By Cal Thomas

Politicians aren’t good at much, but they do excel at one thing — lying. They lie about the border. Both parties refuse to acknowledge the danger of a growing and unsustainable debt (CNBC reports it’s increasing by $1 trillion about every 100 days).

Consider. President Biden had his annual physical exam last week. When asked if a cognitive test was part of it, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated flatly, “No, because the doctor doesn’t believe he needs one.”

If a police officer sees a car swerving, the officer will usually pull the driver over. If the driver smells of alcohol, the officer proposes a sobriety test. If the driver refuses, the driver can still be found guilty based on the appearance of drunk driving.

What evidence would be necessary to conclude without a test that President Biden has cognitive issues? Falling down? Shuffling? Slurred speech? Forgetting names? Needing notes for the simplest of engagements? The public sees all these and more. Polls show a majority say Biden is too old for a second term. It’s not the age, but the condition of the mind.

Devon Archer, a former business associate of Hunter Biden’s, testified last year that Hunter would occasionally put his father on speakerphone during business meetings, but that they never discussed business on the calls. Archer said the vice president was put on the phone only to help sell “the brand.”

Hunter testified before the GOP-led House Oversight and Judiciary Committees last week, and, according to Chairman James Comer, citing the committee’s investigation, “Joe Biden, attended dinners, spoke on speakerphone, showed up to meetings, and had coffee with his son’s foreign business associates.”

There was no explanation why Hunter, according to the New York Post, received a diamond reportedly worth $80,000 and a new Porsche, or if any product or service was provided in exchange. Some critics are credibly claiming it was influence-buying.

Hunter had previously said to business associates, “I’m sitting here with my Dad.” And there were possibly incriminating texts sent to business associates while he was “high or drunk.”

Tony Bobulinski, another former business associate of Hunter Biden’s, testified before the House Oversight and Judiciary Committees claiming what most people suspected, that the “big guy” who allegedly received 10 percent on every deal, was Joe Biden, but that he wasn’t “involved.”

“I’m not drunk, officer, it was my tire alignment that caused the car to weave.”

This recalls another president who was good at lying. Bill Clinton claimed he did not have sex with intern Monica Lewinsky. “There is nothing going on between us,” he asserted, as reported by Slate at the time. Later and under oath, Clinton was asked before a grand jury if he was still (currently) having sex with Lewinsky. His famous reply: “It depends on what the meaning of the word ‘is’ is. If the — if he — if ‘is’ means is and never has been, that is not — that is one thing. If it means there is none, that was a completely true statement. … Now, if someone had asked me on that day, are you having any kind of sexual relations with Ms. Lewinsky, that is, asked me a question in the present tense, I would have said no. And it would have been completely true.”

Hairs then and now have never been split so finely.

In 1998, several Clinton defenders left a Cabinet meeting with the president and buttressed his claims of innocence. The group was led by Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, who said: “ I believe that the allegations are completely untrue.” Commerce Secretary William Daley said, “I’ll second that.” Education Secretary Dick Riley added, “I’ve already said that.”

The same lying, dissembling and coverup is happening again from the more than 50 intelligence officers claiming material found on Hunter’s laptop was “Russian disinformation,” to Hunter’s reversal of previous lies, while he apparently continues to lie about other things and some Democrats claim there is nothing there.

When it comes to Washington (the city, not George), if you never trust a politician you will never be disappointed.

Readers may email Cal Thomas at tcaeditors@tribpub.com. Look for Cal Thomas’ latest book “A Watchman in the Night: What I’ve Seen Over 50 Years Reporting on America” (HumanixBooks).