Tennesseans on Joe Biden: He knew what Hunter Biden did; he is not too old to be president

Editor's note: The two letters to the editor offer different perspectives on how readers view President Joe Biden, in terms of the congressional inquiry into what he knew about his son Hunter Biden's business dealings and questions about his age and health. Send your responses or letters to letters@tennessean.com.

Don’t dismiss Hunter Biden inquiry

It’s frustrating hearing commentators on CNN say there’s no justification for an impeachment inquiry because there’s no “evidence” of President Biden’s participation in Hunter’s business of soliciting bribes from foreigners.

What these commentators don’t understand is the difference between direct evidence and indirect or circumstantial evidence.

It’s true there is no direct evidence of the Joe’s participation (like a video recording of Joe and Hunter agreeing to start up a business of soliciting bribes from wealthy foreigners), and most likely never will be.

But there is circumstantial evidence of Joe’s participation: evidence of circumstances one would expect to exist if Joe was in fact a participant in the bribery business. Circumstances like numerous communications with Hunter while Hunter was in foreign countries conducting business and efforts to conceal those communications (like using disguised email addresses); circumstances like numerous in-person meetings with Hunter and other participants to discuss the progress of the venture and efforts to conceal the true nature of those meetings; circumstances like payments being made to Hunter and efforts to conceal those payments (like using numerous shell corporations or like disguising the payments as a salary); circumstances like payments being made from Hunter to Hunter’s family members for no apparent reason; circumstances like favors being extended by President Biden to the foreigners paying bribes and efforts to conceal those favors as official business (like causing the firing of a Ukrainian prosecutor investigating Burisma for corruption); and so on.

So CNN commentators, since there is circumstantial evidence of President Biden’s participation in Hunter’s bribery business there is in fact “evidence” of the president’s participation and therefore justification for an impeachment inquiry which can lead to even more circumstantial evidence of the President’s participation and therefore even more “evidence” of his participation.

John Conners, Murfreesboro 37130

Despite his age, Biden is clearly in great health

The legitimate concern about President Biden's age prompts two follow-up questions:

(1) How is his health?

(2) How does he compare with alternative candidates?

(1)  As a retired physician reading his current health summary by his primary care physician and multiple specialists, I see that his overall health is exceptionally good. He does have atrial fibrillation, a common irregular heart rhythm, which increases the risk of stroke, but is taking an anticoagulant (blood thinner) to mitigate that risk.

His stiff gait is due to spine arthritis and his throat clearing to acid reflux and seasonal allergies. His skin cancers have been readily eradicated.

Other than age, he does not have risk factors for heart attacks, other cancers, or dementia, as he is mentally and physically active (works out five times a week), is not overweight, does not smoke, and has excellent levels of blood pressure, cholesterol (on medication), and blood sugar (not diabetic).

(2)  While the second question is a matter of opinion, a strong case can be made that he has already accomplished more than any president in the last half century. His likely Republican opponent, Donald Trump, is only three years younger.

I cannot think of anyone in either party better suited to be president at this moment. I encourage others also to compare Biden to specific alternatives and not to an imaginary perfect candidate.

Frank Carter, Murfreesboro 37129

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: What did Joe Biden know about Hunter Biden? Is he too old for office?