Summary
Rep. Annie Kuster, a 68-year-old Democrat from New Hampshire, retiring after 12 years in Congress, cites a desire to “set a better example” and create space for younger leaders.
Her decision comes amid growing public concern about aging politicians, with about a quarter of lawmakers over 70. Kuster’s successor will be Maggie Goodlander, 38.
Democrats are increasingly elevating younger leaders following setbacks in 2024, which some attribute to the perception of aging leadership, including President Biden’s controversial reelection bid.
Calls for age limits remain popular but face significant legislative hurdles.
The Dems are so fucking out of touch. The GOP will take advantage of this like they do with anything and everything else.
Edit: yay. Lemmy downvote dogpiles again. Do people not understand by my wording that I am criticizing both practices? The Dems are out of touch. Stepping down is the right move, but it will be taken advantage of by the GOP.
Why can’t this nuance exist without having to explain it to you like you’re 5 years old?
Downvotes dog piling? It’s three downvotes dude chill lol
Edit: at time of writing this it was only 3 downvotes, obviously.
Cool.
Yeah just like that. Much more chill.
Again?
Do you think the common element might be you, rather than “Lemmy”?
How are elderly politicians an advantage?
They have years of dirt and favors to cash in.
The 1% doesn’t need to spend more money purchasing a new politician.
They control all the important committees because they’re assigned by seniority.
Within the party.
If Dem have control a Republican can’t have seniority, the senior Dem on the committee does. Senior as in time on committee btw, not time in office.
Kuster has been in Congress for 12 years. She’s on three committees, and she ain’t leading shit.
They’re not. But understanding nuanced wording is.
Oh yes, the nuance of the GOP will take advantage of this is so nuanced
“bOth SiDes!!” Isn’t the nuanced take you seem to think it is.
Actually, that’s not what I said despite what you understood.
I can vote and support the Dems, which I do for the most part, without agreeing with them. The Dems can do better. How is that “Both sides?” Or are you saying that any criticism of them can’t be made? We lost this last election… do you think it’s because they did a great job?
You have yet to utter even a single word explaining how you think the GOP can use this to their advantage.
By staying in office until they’re piles of dusty bones, while Dems “step down to set a good example.” The fallacy of “both sides” in any of this is thinking that by doing the right thing that the GOP will also follow suit.
Better?
You understand that stepping down doesn’t leave that seat vacant for the 119th Congress, right? That
there’ll be a special election to replace hershe’s being replaced by a 38-year-old Democrat? What the fuck does this 68-year-old staying there have to offer versus someone younger?How is someone younger automatically better?
What the fuck does my misunderstanding have to do with “both sides?” To answer your question, “No,” I didn’t realize that. Good - the only question will then be at reelection time when the replacement’s term ends. Unless, as you noted in your cross-out, there’s a special election.
“b0tH s!d3z”
Sometimes the answer is simpler than just making accusations.
Hey dude, I just wanted to let you know there is an option in your settings so you don’t see upvotes or downvotes.
Lemmy (AFAIK) doesn’t even show you your total upvotes (karma… whatever it’s called) by default either. None of these imaginary points fucking matter.
So why don’t you do yourself a favor and uncheck these boxes and not give a fuck what others think about your comment.
I know I have.
(Lemmy is rad as fuck)
I agree that it is, but I do see dogpiling a lot. And as some kind soul thought to point out that I’m the common denominator, what they failed to note was that I’m also the common denominator of what I see… my own isn’t the only experience I pay attention to.
Thanks for the tip. I’ll leave them on. I’m not mad about the downvotes; the points don’t mean anything to me. I’m annoyed that for all intents and purposes, one cannot criticize the Dems from the left without having to explain every aspect of every syllable.
If the left are ever going to win or grow or get stronger than the GOP, which employs seriously underhanded tactics, we have to learn to identify our own misgivings. To do that, we have to get over self criticism and stop the knee-jerk reactions.