there are an awful lot of 'seniors' in the democratic congressional

[bobbieinok]

team.

Conyers, Rangle, + ????? are over 70.

Byrd is over 80.

Kennedy is ?????

When republicans won in 94, there were many 30-40 year olds.

[Greeby]

1. That's where the 30-something Work Group comes in

Although I doubt they need to do midnight sessions anymore :bounce:

[Bicoastal]

2. Santorum was 33 when elected in 94....

With younger people like that in power, I say bring on the geezers!

[unblock]

3. uh, the familiar names and committee chairs are not the newbies

republicans had their share of old fogies. strom thurmond alone brought the average way up....

our newbies aren't over 70 either.

[Spider Jerusalem]

4. Kennedy is 74...

and Daniel Inouye is 82. Byrd's the oldest; he turns 89 this month.

[WHEN CRABS ROAR]

5. Just look at all that experience.

[nealmhughes]

6. And? Your point being? Ergo ______? I'd take Byrd any day. His hands

may tremble and he may need two canes, but his mind is sharper than that of most ... Ted's mother lived to be 107, that means he has 30 odd years left to out do her. Pelosi is 67. That isn't old. That is experience.

[bobbieinok]

8. my point

is that they may not be around very long.

I've been worried for some time that Conyer's energy may give out. I read here about everything he does, especially in regard to the 2004 election problems and am in awe of his achievements.

I agree that it's great there's all this experience; I just wonder where the leaders in 5-10 years are coming from.

[Odin2005]

7. Seniority

long-serving congrespeople generally have more power and experience then other congresspeople, so you have a lot of Silent Generation people (folks born between 1925 and 1942 like Kennedy, Reid, Conyers, and Pelosi) and a GI generation guy (Byrd) leading Congress even though most congresspeople are Boomers.