(Troy La Mana) – It is becoming increasingly clear that Joe Biden is suffering from dementia. His cognitive abilities have declined sharply in recent months, and he is no longer able to effectively perform his duties as President of the United States.
The 25th Amendment to the Constitution provides for the removal of a president who is “unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office.” Given the severity of Biden’s condition, it is time for the White House to invoke this amendment and remove him from office.
Biden’s cognitive decline was first evident during his presidential campaign, when he made several gaffes and forgot key details about his own policy proposals. But since taking office, his condition has deteriorated rapidly. He frequently stumbles over his words, forgets people’s names, and gets lost in mid-sentence.
This is not just a matter of embarrassing gaffes; Biden’s cognitive decline is having a serious impact on his ability to govern. He has trouble following complex policy discussions, and often needs to be briefed multiple times on the same issue. White House staff are reportedly alarmed by his declining mental state, and some have even begun to whisper about the possibility of invoking the 25th Amendment.
Under the 25th Amendment, a president can be removed from office if he is “unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office.” This has typically been interpreted to mean physical incapacity, but there is no reason it couldn’t also apply to cognitive decline. If Joe Biden is no longer able to effectively perform his duties as president, then it is time for the 25th Amendment to be invoked.
Some will argue that this is a drastic measure, and that we should give Biden more time to see if his condition improves. But the fact is, dementia is a progressive disease, and it is only going to get worse. If we wait too long, we could find ourselves in a situation where the president is unable to make decisions or communicate effectively. That is a recipe for disaster.
So far, Biden has been able to hide his cognitive decline relatively well, but there have been moments where it has been on full display. For example, during a recent interview, he appeared to forget the name of his own climate change initiative. This is not a man who should be leading our country.
It is time for the White House to seriously consider invoking the 25th Amendment. This would allow Vice President Harris to take over as president on a temporary basis, until such time as Biden is able to resume his duties. It is not an ideal situation, but it is better than having a president who is unable to lead.
Mr. Lamana writes from Pahrump, Nevada
