Is the West in decline

[akaTrex]

Axios just released the audio of the recorded interview of Joe Biden & Ben Hur.

The audio validates Hur's assertion that jurors in a trial likely would have viewed Biden as "a sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory."

https://www.axios.com/2025/05/16/biden-hur-tape-special-counsel-audio

 

[Johnny D]

Axios just released the audio of the recorded interview of Joe Biden & Ben Hur.

The audio validates Hur's assertion that jurors in a trial likely would have viewed Biden as "a sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory."

https://www.axios.com/2025/05/16/biden-hur-tape-special-counsel-audio

You really need to get past Biden, man. He's gone. Everyone in Trump's camp still going on and on about how bad Biden was - it's just a distraction from what's happening NOW. Stop with the fixation and move on.

 

[akaTrex]

You really need to get past Biden, man. He's gone. Everyone in Trump's camp still going on and on about how bad Biden was - it's just a distraction from what's happening NOW. Stop with the fixation and move on.

I don’t care about Biden. The audio makes it clear that he wasn’t running the country. So, who was in charge?

In my opinion, this situation is one of the biggest cover-ups in U.S. history, even bigger than Watergate.
If Congress holds hearings, I expect Anita Dunn, Mike Donilon, and Steve Ricchetti to be called to testify.

 

[Johnny D]

I don’t care about Biden. The audio makes it clear that he wasn’t running the country. So, who was in charge?

In my opinion, this situation is one of the biggest cover-ups in U.S. history, even bigger than Watergate.
If Congress holds hearings, I expect Anita Dunn, Mike Donilon, and Steve Ricchetti to be called to testify.

Ahh...OK. Got it. There have been so many, "But what about Biden" and "Biden caused this or that" responses that I thought this was another like them. I misunderstood.

I can get on board with this train of thought. Not that it's bigger than Watergate - the commission of a federal crime - but that it was a massive cover-up, nonetheless, orchestrated to deceive the public and other officials.

I'm not sure what the outcome of hearings would be, though. While staffers can be exposed and scolded, is there anything they can be prosecuted for? Dunno. Could it just end up being a ton of time, energy, and taxpayer money spent toward no outcome at all other than to be able to say, "Told you so"? We can all say that already. What's the end-game of a congressional hearing? Not that I'm opposed, but as a taxpayer, I'd like to know that it will serve some purpose.

 

[not2big]

I think it is obvious that Biden developed memory issues during the final months of his administration which have worsened since leaving office. However, to make the assumption that his current condition is a true reflection of of his entire term as President is quite disingenuous and a misrepresentation. The following link lists a number of accomplishments achieved by the Biden/Harris Administration: https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/fact-sheet-the-biden-harris-administration-record. They represent accomplishments many would be proud to have as a legacy.

 

[Pegasus]

I seee the US has lost it's last AAA rating so all 3 agencies . Many western countries have at least 1 AAA rating and some including Australia have 3 .

So far the economic contagion seems to have been limited to the americas .

 

[Johnny D]

I think it is obvious that Biden developed memory issues during the final months of his administration which have worsened since leaving office. However, to make the assumption that his current condition is a true reflection of of his entire term as President is quite disingenuous made a misrepresentation. The following link lists a number of accomplishments achieved by the Biden/Harris Administration: https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/fact-sheet-the-biden-harris-administration-record. They represent accomplishments many would be proud to have as a legacy.

Nobody is saying yet that it was his entire term but it was clearly in the later portion of it and, very importantly, when they tried to act as though he could go another 4 years.

 

[Johnny D]

I seee the US has lost it's last AAA rating so all 3 agencies . Many western countries have at least 1 AAA rating and some including Australia have 3 .

So far the economic contagion seems to have been limited to the americas .

Yep! I’ve been saying this for a while now… debt and interest. Nobody seems to care!

 

[akaTrex]

Got to love the brouhaha about the Jet given to the USA.
The Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg, was with Trump in Qatar, and Boeing received a 100 billion order for aircraft from Qatar.
The most significant order in Boeing's history!

 

[not2big]

I guess Qatar is interested in new Boeings so found a way to unload their used one. Also indicates that the U.S. government should continue working with Boeing on a new Air Force One instead of reworking Qatar’s used one.

 

[Pegasus]

Japan looks like going into recession and who knows what is happening in China .

I see the Trump missed his various self imposed time lines for peace in Ukraine . He still seems to not understand what is actually going on .

 

[Johnny D]

Why did this discussion topic - Is the West in Decline - become a dumping ground for all red versus blue b*tching points?

 

[Pegasus]

So I have been concerned much of eastern europe became part of the west after the fall of the iron curtain , but there seems to be backsliding recently .

Anyone have more than my limited understanding ?

Any comment on India which does not see itself as part of the west but has many western values ?
Any comment on population decline in the west?
Any comment on what is happening in the UK which seems to have a variety of issues the situation there seems complex
Any cooment on the recent elections in europe ?

 

[CUSP82]

Japan looks like going into recession and who knows what is happening in China .

I see the Trump missed his various self imposed time lines for peace in Ukraine . He still seems to not understand what is actually going on .

He's the only one that is at least trying to make peace. You just can't tell leaders what to do; it does take time

 

[not2big]

From what I have read, the population in the West is still increasing, but at a lower rate than in previous years.

 

[not2big]

He's the only one that is at least trying to make peace. You just can't tell leaders what to do; it does

Zelenskyy has agreed to an immediate cease fire several times. Trump has proposed a peace agreement that allows Putin to retain all the land his troops invaded- not much of a compromise.

 

[Johnny D]

You just can't tell leaders what to do; it does take time

Probably should have known that before claiming he'd end the conflict overnight.

 

[Johnny D]

From what I have read, the population in the West is still increasing, but at a lower rate than in previous years.

Isn't the population of the entire world increasing, though?

 

[Pegasus]

A lot of projections given current birthrate imply sttep population declines in the furure in many parts of the world .

Japan has serious economic problems by the look and population decline .
I regard it as part of the west . South Korea looks dour on the population front..
Ukraine of course .

Yes population decline could contribute to the decline of the west .

 

[akaTrex]

June 5, 2024, in London, England.