Democratic Primaries

delisen

(7,294 posts)

46. Nelson Mandela president South Africa from age 75 to 80+

Sat Jul 13, 2019, 03:55 PM

Jul 2019

The presidency of Nelson Mandela began on 10 May 1994, when Nelson Mandela, an anti-apartheid activist, lawyer, and former political prisoner, was inaugurated as President of South Africa, and ended on 14 June 1999. He was the first non-white head of state in South African history, as well as the first to take office following the dismantling of the apartheid system and the introduction of multiracial democracy. Mandela was also the oldest head of state in South Africa's history, taking office at the age of seventy-five.[1]

The presidency is a 5 year term in South Africa and Mandela intended to serve one term. He was for many reasons the right person at the right time.

Conditions and needs of a country at a particular point in time may be a better predictor of a successful presidency than age or even health.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided

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Turning 80 years old as President [View all] bluewater Jul 2019 OP

Oooh, you're gonna get it. Kind of Blue Jul 2019 #1

Post removed Post removed Jul 2019 #6

Ageist. I don't give a shite..as long Cha Jul 2019 #2

Point out anything Ageist in the OP bluewater Jul 2019 #4

Whole post is ageist. Its reason for being rests on ageism. NT emmaverybo Jul 2019 #5

Yep. highplainsdem Jul 2019 #8

Thank You, emmaverybo.. I was Cha Jul 2019 #9

+1000 n/t Vegas Roller Jul 2019 #16

Age should be a factor. tymorial Jul 2019 #69

Depends on the Veep The Mouth Jul 2019 #98

Subtle nope. Ageist yep. You're not even trying anymore. justhanginon Jul 2019 #23

Thank you! Cha Jul 2019 #29

LOL why did you post it then? treestar Jul 2019 #74

I'm taking it as you think it's high time we had an 80 year old president. That's how I'm taking it UniteFightBack Jul 2019 #101

OK. SouthernProgressive Jul 2019 #118

Ageism. Are you really going with that argument? tymorial Jul 2019 #68

Yeah, agesim.. I don't give a shite how old Cha Jul 2019 #70

We have more to worry about than election day eom tymorial Jul 2019 #96

Jimmy Carter would still be a good President redstateblues Jul 2019 #81

This. Joe941 Jul 2019 #120

I suppose you could ask all the people who've told pollsters Biden or Sanders would be their choice highplainsdem Jul 2019 #3

Yeah, I wonder if all those who Cha Jul 2019 #7

The 14th Dalai Lama is damn near 80. He needs to go. oasis Jul 2019 #10

The Dalai Lama? bluewater Jul 2019 #12

Yup, at 80, he'll soon be beyond his ability to think clearly. nt oasis Jul 2019 #14

Considering the Dalai Lama's recent comments on women and immigrants DesertRat Jul 2019 #58

RBG is over 80 treestar Jul 2019 #75

Is RGB or Diane Feinstein up to the rigors of being President in 2020? bluewater Jul 2019 #77

Yes. The Dotard must go. treestar Jul 2019 #82

Do you realize how gigantic a White House staff is? oasis Jul 2019 #99

Excuse me but . . . peggysue2 Jul 2019 #11

Warren will be 79 years and 6 months old at the end of her second term. bluewater Jul 2019 #13

Sorry, but the argument fails peggysue2 Jul 2019 #15

Pardon? bluewater Jul 2019 #24

Thank you for that peggysue2 Jul 2019 #32

Thanks for the thoughtful expression of your views. bluewater Jul 2019 #35

What is the precise, objective and relevant difference between 80 years of age and 72? LanternWaste Jul 2019 #115

8 years? bluewater Jul 2019 #117

These types of posts look eerily familiar. It's like deja vu. It reminds me of - no - can't be... Skya Rhen Jul 2019 #17

You noticed that, too? peggysue2 Jul 2019 #22

Ya think! Cha Jul 2019 #27

That happens often when a new person signs up. The same probably happened when you signed up 3 Autumn Jul 2019 #53

uawchild? BannonsLiver Jul 2019 #111

We have never had a total moron as president . CatMor Jul 2019 #18

Well said, CatMor. Cha Jul 2019 #26

That's a good point treestar Jul 2019 #76

Age doesn't matter, whether they are mentally stable and othewise health is. Thomas Hurt Jul 2019 #19

80 is an arbitrary number and signifies nothing Vegas Roller Jul 2019 #20

Is 35 also arbitrary? loyalsister Jul 2019 #52

I think age is arbitrary Vegas Roller Jul 2019 #72

It's not an attack loyalsister Jul 2019 #106

There are differences in the aging brain that are real, so being aware of them isn't "ageist.' pnwmom Jul 2019 #21

You had that one ready to go. Try this: emmaverybo Jul 2019 #28

This person referenced a study she did on people in their 50's, 60's, and 70's. pnwmom Jul 2019 #41

Thanks for elevating the discussion. bluewater Jul 2019 #45

The point is that healthy brains may process information somewhat more slowly with aging, but that emmaverybo Jul 2019 #49

Exactly and the younger people on staff can deal with the details treestar Jul 2019 #78

+1 emmaverybo Jul 2019 #91

I am plus one sock. I hate it when that happens. rzemanfl Jul 2019 #103

We've never had a punk rocker as a president either DBoon Jul 2019 #25

Foss! bluewater Jul 2019 #30

What would you expect from someone with the handle "DBoon"? DBoon Jul 2019 #33

We've never had a president who spoke EIGHT languages either. Haggis for Breakfast Jul 2019 #47

Very impressive! bluewater Jul 2019 #50

Mayor Pete Buttigieg IcyPeas Jul 2019 #57

Both Biden and Sanders seem to be in excellent health. Reagan deteriorated while Pres. YOHABLO Jul 2019 #31

We never had a Catholic or African American President either, well until we did aeromanKC Jul 2019 #34

Good points. bluewater Jul 2019 #36

Jimmy Carter is 95 in October Otto Lidenbrock Jul 2019 #37

Do you think Carter at 95 is up to serving as President (hypothetically)? bluewater Jul 2019 #38

see my edit Otto Lidenbrock Jul 2019 #42

You made an interesting comparison of Carter's vs Bush's fitness to serve in 2004 bluewater Jul 2019 #44

Nelson Mandela president South Africa from age 75 to 80+ delisen Jul 2019 #46

The right person at the right time. treestar Jul 2019 #86

I agree that lack of experience in foreign policy is a problem. delisen Jul 2019 #93

The risk of Alzheimers doubles every five years from the age of 65. pnwmom Jul 2019 #107

Imagine the outrage ... left-of-center2012 Jul 2019 #39

Some did mention a female candidate's age in this very thread. bluewater Jul 2019 #43

Good left-of-center2012 Jul 2019 #54

If that's what primary voters choose, then I'm for it. Politicub Jul 2019 #40

I have to laugh. Last year all we heard was no more old white men for president. Autumn Jul 2019 #48

i dont think it is disqualifying but mopinko Jul 2019 #51

I wouldn't compare our candidates Cha Jul 2019 #55

i dont. but in my normal that we get back to, mopinko Jul 2019 #60

Yeah, you kinda were. Cha Jul 2019 #63

kinda mopinko Jul 2019 #65

I'm not wondering. Cha Jul 2019 #66

Both Sanders and Biden appear to be of sound mind....Trump on the otherhand..... ProudMNDemocrat Jul 2019 #56

I don't want an 80-year-old president either. BlueStater Jul 2019 #59

Biden wouldn't be running if it weren't for this specific situation treestar Jul 2019 #85

agreed Skittles Jul 2019 #112

No. The Mouth Jul 2019 #61

No, it's not time to change it...nt SidDithers Jul 2019 #62

We've never had a woman serving as President. Maybe we should try that. DesertRat Jul 2019 #64

I don't want a woman just because it's our turn or we should try it treestar Jul 2019 #87

the first woman already HAS won, if everything was "fair and square" Skittles Jul 2019 #113

I don't give a shite how old, or what gender.. Cha Jul 2019 #67

We had an elderly president who had Alzheimers by the age of 77. Age is a worry. Demit Jul 2019 #71

Just because Reagan had it doesn't mean Cha Jul 2019 #79

Yes, Reagan was an idiot anyway treestar Jul 2019 #84

Of course it doesn't. But that's what is meant by the phrase "vagaries of age." Demit Jul 2019 #90

Early onset Alzheimers also exists. Although certainly there are age-related cognitive disorders, emmaverybo Jul 2019 #94

I don't think we need to focus only on dementia, in talking about age-related decline. Demit Jul 2019 #97

Surprising that you would post something to be negative treestar Jul 2019 #73

Why do you view pointing out when Biden turn's 80 as a negative comment about him? bluewater Jul 2019 #80

Now you are being disingenuous treestar Jul 2019 #83

Or perhaps I am not the one being Ageist? bluewater Jul 2019 #88

We already know that he will. treestar Jul 2019 #89

I'd rather have Joe Biden or Bernie at 80 than Trump at 80. no_hypocrisy Jul 2019 #92

I haven't seen anything... Mike Nelson Jul 2019 #95

Yes it would be groundbreaking! nt UniteFightBack Jul 2019 #100

an 80 y.o. can be healthier and have more energy AlexSFCA Jul 2019 #102

True. But, as a group, they are statistically likely to be less healthy and pnwmom Jul 2019 #114

the Democratic party seriously need someone new Skittles Jul 2019 #104

Trump was an idiot at 30. guillaumeb Jul 2019 #105

Ageism, and inviting more ageism. wyldwolf Jul 2019 #108

we haven't had a woman or a gay man serving as President, is it time to change that? dsc Jul 2019 #109

"we haven't had a woman or a gay man serving as President, is it time to change that?" bluewater Jul 2019 #110

All Presidential Candidates should have a thorough medical exam MarcA Jul 2019 #121

Wish I thought age was relevant in any measurable way to the office. LanternWaste Jul 2019 #116

It's not just about the number, but the fact that some of these people haven't had real jobs in 50+ Renew Deal Jul 2019 #119