Especially a young woman. She stands against a young woman of color of so much potential for an old white man. I respected the way she managed Trump, but she's 84. Wouldn't her San Francisco seat have been an easy one for Democrats to hold onto if she had announced she was not going to run?
The math is pretty straightforward. Republicans have been playing the long game for decades and it’s paying off. We, on the other hand, genuflect to “wisdom” but not vision. If this past election didn’t change some minds Democrats are as lost as mainstream Republicans.
I've recently read that GOP Kay Grainger has been in a facility for dementia for the last 6 months. Her entire staff has taken her place. How does this happen without no one mentioning it or initiating a new election for her replacement??????
I’m a millennial and this country is totally generationally stacked against us, including economically. The gerontocracy needs to take their money and start empowering younger people. This isn’t the first piece I’ve read on this issue, nor do I think it sadly will be the last.
Chuck Grassley the senator from Iowa just turned 91 this year. He should be retired. Period. And Nancy Pelosi doesn't need to be there either. Most people don't do well after they break their hips when they are in their 80's.
Everyone ages differently, but there needs to be limitations. Whose job is it to check the attendance of the congressmen and women? Maybe the whip? There should be a mandatory cognitive test for all senate, congressmen and congresswomen and judges to take at the age of 70. And then yearly with their physicals.
100%! Pelosi was wrong in this respect. She needs to let go and let the younger generation start taking the reins. I understand the two had their difficulties, but she needs to think about the party’s future.
We need to primary Pelosi, Schumer, Durbin and any others that are hanging onto leadership positions past their prime. Any viable organization needs to be grooming their younger staff, and the Dems are failing miserably. Our party is weak and too willing to compromise its values in order to go one step forward while pretending they are not also taking two steps back. This year I stopped donating to the DCCC and the DSCC, I am going to support any progressive candidates I can find and ignore the party...they no longer deserve my donations and I wish I had some other choice, but here we are MAGA and GOPlite. I know, I am just a tad angry. Great article, though!!
They don't hang into their leadership positions. The positions are voted on by the entire caucus. So the membership is looking for something different or something you don't see as an outsider.
the entire democratic caucus votes on the leadership, including committee chairs. So if AOC lost her race it's because the entire caucus made that decision.
Part of the reason, probably the whole reason, is that the older members come from more secure districts and they have well developed fund raising operations. They in turn donate to support the candidacy of other members. Nancy Pelosi is where she is because she's a stellar fundraiser ... That's where her power comes from.
As I think I read, AOC had campaigned against fellow incumbents. That's guaranteed to lose you friends. Just because you have 8 million social media followers doesn't translate into popularity with the body. MTG is a classic example of that.
I'd note that when I've been out door knocking at least 50 percent of more of the volunteers were women over 50.
As a 76 year old woman I totally agree with you! The US is a gerontocracy. There should be age limits for politicians. It’s true that many older people still have a great deal to offer, but preferably as advisors rather than decision makers. Not because they are necessarily incompetent, but because they should be mentoring and encouraging younger people with different ideas and skills. I would suggest 75 as the upper limit.
I appreciate the wisdom of older people, however if they're in government there should be an age limit. I think 65 years old is a good age to retire for our elected officials. I agree the Democratic party needs more people like AOC. The Democratic party as a whole needs a major tune up.
It would help if our country offered adequate, if not generous support for our elders.
We are encouraged to work longer for financial reasons. Not just increased retirement benefits, but also the money that leaders are paid by lobbyists and others.
So frustrated with Pelosi throwing her weight around to continually oppose younger, more progressive leaders!
Especially a young woman. She stands against a young woman of color of so much potential for an old white man. I respected the way she managed Trump, but she's 84. Wouldn't her San Francisco seat have been an easy one for Democrats to hold onto if she had announced she was not going to run?
The math is pretty straightforward. Republicans have been playing the long game for decades and it’s paying off. We, on the other hand, genuflect to “wisdom” but not vision. If this past election didn’t change some minds Democrats are as lost as mainstream Republicans.
I've recently read that GOP Kay Grainger has been in a facility for dementia for the last 6 months. Her entire staff has taken her place. How does this happen without no one mentioning it or initiating a new election for her replacement??????
I’m a millennial and this country is totally generationally stacked against us, including economically. The gerontocracy needs to take their money and start empowering younger people. This isn’t the first piece I’ve read on this issue, nor do I think it sadly will be the last.
Chuck Grassley the senator from Iowa just turned 91 this year. He should be retired. Period. And Nancy Pelosi doesn't need to be there either. Most people don't do well after they break their hips when they are in their 80's.
Everyone ages differently, but there needs to be limitations. Whose job is it to check the attendance of the congressmen and women? Maybe the whip? There should be a mandatory cognitive test for all senate, congressmen and congresswomen and judges to take at the age of 70. And then yearly with their physicals.
100%! Pelosi was wrong in this respect. She needs to let go and let the younger generation start taking the reins. I understand the two had their difficulties, but she needs to think about the party’s future.
We need to primary Pelosi, Schumer, Durbin and any others that are hanging onto leadership positions past their prime. Any viable organization needs to be grooming their younger staff, and the Dems are failing miserably. Our party is weak and too willing to compromise its values in order to go one step forward while pretending they are not also taking two steps back. This year I stopped donating to the DCCC and the DSCC, I am going to support any progressive candidates I can find and ignore the party...they no longer deserve my donations and I wish I had some other choice, but here we are MAGA and GOPlite. I know, I am just a tad angry. Great article, though!!
They don't hang into their leadership positions. The positions are voted on by the entire caucus. So the membership is looking for something different or something you don't see as an outsider.
You make perfect sense, of course but I just have one or two questions: 1. Who runs for office? 2. Who votes?
the entire democratic caucus votes on the leadership, including committee chairs. So if AOC lost her race it's because the entire caucus made that decision.
Part of the reason, probably the whole reason, is that the older members come from more secure districts and they have well developed fund raising operations. They in turn donate to support the candidacy of other members. Nancy Pelosi is where she is because she's a stellar fundraiser ... That's where her power comes from.
As I think I read, AOC had campaigned against fellow incumbents. That's guaranteed to lose you friends. Just because you have 8 million social media followers doesn't translate into popularity with the body. MTG is a classic example of that.
I'd note that when I've been out door knocking at least 50 percent of more of the volunteers were women over 50.
Strong work. 🤌🏾
Getting paid to make important decisions about others when you’re old and senile is ridiculous. But hey the American people elected Trump.
As a 76 year old woman I totally agree with you! The US is a gerontocracy. There should be age limits for politicians. It’s true that many older people still have a great deal to offer, but preferably as advisors rather than decision makers. Not because they are necessarily incompetent, but because they should be mentoring and encouraging younger people with different ideas and skills. I would suggest 75 as the upper limit.
I appreciate the wisdom of older people, however if they're in government there should be an age limit. I think 65 years old is a good age to retire for our elected officials. I agree the Democratic party needs more people like AOC. The Democratic party as a whole needs a major tune up.
It would help if our country offered adequate, if not generous support for our elders.
We are encouraged to work longer for financial reasons. Not just increased retirement benefits, but also the money that leaders are paid by lobbyists and others.
Get the money out of politics.
I have often wondered what keeps these wealthy people from enjoying their senior years and the only answer I have is that power is addictive.