Former Sioux Falls mayor Knobe: President Biden will, in the end, do what is best for country and step aside

Should he — President Joe Biden — stay or should he go?

I’ve spent a lot of time on this. 

In politics, perception is reality. I don’t know with certainty if he is cognitively impaired. It sure looks that way.

On the other side Trump acts impaired, disoriented. He doesn’t speak in sentences. He bounces everywhere. On top of that he is a known serial liar, has been convicted of serious felonies and has lost several civil cases. 

An equal amount of coverage should be about those realities. 

Sadly, that’s not happening. I think the media are bored with Trump. They cover him because it’s easy.

Biden IS the president (as seen above in a public domain image from Biden’s official portrait as posted on wikimedia commons). He is our leader, and a world leader. 

From my Independent perch, he has been good for the country. I haven’t agreed with everything he has proposed but I’m pleased with the Infrastructure and gun safety bills passed in a divided Congress thanks to his experience and effort.

Back to the question.

I think he should acknowledge perception is reality, and step aside. Obviously Trump should do the same, but he won’t. 

I think Biden will ultimately decide to do what is best for the country. 

It’s hard for humans to acknowledge limitations. I confess there are times when I want to get into the game again. It’s a powerful draw. My heart wants it. My head knows I don’t have the stamina for it.

There are many capable people in the wings: Vice President Kamala Harris, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and California Gov. Gavin Newsom. I’m sure there are others.

If Biden decides to stay, I will vote for him. He has good cabinet members, a good VP, and his party appears to want to continue lifting us up. 

Trump, and the people around him, many now in prison or facing charges, care only about themselves, power, and ultimately control of us. 

Not good for me, you and the country.

Rick Knobe is a former mayor of Sioux Falls and a longtime radio talk show host who is now retired but remains active and involved in his community and state. His columns appear regularly on The South Dakota Standard.