Posted on 01/25/2007 2:58:03 PM PST by shrinkermd
The average age of members of the U.S. Senate is older than it has ever been, according to Senate Historian Richard Baker. For many senators, advanced age is starting to show, raising questions about their ability to govern.
Until his retirement last month, former majority leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., a noted heart surgeon, was being consulted for informal medical advice by two dozen of his colleagues -- more than 20 percent of the Senate, according to a former leadership aide. They went to Frist complaining about a host of illnesses and chronic maladies, most related to aging.
Among them were Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., who flew on Frist's jet for private consultation and treatment at the Frist Clinic in Nashville, according to Senate sources.
The average age of the 100 senators is 62, up from 60 in the last Congress. Among the new Democratic committee chairmen, it is 69. And, of the five longest-serving senators, three are there today. Including the grand-daddy of seniority, Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., 89.
As far as illnesses, at least 10 senators have fought various cancers or suffered severe injuries. Sen. Tim Johnson, D-S.D., remains hospitalized here for a brain hemorrhage suffered last month. And others deal with chronic and debilitating infirmities.
(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...
This problem will solve itself in a few years.
It is an even bigger joke when a Senator runs for President.
They are all tainted but simply serving in the chamber.
Old and in the way.
Teddy Kennedy could trim that pot a little by taking a few laps in the pool.
Its certainly time for term limits for Congress and this is proof of that.
Let's be honest. With few exceptions, none of these folks is - shall we say - bright. Kennedy, Pelosi, even Bush. We're doing something terribly wrong in this country because only the dregs seem to run for office. All the rest of us are inventing things, flying planes, running businesses, etc. Really, what could Hillary do were it not for politics. Same for (fill in name here). Heck, I propose to widen this theory by extending it to the vast majority of liberal arts faculties.
Well, the reason might be that what person in their right mind would run for high office? Who the hell wants to have every single thing they have said and done throughout the course of their life dragged into the mud? Who could stand up to that kind of mudslinging?
So, most of the people running for office are...lawyers, power-hungry individuals, race mongers and generally people who do not know how to do anything else but be a politician.
Look at someone like Obama Osama. What has he done in his life? Nothing. He has not served in the military. He has not run a business. He has not even done much AFTER he was elected to office. Just like John Kerry. Say what you will about President Bush, but at least he served time in the military and ran a professional sports team, getting a new stadium built in the process and making a profit. MBA indeed.
You said it. The liberals particularly are a real bunch of dim bulbs to a great extent.
In a free country like ours, all the important things are done outside of the government. No one with any talent would run for political office, and it's been that way for a long time--with a few exceptions in time of crisis.
These people get free medical at Walter Reed and the Naval Hospital in Chevy Chase and they are still seeking free medical from Frist?
Are they lazy or cheap?
This is amazing in itself. They can go to Bethesda Naval to see the top doctors and yet they put the arm on Frist for free advice. I'll bet all professionals--doctors, lawyers, engineers, and accountants as well as plumbers, electricians, and auto mechanics really resent such freeloaders. I wonder if these Senators disrobe and ask Frist to "take a look; it'll only take you a minute."
You beat me to it. They're both.
We know we are getting closer to third world status when all our politicians are rich, old and currupt.
Term limits are needed..also a better educated an informed public. Since we have a great part of the media and our education system going in the other direction...well we're in trouble.
Kennedy has been in the Senate for almost my whole life. Byrd has been since 1958. How can such possibly be in touch with how the country really is?
This would be fine in the original hegemonic Senate.
The legislatures would tell them what to do anyway.
In a post-seventeenth amendment democratic Senate it's a disaster.
Dingy Harry is the only person authorized to speak about Senator Johnson's condition.
And he ain't sayin' nuthin'!
Wonder how South Dakota feels about having only one Senator...
All we need is one, two would be great.
Byrd congestive heart failure, Kennedy stroke.
voila.......we have vote control
Narcissists and sociopaths, that's who.
These are people who literally don't care what's said about them just as long as the story is about "ME". Given our media-driven culture, we can expect more of the same in terms of the type of people from which we have to to choose our leaders. I don't have the slightest idea how to fix it but to urge people to turn off the TV.
Besides that, it is easy to note the severe physical problems. Seemingly, people just can't let go of power anymore than a junkie can quit cold turkey. Many voters vote principally on"name recognition"; they are also misled by prodigious advertising budgets designed to sell the incumbent as a vibrant and effective leader when he or she is not.
No it won't, it will get worse as it has done in the last number of years....
Term limits will fix it though......
It's mind boggling that WV or SC could return Thurmond and Byrd time after time. All one would need to do is make a campaign ad with 1:00 minute of a typical Byrd brainfart, with the tag line "This is who is representing you in the Senate. Time for a change".
No, they know we will be forced to pay for it.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
Or maybe just term limits.
Yep. A bigger problem than Senators in their late 60's, 70's and 80's are those with IQ's in their late 60's, 70's and 80's. I'm not sure where Feinstein, Kennedy and Biden rank on that scale, but they look positively brilliant next to Patricia Bin Murray of Washington.
I bought that book a long time ago, but I've never read it. Time to drag it out, I guess. I've heard it's really great.
They know better than to trust gov't workers.
Well, we know George Bush can fly a jet fighter, but I have serious doubts that Bill or Hillary Clinton could ever be capable of doing that. And of course we already know that Ted Kennedy can't drive a car across a bridge, so scratch the jet thing for him. (I hear Teddy can make and Oldsmobile fly for short distances though).
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.