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RadiationTherapy

(5,818 posts) Thu Apr 30, 2015, 03:29 PM Apr 2015

The Last Boomer President [View all]

At what point does a person or generation concede that it is time for younger people to step up and have an opportunity? At what point do people in their late 60s and early 70s use their clout, speech-making skills, and fund-raising powers to help younger people build a base and get elected? Are any of these near-70 or 70+ year old candidates grooming anyone or putting any effort toward younger, up and coming candidates? Will we have boomers still trying to run the country in their 80s?

Frankly, I'm not that excited about Sanders or Hillary due to their age and potential generational "distance" from younger voters. I personally wonder about the future of our party when it seems the elder states-persons who have so much experience, wisdom, and intellect don't seem to be publicly endorsing or grooming younger candidates.

114 replies

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The Last Boomer President [View all] RadiationTherapy Apr 2015 OP

Absurdity at its highest. If you need, say brain surgery, you want the intern to do it? libdem4life Apr 2015 #1

^^This^^ hlthe2b Apr 2015 #5

Thanks. libdem4life Apr 2015 #8

This attitude is unsurpring to me and I have nothing to add. RadiationTherapy Apr 2015 #10

Well, not really...but you might use spell check. I don't know what "unsurpring" means. libdem4life Apr 2015 #15

I'll leave it as it is. I am not bothered such a minor mistake. RadiationTherapy Apr 2015 #42

We didn't like it any better than you do Warpy Apr 2015 #76

Well, medicine makes that wait a lot longer. I see it at the uni I work at; people milking careers RadiationTherapy Apr 2015 #86

You are right in one sense, I do see a gerontocracy growing around the DLC Warpy Apr 2015 #89

I do participate. My spouse and I have "managed" a small mayoral campaign successfully RadiationTherapy Apr 2015 #95

These labels are so arbitrary and don't mean much Ex Lurker Apr 2015 #91

Agree...I have 2 nieces born in 1963-64 and there are definitely generational libdem4life Apr 2015 #92

When young people stand up and run for office upaloopa Apr 2015 #2

Unsurprising. Here's a reply for you too. RadiationTherapy Apr 2015 #12

I doubt you will ever get it! upaloopa Apr 2015 #20

You find the notions of asking for guidance and support to get on the RadiationTherapy Apr 2015 #43

Yes, if you are saying without it there are no upaloopa Apr 2015 #53

I have participated in running two successful campaigns for small roles in a RadiationTherapy Apr 2015 #60

You're kidding, right? Warren DeMontague Apr 2015 #103

Young people scare me more than older people. Experience is a wonderful teacher...n/t monmouth4 Apr 2015 #3

UnRec. There will be a last Boomer President MineralMan Apr 2015 #4

I appreciate the actual info here. Thank you. RadiationTherapy Apr 2015 #13

Have you checked the ages of all candidates? I doubt it. MineralMan Apr 2015 #34

Well, I did take the time to specify I was speaking of democrats. RadiationTherapy Apr 2015 #45

Julian Castro will be on the short list for VP this time, and probably running for tblue37 Apr 2015 #58

Well, since I'm older than a Boomer myself, MineralMan Apr 2015 #79

I'm sorry I wasn't clearer in stating that I believe these elder statespersons of the party RadiationTherapy Apr 2015 #80

I suggest that you examine the ages of MineralMan Apr 2015 #82

Why are they not helping younger candidates? It is a closed system; why do they not usher RadiationTherapy Apr 2015 #84

Younger political figures are being mentored constantly MineralMan Apr 2015 #90

And older political figures seem to be milking already successful and effective careers. RadiationTherapy Apr 2015 #96

Thanks for taking the time to look up all those birth years for the Clown Car treestar Apr 2015 #47

Don't trust anyone over 30, man. n/t lumberjack_jeff Apr 2015 #14

Got that right...and it went up 10 years every decade. Don't know how That Happened. libdem4life Apr 2015 #19

I never bought into that crap, frankly. MineralMan Apr 2015 #37

Concede? WTF? immoderate Apr 2015 #6

Boomers have had Clinton, Dubya and Obama Fumesucker Apr 2015 #7

Jeez. RadiationTherapy Apr 2015 #16

I have trouble seeing Obama as a boomer, I know, I know arbitrary dates, but here's the thing... HereSince1628 Apr 2015 #38

I agree, technically Obama is a Boomer however culturally not so much I think though.. Fumesucker Apr 2015 #41

Obama is right on that line between boomer and Gen X, IMO. phleshdef Apr 2015 #59

He's a Joneser mike in raleigh Apr 2015 #110

Well,... BlueStater Apr 2015 #70

Ike was a tad old 1939 Apr 2015 #77

We've only had three and they represent almost the outer edges of the definition. Gidney N Cloyd Apr 2015 #9

No, of course not (Rubio). RadiationTherapy Apr 2015 #17

Trust me, he's being groomed.Stellar family, politics, reputation with a young family and cool twin. libdem4life Apr 2015 #22

Thank you for this info and perspective. RadiationTherapy Apr 2015 #48

Saw him speak at a conference in San Antonio. He's definitely got an engaging presence. Gidney N Cloyd Apr 2015 #65

Seems just the post makes the point, referring to the reasoned responses of The Elders. libdem4life Apr 2015 #11

Some responses indeed point to the problem in my eyes. RadiationTherapy Apr 2015 #24

See Post #22. Other than JFK (age 43) I don't think there's been a President under 50. libdem4life Apr 2015 #32

Facts are facts. If they are expressed and contextualized RadiationTherapy Apr 2015 #50

We've had several presidents under 50, actually. BlueStater Apr 2015 #67

My bad...true. libdem4life May 2015 #113

WRONG. GeorgeGist May 2015 #112

All Caps? I miswrote. Thanks for catching it. Didn't need to yell at me, ya know. libdem4life May 2015 #114

"Young wolves, show us your teeth." John Steinbeck Tierra_y_Libertad Apr 2015 #18

Thanks for the name. I hadn't heard of her. RadiationTherapy Apr 2015 #30

Great Steinbeck quote. Kshama Sawant's articulate, bright & a force for the future & now. appalachiablue Apr 2015 #71

What is the relevant and precise age that compels you be "not that excited" about any particular... LanternWaste Apr 2015 #21

No precise age. I just think that generations - though useless to pinpoint - do have cultural RadiationTherapy Apr 2015 #26

THis has never been brought up so much in my almost 5 decades. Is it Obama's relative appalachiablue Apr 2015 #69

The last time an older candidate won when there was an appreciable age difference loyalsister Apr 2015 #23

I don't see why it is controversial to bring this up. RadiationTherapy Apr 2015 #29

Me neither loyalsister Apr 2015 #40

Strictly in terms of political power, repubs think longer term than we do. Gidney N Cloyd Apr 2015 #31

Bernie's popularity is skyrocketing on the kids' websites right now. Cheese Sandwich Apr 2015 #25

Cool. "The Kids" must be excited then! RadiationTherapy Apr 2015 #27

Could you offer some links for the kids' websites, please. leftofcool Apr 2015 #28

Terrific! "What's in a Name' as Shakespeare said! I mean AGE of course- if the message is right. appalachiablue Apr 2015 #72

President Barack Obama b. 1961 is in the range of Boomer births in the west, 1946-1964. appalachiablue Apr 2015 #33

A lot of our candidates got beat in the 2010 and 2014 yeoman6987 Apr 2015 #85

Has a younger person stepped up? Skidmore Apr 2015 #35

Does one merely "step up" to a national political party scene? RadiationTherapy Apr 2015 #52

It starts at local level through Skidmore Apr 2015 #68

Who do you want to run? hrmjustin Apr 2015 #36

I don't know of any democrats on the national scene who are under 65. RadiationTherapy Apr 2015 #54

ok. I think Hillary will do just fine. hrmjustin Apr 2015 #55

She ought to. She certainly has had enough guidance, financing, and networking RadiationTherapy Apr 2015 #61

She is highly intelligent and has worked hard to get where she is. hrmjustin Apr 2015 #62

Yes, of course. Those traits coupled with opportunity often breed success. RadiationTherapy Apr 2015 #63

Under 65 Dems.= Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) brilliant head of Budget Committee; Sen. Sherrod appalachiablue Apr 2015 #73

Thank you for this information. Do you think these people are being actively helped by the party RadiationTherapy Apr 2015 #74

THIS post shows how the GOP can control people. guillaumeb Apr 2015 #39

Yes, yes. Get up and change the country. RadiationTherapy Apr 2015 #56

and you think they are open for Boomers? guillaumeb Apr 2015 #66

Not necessarily. I think it requires an active role by party elders to get "inside." RadiationTherapy Apr 2015 #75

I agree that insiders control access. guillaumeb Apr 2015 #106

I agree with you. BlueStater Apr 2015 #44

You are forgetting one. ScreamingMeemie Apr 2015 #49

Bill Mahr did a bit a couple of months ago pointing out that the healthy, vigorous Jerry Brown had d tblue37 Apr 2015 #46

BTW, Julian Castro is clearly being groomed as a potential VP candidate for this election, as tblue37 Apr 2015 #51

Great. That is one person under 60 being actively groomed and promoted. RadiationTherapy Apr 2015 #64

I prefer nearly any democrat or socialist over a republican RadiationTherapy Apr 2015 #57

I am a boomer and I would work myself to death to support a 35year old progressive with LiberalArkie Apr 2015 #78

Are there no means by which Bernie and hillary can help young liberals get more opportunities? RadiationTherapy Apr 2015 #81

Nobody is going to just hand it to your generation. You have to earn the votes. Throd Apr 2015 #83

There is no obligation or other impetus for powerful members of the party to help those who RadiationTherapy Apr 2015 #88

No. There is no such obligation. Throd Apr 2015 #93

I agree on all points. RadiationTherapy Apr 2015 #102

Or maybe, the best, most qualified candidate should win, regardless of their age? Just maybe? DanTex Apr 2015 #87

I think there is a great deal more involved in a pres campaign than qualifications. RadiationTherapy Apr 2015 #97

Sure. What does that have to do with age? DanTex Apr 2015 #99

Sorry I wasn't clear: It is such a closed system that unless the elders intentionally RadiationTherapy Apr 2015 #100

Nostradamus says: This topic is gonna go over like a ton of bricks, here, on DU. Warren DeMontague Apr 2015 #94

The term "DLC gerontocracy" was cited above. RadiationTherapy Apr 2015 #98

People are understandably resistant to the idea that they may be gettin' .....old. Warren DeMontague Apr 2015 #101

Nailed it.. Jesus Malverde Apr 2015 #104

On the other hand I'm very excited about Bernie Sanders running for the Oval Office madokie Apr 2015 #105

I regret not adding this sooner: I am excited about Bernie's ideas and I hope he is successful RadiationTherapy Apr 2015 #107

people who are 70 or 70+ now are not Boomers Skittles Apr 2015 #108

A fair point in terms of detail, but i believe most of the dynamics still pertain. RadiationTherapy Apr 2015 #109

Obama is a Late Boomer AnnieBW Apr 2015 #111