The revelation on Sunday that former President Joe Biden has stage 4 Prostate Cancer, and that it has metatasized to his bones, is a shock and a time for compassion and unity, as well as prayers for his recovery, which although daunting, is a possibility.
Even President Donald Trump and Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene have found it possible to send their good wishes and avoid the constant attacks they have unleashed on Joe Biden, while he was President, and now as a former President.
This author and blogger has seen Joe Biden as the most compassionate, decent, empathetic political leader, bar none, since the tragic death of Hubert H. Humphrey a long 47 years ago, in 1978.
At that time, I looked around and saw Biden as the best model to replace Humphrey, and wished for him to become President, with him unable to accomplish this goal in 1988 and 2008.
But I was thrilled when Barack Obama made Joe Biden his Vice President, and their relationship and interaction was only surpassed in American history before and since, by Jimmy Carter and Walter Mondale from 1977-1981.
Looking back now, it is clear that had Joe Biden somehow won a second term, he would, most likely, be forced to resign, and Kamala Harris would have become President.
If only Joe Biden had realized, at his age, that it was time to retire, and had done so earlier, the nightmare America is living through in the present, could have been avoided.
That is the tragedy of a man who wanted the best for his nation, but yet, may have blundered in not realizing his age and mortality earlier than July 2024, when he announced he would not run, and was replaced by Harris.
In any case, let all of us pray for Joe Biden’s recovery, and many more years of life in retirement!