As I told Kip, my entire focus is on whether someone of advanced age has the capacity to do what the presidency requires in its demands. I have no doubt arbitrary numbers are arbitrary but, with due respect, Cliff, I doubt your demands as a License Commissioner is quite what the POTUS confronts, to include foreign travel, back to back meetings, long hours, incredible stress. That does not mean a person can't work hard but one has to have less stamina, perhaps less ability to focus, possibly physical limitations, etc. It's not age as much as capacity measured against demands of position.
My point is neither about success or failure, Kip. I guess I failed to make it clearly so thank you for showing me. My point is about capacity to serve. You are correct that all presidents make decisions they (and often we) regret but I think we are kidding ourselves by asking the overwhelming majority of people to operate at the required level of stamina, grasp of a deep range of issues, and the like on a sustained 18 Hour day basis in their seventies and eighties is magical thinking. Couple that would politicians of ANY party tending towards hubris gets us into
Trouble. But your points merit much thought. I don’t know the answers you seek. Thx so much.
As has been said many times before; it’s important to leave the stage when the audience is still clapping. I honestly don’t understand not spending your final days enjoying life, family and friends.
Another aspect of aging is an increasing unwillingness to change. And yet change is a constant of life. So best leave governance to the younger generation and be happy being a “grey beard.” I’m currently drinking a mai tai on the beach..
Are there lessons to be learned from Winston Churchill (and during his last term, also Anthony Eden, who had to step down as Foreign Minister for health reasons, only to succeed Churchill as PM). He did serve up to 1955 and passed away at 90 in 1965. So, he served at 80.
Or is age just a somewhat valid marker for health and competence? I am 83 and sit on our City's License Commission. Am I too old? I don't think so. My term ends in a few months. What should I do? [I have to admit I enjoy the extra $95 a month I clear. :-)]
The discussion about an aging president has become quite loud this past year. The U.S. Constitution, specifically in Article II, Section 1, Clause 5, requires that a candidate be at least 35 years old. Why not an upper limit? Turns out there was a House Joint Resolution 87 from the 118th Congress (2023-2024) which states: No person may be elected to a term as President, Vice President, Senator, or Representatives in Congress if at any time during the term the person will be 75 years of age or older. I wonder what has become of this resolution? Maybe nothing? Because maybe the age of the president doesn't really have any bearing on the success of the term of office? Look at the ages of presidents of the last 50 years as they left office: Carter - 56, Reagan - 73, Bush - 68, Clinton - 54, Bush - 58, Obama -55. Each of these presidents did some great things, but they each made some questionable decisions as well. We can't blame their decisions on age. So, is age really an issue even worth discussing?
Maybe we lack the vocabulary to describe the 70 to 80 (or 85) block of life. If we had a better vocabulary and better understanding we might be able to forego the "Cheap Fakes" lines (Karine Jean-Pierre) and grapple with the real issues. But, that also means that we can't be bluffing our way through the issues of aging.
According to the Google machine, there are 23 current world leaders older than Pres. Trump. Paul Biya (Cameroon) clocks in at 91. Ali Khamenei (Iran) is 85. Daniel Ortega (Nicaragua) at the bottom of the list at 79. Most of the countries on the list probably do not have the level of "issues" the U.S. has but that's still a lot of elderly folks (and a lot of fragile hips) in top leadership positions.
The same statics source shows Ibrahim Traore (Burkina Faso) as the youngest world leader at age 36. Imagine the energy he has!
I'm in my early 60s and can't imagine having 1/4th of the schedule the U.S. President has. Some days, just mowing the lawn is enough for me to call it a day.
As I told Kip, my entire focus is on whether someone of advanced age has the capacity to do what the presidency requires in its demands. I have no doubt arbitrary numbers are arbitrary but, with due respect, Cliff, I doubt your demands as a License Commissioner is quite what the POTUS confronts, to include foreign travel, back to back meetings, long hours, incredible stress. That does not mean a person can't work hard but one has to have less stamina, perhaps less ability to focus, possibly physical limitations, etc. It's not age as much as capacity measured against demands of position.
My point is neither about success or failure, Kip. I guess I failed to make it clearly so thank you for showing me. My point is about capacity to serve. You are correct that all presidents make decisions they (and often we) regret but I think we are kidding ourselves by asking the overwhelming majority of people to operate at the required level of stamina, grasp of a deep range of issues, and the like on a sustained 18 Hour day basis in their seventies and eighties is magical thinking. Couple that would politicians of ANY party tending towards hubris gets us into
Trouble. But your points merit much thought. I don’t know the answers you seek. Thx so much.
I ALWAYS knew you were brilliant, kid. Have a Mai Tai with my name in it. Well said. Response.
As has been said many times before; it’s important to leave the stage when the audience is still clapping. I honestly don’t understand not spending your final days enjoying life, family and friends.
Another aspect of aging is an increasing unwillingness to change. And yet change is a constant of life. So best leave governance to the younger generation and be happy being a “grey beard.” I’m currently drinking a mai tai on the beach..
Well said Chris !
And Cinders your line of "had to be moved around like a potted plant" is great!
Are there lessons to be learned from Winston Churchill (and during his last term, also Anthony Eden, who had to step down as Foreign Minister for health reasons, only to succeed Churchill as PM). He did serve up to 1955 and passed away at 90 in 1965. So, he served at 80.
Or is age just a somewhat valid marker for health and competence? I am 83 and sit on our City's License Commission. Am I too old? I don't think so. My term ends in a few months. What should I do? [I have to admit I enjoy the extra $95 a month I clear. :-)]
Cliff
The discussion about an aging president has become quite loud this past year. The U.S. Constitution, specifically in Article II, Section 1, Clause 5, requires that a candidate be at least 35 years old. Why not an upper limit? Turns out there was a House Joint Resolution 87 from the 118th Congress (2023-2024) which states: No person may be elected to a term as President, Vice President, Senator, or Representatives in Congress if at any time during the term the person will be 75 years of age or older. I wonder what has become of this resolution? Maybe nothing? Because maybe the age of the president doesn't really have any bearing on the success of the term of office? Look at the ages of presidents of the last 50 years as they left office: Carter - 56, Reagan - 73, Bush - 68, Clinton - 54, Bush - 58, Obama -55. Each of these presidents did some great things, but they each made some questionable decisions as well. We can't blame their decisions on age. So, is age really an issue even worth discussing?
Maybe we lack the vocabulary to describe the 70 to 80 (or 85) block of life. If we had a better vocabulary and better understanding we might be able to forego the "Cheap Fakes" lines (Karine Jean-Pierre) and grapple with the real issues. But, that also means that we can't be bluffing our way through the issues of aging.
Regards -- Cliff
According to the Google machine, there are 23 current world leaders older than Pres. Trump. Paul Biya (Cameroon) clocks in at 91. Ali Khamenei (Iran) is 85. Daniel Ortega (Nicaragua) at the bottom of the list at 79. Most of the countries on the list probably do not have the level of "issues" the U.S. has but that's still a lot of elderly folks (and a lot of fragile hips) in top leadership positions.
The same statics source shows Ibrahim Traore (Burkina Faso) as the youngest world leader at age 36. Imagine the energy he has!
I'm in my early 60s and can't imagine having 1/4th of the schedule the U.S. President has. Some days, just mowing the lawn is enough for me to call it a day.