Do you remember the story of "The Emperors New Clothes?" It's the Hans Christian Andersen tale about a vain king who only wore the most expensive clothing.

One day, two conmen came to town and told the king that they made the finest fabric in the world. In addition to being beautiful, the fabric was invisible to people who were unusually stupid or unfit for office.The king immediately ordered a new outfit and paid the men a lot of money. They set up their loom and demanded that they be provided with the finest silks and purest threads. Then they pretended to be weaving the fancy material.

The king went down to see how they were doing and, of course, couldnt see anything but also couldnt admit that he didnt see it because that would mean he was stupid and unfit for office. He sent his ministers down to look at it. They couldnt see it either but came back and told the king how beautiful it was and how great he would look when he wore it.

You know how the story ends. The conmen dressed the king in the nonexistent clothes and he marched proudly down the street. The crowds cheered his fine raiment until one little boy shouted out But he hasnt got anything on! At that, the rest of the parade goers said, But he hasnt got anything on! The king suspected they were right but thought, The procession must go on so he continued marching proudly naked down the street while his noblemen held high the train that wasnt there.

This story has always resonated with readers because it makes fun of the vanity and lack of self-awareness of public figures.

So here it comes…

Has anybody else noticed that our president, Joseph Robinette Biden, Jr. acts like a 79 year old man? Not that theres anything wrong with 79 year-old men. Im fast becoming one myself. But old men tend to lose a step or twoas they age. They dont walk as fast, they dont talk as fast and they dont think as fast. Joe Biden is displaying all those signs of old age. Agree with his politics or not, any objective observer cannot help but wonder about the competence of the leader of the free world.

Before we discuss what he says, just watch the way he walks. He meanders around, seemingly confused and not quite sure where he is or what he is doing. If you havent seen the videos of it, you are watching a cable channel that doesnt want you to see it.

Even before he was elected, Joe could speak pretty well when reading a script from his basement, but when he tried to improvise, his staff must have cringed. Remember when he called a person at an election rally a dog faced pony soldier?

After dodging the press for the first year of his presidency, Joe was very proud of holding an hour-long press conference. Thats the one where he said it might be OK if Russia made just a minor incursion into Ukraine. His staff had to scurry to clean up after that. During his State of the Union address, he confused Iranians with Ukrainians. People dont pay much attention to an old guy muttering on a park bench but the world notices when Joe goes off script.

One protector he has is the mainstream press. They are so happy that any Democrat beat Trump, they simply ignore the increasing number and frequency of gaffes made by the Befuddled Old Geezer of the U.S. (BOGUS). In case you wonder if the press is giving him a pass, remember when Gerald Ford, an All-America football player, slipped on wet steps while getting off a plane? The press and comedians branded him a klutz for the rest of his life. When Joe tripped not once, not twice but three times climbing up airplane steps, no one mentioned it.

Dan Quayles unfortunate misspelling of potato[e] forever branded him a dunce. When Joe mumbled We hold these truths… you know, the thing the press ignored it. Last Thursday, Joe started his White House remarks by saying, I may be Irish, but Im not stupid. There might be comedic material there if it had been reported.

About now, the MSNBC trolls are running to their keyboards typing IN ALL CAPS Trump was worse! Maybe so, but Trump isnt president and Joe is clearly out of his depth. Plus, the press pointed out every Trump mistake, even if it was imaginary. Biden is quick to blame every problem on Trump because he knows the press wont call him in it. Im an old guy, too, but, unlike Joe, I didnt ask America to give me control over nuclear weapons.

So the parade goes on. BOGUS is strutting out in front claiming hes done more than any other president. His sycophants in the media are holding the train to his invisible garment. Maybe its time for those of us who are objectively observing this farcical parade to say, He hasnt got anything on.

Harry Bulkeley is a retired Knox County judge and a local historian.

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Harry Bulkeley: Biden is the emperor with new clothes - Galesburg Register-Mail