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People are living longer than ever and medical advances are able to keep them in better health than ever, but still a lot of US political figures are getting quite old. In many jobs people tend to retire at 60-65 but it seems like that's the age at which many US politicians are just getting started. The mean age of democrats in congress is now above 60, while the mean age of Republicans in congress is only slightly below 60.
Is there a point at which age alone makes them 'too old' to run? Or is it a matter of physical / mental health? If you can give an hour long speech without falling over or dribbling then is that good enough? (I would like to add 'and without sounding like a total nutter', but clearly Trump, Palin, Bachmann etc prove that's not a US requirement)
Given Trump's allegedly declining mental health, I think a lot of people would see it as reasonable that politicians had to pass standard basic mental health checks administered by professionals. But if so, what sort of level of competence should be required? The congressional pharmacist apparently commented to a reporter that he provides Alzheimer's drugs to multiple members of congress - is it acceptable to members who are receiving treatment for a progressive mental disorder?
Should any particular level of physical health be required? Or are brain tumors (e.g. John McCain), being confined to a wheel chair (e.g. FDR) etc fine?
My main motivations for bringing this up are: (1) Donald Trump's allegedly declining mental health, (2) Bernie Sanders' upcoming 2020 presidential run at the age of what will be 80, (3) Dianne Feinstein's choice to run again for senate this year at the age of 84, (4) ex-Sheriff Joe Arpaio floating the idea of a senate run at the age of 85.
Some ages of prominent older politicians and possible politicians:
Joe Arpaio - 85 (currently floating a senate run)
Diane Feinstein - 84 (currently running for another 6 year term)
Chuck Grassley - 84
Orin Hatch - 83 (retiring)
John McCain - 81 (71 in 2008 when his age was mentioned as a possible issue in the race against Obama)
Nancy Pelosi - 77
Bernie Sanders - 76
Joe Biden - 75
Mitch McConnell - 75
Donald Trump - 71
Chuck Schumer - 67
Steve Bannon - 64
Oprah Winfrey - 63
Is there a point at which age alone makes them 'too old' to run? Or is it a matter of physical / mental health? If you can give an hour long speech without falling over or dribbling then is that good enough? (I would like to add 'and without sounding like a total nutter', but clearly Trump, Palin, Bachmann etc prove that's not a US requirement)
Given Trump's allegedly declining mental health, I think a lot of people would see it as reasonable that politicians had to pass standard basic mental health checks administered by professionals. But if so, what sort of level of competence should be required? The congressional pharmacist apparently commented to a reporter that he provides Alzheimer's drugs to multiple members of congress - is it acceptable to members who are receiving treatment for a progressive mental disorder?
Should any particular level of physical health be required? Or are brain tumors (e.g. John McCain), being confined to a wheel chair (e.g. FDR) etc fine?
My main motivations for bringing this up are: (1) Donald Trump's allegedly declining mental health, (2) Bernie Sanders' upcoming 2020 presidential run at the age of what will be 80, (3) Dianne Feinstein's choice to run again for senate this year at the age of 84, (4) ex-Sheriff Joe Arpaio floating the idea of a senate run at the age of 85.
Some ages of prominent older politicians and possible politicians:
Joe Arpaio - 85 (currently floating a senate run)
Diane Feinstein - 84 (currently running for another 6 year term)
Chuck Grassley - 84
Orin Hatch - 83 (retiring)
John McCain - 81 (71 in 2008 when his age was mentioned as a possible issue in the race against Obama)
Nancy Pelosi - 77
Bernie Sanders - 76
Joe Biden - 75
Mitch McConnell - 75
Donald Trump - 71
Chuck Schumer - 67
Steve Bannon - 64
Oprah Winfrey - 63
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