Tom Kean Jr is 57 years old. Not 90, not 80... not even 60.
Yes, folks are trying to keep their power for much longer than they should be, and have gotten stuck in long-term cronyism. Being "young" though isn't a qualifier for office. A commitment to service and the future and betterment of the people and country is what counts. Change and new vision is critical... but lets not throw out the 50 - 60 - 70 year olds without looking at who they are and what they stand for. Ageism is a negative.
Madison Cawthorn and Matt Gaetz were young. Josh Hawley is young. JD Fucking Vance is young. MAGA Tim Sheehy of Montana who beat Jon Tester is young.
The median age of Senators has actually declined and it would decline more if we kicked out two pieces of dead wood: Chuck Grassley and Bernie Sanders.
I need to disagree with you. He's all talk and slogans and has been saying the same things for decades without advancing any of his agenda. It's no accident that it was his MORE progressive colleague Liz Warren whose housing bill just passed. Wasn't she the one who said,"I have a plan for that"? She does!
I agree age, years and wisdom can offer great insight to the next if we listen. Old folk also remember what the destruction of books and culture is trying to erase.
Very well written. We are fed a steady diet of lies and misinformation. I hate to hear that anyone passes away. I didn’t agree with Lindsey Graham but I have empathy for his family and life that he lived.
He was a chief enabler of Trump like the rest of the Republicans in the senate which I wish we could change.
I'm 73, and I too agree that many of our congress people have been there way too long. Some people are very astute into their 90"s, but many aren't. Term limits may solve some of our problems, but we also need some experienced people in there. I know I certainly don't have all the answers.
This is an excellent piece and although I never supported Lindsey Graham, I was sorry to hear that he passed away. No one lives forever and the end of life comes for all of us, whether we're prepared or not,but I was somewhat amazed at how Graham became a Trump loyalist after criticizing him in strong terms as one of the most corrupt presidents in American history. Thank you for continuing to speak truth to power.
A couple of things. Of course Senators are older than the average age of Americans: so are doctors, lawyers and virtually everything else that requires years of experience and/or education. That said, why is Grassley always cited but never the second oldest member of the Senate and oldest member of the Democratic caucus, Bernie Sanders? No, he's not uniquely valuable. He's not much of a doer, he's a talker, and he's been saying the same things for decades without advancing them. When he ran for his latest term two years ago, we knew he'd be 89 at the end of that term. And that's somehow overlooked? At least he's not like, I don't know, Strom fuckin' Thurmond who was 100 years old when they finally wheeled him off the Senate floor dead. Yes, only death removed that racist from the Senate.
Also Tom Kean is a relatively young 57, "he apparently wasn’t too depressed to keep insider trading." JFC make it stop.
Granted that life expectancies in 1789 were a bit less than those we currently enjoy, I believe that upper age limits were not established in the Constitution because the Founding Fathers believed a high-ranking government post was not intended to be a sinecure for the life of the officeholder. Men (yes, unfortunately) of common sense, intelligence, and probity were to serve their country for one or two terms, and then go back to the plow, the desk, the operating room, or whatever. As we currently have a President who licks his chops every time he reads the 22nd Amendment and fosters a climate of venality and mendacity without even lifting a pudgy, discolored finger, this becomes more than a theoretical problem. Wisdom usually increases with age; so, usually, does senile dementia (tell me about it -- I'm 76 and can barely remember our cat's name). An official cannot promise, no matter what other campaign promises may have made, that his or her rationality will continue unabated. Ripe old age should not be a bar to election or reelection, but neither should it be a requirement.
I'm sorry, Mike...I have to change the subject...I was just notified from a site called The Big Picture, that since October, 2025, 6668 immigrants were admitted into the U.S. and ONLT THREE OF THEM WERE NOT WHITE. Apparently, we are no longer allowing people of color to enter. I do think this is yet another issue that needs to be investigated and covered everywhere. The media is not doing its job, if this is accurate information. Thank you for what you do!
No no no and no. Term limits are a rightwing plot to hand over legislative control to big money special interests and lobbyists. They helped cause the biggest political scandal in Ohio history recently and it looks like another may be breaking — both enabled by term limits. They strip voters of power and hand it to billionaires, right wing PACs and lobbyists. They're a horrific idea as we've learned here in Ohio where we've had them since the mid 90s. Even people who supported them think they should be repealed now, but unfortunately, they're what I call a "sound good" idea that's rotten underneath, and a lot of people on both sides mindlessly promote them. Please don't be one of them. Thanks!
This is an crucial topic for a country with representative government. Thank you for writing about our situation. You raise so many issues. At this point, in order to have heard about WWII at the dinner table and to have read twentieth century history, one is likely to be in ones seventies. Yet, it seems part of the lack of truthfulness and care in relationships our current representatives have derives from a lack of basic loyalty to the nation our parents had, coupled with personal greed for power and wealth. If we are going to persist and pass on US values, you and others will help by keeping up this conversation. Otherwise, how will we know what it is that we are "keeping together"?
I think it is important to be thinking about these things.
I had a shop for six years, as a clairvoyant, stopped in early January because I pick up on client drug use and it's harmful to my physical health. I don't ignore dreams, nightmares, and yesterday I was thinking about a dream/nightmare (I tend to be observing in dreams and not that emotional, and sometimes it takes writing it down to realize "that was a nightmare" -- I write my dreams down, what I remember, or over eight years now). There was a dream/nightmare where someone was abducted, a car (I am getting arrhythmia writing about it), it was a black car, like a sportscar or small sedan, and someone reached out and grabbed someone, and I think my mind made a connection with the Vindemans as possibly vulnerable, or someone else with eastern European roots. I don't remember when this was as far as the massive uptick in ICE abductions, but it was possibly before inauguration in 2025, I would have to really search through my dream journals. But, yes, I think this is a concern to think about, and also people being tortured, drugged, and anything that could be done in a psychiatric facility, not to mention a facility such as Guantanamo. In the dream/nightmare, I was walking with someone, it was something like a park, a bit like a park, and there were two men walking on what could be described as a trail, paved, narrow. Two men walking, and one man abducted from a smallish black car.
Tom Kean Jr is 57 years old. Not 90, not 80... not even 60.
Yes, folks are trying to keep their power for much longer than they should be, and have gotten stuck in long-term cronyism. Being "young" though isn't a qualifier for office. A commitment to service and the future and betterment of the people and country is what counts. Change and new vision is critical... but lets not throw out the 50 - 60 - 70 year olds without looking at who they are and what they stand for. Ageism is a negative.
I agree with you too. Ageism is nasty and cruel.
Madison Cawthorn and Matt Gaetz were young. Josh Hawley is young. JD Fucking Vance is young. MAGA Tim Sheehy of Montana who beat Jon Tester is young.
The median age of Senators has actually declined and it would decline more if we kicked out two pieces of dead wood: Chuck Grassley and Bernie Sanders.
Disagree with you on the Bernie thing. He has a lot of wisdom and compassion to offer. I'll give you Grassley.
I need to disagree with you. He's all talk and slogans and has been saying the same things for decades without advancing any of his agenda. It's no accident that it was his MORE progressive colleague Liz Warren whose housing bill just passed. Wasn't she the one who said,"I have a plan for that"? She does!
I agree age, years and wisdom can offer great insight to the next if we listen. Old folk also remember what the destruction of books and culture is trying to erase.
Well done, Mike!
Very well written. We are fed a steady diet of lies and misinformation. I hate to hear that anyone passes away. I didn’t agree with Lindsey Graham but I have empathy for his family and life that he lived.
He was a chief enabler of Trump like the rest of the Republicans in the senate which I wish we could change.
It was sad how he decided that he had to kiss Trump's ass instead of having any principles.
This is excellent, right on target. I am 74 and I approve this statement wholeheartedly.
I'm 73, and I too agree that many of our congress people have been there way too long. Some people are very astute into their 90"s, but many aren't. Term limits may solve some of our problems, but we also need some experienced people in there. I know I certainly don't have all the answers.
Maybe so, but for those who have sold their souls to Donald Trump, it can't come soon enough
This is an excellent piece and although I never supported Lindsey Graham, I was sorry to hear that he passed away. No one lives forever and the end of life comes for all of us, whether we're prepared or not,but I was somewhat amazed at how Graham became a Trump loyalist after criticizing him in strong terms as one of the most corrupt presidents in American history. Thank you for continuing to speak truth to power.
A couple of things. Of course Senators are older than the average age of Americans: so are doctors, lawyers and virtually everything else that requires years of experience and/or education. That said, why is Grassley always cited but never the second oldest member of the Senate and oldest member of the Democratic caucus, Bernie Sanders? No, he's not uniquely valuable. He's not much of a doer, he's a talker, and he's been saying the same things for decades without advancing them. When he ran for his latest term two years ago, we knew he'd be 89 at the end of that term. And that's somehow overlooked? At least he's not like, I don't know, Strom fuckin' Thurmond who was 100 years old when they finally wheeled him off the Senate floor dead. Yes, only death removed that racist from the Senate.
Also Tom Kean is a relatively young 57, "he apparently wasn’t too depressed to keep insider trading." JFC make it stop.
This is such a great article, so well written, so much hit home. Thank you Mike
You are 100% spot one Mike. When you're lied to all the time why would believe what the known liars are telling you without questioning it.
Maybe it’s because of exactly what you’re talking about, Mike, but I am suspicious even of Lindseybelle’s sudden demise.
He’s in Kiev, supporting Ukraine, and the next day he’s no longer with us? Qui bono?
Granted that life expectancies in 1789 were a bit less than those we currently enjoy, I believe that upper age limits were not established in the Constitution because the Founding Fathers believed a high-ranking government post was not intended to be a sinecure for the life of the officeholder. Men (yes, unfortunately) of common sense, intelligence, and probity were to serve their country for one or two terms, and then go back to the plow, the desk, the operating room, or whatever. As we currently have a President who licks his chops every time he reads the 22nd Amendment and fosters a climate of venality and mendacity without even lifting a pudgy, discolored finger, this becomes more than a theoretical problem. Wisdom usually increases with age; so, usually, does senile dementia (tell me about it -- I'm 76 and can barely remember our cat's name). An official cannot promise, no matter what other campaign promises may have made, that his or her rationality will continue unabated. Ripe old age should not be a bar to election or reelection, but neither should it be a requirement.
Such a great article
I'm sorry, Mike...I have to change the subject...I was just notified from a site called The Big Picture, that since October, 2025, 6668 immigrants were admitted into the U.S. and ONLT THREE OF THEM WERE NOT WHITE. Apparently, we are no longer allowing people of color to enter. I do think this is yet another issue that needs to be investigated and covered everywhere. The media is not doing its job, if this is accurate information. Thank you for what you do!
Term limits
No no no and no. Term limits are a rightwing plot to hand over legislative control to big money special interests and lobbyists. They helped cause the biggest political scandal in Ohio history recently and it looks like another may be breaking — both enabled by term limits. They strip voters of power and hand it to billionaires, right wing PACs and lobbyists. They're a horrific idea as we've learned here in Ohio where we've had them since the mid 90s. Even people who supported them think they should be repealed now, but unfortunately, they're what I call a "sound good" idea that's rotten underneath, and a lot of people on both sides mindlessly promote them. Please don't be one of them. Thanks!
This is an crucial topic for a country with representative government. Thank you for writing about our situation. You raise so many issues. At this point, in order to have heard about WWII at the dinner table and to have read twentieth century history, one is likely to be in ones seventies. Yet, it seems part of the lack of truthfulness and care in relationships our current representatives have derives from a lack of basic loyalty to the nation our parents had, coupled with personal greed for power and wealth. If we are going to persist and pass on US values, you and others will help by keeping up this conversation. Otherwise, how will we know what it is that we are "keeping together"?
I think it is important to be thinking about these things.
I had a shop for six years, as a clairvoyant, stopped in early January because I pick up on client drug use and it's harmful to my physical health. I don't ignore dreams, nightmares, and yesterday I was thinking about a dream/nightmare (I tend to be observing in dreams and not that emotional, and sometimes it takes writing it down to realize "that was a nightmare" -- I write my dreams down, what I remember, or over eight years now). There was a dream/nightmare where someone was abducted, a car (I am getting arrhythmia writing about it), it was a black car, like a sportscar or small sedan, and someone reached out and grabbed someone, and I think my mind made a connection with the Vindemans as possibly vulnerable, or someone else with eastern European roots. I don't remember when this was as far as the massive uptick in ICE abductions, but it was possibly before inauguration in 2025, I would have to really search through my dream journals. But, yes, I think this is a concern to think about, and also people being tortured, drugged, and anything that could be done in a psychiatric facility, not to mention a facility such as Guantanamo. In the dream/nightmare, I was walking with someone, it was something like a park, a bit like a park, and there were two men walking on what could be described as a trail, paved, narrow. Two men walking, and one man abducted from a smallish black car.