DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Palus Politicus Mitch McConnell

I'll drop an article if needed, but I'm assuming all are aware of his ongoing health issues and current absence. Not sure if there is anything to discuss that hasn't already, but I'll throw my .02 out there and see where it goes.

In a nutshell, here is my stance:

1. If I just randomly disappeared from my job for a month, you bet they would want a heads up. If I didn't communicate at all, I'd have been terminated after 2 weeks (at the absolute max) of no communication.
2. This guy was first elected 1 year after I was born, and I'm closer to retirement than not. So I guess as frustrating as this situation is, it really shouldn't be that surprising.


There are MANY areas where the criteria to become and remain a Federal, elected official should be massively overhauled. Age and/or term limits should be at the top of that list.

The guy should have been gone years ago.

You touched on my main point in all of this. I know this doesn't sound accurate in the world we currently live in, but supposedly politicians work for and represent the people who elected them. They are actually a politicians employer. I understand there are HIPPA laws that protect your medical records yet at the same time that doesn't absolve you from letting the people you work for at least know the current status of your ability to perform the duties they elected you to do.

As you eluded to, if anyone outside of elected officials did this they would have been fired. You simply can not just miss work for weeks with no explanation to your employer without losing your job.

I agree with you about term limits. Nobody should be able to control so much power for so long.

In addressing terms of age restrictions I also agree with you. But I mean as long as the Stones keep making new music they can certainly argue the point. I can see them saying, "But whatabout Keith Richards!?"

The biggest issue preventing these things from happening is the fact that to put these common sense measures in place would be dependent on the very people in power to have limits that would force them go give up that power. That presents quite the conundrum.

Agreed, but the system allows these folks to continue in their taxpayer-funded (and well-funded, at that) jobs basically up until they are put in a grave, calling into question their performance in their jobs for a significant portion of their careers.

McConnell's situation is far from the outlier. The average age in the Senate is ~64 years old. 54 of them are 65+. House average age is 57 years, but there are more younger Reps. At the risk of derailing the convo, I'll also point out that while much was made about Biden's age in the last election (rightfully so) Trump is only 3.5 years younger. The point is that this is a systemic issue that needs a systems solution.

we need term limits

The capitol building is the worlds most expensive nursing home.

That isn't true, but I understand your point. I do agree that just as there are age minimums, there should be maximums for elected offices. I won't try to establish that age here, and don't think a person should age out of a current elected term. They just couldn't run for another term.

I could also see having different rules for the different branches.

I support the concept of max age limits. Not just for elected officials, but also for appointed bench seats.

Lifetime appointments may be the norm (in accordance to the constitution), but in modern times, they work in the same fashion as elected officials in Gerrymandered districts- people with nothing to lose will stay on well past their prime... and nobody gives up power/influence voluntarily.

Term limits for all posts- whether elected or appointed.

Details/limits to be dbeated/discussed.
It's the way Our Government was set up to be.

Many places will fire you after 1 or 2 no call no shows

Your pose on Gerrymandering might not be germane because a justice doesn't have to be old to rule one way or the other, but in general I see no problem with having age limits.