McConnell, Biden lapses highlight advanced age of U.S. leaders

I notice that the article carefully omitted the even older, and more frail Feinstein who is 90! A staff member had to interrupt her rambling during a vote, telling her to just say "aye" rather than give a speech. She was befuddled.

Some career politicians are good, but many are not.

Nikki Haley’s call for mental competency tests for politicians older than 75 is starting to appear wiser with the recent mental stumbles by McConnell, Feinstein, and Biden.

The 51-year-old former South Carolina governor and United Nations ambassador appears to be one of the few level-headed candidates for U.S. president.

Mandatory retirement for high-level govt appointees and elected officials. Make them follow the military standards.

Term limits for all Federal political offices are needed too. Term limits remove the need for politicians to be beholding to special interests in their last term of office. More of those is a good thing.

Also, remove lifetime retirement subsidies for anyone in political office less than 20 yrs. Let US military pay scales decide what they get for similar length of service.

Mental competency testing beginning at at 65, assuming we can't force them all to retire before age 70.

If someone wants to be a career politician, then they need to win a new election at least every 2-3 terms for a completely new office.

And anyone who blatantly lies, like Rudy admitted yesterday in court, needs to be banned from all federal AND state offices for life.

My lord, just watched the McConnell ‘moment’. That was just sad. It maybe an idea to keep some good and honest REAL friends around you as the golden years approach, especially if you are in a position of power, friends or family that will tell you “it’s time to hang up the boots mate, your done”, at the earliest signs that you are losing it. Either that or you make everyone suffer the sad parade that we saw here. The guy that stepped in for McConnel there did well.

Career politicians especially, please make a special effort NOT to surround yourself with YESmen/women/other or enablers who will feed off you for their own purposes well after your expiry date. Biden, do the American people and the world a favor, have the grace to know you are doing more damage than good at this stage, to your own cause. And democrats, how in gods name do you not cringe each time your leader stumbles to the podium to babble nonsense and make a mockery of your institutions ? Memes aside Biden makes us all quietly wonder if this is, in fact a simulation! It’s beyond a joke at this stage.

Research question

Have you actually taken the final plunge into the collectivist mindset, one that doesn’t believe you need competent leadership because the group itself is suffice, taken the final step and made individual competency and skill the enemy! You have to actually wonder sometimes!

This is a call to the next generation, help!

While Biden is younger than 89-year-old President Paul Biya of Cameroon, the world's oldest head of state, he could be a grandfather to Chilean President Gabriel Boric or Sanna Marin, who stepped down as Finland's prime minister last month. Both are 37.

Young and democratic socialist compared to the gerontocrats.

Hopefully that is where the spirit of the age is going if it is not hijacked.

McConnell, 81, stopped talking mid-sentence at a news conference on Capitol Hill on Wednesday and stood mutely for 23 seconds until he was led away from reporters, only to return later to report, "I'm fine."

If that had been Biden, Fox news would have 24/7 broadcasting of it.

The thing is, McConnell is the GOP's last hope to stay relevant. He aims to pull the GOP from plunging headlong into Trumpism and obscurity. I despise the man, but he is one of the few voices of reason in the GOP.

Ricky Kaminski13

Biden, do the American people and the world a favor, have the grace to know you are doing more damage than good at this stage, to your own cause. 

Biden is doing fine mentally.

Have you actually taken the final plunge into the collectivist mindset, one that doesn’t believe you need competent leadership because the group itself is suffice, taken the final step and made individual competency and skill the enemy! 

Yup. And the accomplishments of Biden in this presidency stand on their own as a demonstration of competent leadership.

I think people in their 30s haven't lived enough to run for nationwide office, but people over 65 have to make room for younger people. It is the way of the world.

Before age 40, stick to provincial/state politics and learn where mistakes don't destroy an entire country.

40-65 are prime-time years for leadership.

Being an "elder statesman" from 60-80 would be the next step, if retirement isn't desired. Advisory boards and perhaps an ambassador to smaller countries would be good jobs.

If the next generation doesn't gain experience, they won't be ready when there isn't any choice but them for high office.

Hervé L'Eisa

I notice that the article carefully omitted the even older, and more frail Feinstein who is 90! A staff member had to interrupt her rambling during a vote, telling her to just say "aye" rather than give a speech. She was befuddled.

So, you didn't read the article? Because the article specifically talks about her.

Well, we voted for them, so it's on us.

theFu

I think people in their 30s haven't lived enough to run for nationwide office, but people over 65 have to make room for younger people. It is the way of the world.

Before age 40, stick to provincial/state politics and learn where mistakes don't destroy an entire country.

40-65 are prime-time years for leadership.

And yet, Bernie Sanders is 81, and doing fine. I think age is a gauge, but mental and physical health should be the main factors of competency.

And yet, Bernie Sanders is 81, and doing fine.

Precisely, and it is reflected with his wild popularity amongst the younger set (but not only).

And like Sanders has been systematically excluded by the corporate controlled establishment I believe it is often corporate financial interests keeping gerontocrats in power.

Young and democratic socialist compared to the gerontocrats. 

No one in the US wants a socialist president, old or young.

Hopefully that is where the spirit of the age is going if it is not hijacked.

Term limits, that’s the answer.

Biden is doing fine mentally.

Even a growing segment Democrats behind closed doors don’t believe that.

Yup. And the accomplishments of Biden in this presidency stand on their own as a demonstration of competent leadership.

Like what??

https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/columnist/2023/07/06/biden-economy-us-inflation-pains-americans/70379369007/

If that had been Biden, Fox news would have 24/7 broadcasting of it.

Whether Biden, Mitch or Feinstein they are covering all the same, if anything there is now more evidence as to why we need term limits for those in particular that show severe cognitive decline.

The thing is, McConnell is the GOP's last hope to stay relevant.

No, there are a few Republicans that can and would gladly take his place

He aims to pull the GOP from plunging headlong into Trumpism and obscurity.

And defy his constituents wishes to step aside, that is not democracy in its purest form.

I despise the man, but he is one of the few voices of reason in the GOP.

Not to the majority of conservatives.

No one in the US wants a socialist president, old or young.

Wrong, as usual, and what the corporatocracy wants you to think.

https://news.gallup.com/poll/268766/socialism-popular-capitalism-among-young-adults.aspx

The corporatists of course want another match-up between a demented gerontocrat with fascist aspirations and a neo-liberal centrist gerontocrat.

Another Hobson's Choice.

Yup. And the accomplishments of Biden in this presidency stand on their own as a demonstration of competent leadership.

If making America the laughing stock of the world and the downfall of the West was your goal than, yes, bravo ole chap. Keep drinking that kool aid matey. Am sure it tastes good!

Wrong, as usual,

Wrong? So where’s Bernie?

and what the corporatocracy wants you to think. 

Not sure, my father had 6th grade education and born into poverty, worked in way up and in his 40’s created and started his own company that now employs over 50 people.

Socialism didn’t do that.

https://youtu.be/UraQ6jZ29ak

This is the true America and why it’s still the greatest country on the planet.

The corporatists of course want another match-up between a demented gerontocrat with fascist aspirations and a neo-liberal centrist gerontocrat. 

That’s why the Capitalist system is the best, let the markets and people decide.

Whether Biden, Mitch or Feinstein they are covering all the same, if anything there is now more evidence as to why we need term limits for those in particular that show severe cognitive decline.

‘Person. Woman. Man. Camera. TV.’

You want 45 to become 47. He would be the same age as Biden now and has certainly shown signs of ‘cognitive decline’.

Both are too old to lead.

Biden is the worst president we have had in my lifetime, and that includes Carter and Trump.

I’d still take Mitch or Joe over Trump any day of the week.

Mental stability comes in many different shades.

75 years should be the time limit for all politicians.

bass4funk

Not sure, my father had 6th grade education and born into poverty, worked in way up and in his 40’s created and started his own company that now employs over 50 people.

You previously posted your father had passed away.

No one in the US wants a socialist president, old or young.

You posted liberals are only for the rich and have abandoned the working class.

If that was Biden, the GQP would have lost its mind.

But it’s their boy Mitch, so he’s fine.

You previously posted your father had passed away.

Yes, but that has nothing to do with what he accomplished and built thanks to the Capitalist system.

You posted liberals are only for the rich and have abandoned the working class.

Yes.

If that was Biden, the GQP would have lost its mind. 

Yes, because he’s the President of the most powerful nation on the planet, so being mentally less challenged and having your cognitive abilities intact does help a lot, especially if you have a say over our nuclear arsenal.

But it’s their boy Mitch, so he’s fine.

No, not at all, but he’s not the President

bass4funk

   You previously posted your father had passed away.

> Yes, but that has nothing to do with what he accomplished and built thanks to the Capitalist system.

There has never been a pure 100% capitalist system. Bank bailouts. Covid support. A capital system would be based on the free market principles not like Trump giving subsidies to the soy farmers because of his tariff war with China.

Young and democratic socialist compared to the gerontocrats. 

No one in the US wants a socialist president, old or young.

Bernie Sanders, a self-declared democratic socialist, had huge following. Many on the left land right believe he was cheated out of the nomination by the democrats. He may have beaten Trump.

Your statement makes no sense.

75 years should be the time limit for all politicians

Some argue it should be 65 which is similar to most professions. Keeping people over that age in advisory roles makes sense though.

There has never been a pure 100% capitalist system.

Maybe your country, not in the US.

Bank bailouts. Covid support. A capital system would be based on the free market principles

Absolutely. That is what the US has always been and thanks to that system we were allowed to have a great life.

not like Trump giving subsidies to the soy farmers because of his tariff war with China.

Or Obama bailing out the banks and GM

Bernie Sanders, a self-declared democratic socialist, had huge following. Many on the left land right believe he was cheated out of the nomination by the democrats. He may have beaten Trump.

May have…..

Your statement makes no sense. 

Yours definitely doesn’t.

bass4funk

   There has never been a pure 100% capitalist system.

> Maybe your country, not in the US.

Not even in the US.

Capitalism is based on the free market system.

Obama, Bush, Trump, and Biden have all bailed out the capitalist system. Capitalism only works when it's propped up.

Your statement makes no sense. 

Yours definitely doesn’t.

It actually does. It refutes your demonstrably false statement that nobody in the US wants a democratic socialist as president.

No more old cronies please

A childish way of putting it.

There is room for the expertise and wisdom of the elderly but perhaps not in the hot seat.

It goes without saying that not all the elderly have expertise and wisdom.

Look at Trump. He’s a thundering ignoramus with the temper and pettiness of a nasty schoolgirl.

Obama, Bush, Trump, and Biden have all bailed out the capitalist system

Bush 2 in particular tied himself in knots trying to explain why his enormous bailouts after the financial crash was in no way socialistic. Given he couldn’t string a grammatically coherent sentence together at the best of times, he didn’t do a good job.

There were some on the right who vehemently opposed these measures and labeled them socialist.

Others called it socialism for the rich.

Not even in the US. 

Even in the US

Capitalism is based on the free market system.

Which is what we have.

Obama, Bush, Trump, and Biden have all bailed out the capitalist system.

Bailout doesn’t mean that our system isn’t a capitalist system, come on now.

Capitalism only works when it's propped up.

As so many immigrants have proved or even people that were less educated and poor like my father

It actually does. It refutes your demonstrably false statement that nobody in the US wants a democratic socialist as president.

Wrong as usual, less emotion please.

A childish way of putting it. 

Spot on actually.

There is room for the expertise and wisdom of the elderly but perhaps not in the hot seat. 

It goes without saying that not all the elderly have expertise and wisdom.

Thats why Bernie never got the keys to the WH and never will.

Look at Trump. He’s a thundering ignoramus with the temper and pettiness of a nasty schoolgirl.

Which serves him well, but given what’s thrown at him, can’t blame him.

There were some on the right who vehemently opposed these measures and labeled them socialist.

Others called it socialism for the rich.

Spot on, and these Republicans were united with Sanders and the democratic socialists in opposing corporate welfare socialism for the rich. Unlike some here.

Such political consistency is not popular with the establishment though.

The corporate establishment wants compromised individuals, who just may happen to be senior citizens.

The advanced age of U.S. leaders intimates the U.S. is a geriatric and very conservative country albeit young in its history.

It actually does. It refutes your demonstrably false statement that nobody in the US wants a democratic socialist as president.

Wrong as usual, less emotion please.

I see.

The fact that millions voted for a self-declared democratic socialist to be the nominee for president in no way refutes the claim that nobody wants a self-declared democratic socialist as president.

It’s an interesting system of logic you use in discussions, Bass.

I suppose it would be boring if we all thought in the same way, eh?

The fact that millions voted for a self-declared democratic socialist to be the nominee for president in no way refutes the claim that nobody wants a self-declared democratic socialist as president.

Which they would have been greatly disappointed in after properly educating themselves that surviving off other people’s money will only last so long until they run out.

It’s an interesting system of logic you use in discussions, Bass. 

Thanks

I suppose it would be boring if we all thought in the same way, eh?

This is very true.

The fact that millions voted for a self-declared democratic socialist to be the nominee for president in no way refutes the claim that nobody wants a self-declared democratic socialist as president.

Which they would have been greatly disappointed

Possibly. Politicians of all stripes tend to promise more than they know they can deliver.

Incidentally, by ‘they’ do you mean the millions who voted for a self-declared democratic socialist?

Spot on, and these Republicans were united with Sanders and the democratic socialists in opposing corporate welfare socialism for the rich. Unlike some here.

Doesn’t mean we wanted a socialist system taking over the capitalist one…even the Dems aren’t that stupid.

Such political consistency is not popular with the establishment though.

When I was a teenager, I was a lib and then in college my eyes were opened to the truth, give these kids some time, they’ll come around….eventually.

The corporate establishment wants compromised individuals, who just may happen to be senior citizens.

Unless the public wakes up and realizes that they don’t need 90 year olds in Congress.

Doesn’t mean we wanted a socialist system taking over the capitalist one…even the Dems aren’t that stupid.

I'll just leave this here genius.

https://bigthink.com/politics-current-affairs/why-albert-einstein-was-a-socialist/

Even in his advanced age, and even though he was not born in the US, laws should have been changed to make Einstein President of the US.

I'll just leave this here genius. 

https://bigthink.com/politics-current-affairs/why-albert-einstein-was-a-socialist/

That was his choice, you can be and do whatever you want, none of my just don’t change our system that would be disastrous for the nation, and all is good.

Even in his advanced age, and even though he was not born in the US, laws should have been changed to make Einstein President of the US.

Lol

bass4funk

government support and subsidies to the free market aren't pure capitalism. The system is basically a free market with some liberal policies.

The US runs on a mixture of Democrat and Republican policies.

Spot on, and these Republicans were united with Sanders and the democratic socialists in opposing corporate welfare socialism for the rich. Unlike some here.

Doesn’t mean we wanted a socialist system taking over the capitalist one…even the Dems aren’t that stupid.

So the Democrats aren’t socialists?

I thought you described this administration as ‘far-left Marxist socialists’.

The American capitalist system allows people like Trump to file for six bankruptcies defaulting on debts earned and owned to contractors.

government support and subsidies to the free market aren't pure capitalism.

You can define it anyway you want, I don’t think a Cadillac is a car, but I digress

The system is basically a free market

Capitalist

with some liberal policies.

True

bass4funk

you throw around the word capitalism and socialism on a daily basis, more than any other poster so you should take a little time to learn the meanings.

Republican bailouts and tax breaks for the rich are acceptable to you. Democrat bailouts and tax breaks for the poor are not.

you throw around the word capitalism and socialism on a daily basis, more than any other poster so you should take a little time to learn the meanings.

I don’t, but clearly some of you do.

Republican bailouts and tax breaks for the rich are acceptable to you.

Individuals, is different from bailing out corporations.

Democrat bailouts and tax breaks for the poor are not.

When was the last time the Dems cared about the poor????

No one in the US wants a socialist president, old or young.

Exactly.

Biden voters mimicked his lapses in thinking.

Asked about Biden's age, the White House points to accomplishments,

Taking a look at Trump's accomplishments encompasses a list in excess of 50 significant ones.

The White House points to Biden's electoral win.

Almost let that joke slip by me.

I guess you should read the policy first. Passed by the GOP too.

Given the gun they had at their heads, I get it. This is where it can help to have full control of Congress.

Yes, this is a major issue for Americans.

The next political generation must step up. Make there presence felt.

Or these senior moments will become the order of the day.

Regardless of political ideology.

I assume you mean it is Gen X's time. Then it will be Millenials. Then in 40 years it will be Gen Z. I suggest studying history in the meantime as that is what is needed from leaders.

At least AOC would have to wait.

Since she has been brought up by a MAGA rep, AOC with her social media savvy and green new deal is a voice of youth with actual policy ideals that would benefit the majority of Americans young and old

Like Greta? ROFL

I think he should take a bigger look online at the comments about AOC, you might be mildly surprised

No I follow her and don't rely on the Fox recap

No I follow her and don't rely on the Fox recap

No one mentioned anything about FOX. Lol

Sorry TaiwanIsNotChina got a tad backside over elbow.

Cuddly you were mistaken as TaiwanIsNotChina for a moment. my regrets

The reality is that Joe Biden and Donald Trump will face down again in 2024.

Possibly Donald Trump, I am led to believe uncastrated.

What a spectacle from a country that eleven of the world’s 15 best universities are American.

Yes seriously they are.

Yet the next President will never see eighty again.

That is bonkers.

With all that talent, US cannot find a leader under 80 years of age?