Eleanor is the first to hold her position & she does not have the same power as the other reps bc she represents DC. She has honorably represented her constituents, so do not slight her as you might Grassley & McConnell bc she has done a good job. I agree she needs to retire when her term ends, but her staying does not alter the balance of power in the same way others might.
That may be and I’m certainly not taking anything away from the good she’s done. That said, when you know age has caught up with you and you’re not as sharp as you were before, the right thing to do is step aside for someone else. I want her legacy to remembered for the amazing things she accomplished rather than her being remembered for holding on unnecessarily (which is a form of destruction). Multiple things can be true at the same time. 🌸
Ruth bader Ginsberg. Should be a lesson in why sometimes you gotta let go! I adored her, applauded her then she wouldn’t step down. And we got Amy. Who, with her other members of the axis of evil, are systematically undoing Ruth’s life work.
Exactly. She did not play that well, and I’ve always been perplexed by that. She was so brilliant, and why she didn’t retire while Biden was still in office, we’ll never know. And it would have to have been early enough in his term that McConnell could not have pulled his weapon of interference out again. She passed away on 9/18/2020, so letting Biden know after the inauguration that she was going to retire soon-ish would have set the gears in motion to avoid the debacle that followed.
Oops, you’re so right. Biden’s election wasn’t until Nov 2020! But she died during Trump’s first term then, 2016-2020. I don’t think we could have expected her to retire during Obama. That was way too far back. She probably was sure the next president after Obama would be Hilary Clinton, like most of us did. She’d have had to retire in 2014-early 15 to avoid the McConnell problem. But in hindsight, I do wish she’d have retired then, too.
I absolutely agree that we need a new generation of leadership. The world has changed dramatically since these folks won their seats. I keep wondering if there would be a way for the Democratic party to create an Emeritus Role, i.e. the elders step aside but retain a role of mentorship, pass along institutional knowledge of times when stuff got done. That way there is incentive to keep turning over the seats to every new generation.
That’s a brilliant idea, though I can foresee problems with too many retirees feeling they deserve an Emeritus position, too. But, their roles as you’ve described is a great example of building up instead of tearing down. You think outside the box, Josie!
Ms Norton having difficulties with walking is irrelevant and should be acknowledged as such. If she’s confirmed to be dangerously missing or mishearing debates or in voting, then someone in Congress she respects and who fully respects her should have a word with her. Maybe she just needs a hearing aid. Unless she shows signs of early dementia, or changes her mind voluntarily about retiring, the goal should be drafting a mandatory retirement bill for the future. This is a dangerous time to be running a known or unknown Democratic candidate for her seat. We can’t afford to lose even one more! We are on a knife’s edge with the current administration, and though I agree with you in principle, we are in unprecedented times with Trump and his puppeteers.
She does not own this seat, her voters should decide in a primary. At 88, you have to demonstrate your physical and mental capabities. As with Biden, you have to admit and step down before you harm the country or party
I like Eleanor. I remember when she was elected to her first term. She has served DC well. I am surprised she didn’t help prepare a successor bc I do think she needs to retire at the end of her term.
I’m quite surprised by this topic not to mention a few of the comments. Reading this made me think for a moment. That’s when I realized that as a non-voting delegate representing the District of Columbia, she has no effect on any vote. She may be able to sway a vote with facts, but that’s all she can do. Shame on you people for disrespecting her contributions to public service! There are 5 other non-voting delegates in addition to this .These people are all volunteering their time to represent their constituents.
I wish we would explore having “elder councils” to give our aged and valued representatives a place for their voice. Their wisdom and what they have done matters, and we need to move people out of the political decision making sphere sooner, not have a bunch of 70 plus politicians deciding everything.
I find the question “Why do you even want to work at that age?” offensive and lacking in imagination. There isn’t an age when a person no longer wishes to the useful—unless one never did. My question would rather be, “How might you best be of service now?” As an older person, I’ve found mentoring and supporting those younger than I am to be incredibly valuable.
They’re so obsessed with holding onto power that they would rather see things destroyed than bow out gracefully.
It's the seniority that really gets them, they are highly respected on the hill and I feel like they have a hard time letting that go
Eleanor is the first to hold her position & she does not have the same power as the other reps bc she represents DC. She has honorably represented her constituents, so do not slight her as you might Grassley & McConnell bc she has done a good job. I agree she needs to retire when her term ends, but her staying does not alter the balance of power in the same way others might.
? Im not slighting her so not sure what youre going on about in regards to that but I agree with the theme of what youre saying
That may be and I’m certainly not taking anything away from the good she’s done. That said, when you know age has caught up with you and you’re not as sharp as you were before, the right thing to do is step aside for someone else. I want her legacy to remembered for the amazing things she accomplished rather than her being remembered for holding on unnecessarily (which is a form of destruction). Multiple things can be true at the same time. 🌸
Term Limits
TERM LIMITS!!
Ruth bader Ginsberg. Should be a lesson in why sometimes you gotta let go! I adored her, applauded her then she wouldn’t step down. And we got Amy. Who, with her other members of the axis of evil, are systematically undoing Ruth’s life work.
Exactly. She did not play that well, and I’ve always been perplexed by that. She was so brilliant, and why she didn’t retire while Biden was still in office, we’ll never know. And it would have to have been early enough in his term that McConnell could not have pulled his weapon of interference out again. She passed away on 9/18/2020, so letting Biden know after the inauguration that she was going to retire soon-ish would have set the gears in motion to avoid the debacle that followed.
Obama, not Biden. She died before Biden won. She was definitely holding out for Biden but it was selfish of her not to retire during Obama.
Oops, you’re so right. Biden’s election wasn’t until Nov 2020! But she died during Trump’s first term then, 2016-2020. I don’t think we could have expected her to retire during Obama. That was way too far back. She probably was sure the next president after Obama would be Hilary Clinton, like most of us did. She’d have had to retire in 2014-early 15 to avoid the McConnell problem. But in hindsight, I do wish she’d have retired then, too.
I absolutely agree that we need a new generation of leadership. The world has changed dramatically since these folks won their seats. I keep wondering if there would be a way for the Democratic party to create an Emeritus Role, i.e. the elders step aside but retain a role of mentorship, pass along institutional knowledge of times when stuff got done. That way there is incentive to keep turning over the seats to every new generation.
That’s a brilliant idea, though I can foresee problems with too many retirees feeling they deserve an Emeritus position, too. But, their roles as you’ve described is a great example of building up instead of tearing down. You think outside the box, Josie!
I’m sorry, but she needs to sit her old ass down.
Term limits, age limits.
Ms Norton having difficulties with walking is irrelevant and should be acknowledged as such. If she’s confirmed to be dangerously missing or mishearing debates or in voting, then someone in Congress she respects and who fully respects her should have a word with her. Maybe she just needs a hearing aid. Unless she shows signs of early dementia, or changes her mind voluntarily about retiring, the goal should be drafting a mandatory retirement bill for the future. This is a dangerous time to be running a known or unknown Democratic candidate for her seat. We can’t afford to lose even one more! We are on a knife’s edge with the current administration, and though I agree with you in principle, we are in unprecedented times with Trump and his puppeteers.
She does not own this seat, her voters should decide in a primary. At 88, you have to demonstrate your physical and mental capabities. As with Biden, you have to admit and step down before you harm the country or party
I like Eleanor. I remember when she was elected to her first term. She has served DC well. I am surprised she didn’t help prepare a successor bc I do think she needs to retire at the end of her term.
I’m quite surprised by this topic not to mention a few of the comments. Reading this made me think for a moment. That’s when I realized that as a non-voting delegate representing the District of Columbia, she has no effect on any vote. She may be able to sway a vote with facts, but that’s all she can do. Shame on you people for disrespecting her contributions to public service! There are 5 other non-voting delegates in addition to this .These people are all volunteering their time to represent their constituents.
Agreed. Leave the woman alone.
I wish we would explore having “elder councils” to give our aged and valued representatives a place for their voice. Their wisdom and what they have done matters, and we need to move people out of the political decision making sphere sooner, not have a bunch of 70 plus politicians deciding everything.
Both Democrats & Republicans need term limits or age limits.
Airline pilots, truck drivers, & many other professionals know that age is a factor.
The gravy train keeps them in power.
Their egos need to be brought to reality.
They are not serving.
They are holding Democracy hostage.
Disgraceful & shameful.
So she’s old. Her constituency respects its elders. So racist.
I find the question “Why do you even want to work at that age?” offensive and lacking in imagination. There isn’t an age when a person no longer wishes to the useful—unless one never did. My question would rather be, “How might you best be of service now?” As an older person, I’ve found mentoring and supporting those younger than I am to be incredibly valuable.
Ageist much?
Retire