 They knew the whole time, but they knew also that they would not be exposed because team Biden for sure would not put that old man in debate to just basically die on stage. But that's what they did. Now, the New York Times, which is lashing out with the rage of a woman scorned, has this piece, quote, like many people his age, Mr. Biden, 81, has long experienced instances in which he's mangled a sentence, forgot a name or mixed up a few facts, even though he could be sharp and engaged most of the time. But in interviews, people in the room with him more recently said the lapses seem to be growing more frequent, more pronounced, more worrisome.