American Politics 3.0 - Back to Brunch

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

Let it play out!

I think Newsome has some red flags for a lot of Americans because of COVID restrictions in California, but other than that, he's done the closest job to being president as possible: Governing 39 million people in a diverse state with an even more diverse and enormous economy.

Tell me who is more qualified on the current political landscape. I'll listen to any arguments.

Strike against him is he might not be able to win the midwest, which is the key to the election. Whitmer from Michigan is high profile and Buttitieg has run before to name a couple. American politics is playing like Quebec Midwest = Quebec. Need to have it.

[Lanny_McDonald]

If we had effective term limits and restrictions as to when your last term in congress could start it would make a huge difference. I say that no serving member of congress can start a new term AFTER their 60th birthday. That means for those in the house the maximum age would be 62 and in the senate age 66. Still allows for some career politicians but gets everyone out before cognitive decline really becomes a problem. Also gets the out of touch set into retirement where they belong. What would that impact look like?

In the senate the following would be out on their ears:

Charles E. Grassley (R) IA - 90
Dianne Feinstein (D) CA - 90
Bernie Sanders (I) VT - 82
Mitch McConnell (R) KY - 81
Benjamin L. Cardin (D) MD - 79
Jim Risch (R) ID - 80
Richard J. Durbin (D) IL - 79
Angus King (I) ME - 79
Edward J. Markey (D) MA - 77
Richard Blumenthal (D) CT - 77
Mitt Romney (R) UT - 76
Peter Welch (D) VT - 76
Mazie K. Hirono (D) HI - 75
Joe Manchin III (D, but really R) WV - 76
Jeanne Shaheen (D) NH - 76
Thomas R. Carper (D) DE - 76
Jack Reed (D) RI - 74
Ron Wyden (D) OR - 74
Elizabeth Warren (D) MA - 73
John Boozman (R) RI - 73
Debbie Stabenow (D) MI - 73
Charles E. Schumer (D) NY - 73
Patty Murray (D) WA - 72
Roger Wicker (R) MS - 72
Michael D. Crapo (R) ID - 71
John Kennedy (R) LA - 71
Deb Fischer (R) NE - 71
John Hickenlooper (D) CO - 71
Rick Scott (R) FL - 71
John Cornyn (R) TX - 71
John Barrasso (R) WY - 71
Susan Collins (R) ME - 71
Sherrod Brown (D) OH - 71
Marsha Blackburn (R) TN - 71
Shelley Moore Capito (R) WV - 69
Bob Menendez (D) NJ - 69
Mark Warner (D) VA - 68
Tommy Tuberville (R) AL - 68
Jerry Moran (R) KS - 69
Mike Braun (R) IA - 69
Mike Rounds (R) SD - 69
Cynthia Lummis (R) WY - 69
Lindsey Graham (R) SC - 68
Ron Johnson (R) WI - 68
Sheldon Whitehouse (D) RI - 67
Jeff Merkley (D) OR - 66
Jon Tester (D) MT - 67
Lisa Murkowski (R) AK - 66
Bill Cassidy (R) LA - 65
John Hoeven (R) ND - 66
Jacky Rosen (D) NV - 66
Tina Smith (D) MN - 65
Tim Kaine (D) VA - 65
Maria Cantwell (D) WA - 65
Gary Peters (D) MI - 64
Maggie Hassan (D) NH - 64
Chris Van Hollen (D) MD - 64
Cindy Hyde-Smith (R) MS - 64
Bill Hagerty (R) TN - 64
Thom Tillis (R) NC - 63
Amy Klobuchar (D) MN - 63
Roger Marshall (R) KS - 63
Bob Casey (D) PA - 63
Kevin Cramer (R) ND - 62
John Thune (R) SD - 62

65% of the senate would be sent packing! In the house the unemployed would include 177 of 435 members, or almost 41 percent of representatives. To say this would drain the swamp is the understatement of understatements.

[DownInFlames]

I'm guessing that would be unconstitutional. A cognition test would be a good start though.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by DownInFlames

I'm guessing that would be unconstitutional. A cognition test would be a good start though.

A restriction based on age (already in the constitution for serving as president) but a cognitive function test would be okay?

[The Fonz]

Setting the bar at 60 seems extreme. This would be a major problem on both sides of the isle.

[GioforPM]

I mean, Sheldon Whitehouse, for example, is a terrific Senator, sharp as anyone I can imagine and has no sign of decline. Even if you up it to 70, same could be said about Sherrod Brown.

I'm all for cognititive tests, but even those must have to have a line. I'd like to see how Boebert does on one.

EDIT: I'm 60. I don't know if I'm at the top of my game, but I'm sure better than I was at 30. And my skill set is different.

[nfotiu]

How are you going to get all these old politicians to vote for getting rid of old politicians?

[TheIronMaiden]

Originally Posted by The Fonz

Setting the bar at 60 seems extreme. This would be a major problem on both sides of the isle.

yeah, 60 is way to young. It's prime time for many academics. I would argue that 80 is more reasonable. I've worked with lots of seniors and 78 is when they start to get a little wonky. By 80 they are normally in their own little world.

[GirlySports]

Retire when you hit 75, like the Canadian Senate

[DownInFlames]

Originally Posted by Lanny_McDonald

A restriction based on age (already in the constitution for serving as president) but a cognitive function test would be okay?

Yes. There is no top-ended age limit but there is the 25th amendment to remove a president.

I'm also on the side of those saying 60 is too young.

[The Fonz]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

yeah, 60 is way to young. It's prime time for many academics. I would argue that 80 is more reasonable. I've worked with lots of seniors and 78 is when they start to get a little wonky. By 80 they are normally in their own little world.

Agreed, mostly. Heck Obama is already 62.

If the wonky period for most seniors is 78-80 years old though, I don't think you'd want to let them run up until they're 80. Cutting them off once they're 75 would ensure the oldest members would be retiring at 78.

[MissTeeks]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

I mean, Sheldon Whitehouse, for example, is a terrific Senator, sharp as anyone I can imagine and has no sign of decline. Even if you up it to 70, same could be said about Sherrod Brown.

I'm all for cognititive tests, but even those must have to have a line. I'd like to see how Boebert does on one.

EDIT: I'm 60. I don't know if I'm at the top of my game, but I'm sure better than I was at 30. And my skill set is different.

I’m guessing not well?

https://twitter.com/user/status/1701729919493960078

Classy.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by nfotiu

How are you going to get all these old politicians to vote for getting rid of old politicians?

Setup a Bingo tournament in another room at the time of the vote.

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by The Fonz

Setting the bar at 60 seems extreme. This would be a major problem on both sides of the isle.

Sure, but there are currently 90 year olds. That's ridiculous, imo.

[Cube Inmate]

Seeing that list of aged senators is an eye opener. I knew it was an old folks home, but scrolling past the actual list makes it more real.

Age limits may be a hard sell in the face of anti-discrimination trends...but term limits alone would weed out the vast majority of the 70+.

[Lanny_McDonald]

The line for starting a new term in congress was put at 60 because of longitudinal studies in cognitive decline. The great drop off begins at 60 and accelerates at 70. So the intent is to get representatives out of office sometime during this period of moderate decline and before the rapid decline begins. Those in the house could possibly serve until 62. Those in the senate until 66. For such an important function it is best that we have representatives that both highly functioning but also in touch with the realities that the average Americans are facing. As someone in the range in question I see it as fair and equitable. There are other ways to serve your community than being in congress and the people who really care about service should be able to provide service elsewhere.

[MissTeeks]

Romney not seeking a second senate term.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1702014991535120395

[photon]

An age limit is better than term limits.. the shorter the term limits the more powerful lobbyists and non-elected people the elected officials become as they get depended on more since they're the ones who understand how things work.

[SutterBrother]

Originally Posted by nfotiu

How are you going to get all these old politicians to vote for getting rid of old politicians?

Is the answer Covid 2.0?

[ResAlien]

Curious since this is apparently only an American problem: does any country that elects officials to public office have an upper age limit?