Paul McCartney, writer and performer of songs such as Yesterday, Hey Jude, Blackbird, When I’m Sixty-Four, Let It Be and Wonderful Christmastime (for completeness’ sake), will turn 82 this June 18.

McCartney just concluded his “Got Back” tour of Australia, Mexico and Brazil; each of his concerts lasted 2 hours 40 minutes and included over 30 songs from his Beatles, Wings and solo careers.  He will be appearing at a “Keep the Party Going” Jimmy Buffett tribute concert two weeks from now.

Speaking of keeping the party going, a younger man hopes to do the same here in the U.S.  His name is Joseph R. Biden, and he won’t turn 82 until November 20.  Like it or not — and many do not — Joe Biden has been keeping the Democratic Party going.  There may be many worthy Democratic leaders, but Kamala Harris, Gretchen Whitmer, Gavin Newsom, Stacey Abrams, Raphael Warnock et al haven’t exactly lit the I’m-Young-and-I’m-Strong candles under the party electorate.

Democrats who have been going out of their way to undercut Biden because of his age should ask themselves, why not trash McCartney?  Or 60 Minutes journalist Lesley Stahl?  She’s 82.  Or Patrick Stewart (Picard) who will be 84 in July.  I have no reason to question the faculties of any of those people any more than Biden’s.

I’m not denying that 80-year-olds are statistically closer to death than 70-year-olds.  And that 70-year-olds are closer to death than 60-year-olds.  And so on.  Maybe Democrats should just wait a few terms and nominate Billie Eilish for President in 2036, her first year of eligibility.  Hey, she just won an Oscar!  Eilish is a proven winner, Biden-supporter, and statistically not liable to die within eight years of her election.  We all seem to agree that this is what matters most, yes?

Billie Eilish, God bless her soul,
could be my President when I’m eighty-four.
If I survive that long and can still check a box,
I would vote for her, I say why nox!

Until then, Joseph Biden remains our Democratic candidate for President, Donald Trump remains the anti-democratic candidate for President, and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. dutifully fills the role of America’s 2024 check-your-brain-at-the-door candidate.  It’s such a simple choice.  Why are people making it so complicated?