Tag: cover-up

Book Review: Original Sin: President Biden’s Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again by Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson

This book is well-written, compelling, and—most notably—largely uncontested. I’ve read and heard very little pushback on the specific facts or episodes it reveals, which suggests that authors Alex Thompson and Jake Tapper did their journalistic homework. The anger it has generated seems not to concern the accuracy of its content, but rather the timing of its release—particularly among Biden loyalists, who view it as a betrayal during a time when the President is reportedly battling stage four colon cancer.

Others, more detached, wonder aloud why this information wasn’t brought to light sooner—why major media outlets, especially CNN, did not explore or disclose the full extent of President Biden’s physical and cognitive decline during his time in office. That is perhaps the most damning question of all.

This is an important book. It speaks to an uncomfortable truth that extends far beyond one man: the American political establishment, across all branches, has proven remarkably inept at addressing questions of age, health, and capacity among its senior-most officials. From the silent frailty of Dianne Feinstein to the vanished vigor of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, we’ve seen what happens when ego and denial—both personal and institutional—take precedence over public responsibility.

Perhaps the quintessential case of this phenomenon was Woodrow Wilson’s second term. After a debilitating stroke, Wilson was essentially incapacitated. His wife, Edith, barred access to him, managed his communications, and in effect acted as President. It was a quiet coup by pillow and teacup. The Republic endured, but barely.

There are shades of Edith Wilson in Jill Biden. She appears to have acted as her husband’s chief protector—controlling access, managing his schedule, shielding him from the press, and preserving the illusion of a functioning presidency. In her role as spouse, that’s understandable. In her unelected role as a shadow gatekeeper to the Commander-in-Chief, it is far more problematic. One might say she acted out of love; but in doing so, she may have done a grave disservice not just to Joe, but to the country.

The book should be read not as a political hit job, but as a cautionary tale—a sobering account of what happens when the reality of aging is denied, hidden, or downplayed in a role where vitality, decisiveness, and mental clarity are non-negotiable. The tragic erosion of strength and cognition in old age is painful to witness in any context. But when the individual in decline is the President of the United States, the stakes are exponentially higher.

Being President is not a part-time job. And yet, this administration’s inner circle seemed intent on turning it into a 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. desk duty—often with questionable results. The staff’s attempts to mask or manage the President’s decline weren’t just misguided; they were reckless. Shame on them. Shame on the senior Democrats who knew the truth and said nothing. And shame, too, on the partisans who savaged the few journalists who dared to report what millions of Americans could plainly see.

Modest Proposals for Reform

The republic deserves better than this. Here are a few modest proposals to restore some measure of honesty and responsibility to our political gerontocracy:

  • Mandatory retirement at 78 for all members of Congress and Supreme Court justices. This would mean the last year someone could run for the Senate would be age 73; for the House, age 76.
  • Presidential retirement at 78. If a sitting President reaches that age during their term, the Vice President should assume office.
  • Lower the minimum age to run for President to 32. Why 35, anyway? If you’re old enough to command a drone strike, you’re old enough to command the White House.
  • Annual cognitive testing starting at age 68 for any sitting President, Supreme Court justice, or member of Congress, with results made public. Transparency, like sunlight, is the best disinfectant.

And What of Donald Trump?

Let us not delude ourselves. The other septuagenarian (now octogenarian) candidate is not immune to the same questions. A similar book could be written—perhaps will be written—about Donald Trump’s own health, mental acuity, and fitness for office. The signs are there, albeit in a different key.

One would hope that, should Trump become clearly unfit for office due to health reasons, the wise and the decent would persuade him to step aside. But hoping for wise and decent behavior in American politics is a bit like hoping the Mississippi River will reverse course out of courtesy.

We are a nation now ruled by its elders, but without the wisdom such a gerontocracy is supposed to confer. Instead, we cling to figureheads and fictions, while truth sits ignored in the wings—sometimes until it’s too late. Original Sin may not be a comfortable read, but it is a necessary one.

Book Review: Imminent: Inside the Pentagon’s Hunt for UFOs by Luis Elizondo

Luis Elizondo, the former director of the Pentagon’s Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP), offers a provocative look into the United States government’s investigation of unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAPs) in Imminent: Inside the Pentagon’s Hunt for UFOs. For readers accustomed to the term “UFOs,” the rebranding to UAPs signals a shift—an attempt to expand the narrative beyond flying objects to include all unexplained phenomena.

Elizondo’s book delves into two compelling narratives. The first is his recounting of extraordinary encounters with UAPs—incidents that suggest extraterrestrial involvement. The second is an exposé of governmental resistance to transparency, raising questions about secrecy, incompetence, and ideological opposition within the military and intelligence community. Both threads are bound to captivate anyone with even a passing curiosity about the possibility of extraterrestrial life.

The revelations are staggering: reports of extraterrestrial craft allegedly recovered and reverse-engineered; claims of alien “bodies” found at crash sites; and the disconcerting assertion that UAPs have interfered with U.S. nuclear missile systems. Elizondo even speculates on the potential motives of these visitors—our planet’s water as fuel, or concern over humanity’s penchant for self-destruction via nuclear warfare. Such theories are supported by numerous sightings near military bases and naval fleets.

The book doesn’t shy away from darker implications. While some suggest UAPs could be benign observers, others, including Elizondo, entertain the notion that their intentions may not be friendly. Reports of abductions and injuries suffered by those who’ve come into direct contact with UAPs lend credence to a more ominous view. Alarmingly, Elizondo recounts how a faction within the U.S. government dismissed UAP research altogether, citing their belief that these phenomena were “demonic.”

Yet, for all its intrigue, Imminent stops short of providing definitive proof. The anecdotes are enthralling, but they remain just that—anecdotes. While Elizondo’s credentials and credibility, evident in his congressional testimony and media appearances, lend weight to his claims, the lack of conclusive evidence may frustrate skeptics. In fact, prominent skeptic Michael Shermer has questioned Elizondo’s background and methods, though his critiques might suffer from a superficial engagement with the book’s content.

What truly stands out is Elizondo’s call for an evolution in our understanding of physics and time. He suggests that UAP technology—capable of unimaginable speed and maneuverability—might reveal the limitations of our current scientific paradigms. This conjecture is tantalizing, leaving readers to ponder whether humanity is on the brink of its most profound discovery.

While Elizondo’s accounts fuel fascination and trepidation, they also underscore a broader question: Could humanity cope with the existential shock of proving extraterrestrial life? As the author posits, the mere acknowledgment that we lack the means to defend against such advanced technology could induce global panic.

Despite the lack of a smoking gun, Imminent is undeniably engrossing. It invites readers to consider the implications of UAPs and the reasons behind governmental obfuscation. If clearer evidence—those alleged high-definition images and videos—exists, one wonders when, if ever, the public will see them. Until then, Imminent serves as a tantalizing, if inconclusive, prelude to what might be the greatest story ever told.

For anyone intrigued by the intersection of science, philosophy, and national security, Elizondo’s account is a must-read, even if it leaves more questions than answers. The next chapter of this unfolding story will undoubtedly be one to watch.