‘Downfall Joe’: From Power to Prostate Cancer

Joe Biden, once a highly influential figure in Washington, at the ages of 82, is said to be battling an aggressive form of prostate cancer in the confines of his Delaware home. Striking a stark contrast to his days as president, he no longer commands a horde of employees or the extensive surveillance that comes with the position. His entourage seems to have dwindled down to a couple of aides and a handful of Secret Service officers ensuring his safety while he labors with a ghostwriter to pen his memoirs.

In May, the news broke out that the prostate cancer diagnosis was an aggressive variant. Interestingly, Biden, who was at the helm as the Commander-in-Chief not too long ago, appears to be leading a relatively humble and stern life now, even though his memoir managed to fetch a substantial sum of $10 million.

Far from the glitz and glamour previously associated with him, Biden is staying close to his roots. On the rare occasions when he takes a hiatus from his memoir-writing stint, he opts for commercial flights or railway travel, garnering him the moniker ‘American Airlines Joe’. This pared-down avatar of Biden, a person close to him recounts, has been surprising to witness.

Public scrutiny of Joe Biden’s post-presidency routine reflects a now smaller, ‘very in the wild’ footprint. This characterization, whilst couched in shock, ostensibly points towards Biden’s augmented privacy and curtailed exposure to the public gaze, a dramatic deviation from his former days.

While Biden keeps to himself in Delaware, his tenure is being questioned back at the Capitol, especially concerning alleged attempts to mislead the public on his cognitive health and possible use of autopen. The investigation, fueled by Republican representatives, is grilling many of Biden’s former White House staff.

Allegations of a coverup pertaining to Biden’s cognitive decline and the use of autopen are currently under the spotlight. The House Oversight Committee has subpoenaed several former team members and high-ranking advisors, questioning them in an effort to gain insight into the accusations.

However, in response to the inquiries, Steve Ricchetti, a former aide, derides the accusations as nothing more than a baseless attempt to taint Biden’s legacy. While being questioned for hours, Ricchetti went so far as to brand the probe as nothing more than political maneuvering to distract from the alleged disarray in the first six months of the administration.

Caught on the crossfire are many of Biden’s former aides who chose to invoke their right against self-incrimination while testifying. Despite all the political drama unfolding in Washington, it’s said that Biden has so far maintained a healthy distance from the oversight briefings and his former colleagues.

One anonymous source even stated that Biden’s deliberate distance was based on his respect for the oversight process. However, this assertion was promptly disputed by Republican sources, drawing attention to Ricchetti’s own account of discussing legal strategies with Biden prior to his hearing.

This controversy was exacerbated by another close source to Biden, who was not part of the investigation and dismissed Ricchetti’s alleged interactions with Biden. They emphasized that remaining informed does not constitute involvement or any undue pressure on ex-staff members to conform to a certain narrative.

A previous aide deplored the investigation as nothing more than a detraction from various controversies circling the Trump administration. This sentiment stands as a typical example of the political blame game, steering clear of genuine issues and focusing instead on unproductive narratives.

Another insider claimed that the investigation had not caused any substantial public attention, calling out the main agenda of the probe as an attempt to tarnish Biden’s reputation by debating his age during his tenure. The source reiterated that there wasn’t any substantive evidence against Biden, squashing any possibility of a ‘smoking gun’.

This unidentified source argued that the reputational damage incurred was mostly due to previously publicized stories. They stressed that, despite the seemingly damning allegations, nothing new or potentially damaging has been brought to light.

The paraphrased narrative portrays an ex-president living in tranquility but being pestered by incessant and seemingly baseless investigations aiming to erode his legacy, all while stirring up questions on his competence during his tenure.

From these accounts, it appears that the attempt to put Biden back under a microscope, succinctly summed up by the phrase ‘everybody that has been interviewed knows there is no smoking gun’, is nothing more than a political drive, bereft of any substantial revelation.