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.

If the guy cannot show up for work, and is AWOL, they are incapable of doing the job.

The speculation is that he is brain-dead and that the GOP is hiding it until Aug 3 so a special election would not be held.

Even in near death, Mitch is pulling another "Garland" with Thune complicit.

Need age limits too. Democrats in Colorado voted for Hickenlooper for senate in the primaries. He is pushing 75 and this will only be his second term.

In this message board years ago, I brought up the concept of term limits for Supreme Court Justice terms. My proposal: 20 years. That's long enough to have influence over America's day-to-day interpretation of current law. Lately, I've seen new conversations regarding SC court term limits set at 18 years. Same principle- differing only in length of term. I'm OK with either.

Like I said: details to be worked out. The salient point is the same: term limits are a good thing. For all elected/appointed posts.

I was a much more capable, competent man when I first began posting in this community. Certainly capable enough to run for/serve in some political office, but I never cared to do so. To do it properly (read: total commitment), I would have to leave a career that I loved- and still love, to this day.

That was 15+ years ago.

There is no way I would consider playing a role in this country's future as an elected politician today.
Why? -Because I still have the common sense that was instilled in me by My Parents.

I look at the current political scene, and I see hubris everywhere: A power structure that protects a gerontocracy that is out-of-touch with the will/needs of those Americans who are younger than they. Citizens with needs that this current Power Generation is ill-equipped to address.

Chuck Grassley is 90 years old.
Chuck Shumer is 75.
Nancy Pelosi is 86.

This s# is ridiculous.

Mandatory term limits (in both houses of government AND the court system) is the only way we can extricate ourselves from the gridlock that currently paralyses our nation's politics.


We should take steps to make this happen.
Readjust/recalculate for the 'unforseen hiccoughs' along the way

But, PLEASE- move on from the s# we're living under, right now-


.02,
clemdawg.

"like"

He is NOT ALONE- 24 members of Congress are 80 or older. More than half are running for re-election. Humans have looked to their "Elders" for advise and guidance forever......however, lots of these old folks have no one running against them because they have POWER, and their state base doesn't want to lose power-- Founding Fathers didn't see this happening, a professional politician male and female who stayed until their dying breath.

Term limits, like the Presidency, show have been enacted 100 years ago. I'm 78 and won't happen in my life. I'd vote for it.

PS I'm a retired fighter pilot from USAF- Military doesn't want any pilot over 40---- line/combat pilots over 30?......why should our Congress be run by a huge percentage of people over 70---- just dumb in my book.