Bernie Sanders' birth was closer to Lincoln's assassination than the present day.

[BlueStater]

Lincoln's assassination (April 15, 1865) to Bernie's birth (September 8, 1941) = 76 years, 4 months, 24 days

Bernie's birth (September 8, 1941) to today (February 19, 2019) = 77 years, 5 months, 11 days

Just thought I'd throw this statistic out there.

[demmiblue]

1. So was Nancy Pelosi's.

What is your point?

[BlueStater]

3. She's not the president nor is she running for the position. n/t

[demmiblue]

4. And?

[BlueStater]

17. You don't think there's a world of difference between being President and Speaker? n/t

[demmiblue]

19. Lol!

Keep it up, buttercup.

[BlueStater]

24. So no answer, babycakes? n/t

[demmiblue]

26. Lol!

[spanone]

27. not really...she's third in-line.

[stopbush]

42. She's second in line. The line starts with VP, then Speaker.

The sitting president isn’t in line for anything.

[LanternWaste]

34. What then is the relevant difference, in regards to age...?

What then is the relevant difference (in regards to age) between the two positions, and on what objective measure is that predicated on?

[MineralMan]

7. She is third in the presidential line of succession.

She could become President in the flash of an eye, under certain circumstances.

That is why the President and Vice-President do not travel together. Ever.

[BlueStater]

11. It's extremely unlikely she'll ever ascend to the presidency.

I'm basing this on the fact that no one in history has ever ascended to the presidency because they were Speaker of the House at the time and both the President and Vice President happened to be incapacitated at the exact same time.

[MineralMan]

12. While that is historically true, it is not beyond possibility.

The point is that the Speaker of the House CAN become President at any time, without notice. Therefore, if age matters, it matters for all in the line of succession.

It's true that the President and Vice President are generally not in the same place at the same time, but there are exceptions to that. Both figures have publicly-scheduled events, too. We often know where they will be at any given time.

In 1963, we learned just how quickly the President can be replaced. That's why we now have a clear line of succession spelled out.

The point is also that age doesn't matter.

[zipplewrath]

46. Technically, second

If we are talking "succession" she's only "two heart beats" away. (i.e. a president can't "succeed" themselves).

The significance of the nit is that she's really not all that far away. Especially with all of the kerfluffle going on with Mueller, one never really knows how fast things could change.

[JenniferJuniper]

2. Not a fan of his, but I'm also

not a fan of ageism.

[BlueStater]

9. Is it ageism to acknowledge the body is in the process of breaking down when you're over 75?

Last edited Tue Feb 19, 2019, 02:11 PM - Edit history (2)

That maybe people who have already exceeded the average life expectancy of their gender aren't the best candidates for one of the most stressful, demanding jobs on the planet?

My grandmother was in excellent health until she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease when she was 81. She died seven years later at 88. Noting that our bodies are more vulnerable to diseases when we get to be that old and that people over 75 dying suddenly and unexpectedly isn't unheard of is not ageism, it's acknowledging reality.

[Ms. Toad]

47. Yes. When you base your assessment of an individual

based on general characteristics of people of that class, yes.

Case in point: https://www.travelandleisure.com/trip-ideas/national-parks/bett-reid-soskin-96-year-old-park-ranger

[BlueStater]

49. Good for her.

Last edited Tue Feb 19, 2019, 03:01 PM - Edit history (1)

Being a 96-year-old park ranger is impressive, but it's not quite the same thing as being POTUS. All that link proves is that people are capable of living that long, something I was quite aware of already. My paternal grandfather and grandmother lived to be 98 and 95, respectively. My grandfather was in pretty good health up until maybe the last two years of his life. My grandmother not so much.

But most people don't live that long and anyone over 80 is much more likely to die suddenly and unexpectedly than someone younger than them is. Having an enormous amount of strain on them from an incredibly demanding job like the presidency doesn't help.

[Ms. Toad]

50. You're missing the point.

When you make your assessment based on general characteristics of a class (race, gender, age), rather than looking at the characteristics of an individual person it is classism (racism, gender bias, agism)

[The Truth Is Here]

5. And? Larry Sanders, his older brother is alive and well

dabbling in politics in merry old England. I think Bernie will be fine. He's MUCH healthier and wiser than the stupid DumbfuckNut in the WH.

Ageism fucking sucks and you should be ashamed for thinking of this stupid post.

[ehrnst]

40. "Ageism fucking sucks and you should be ashamed for thinking of this stupid post."??????

If you're certain he's in great health, why the insults? Why the rage?

[Sherman A1]

6. So was mine

Nice ageism post there.

[BlueStater]

14. You're not running for president.

Also, it's apparently now ageism to even acknowledge that you're old.

[ehrnst]

28. Much was made on the far left about "frail old Hillary"

especially after she fainted from dehydration.

[BlueStater]

41. Which was especially laughable because Trump is over a year older than her.

A lot of accusations against me being ageist, but I mentioned in the past that I'd probably support Jay Inslee and Sherrod Brown if they ran. Both of them are over 65. They are, by the measures of the human lifespan, old.

79 and 78, the ages Bernie and Biden will be upon taking office, are just bridges too far for me.

[Sherman A1]

52. I haven't announced yet

Still looking at the exploratory committee thing.

Do you seriously believe that the candidate has not taken that into consideration and weighed the pros & cons of both the run and serving in the office should he be elected?

Your post is ageism pure and simple.

[Autumn]

8. Nancy Pelosi who will be and is third in line to the presidency is 78.

Not a fan of ageism.

[LuckyCharms]

10. So what?

[BlueStater]

13. That it's ridiculous that somebody this old is running for president.

But egotisical, entitled old white guys have to be in power forever, I guess.

[LuckyCharms]

15. I see. I didn't know there was an age limit on presidential candidates.

Learn something new everyday.

[BlueStater]

18. Not by law, no.

But you don't see too many 90 and 100 years old running for the office, do you?

[LuckyCharms]

20. Is there someone running who is that old?

I must be out of the loop. I had no idea.

[Autumn]

23. Who are these 90 and 100 year olds that are running for the office of President?

[LanternWaste]

36. What then is the precise age at which one becomes too old?

What then is the precise age at which one becomes too old for the position, and (again) on what objective evidence is that measure based on?

[BlueStater]

37. Exceeding the average life expectancy for your gender is a good measure.

In this country, it's 76 for men and 78 for women, I believe.

[JenniferJuniper]

44. You cannot look at it in vacuum

Those are years at birth.

Life expectancy for a male age 77 who is in reasonably good health and doesn't smoke is about 86, not 76.

[cwydro]

25. Dude.

Seriously?

[BlueStater]

29. Yeah, seriously.

You don't think it takes quite a bit of ego and sense of entitlement to run for president when you're almost 80?

[cwydro]

32. I think it takes quite a bit of ego and entitlement to run for president at any age, honestly.

I’m no fan of Bernie. Not at all.

But your ageist argument doesn’t sit well with me.

[BlueStater]

35. Well, if acknowledging statistics and science are ageist, then so be it.

Last edited Tue Feb 19, 2019, 03:07 PM - Edit history (1)

It's not unheard of for people as old as him to just die suddenly. It's a fact of life. For all I know, he could live to be 105, but I don't think the most powerful job on the planet is the best place to test his longevity.

[MuseRider]

16. LOL!

[KPN]

21. Haha. Nice stat. But what does it mean? I can think of a couple things --

1) you have a lot of time on your hands , and

2) Bernie has seen a lot.

[BlueStater]

31. Unless basic math is something you spend a lot of time on, you'd be wrong. n/t

[kennetha]

22. Some young blood and fresh faces

would be awfully nice. We could use a new generation of democrats, with their formative experiences grounded in the late 20th and early 21st centuries.

That would be nice. Bernie is so last century, it's unbelievable. I feel the same way about Biden.

And even though I was a strong Clinton supporter last time around, part of me did think (especially when it seemed my we might have another Clinton-Bush contest) "can't we find some new players?"

[stopbush]

43. I'm 64, and I would love to see one of our younger candidates break through.

As far as ageism goes, I am amazed at how older pols find the energy and stamina to keep up the pace of political life, let alone running for POTUS. I sure couldn’t do it, nor would I want to do it.

Right now, my $ is on Kamala.

[Beakybird]

30. Who cares? His family has great longevity genes.

I won't vote for him in the primary though.

[Maru Kitteh]

38. jeebus

[Cuthbert Allgood]

39. So's Biden's

[broiles]

48. You are right.

Biden is older than god.

[Jose Garcia]

45. I'm sure that he has a good alibi

[LongtimeAZDem]

51. Sanders' age doesn't concern me. His contempt for the Democratic party does.