Sen. Grassley, the oldest GOP senator at 88, announces he will seek another term

[demmiblue]

Sen. Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa), the oldest Republican senator at age 88 and a major player in securing confirmation of dozens of conservative federal judges, announced Friday that he will seek another six-year term.

“It’s 4 a.m. in Iowa so I’m running,” Grassley said in a predawn tweet that included an image of him jogging. “I do that 6 days a week. Before I start the day I want you to know what Barbara and I have decided. I’m running for re-election — a lot more to do, for Iowa. We ask and will work for your support. Will you join us?”

The decision by Grassley, who has served in the U.S. Congress since Jimmy Carter’s presidency, boosts Republican prospects for holding the seat next year, when control of the chamber will be at stake. Recent polling has shown Grassley with a sizable lead over Democratic challenger Abby Finkenauer.

Perhaps Grassley’s most consequential impact on the country has been his recent tenure as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, a position that gave him significant influence in pushing through the nominations of dozens of judges during the Trump presidency as well as three Supreme Court justices, including the divisive nomination of Brett M. Kavanaugh.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/grassley-senate-republicans-elections/2021/09/24/52ac70ce-1bae-11ec-a99a-5fea2b2da34b_story.html

Link to tweet

[pwb]

1. He has been a shitty senator that whole time.

IMO.

[markie]

2. power and money

make people delusional

[Frustratedlady]

3. OMG! Enuf, already! Oh, well...I guess he can handle it, as he hasn't done anything for the last

several years. A nap here/there should keep him standing and he can surely make an appearance every 6 months or so on the Senate floor to prove he's still on the job.

He'll just stumble over his speeches more slowly.

[2naSalit]

4. Maybe he won't make it that long...

He's used enough good air that he should stop using it and let endangered species use it instead.

[Thomas Hurt]

5. And yet we suffer under this delusion that we don't have a nobility...

[Bettie]

6. What people around here are saying

is that his plan is to run and then, through our horrific governor (who believes she will be reelected) gift the seat to his even more awful grandson who is utterly devoid of ethics, charisma, and any pretense of being a decent human being.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

14. What? Can't believe all those charisma genes didn't get passed down! nt

[Bettie]

19. Right, Look at Chuck

then imagine someone with LESS Charisma. Pat can't even fake being a decent human for a short time.

There was a time when Chuck could appear to be kind or decent, not that he was, but he could fake it.

[NJCher]

18. ahhh

I knew there had to be something more to it.

In any event, can he hold up to Abby Finkenauer? I saw her on NBC Nightly News a few months ago and was very impressed with her composure and speaking ability. She is working class


Abby Finkenauer
@Abby4Iowa
I'm Abby Finkenauer, and I'm running for U.S. Senate because Iowa—and our Democracy—are worth fighting for.

After 46 years in DC,
@ChuckGrassley
has lost touch with both.

I'm from a proud union family. We don't back down. I'm in this to win.

Join us: http://abbyfinkenauer.com/join-the-team

Here's a video of Abby:

[Bettie]

20. Last time around she lost to an empty-headed

local TV news reader, so I don't know...I hope so.

[Champp]

7. Prophetic pronouncement: no stinking way

Honorable American citizens are about to fully divest themselves of the lying, cheating, russia-kissing, fascist-leaning, low-ball Republican cabal. Grassley's ass is headed for the grass.

Throw the bums out.

[Boomerproud]

21. Read post #20.

Iowans , it's up to you if you still want a democracy.

[dalton99a]

8. Why do the wicked live on, growing old and increasing in power?

- Bible

[kentuck]

9. Is he trying to break Strom Thurmond's record?

I recall when the Republicans had to all but carry Strom onto the elevator at 100 years old.

Is that the record he is after? He has done little else, but stuff his pockets with farm subsidies.

[irisblue]

10. I am looking forward to the young GOP troglodytes complaining " He's too old!"/s

oh wait....
that's just us.
-just in case

[maxsolomon]

33. He is pretty old.

What motivates late octogenarians to stay in the Senate?

Ego.

[irisblue]

35. Ego, pride, power, his place in history books, keep his kids cash flow going

no real way to know if his family likes him enough to have him full time husband, parent, gramps.
BTW FTR, I have no direct knowledge that his kids are profiting off his place in Iowa & the Senate

[AngryOldDem]

11. I was hoping the fossil would retire.

[edhopper]

12. It's Iowa, who gives a shit

if he leaves or dies they will just elect another asshole idiot like Ernst.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

13. OK, first off, fuck that guy. Hate him. But why do we defend Dems staying in office

and then get mad at Republicans for staying in office?. I get that they suck. But I'm hoping that the people who claim ageism when there are calls for younger members of the party in positions of power also make those claims here. I think there are a LOT of people here that would be fine with Pelosi serving for 9 decades.

[brush]

15. Because we need the majorities in Congress to actually pass bills that help everyday people.

The republicans only push legislation to help corporations and the rich.

It's not rocket science. I'm sure you know this so I don't get this post.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

30. I get that. It's the hypocrisy of our aged politicians are untouchable and theirs are trash.

I fully believe all politicians are too old, too white, and too male to be representative of our population. But anytime that is brought up, we are called ageist and that Pelosi needs to stay as long as she wants. I don't see those same people chiming in here.

And, just for the record one more time, Grassley is a piece of shit and I hate him.

[brush]

38. Grassley is certainly a POS, agreed. I also agree the Congress is too white...

and doesn't represent the diversity of the nation...especially the 99% white republican party. But let's be realistic now at this critical time.

The Democratic party can't afford to lose anyone right now as we have multi-generational opportunity to pass long-delayed (by republicans) infrastructure bills that will not just replace our aging bridges, tunnels, roads, airports and railroads, but also keep the monthly checks per-child coming to families, affordable daycare so parents can get to work, free comm. college, better healthcare, etc. Not to mention all the millions of good jobs that will come with it.

Now's the time for that, and somehow carving out voting rights from the filibuster. We need every last one of the Dems now in place. And as far as I'm concerned, Pelosi is one of the most effective Speakers even and has consistenly promoted Black and other POC reps. Jeffries and Clyburn are high in leadership and Bush is the chairman of the Jan. 6 Select committee.

Give credit where credit is due.

[NJCher]

17. exceptions sometimes

Pelosi's uncommonly talented, and we really need her right now. What they are trying to do now is hard enough, let alone have someone who is not extr-e-m-ely knowledgeable at the helm.

However, I think we do complain about the other fossils.

[maxsolomon]

34. Pelosi isn't 88. She's 81.

There is a difference there.

[NJCher]

37. was referring to Grassley

eom

[C_U_L8R]

16. Are we watching "Weekend at Grassley's"?

I think he may be already dead

[Lemon Lyman]

23. Ugh

I knew he'd run again. He'll be by 89 when the election happens next November. I'm not ageist. That's too old. Same goes for DiFi & others of those years.

He'll win b/c, A) People here love him. As his slogan goes, "Grassley Works." Vomit. & B) We never run good candidates for Senate or Governor. I wish someone like Tom Vilsack would come back and run for one of these seats. I like Abby. We encouraged her to run for US House when she was a State House member. But she lost her last US House race in the last election. She's not a strong candidate. Per a recent poll she's losing to Grassley by 18 points.

[Lemon Lyman]

24. -

https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/iowa-poll/2021/09/21/iowa-poll-chuck-grassley-leads-abby-finkenauer-in-test-possible-senate-match/8378103002/

Republican U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley leads Democrat Abby Finkenauer by 18 percentage points among likely voters in an early test of what could be a marquee matchup in the 2022 midterms.

The latest Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll results show Grassley leads 55% to 37% among likely voters. Another 7% are not sure who they would vote for in a head-to-head matchup, and 1% would not vote.

[Lemon Lyman]

25. -

He's been a US Senator since 1980. That's 41 years and counting. Prior to 1980 he'd been a US House member since 1975. That's 46 years and counting. Prior to 1975, he'd been an IA House member since 1958. That's 63 years and counting total. That's just nuts.

[Lemon Lyman]

26. -

Grassley's counterpart for many years was Democratic Senator Tom Harkin. Harkin's last term in office was from 2008-2014. He decided he wouldn't run again in 2013, at the age of 73. He thought it was time for somebody younger hold the seat.

https://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/sen-tom-harkin-decides-not-to-run-in-2014

Harkin, 73, cited his age as a factor in the decision and said it would allow a younger generation of Democrats to seek office.

[NJCher]

27. name recognition

I used to work in marketing and you cannot discount name recognition. People will always choose the name that's most familiar. Give Abby and possibly others a little time and wage a campaign against "Grassley's time is over" and I think we could see a new senator in Iowa.

I think I will contact OmahaSteve and see if we can get a campaign going where each of us donate $1 until we get to 88. I think Abby would get a kick out of that.

[Lemon Lyman]

28. Hey

I hope you're right. I fear you're wrong.

He'll only be out of office once he retires or passes away. He's like a cockroach. Just never goes away. Here's his margin of victory in past elections (always, vomit, not even close):

2016
Grassley - 60.09%
Patty Judge - 35.66%
(then the others who got almost nothing)

2010
Grassley - 64.35%
Roxanne Conlin - 33.30%

2004
Grassley - 70.18%
Art Small - 27.88%

1998
Grassley - 68.41%
David Osterberg - 30.49%

1992
Grassley - 69.61%
Jean Hall Lloyd-Jones - 27.20%

1986
Grassley - 66.04%
John P Roehrich - 33.57%

[bif]

29. There definitely should be an age limit

I'm not for term limits, but when you're 90? That's just way too old to be a Senator. How about putting the limit at 80?

[PCIntern]

31. It's hard to believe that that old piece of shit

Was once a young piece of shit

[Buckeyeblue]

32. We need to run a youngish candidate and make long term future the issue

[Lemon Lyman]

36. We Are (Running A Youngish Candidate, That Is)

At least one of the candidates running on our side, Abby Finkenauer, will be 33 in December.