Not if you are in politics.
This April, at a conference in Washington, Gordon Brown, the former chancellor and prime minister of the UK now in his early seventies, introduced himself as someone too old for European politics and too young to be an American politician. The point made only half in jest triggered some laughs and the hiss of resigned sighs.
On Thursday, the sighs of dismay were amplified as they resonated across the United States and the world as folks watched an 81-year-old in a face-off with a 78-year-old in the first presidential debate. The Thursday hustle between Joseph Robinette Biden and Donald J Trump was a validation of the worst fears— America's future and that of the world order was now hostage to oneupmanship in the race of geriatrics.
The 90-minute spectacle of rant and ramble was scarcely a debate and hardly presidential. Juvenile jibes chased coarse charges of the unverifiable variety. Try this for flavour. At one point Trump chided Biden, "Let's not act like children"; Biden retorted, "You are a child". As Biden stuttered and stumbled over words and thoughts, Trump paraded personal victimhood with superlative self-certification.
Denne historien er fra June 30, 2024-utgaven av The Morning Standard.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra June 30, 2024-utgaven av The Morning Standard.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
DEVINE ACT: SOPHIE.TAHUHU STUN INDIA
White Ferns captain cracks unbeaten half-century before pacer runs riot to hand Harmanpreet Co a 58-run defeat on Friday
All hail Omaima Sohail, Pakistan's bowling lodestar
0MAIMA Sohail loves to bowl.
ISL 2024: Borja strikes late to rescue FC Goa
NORTHEAST United FC shared the spoils with FC Goa in a scintillating 3-3 draw in the Indian Super League at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here.
Irani Cup: Spinners put Mumbai in command
SEASONED spin duo of Shams Mulani and Tanush Kotian became catalysts of Rest of India's sudden middle-order collapse that saw them lose six wickets for only 23 runs here Friday, putting Mumbai within sniffing distance of an Irani Cup triumph despite Abhimanyu Easwaran's heroic 191.
Maguire salvages draw for Man United at Porto
MANCHESTER United narrowly avoided another embarrassing defeat as substitute Harry Maguire headed in an injury-time equaliser to salvage a 3-3 draw against Porto in the Europa League on Thursday after Erik ten Hag's team had given up an early 2-0 lead and seen Bruno Fernandes sent off for a second straight game.
HIL set to return after seven years
THE much-awaited Hockey India League (HIL) will return after seven long years in a new avatar, where both the men's and women's teams will participate in the event beginning December 28.
India's per capita income to rise by $2000 in next 5 years: FM
INDIA'S per capita income, currently at $2,730, is projected to increase by $2,000 over the next five years, according to finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
Dhoni invests ₹3 cr in IPO bound Garuda
CRICKETER MS Dhoni has topped-up his investment in drone start-up Garuda Aerospace and rejoins the IPO-bound start-up as brand ambassador.
Forex reserves hit all-time high of $704.89 billion
THE country's forex reserves hit all-time high of $704.89 billion, up a whopping $12.5 billion in the week to September 27, the Reserve Bank said on Friday, something that can assuage a fraught market following the heightened tension in the Middle East.
PM Internship Scheme: 50 more companies join the initiative
THE government's PM Internship Portal has seen a remarkable uptick in internship listings, with over 2,200 opportunities currently available as of 3 pm on Friday, sources aware of the development confirmed.