or it? Ted Stevens of Alaska. He took office in 1968. He is 84 years old. Before the photo to your left was taken, the Senator was propped up by a stick so he didn't tip over. Just kidding.
Why is he still in office? McCain is 72. I'm sure when the election is over and if he does not win - he will deflate. The election is what is keeping him "young." And when the election is over, it would sure be nice if he gave somebody else a chance to be a "maverick."
Robert Byrd, the senior Senator from West Virginia was born in 1917 - he's 91. Do you know what was going on in 1917? The US began fighting World War I. That's not World War II or Korea or Vietnam - it's World War I!. Strom Thurmond was born in 1902 and left office at 100 years old. What was going on in 1902? The first movie theatre opened and the first college football game was played in the Rose Bowl. Teddy Roosevelt was the first President to ride in an automobile!
I don't believe that 90 is the new 80. And 100 is not the new 90. That's all absurd. Congress has about a 12% approval rating. Perhaps it would help matters if a firm retirement age of, let's say, 65, is adhered to. The Congress is not the Supreme Court, where the Justices serve lifetime terms - I was going to say sentences.
I also support the idea of term limits - 3 would be about right. Mayor Bloomberg of NYC is trying to change the law so he can serve a third term. If he succeeds, he is likely to spend about $100 million of his "fortune" to get that 3rd time. At least he is not a lawyer, but is a Harvard graduate. You might be interested to know that back in 1981, he was fired from his job with the Wall St. firm Solomon Brothers. He was given a $10 million dollar "golden parachute."
I agree with CNN's Lou Dobbs that we need more diversity in Congress - we need more truckers, electricians, nurses, mechanics and yes, plumbers, service in the House and Senate. I also strongly believe we need a 5 year moratorium on letting lawyers and millionaires run for
Congress. Our founding fathers did not design our "system" to be run for decades by wealthy lawyers. We need more (Gov.) Sara Palin's. Like or dislike her politics, she is fresh and "jazzed" unlike many members of our "do-nothing" Congress.
