{"id":2381994,"date":"2024-12-19T14:40:02","date_gmt":"2024-12-19T19:40:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/bidens-eager-beaver-aides-masked-his-decline-by-minimizing-contacts\/"},"modified":"2024-12-19T14:41:46","modified_gmt":"2024-12-19T19:41:46","slug":"bidens-eager-beaver-aides-masked-his-decline-by-minimizing-contacts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/bidens-eager-beaver-aides-masked-his-decline-by-minimizing-contacts\/","title":{"rendered":"Biden&#8217;s &#8216;eager beaver&#8217; aides masked his decline by minimizing contacts"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fbidens-eager-beaver-aides-masked-his-decline-by-minimizing-contacts%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2381994&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The article discusses how president Joe Biden&#8217;s staff has played a crucial role in shielding him from public scrutiny\u2062 and limiting access \u2063to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/watch-israels-iron-dome-strikes-down-scores-of-rockets-fired-by-hamas\/\" title=\"WATCH: Israel\u2019s Iron Dome Strikes Down Scores Of Rockets Fired By Hamas\">key figures<\/a> in Washington, including lawmakers and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/report-bidens-education-department-has-closer-ties-to-crt-group-than-they-admit\/\" title=\"REPORT: Biden\u2019s Education Department Has Closer Ties To CRT Group Than They Admit\">high-ranking officials<\/a> within his administration. According to interviews compiled by the Wall Street Journal, Sen. Joe Manchin (I-WV) expressed concerns about Biden&#8217;s stamina for\u200d presidential duties and remarked that his staff,\u2063 described as &#8220;eager beavers,&#8221; acted as \u2064gatekeepers, \u2064controlling his interactions\u200c and communications. This \u2062gatekeeping has\u2063 reportedly restricted \u2062even top Cabinet members\u2019\u2064 access to \u200cthe \u200bpresident, notably in light of pressing international crises like the wars in Ukraine and Gaza. The article highlights \u200chow this approach has\u2062 raised questions about \u2063the functioning of the \u2063Biden administration amid significant national and\u2064 global challenges.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Biden&rsquo;s &lsquo;eager beaver&rsquo; aides masked his decline by keeping key DC figures at bay<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1910551\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>President <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/joe-biden\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Joe Biden<\/a>&rsquo;s staff played a pivotal role in shielding him from the public eye by constructing walls around the aging <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/democratic-party\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Democratic<\/a> leader, blocking out even key lawmakers and senior members of his own administration.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>A stack of interviews from a<em> <\/em>new <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/politics\/biden-white-house-age-function-diminished-3906a839?mod=hp_lead_pos1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\"><em>Wall Street Journal<\/em><\/a><em> <\/em>report included concerns from Sen. Joe Manchin (I-WV), a maverick former Democrat who spent long hours negotiating with the White House during Biden&rsquo;s first few years in office.<\/p>\n<p>Noting he had questions at the time about whether Biden had the stamina required to run the country, Manchin suggested presidential staffers had become avid gatekeepers, calling them a group of &ldquo;eager beavers.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;They were going, &lsquo;I&rsquo;ll take care of that,&rsquo; &rdquo; Manchin said of a group of staffers who included then-White House chief of staff Ron Klain.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">President Joe Biden, with Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV), right, speaks outside the White House in Washington, June 24, 2021. (AP Photo\/Jacquelyn Martin)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The gatekeeping reportedly has gone so far as to limit top Cabinet officials&rsquo; access to Biden, even as the United States grapples with wars in Ukraine and Gaza.<\/p>\n<p>Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has seen his access to one-on-one, in-person briefings with Biden significantly decline in the past two years, per the report.<\/p>\n<p>Even during the chaotic 2021 U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan, Biden&rsquo;s <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">staffers reportedly pushed top lawmakers<\/a>, including the top Democrat on the&nbsp;House Armed Services Committee, away from the commander in chief.<\/p>\n<p>Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA) said that while he tried to hold a direct conversation with Biden regarding his concerns about the plans, he was never able to get on the phone with him before the disastrous withdrawal left 13 U.S. troops dead. Smith reportedly wanted the president and his team to measure their expectations, knowing himself how complicated a mission like this would be.<\/p>\n<p>Smith had just one call with Biden during his time in the White House shortly after the Afghanistan affair, according to the congressman.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The Biden White House was more insulated than most,&rdquo; Smith told the outlet. &ldquo;I spoke with Barack Obama on a number of occasions when he was president and I wasn&rsquo;t even chairman&rdquo; of the Armed Services committee.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA) speaks during a House Armed Services Committee hearing on the conclusion of military operations in Afghanistan on Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (Olivier Douliery\/Pool via AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The same &ldquo;insulation&rdquo; problem was perpetuated when it came to giving presidential pollsters access to Biden the candidate, per the report. All polling information was funneled through adviser Mike Donilon rather than given directly to Biden, as was the case in 2020. The lack of contact with the president fueled concerns that he was disconnected from voters, according to the outlet.<\/p>\n<p>The &ldquo;insulated&rdquo; White House environment staffers reportedly worked to build comes as Biden, 82, has faced increasing scrutiny over his mental acuity, with doctors particularly <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/presidential\/3063528\/doctors-concerned-biden-debate-performance\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">questioning<\/a> the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-taking-regeneron-drug-remdesivir-therapy-for-coronavirus-diagnosis-ex-wh-doctor-explains\/\" title=\"Trump taking Regeneron drug, Remdesivir therapy for coronavirus diagnosis: ex-WH doctor explains\">president&#038;rsquo<\/a>;s cognitive state following his presidential debate in June.&nbsp;Biden&rsquo;s campaign exit the following month was largely driven by concerns about his mental state and capacity to lead the country for another four years.<\/p>\n<p>Manchin said even during his frequent contact with the White House during the first half of the Biden administration, he felt like &ldquo;maybe the president just lost that fight.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The ability to continue to stay on, just grind it, grind it, grind it,&rdquo; the West Virginia senator said.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>While concerns that Biden&rsquo;s staffers are trying to conceal his decline from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/fed-found-economy-is-recovering-much-faster-than-officials-expected\/\" title=\"Fed Found Economy Is Recovering Much Faster Than Officials Expected\">top officials<\/a> are on the rise, records show the number of meetings Biden has held with his Cabinet has sharply declined compared to previous administrations.<\/p>\n<p>Biden has held nine full Cabinet meetings over the past four years. In contrast, former President Barack Obama held 19, and President-elect Donald Trump held 25 full Cabinet meetings during their first terms in office, according to former CBS News correspondent Mark Knoller.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1910551\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1910551\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Biden&#8217;s aides shielded him from key lawmakers, masking his decline<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3142,"featured_media":2381995,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/112524_WH_TURKEY_BIDEN-6-1024x682.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[6810,3620,16962,5182,5894],"class_list":["post-2381994","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-aides","tag-biden","tag-contacts","tag-decline","tag-politics"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/112524_WH_TURKEY_BIDEN-6-1024x682.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2381994","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3142"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2381994"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2381994\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2381998,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2381994\/revisions\/2381998"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2381995"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2381994"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2381994"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2381994"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}