Joe Biden, the Incredible Shrinking President

In 1957, the Jack Arnold B-movie "The Incredible Shrinking Man" hit theaters. This low-budget film was based on Richard Matheson's 1956 book, "The Shrinking Man." The story has to do with a man who, while on vacation with his wife, walks through a mysterious mist and starts to shrink, gradually shrinking to microscopic size.

Joe Biden was 14 years old when this film was released. Why is that relevant? Because President Joe Biden seems to walk perpetually in a mysterious mist these days, and has, since his ouster as the Democrat's standard-bearer, been greatly diminished. His physical and mental decline, obvious to all who took the time to notice it, is accelerating. As he marks his last weeks as president, he seems to have largely withdrawn; it is his once-opponent, Donald Trump, who seems to be the acting president.

You might say Joe Biden is The Incredible Shrinking President, and with good reason - although the New York Times, predictably, would have you believe otherwise.

This is the twilight of Mr. Biden’s presidency, the final days of the final chapter of an epic half-century political journey that has had more than its share of twists and turns. Time is catching up with Mr. Biden. He looks a little older and a little slower with each passing day. Aides say he remains plenty sharp in the Situation Room, calling world leaders to broker a cease-fire in Lebanon or deal with the chaos of Syria’s rebellion. But it is hard to imagine that he seriously thought he could do the world’s most stressful job for another four years.

It's hard to believe he's been doing the world's most stressful job for the last four years. Joe Biden never was all that; he was always petty, vindictive, venal, and corrupt, but things have gotten worse. His physical and mental decline was apparent even in the 2020 campaign, and that decline is now accelerating. Under the Biden administration, inflation spiked, the economy tanked, the withdrawal from Afghanistan was a bloody disaster, and the borders were thrown open to any goblin or smuggler who felt like getting his feet wet in the Rio Grande. His VP pick, a vacuous, cackling, empty suit who would have to study hard to attain mediocrity, was installed to replace Joe in the 2024 election; Kamala Harris proved to be the worst presidential candidate in living memory.

It's not surprising befuddled, old Joe Biden is weary. Failure is tiring.

Former Obama Aides Mock Biden for 'Disappearing' — Then REALLY Drop Hammer on Failed President

The NYT piece, linked above, continues:

Like other lame-duck presidents, he is fading from the political scene, all but leaving the stage before the final curtain. While Mr. Trump already dominates the conversation more than incoming presidents typically do, making policy pronouncements and huddling with world leaders without waiting to take office, the president actually occupying the White House has become a national afterthought. “President — Still?” a host on “Saturday Night Live” referred to him.

President-elect (*Acting* President) Donald Trump is, yes, sucking all the oxygen out of the room, as he tends to do - leaving the Biden people gasping for air and looking for an exit. If Donald Trump is already acting like the president, it's because someone has to - Joe Biden sure isn't. And, it's important to note, Donald Trump has been president once already. He knows what to expect, and we know what to expect from him. What's more, he has a clear focus on what he wants to do, and seems determined to see it done.

Joe Biden, on the other hand, will face his decline and his failures. The 46th President of the United States won't enjoy any glorious ride into the sunset. He's just going to go away - shrinking into the distance, as Donald Trump resumes his seat behind the Resolute Desk.

This seems appropriate: