucidity (as if anyone needed convincing).

While the Wall Street Journal headline reads “Behind Closed Doors, Biden Shows Signs of Slipping”, the New York Post proclaims “The President’s Not Fit For Office”. Naturally, Trump pounced like a vulture, and asked on Truth Social site, “Is this really who you want to be your President?”

This may be a bit rich coming from a convicted criminal and serial misogynist, but it’s a question more and more people are asking.

An Ipsos poll indicates that 86% of Americans believe Biden is too old to hold the office of president again. Included in that percentage are 59% of Americans who believe both candidates are too elderly. Maybe a better inquiry would be how these men have become the best US parties have to offer.

Ramaphosa might have his work cut out for him as he tries to herd all the GNU cattle into one kraal, but American politics seems to be more divisive than ever, so perhaps their elections resemble a ’94 moment’ more than our recent one.

On the one hand, they have a glitchy octagenarian, on the other, a sociopathic narcissist. Never mind the Queen, God save America.

[source:nypost&wsj&bbc]