Distubing fact about dem Congressional leaders--many are over 65!!

[bobbieinok]

Eg, Warren, Pelosi, Waters

Did national and state dems drop the ball in finding, training, and mentoring next generation leaders?

It's clear there are many new young dems running this year, but they appear to have surprised the various state parties.

What am I missing?

[DonViejo]

1. I remember the days when the saying was, "don't trust anyone over 30;" ...

Nowadays, the saying is "don't trust anyone over the age of 65."

[mythology]

3. For me it's not about trusting them

It's about the position it leaves us in as a party. If all of our leaders are in the same age range it limits our perspective, same as if our leaders were all white men. Whether that's on what issues are important to our voters, but also how to reach them.

Also having our leaders in the same age range puts us in a weaker position when the current crop retires. If we then have a bunch of unexperienced leaders, we aren't as prepared.

[DonViejo]

4. Either you're an ageist or you don't understand your own political party....

I suggest you read: https://www.democraticunderground.com/100210823380#post2

[pangaia]

7. LOL !!!

[NCTraveler]

2. No way! Many are over sixty-five?

And they hold leadership positions? I'm shocked!

"What am I missing?"

The rest of the party and the understanding that "in finding, training, and mentoring next generation leaders" doesn't not equal a bunch of novices holding leadership positions.

Stacey Abrams
Pete Buttigieg
​Julián Castro
Tulsi Gabbard
Eric Garcetti
Andrew Gillum
Hakeem Jeffries
Mike Johnston
Joseph P. Kennedy III
Seth Moulton
​Patrick Murphy
Ayanna Pressley
Gina Raimondo
Michelle Wu

The list goes on.

[Yonnie3]

5. Thanks for the list

As an over 65er I am pleased at all the young talent moving up in the party. Many will help move the party to a more progressive agenda, a good thing.

But I'm over 65 so I can't want change.

[NCTraveler]

6. Some of our most progressive and well thought out members are over 65.

I really dislike this notion that splits age groups by ideology. It's very flawed.

I love how many new members we have taken in over the last ten years. They are our future. Dirty secret, it's not new. It's just really hard to remove incumbents.

[Are_grits_groceries]

8. Disturbing?

Well take your disturbed self somewhere else. We have a good mix of young and old. Of course there will be some tension between the two but it should not be prohibitive. Each age may have different concerns but there are plenty of places to find common ground.

You better be glad some of those old people are there. Navigating Capitol Hill with it’s quirky rules can be a feat. I care about what they are dong not a date.

Yeah, some state parties were surprised. Part of it is that some are too hidebound and restrictive. I’d like to throw a lot of SC Dems over the side. However, i know it has been very difficult in some years to find new people to run. A lot of people have heard and felt the difference with Trumpkins in charge. They woke now!

[comradebillyboy]

10. They just keep getting re-elected by their constituents.

[ismnotwasm]

11. Apathy.

Which is changing.

[meadowlander]

12. The fact that it takes time to become a Congressional leader

and therefore it's not really surprising that most of them are over 65? Nor does this imply that younger democrats aren't being sought out, trained and mentored.

Mitch McConnell is 76 and Paul Ryan may be 48 but look how that turned out? It's not like the Republican Congressional leaders are all hip, under thirty and down with the kids.

[LeftInTX]

13. Our leadership is older because it is hard to get Dems elected/re-elected in the first place.

Therefore those in safe seats get reelected and tend to be older. They are the ones assigned to leadership positions.

The R's have younger leadership because they unfortunately have won more elections.....Elections have consequences and this is one of them.

[LeftInTX]

14. Tip O'Neill wasn't exactly a hipster himself.

I don't remember people complaining about his age.

[JustAnotherGen]

15. next generation leaders

1st that come to mind are Kamala and Corey and Kirsten.

Seriously - they are my peers.

The ones you have listed are Boomers and Silents.

My three - really fall under Generation X.

Also - Castro and my 'crush' Ted Lieu (49).

I know there are lots of folks that dislike Tammy Duckworth at DU because she supposedly launched a vicious inhumane cruel attack on a 28 year old woman - but yeah - another Gen X'er.

[LanternWaste]

16. The ability to think objectively about those over 55?

"What am I missing?"

A premise and a conclusion?

Evidence to support either?

A cohesive idea?

Relevant knowledge regarding the age ranges of party leadership throughout the fourth, fifth and sixth party systems?