'Just too darn old:' Sanders, 78, Biden, 76, confront age concerns

[Omaha Steve]

By Steve Peoples and Alexandra Jaffe / The Associated Press 1 hr ago

MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (AP) — Bernie Sanders insists he feels better than ever less than a month after heart surgery, but his return to the campaign trail this week sparked new questions about the unusually old age of the Democratic Party's leading 2020 presidential candidates.

Both Sanders, 78, and Joe Biden, 76, suggest their age isn't a major issue, but voters, particularly older voters, aren't so sure.

HOW OLD ARE THEY? See how old each of the remaining presidential candidates will be on Inauguration Day 2021 in a gallery at the end of this story

Gordon Lundberg, a 71-year-old retired Lutheran pastor from Ames, said candidates' health is a key issue for him because he understands how it feels to age. He's leaning toward Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts because, even though she's 70, "she's the most liberal and she's not got one foot in the grave yet."

FULL story: https://www.omaha.com/news/trending/just-too-darn-old-sanders-biden-confront-age-concerns/article_a8d8c3e6-ed1d-5962-8f26-58e3dc2690a8.html

[ritapria]

1. Is it fair to ask if Mayor Pete is "too darn young" ?

Nancy Pelosi is doing a fine, damn job as Speaker of the House ..She is 79

[thesquanderer]

9. People DO ask that about Mayor Pete. (n/t)

[LakeArenal]

13. More of a lack of experience question than an age question.

[thesquanderer]

16. "too young" and "too old" are both age questions. Of course the specific issues...

...related to being too young are different from the specific issues related to being too old.

[LakeArenal]

17. Then what's the point of bringing age into it?

[thesquanderer]

23. It's short-hand.

"Too old" implies things, "too young" implies things. They may imply different things, but they are still age related characteristics.

[treestar]

63. And the constitution defines "too young"

for us - under 35. But no one bothered with "too old," which was not a thing back in those days. Our culture is youth-obsessed, while many others are not. We have this thing about old people not being wise but instead being incompetent.

[Polybius]

36. I say he is

No one under 42 for President for me (unless it's the General Election).

[LakeArenal]

2. Warren is 70. Hillary 72

What’s the magic number between old enough and “too darn old”.

Ohhhh it’s an imaginary number.

[CTyankee]

6. I just turned 80 and I can tell you the demarcation lines....not just one line...

leaping out of bed vs. doing back exercises in bed before standing up -- that was a sign that my arthritis in my lower back was not gonna get any better. I think it happened about 6 years ago and now spreading to my creaky fingers). Also, my liver can't take alcohol any longer so no more wine with dinner (no more wine ever again). I also have to limit my chocolate intake ( ) or I get unpleasant reactions from my gut. My dental issues have gotten more numerous, and my eye doc has put me on meds for my macular degeneration.

And I don't have heart problems or blood pressure problems (but I take meds for that). But it's not always cardiac issues that wear your body down when you are old.

Since I was in pretty good shape at 70, and I like her, I'm for Warren. Time for a woman president folks, or I'll get grumpy and you don't want that...

[LakeArenal]

7. That's you

We are near seventy and moved to Costa Rica. Sold all our belongs and hoboed it here. We walk 45 minutes up a mountain every day. We had to relocate, change banks, find a place to live, take Spanish lessons lessons. Our friends can tell you it’s been a real life experience.

My dad was 93 when he passed from an unneeded surgery. He had all his marbles. Went into assisted living at 91.

I have had two hips replaced and need my knee replaced.

It’s an imaginary line.

[CTyankee]

8. I'm just saying, you know it when you feel it.

I am so glad that for many years I did Jazzercise 3 times a week and swam twice a week and it was a great investment of my time and energy. I am certain that I wouldn't be in the relatively good shape I am in now without having done that.

Your daily exercises will pay off!

[LakeArenal]

10. Well, I'm more inclined to vote for a brain than a body

Yours sounds fine.

If Biden selects someone for VP with his equally great brain, we’ll be fine.

Since I don’t think age is a factor, Liz’s brain is a fine brain, too

[flamingdem]

12. Yes to a good brain

and a good heart! Joe for the win

[LakeArenal]

14. Yep!!! True Blue.

[emmaverybo]

47. Yes! Bright man and good hearted. I especially want a candidate with foreign policy experience,

With an understanding of geo-political and historical issues involved in N.K., the India and Pakistan
problem, the Mideast, with Russia, China, Central America (influences humanitarian crisis at our border)...

So far, only Joe seems to get how important our role is in the world—and how related a variety of issues are. Only Joe has said much about the rise of fascism in Europe.

Since launch, Biden has written an insightful and informed Op-Ed on Central America, delivered a speech going over his foreign policy proposals and rationale for them, and addressed Trump’s failings and ineptitude on the world stage. It is disheartening to me, that while folks who follow the “race” keep track of the slightest word or syntactical glitch Biden makes, they do not bother with his area of expertise in which it is very difficult to critique him without one having knowledge and interest oneself.

[LakeArenal]

56. Good points.

But we know the ones who parse every word and fight against a candidate instead of fighting for one they like really are after more than political discourse.

[at140]

31. I am living example of what you just posted above...

I do 30 min treadmill at 24 minutes/mile speed with 3 degree up-slope.
I do this exercise 4 times every week in the air-conditioned Gym 120 yards away from my house.

Before that I played 5 rounds of golf every week at Orchard Hills Golf club in WA state.
My 80th BD is coming up real fast, I have no health issues, no pains, no pills.
Social Security is mad at me, but Medicare is happy LOL because I have zero medical bills.

[Thekaspervote]

22. You go.... Joe too!

[treestar]

62. +1 each person is different

every time this subject comes up, DUers share their personal experience or that of their parents.

Every person is different. People in these positions don't retire. It's apparently that satisfying to be involved in it.

[lambchopp59]

18. Time for a woman president folks

Waaaay past time if you ask me. Washington has held the "good ol' BOYS" club for far too long. And... What a great way to celebrate women's suffrage 100 year anniversary than to finally kick the male domination from the Oval Office!
That bunch of "good ol' boys" have played politics, promise the moon and deliver a burnt out light bulb, and pre-apologies to the entrenched Biden supporters, but that's exactly what I see with that "choice", establishment candidate.
That, and making the same mistake the DNC pulled in 2016. Heaven only knows 4 years of President Pence would be disastrous.
so...
This guy seconds that motion!

[Thekaspervote]

20. Your opinion..... and that's all it is... an opinion

[CTyankee]

25. I think it is a major reason to vote for a woman. I think Joe is great but it is time for a woman,

like every other democratic nation in the world. What is the matter with us?

Yes, this is my opinion, but I wonder why this factor doesn't loom large to you, too.

It is past time for "Sure, I'd like a woman president but not just now because (fill in the excuse)...

[OnlinePoker]

30. Selecting a candidate based on gender is just as bad as selecting based on age.

It's the policies that count. If it was an old white Democratic male versus the female grifter from Alaska, which would you choose?

[lambchopp59]

39. Oh, please. I won't even dignify that with details, but no. not even close. thanks for playing.

[CTyankee]

45. Palin was the way the repukes gave the finger to Dems who had fine female candidate possibilities.

The repukes were not serious about that ticket. They knew they weren't gonna win, so they pulled this snarky bullshit.

[emmaverybo]

48. Equally past time for a gay president, a Jewish president, a Latino president, an Asian president,

a woman who is any of the above...

Had the election not been stolen, we would have had a woman president. When another Hillary Clinton comes along again, whatever her race or ethnicity, she will be as highly competitive as any male in the primaries.

I am looking around and I don’t see.

[stopbush]

52. How about an openly atheist president?

[emmaverybo]

57. Now that would be refreshing.

[LakeArenal]

65. Agree.

[treestar]

64. No it is not it is time for the best candidate

to beat Dotard. If that's a woman fine, but that has to be the reason, not just being "our turn."

[SidDithers]

3. Too old and just had a heart attack...nt

Sid

[comradebillyboy]

27. A heart attack sounds so bad, doesn't "health scare" sound so much more

soothing as if it was just a stubbed toe or something?

[stonecutter357]

4. how old is Warren ?

lol fail ..

[bluewater]

46. Almost 7/10ths of a decade younger than both?

Isn't Joe's birthday November 20? He will be 77. Bernie is already 78.

[redqueen]

5. Trump is 73. Not sure how much of an issue this would be in the GE.

[LakeArenal]

11. I guess Biden won't be picking "old lady Warren" for VP.

That might be a shame.

Is Warren too old to be a Supreme Court Justice? I’ve heard they should be younger too.

[Celerity]

35. if she was nominated to the SCOTUS and confirmed, she would be around 72 at the earliest, making her

by far the oldest newly confirmed SCOTUS justice in history. Harlan Stone was 68 in 1941, and died less that 5 years later. There was a 73 year old, Caleb Cushing, who was nominated in 1874, but he was withdrawn (and died 5 years later), and a 74 year old, William Smith, who was nominated in 1837, but he declined to serve, and died 3 years later.

She is too old, IMHO, simply because we would lose the seat too soon, we should find someone in their 40's or early 50's, who will serve for decades.

All of this assumes we take back the Senate. If we do not, I can see the Rethugs refusing to confirm (or even hold a vote) the entire 4 or 8 years that we hold the POTUS, unless we nominated a straight up conservative like they would. I wish I were joking. The only way for sure is to win back the Senate in 2020 or surely in 2022. At the same time, if a Justice dies, even in summer or fall of 2020, they will rush through a con to the Court.

[LakeArenal]

41. I rather Pete for VP anyway.

[Celerity]

51. Absolutely. And there is no way Biden picks Warren as VP anyway IMHO.

Last edited Sun Oct 27, 2019, 06:59 PM - Edit history (1)

They are so so far apart philosophically.

I think it will be one of the following

Abrams (my first choice in terms of guessing)
Pete (I think the risk adversity might prevent this, sadly)
Klobuchar
Harris
Susan Rice (but Benghazi is an issue risk adverse Biden may not want to open)

And

My dark horse that I have seen no one talk about, Deval Patrick (checks every box including the risk adverse one of not choosing a woman due to the tremendous misogyny still present) He is a PoC, executive experience as Governor, and is a huge favourite of Obama and is very close philosophically to Biden.

[LakeArenal]

53. I also wish the pick might be Katie Porter.

Abrams is good for me.

[Celerity]

59. I would love to see Porter run for Feinstein's Senate seat when she retires in 2024.

[LakeArenal]

54. Nice to discuss it like this.

Hate when folks give opinion as fact.

[Skya Rhen]

15. Strange that your preferred candidate is old. There is none so blind as one who refuses to see.

[Thekaspervote]

19. Ha! Funny how these ageism threads about Joe or Bernie never mention EW age...

[LakeArenal]

42. Or how old Hillary would be in a second term.

[emmaverybo]

49. +1000000

[lambchopp59]

21. Warren, Harris, Buttigieg... anyone but

Another upper-septuagenarian plutocrat-lite candidate who has very little appeal to the youth vote we so desperately need to win this. Saying this fully aware grandpa Sanders is up there, but I've lost count of how many youth I know either voted for the Orange Turd, sat out the election, or went for third party candidates in frustration with the mediocre, lukewarm and "reach across the isle" bullshit we know means very little to no accomplishments that truly help out the working class youth.
Joe had better begin some sincere Sanders-esque progressive policymaking plans, or prepare to watch President Pence crap up the whole country with his idiotic, pseudo-christian plutocracy.

[Skya Rhen]

24. Harris is not even popular among the young people. Her 4% status is within the margin of error. TBH

[Thekaspervote]

26. Now why would the front runner suddenly want to change his stance?

If the young voted, we wouldn’t be having this discussion... now would we??!! But they don’t. And don’t claim it’s because of the candidates age. This has been a long long standing problem

As far as reaching across the isle, I’m here to tell ya, the person elected better damn well be ready to wade into mountains of crap if needed to secure the 1-2 gop votes to pass legislation millions are depending on!!! ... politics is a dirtying business not one of purity as you are suggesting.

Joe Biden is the one that secured a GOP vote to save the ACA ... flew to AZ to literally beg John McCain to not vote with the gop.....

Got anything else??

[LakeArenal]

43. Folks keep saying youth vote.

From personal experience I have seen college students and he relates fine.
Kids stood so long, so packed together, so hot, some fainted. But stayed to hear Joe.
The younger, Joe brought in stage to use his and other speakers’ seats.

No basis for that young vote preference. None at all.

[emmaverybo]

50. We so desperately need our base, African Americans, to vote. We will due to cheating also need as

many independents and swing voters as possible. Sanders could have an uphill battle in the GE
because of his policy proposals, especially healthcare. Biden’s healthcare policy is very popular.

[at140]

28. Oh come on...I am older than both and

can beat almost all Medicare age golfers scratch. And i walk the 18 holes, NOT ride in a power cart.

[CentralMass]

33. My father did the same in his 70's and early 80's.

[at140]

34. Kudos to your father...he knew benefits of exercise

and golf is wonderful exercise if you walk the course.
You are in company of 3 other cheerful people, fresh air, green grass, trees, ponds, birds.
I consider myself extremely lucky to have played so much golf. I could not have done it
in any other country, especially my birth country India where only rich get to play golf.
In USA, middle class can afford golf and there are more golf courses here than any other country.
One of 3 main reasons I love the USA. (others are married an American wife and had good jobs).

[CentralMass]

37. Its sounds like you found the recipe for a good life.

[at140]

60. The recipe is simple but requires discipline

I stayed away from temptations, drinking, smoking, gambling.
And lived frugally to save money and that all makes a boring and austere life.
But the rewards come in later half of life, with better health and better finances.
All the best to you.

[evertonfc]

29. yes and no

Not to old to lead. I love all of them but we have so many younger, fresher candidates that didn't run or can't break through. Our last two nominees that won Presidential contests were in thier 40s and transformative in thier ability to connect to voters my son's age. He's 19 and will vote but just don't relate to people his grandparents age.

[Thekaspervote]

32. Great if your son is going to vote! Less than 46% kids 18-25 voted. Can't win elections on that

[ismnotwasm]

38. My Mom is appalled

She’s 81. I asked her if she would want to be president yesterday. She’s of the opinion it’s job for younger people.

I think relative health is more of a factor. You can pack one hell of a lot of very valuable experience in 80 years. If one is healthy, age is less a factor.

[Funtatlaguy]

40. Warren has everything needed to be a great President

She needs a straightforward answer on MFA.
Then, stand by it or move off if it.

[LakeArenal]

44. Seems a bit off topic.

[demosincebirth]

55. I really don't care how old they are as long as they can beat

Trump. Isn’t that what this election is about? I remember 1972 when leftists (progressives) nominated McGovern. Disaster happened - we got tricky Dick, again. So, fellow dems, we just might heading that way again. The thought is terrifying.

[Gothmog]

58. I have met Joe Biden in person

I remember watching Joe jog at the Iowa parade

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

Joe is in great shape

[treestar]

61. Did you know Winston Churchill was Prime Minister

from 1951 to 1955?

Date of Birth: 30 November 1874

Age as PM: 77 to 81.

[still_one]

66. I don't have a problem with age as long as the VP is well chosen. In fact that that could be

considered a great synergy