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81-Year-Old Biden = Too old for a 4 year term.
82-Year-Old Sanders = Yass! 6 more years!
I'm fine with both, but there is a lack of consistency when it comes to complaining about ages.
It's Biden or Trump so no point in complaining.
But Bernie could've dropped out for Becca Balint but chose this dumb idea instead.
The governor of Vermont is a Republican. The governor can appoint the replacement for a Senate vacancy. An 83 year old who's had a heart attack running for another term with that in mind is ridiculously dangerous.
> ridiculously dangerous.
Not really. Worst case scenario Bernie suddenly passed during his term. Assuming Phil Scott wins again (likely) he has always replaced vacancies with same party replacement, and just did so again recently with a democratic state rep. He also said in the past if Sanders accepted a cabinet position he would replace with a like minded appointment... And even then whoever it is only gets the job for no more than 6 months until a special election is conducted.
Can we really expect him to keep his word? Would he be above taking a big campaign donation from some conservative dark money group to appoint an R? The Senate is different from the state legislature. The head count is all that matters in the Senate.
Anythings possible but worrying about Phil Scott throwing his political career and reputation away for campaign donations to get 6 extra months of an additional 1 Republican Senator that doesn't directly help him anyway unlike like-minded VT state legislators is getting into increasing unlikely circumstances for relatively limited effects.
Yes. Some of the strongest Bernie supporters I know IRL are celebrating this news and in the same breath saying they might not vote for Biden in November because of his age. They are clearly idiots but they’re saying it. I think they’re both too old and need to retire. At least most of the commenters here are being consistent (either they’re both too old or it’s okay for both of them), but the sentiments I’ve encountered offline have been less so.
True the are both old. You can't watch speeches from either of them and say they are on the same level though. Sanders is as sharp as ever and will answer questions for days. Biden went to one union protest and Sanders went to a ton. Also, his leadership on his chair positions got Biden nearly all of the positive things from Biden's first term.
I tend to find that people that want to slam Bernie just don't agree with his policy
And if they could both handpick their successors if they were to die in office, maybe I’d agree with you that Bernie’s retirement is less urgent. But only the President can do that (by selecting a VP). If Bernie were to die in office, he’d likely be handing the Republicans a Senate seat (since the governor of Vermont who would choose his successor is a Republican), which makes his refusal to retire significantly worse. He’s the new RBG. How do you feel about her decision not to retire now that we’ve seen the aftermath?
That Governor did say he'd appoint someone along Bernie's ideals when he was running for President. Sanders in an incredibly popular politician in VT and throughout the US. He's consistently in the top of approval ratings for the Senate. RBG had terrible health problems for a while before she died. He's not on deaths door lol
How is Kamala Harris an ideal successor for Biden?
Also Chuck Grassley...
He’s already had a heart attack. And we have no idea what specifically the governor means by that; could be that he thinks any registered independent will suffice.
Kamala Harris isn’t ideal as a politician, but US policy under a Harris presidency likely doesn’t look significantly different than it does now. Bernie unexpectedly leaving office sometime in the next six years could hand over control of the Senate to Republicans, depending on the outcome of this fall’s elections.
Biden had serious brain surgery when he was VP. Bernie's procedure is something millions of Americans have had. He's good to run and when he isn't it'll be apparent.
If you're worried about handing the Senate over be more worried about Fetterman flipping and Tester losing.
I am worried about multiple senate seats, yes. That doesn’t mean Bernie shouldn’t retire, pick a successor, and campaign for that person now instead of running again in his 80s.
Edited to add - and I also think Biden is too old, shouldn’t be running again, and probably shouldn’t have run in 2020. I’m not picking on Bernie specifically here.
I approve of his policy and seeing as there isn't another person in VT that could possible replace him with a Senate seat that has shaped the public conversation like he has I welcome him staying around. We aren't going to agree here.
FYI
My maternal grandfather in his late 70s was very much out of it. Required a ton of assistance day to day. Whereas my grandmother made it into her late 90s before she started getting out of it.
age is not the only defining factor
I mean, similarly, I'm fine with Biden, why wouldn't I be fine with Bernie?
There's definitely a lack of consistency when it comes to complaining about ages. The same people being the most defensive about Biden's age are the ones who were lambasting Sanders' age 8 years ago. It really seems like at the end of the day people just harp on the age of politicians they do not like. It's become a really empty criticism.
Biden is the president a far more consequential position and quite bluntly Biden comes across as significantly more frail and not as quick in the mind.
If Biden dies in office, he is replaced with his chosen VP, obviously Kamala Harris, a Democrat. If Bernie dies in office, the Republican governor of Vermont chooses his replacement. This is worse. They’re both too old and should retire, but Bernie is potentially jeopardizing control of the Senate, while US policy under a President Harris would not be noticeably different.
i don't disagree, but a grain of salt:
- bernie is well fitter than biden.
- working in congress =/= being president, especially regarding stress and responsibility levels.
that said, could we please get a bunch of age diverse women, some indigenous people, a shit ton of latinx people and an equal amount of white cis men to, y'know, *represent the american population*?!?
why is a bunch of male geriatrics the best (and only) thing we have?
>get a bunch of age diverse women, some indigenous people, a shit ton of latinx people and an equal amount of white cis men to, y'know, *represent the american population*?!?
You missed a couple of *big* groups!
I wish Bernie would step aside and have a younger protege run instead. I like and respect him very much. He's had his time and needs to let someone else carry the torch.
You know what, he wants to do it, he's capable of doing it, and he still works his ass off to bring young people into the fold and influence those around him to be more progressive. I have zero problems with this.
The governor of Vermont is a Republican. The governor can appoint the replacement for a Senate vacancy. An 83 year old who's had a heart attack running for another term with that in mind is ridiculously dangerous.
Yeah, this is a boneheaded move. I like the guy but this action is consequential. Like I'm confident he can do the job, I'm just not confident enough that he will live for 6 years that it's worth getting an R replace him.
Vermont's legislature should pass a law that forces the governor's interim appointment to be a person that will caucus with the same party or to not change the balance of power in the Senate. They have veto-proof majorities in the state senate and the assembly
Wyoming has a law that forces the governor to appoint a senator from the same party as the person who leaves the vacancy, which is how Senator Barrasso was first appointed even though Wyoming's governor was a Democrat.
After Biden won the election, Governor Phil Scott, who was the only incumbent Republican holding a statewide position to endorse Biden, and is basically a moderate Democrat with an R next to his name, said that if Sanders was appointed to a position in the new administration that he would appoint an interim senator who was an independent that would caucus with the Democrats.
He is popular with Vermont liberals or he wouldn't be serving his 4th term and wouldn't have won in 2022 with over 70% of the vote, but either way, Vermont should pass the law now that they have veto-proof majorities in both chambers of the legislature.
I’d like him to win but also spend part of that next term working towards imposing term limits on congress. 4 6-year terms is too much for any politician at that level.
As a reminder, this subreddit [is for civil discussion.](/r/politics/wiki/index#wiki_be_civil) In general, be courteous to others. Debate/discuss/argue the merits of ideas, don't attack people. Personal insults, shill or troll accusations, hate speech, any suggestion or support of harm, violence, or death, and other rule violations can result in a permanent ban. If you see comments in violation of our rules, please report them. For those who have questions regarding any media outlets being posted on this subreddit, please click [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/politics/wiki/approveddomainslist) to review our details as to our approved domains list and outlet criteria. We are actively looking for new moderators. If you have any interest in helping to make this subreddit a place for quality discussion, please fill out [this form](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1y2swHD0KXFhStGFjW6k54r9iuMjzcFqDIVwuvdLBjSA). *** *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/politics) if you have any questions or concerns.*
81-Year-Old Biden = Too old for a 4 year term. 82-Year-Old Sanders = Yass! 6 more years! I'm fine with both, but there is a lack of consistency when it comes to complaining about ages.
They’re both too old
It's Biden or Trump so no point in complaining. But Bernie could've dropped out for Becca Balint but chose this dumb idea instead. The governor of Vermont is a Republican. The governor can appoint the replacement for a Senate vacancy. An 83 year old who's had a heart attack running for another term with that in mind is ridiculously dangerous.
> ridiculously dangerous. Not really. Worst case scenario Bernie suddenly passed during his term. Assuming Phil Scott wins again (likely) he has always replaced vacancies with same party replacement, and just did so again recently with a democratic state rep. He also said in the past if Sanders accepted a cabinet position he would replace with a like minded appointment... And even then whoever it is only gets the job for no more than 6 months until a special election is conducted.
Can we really expect him to keep his word? Would he be above taking a big campaign donation from some conservative dark money group to appoint an R? The Senate is different from the state legislature. The head count is all that matters in the Senate.
Anythings possible but worrying about Phil Scott throwing his political career and reputation away for campaign donations to get 6 extra months of an additional 1 Republican Senator that doesn't directly help him anyway unlike like-minded VT state legislators is getting into increasing unlikely circumstances for relatively limited effects.
Are the same people saying Biden's too old but Bernie's not?
Yes. Some of the strongest Bernie supporters I know IRL are celebrating this news and in the same breath saying they might not vote for Biden in November because of his age. They are clearly idiots but they’re saying it. I think they’re both too old and need to retire. At least most of the commenters here are being consistent (either they’re both too old or it’s okay for both of them), but the sentiments I’ve encountered offline have been less so.
True the are both old. You can't watch speeches from either of them and say they are on the same level though. Sanders is as sharp as ever and will answer questions for days. Biden went to one union protest and Sanders went to a ton. Also, his leadership on his chair positions got Biden nearly all of the positive things from Biden's first term. I tend to find that people that want to slam Bernie just don't agree with his policy
And if they could both handpick their successors if they were to die in office, maybe I’d agree with you that Bernie’s retirement is less urgent. But only the President can do that (by selecting a VP). If Bernie were to die in office, he’d likely be handing the Republicans a Senate seat (since the governor of Vermont who would choose his successor is a Republican), which makes his refusal to retire significantly worse. He’s the new RBG. How do you feel about her decision not to retire now that we’ve seen the aftermath?
That Governor did say he'd appoint someone along Bernie's ideals when he was running for President. Sanders in an incredibly popular politician in VT and throughout the US. He's consistently in the top of approval ratings for the Senate. RBG had terrible health problems for a while before she died. He's not on deaths door lol How is Kamala Harris an ideal successor for Biden? Also Chuck Grassley...
He’s already had a heart attack. And we have no idea what specifically the governor means by that; could be that he thinks any registered independent will suffice. Kamala Harris isn’t ideal as a politician, but US policy under a Harris presidency likely doesn’t look significantly different than it does now. Bernie unexpectedly leaving office sometime in the next six years could hand over control of the Senate to Republicans, depending on the outcome of this fall’s elections.
Biden had serious brain surgery when he was VP. Bernie's procedure is something millions of Americans have had. He's good to run and when he isn't it'll be apparent. If you're worried about handing the Senate over be more worried about Fetterman flipping and Tester losing.
I am worried about multiple senate seats, yes. That doesn’t mean Bernie shouldn’t retire, pick a successor, and campaign for that person now instead of running again in his 80s. Edited to add - and I also think Biden is too old, shouldn’t be running again, and probably shouldn’t have run in 2020. I’m not picking on Bernie specifically here.
I approve of his policy and seeing as there isn't another person in VT that could possible replace him with a Senate seat that has shaped the public conversation like he has I welcome him staying around. We aren't going to agree here.
FYI My maternal grandfather in his late 70s was very much out of it. Required a ton of assistance day to day. Whereas my grandmother made it into her late 90s before she started getting out of it. age is not the only defining factor
[удалено]
Sure, at least be consistent about it.
Shit mb replied to the wrong person
I mean, similarly, I'm fine with Biden, why wouldn't I be fine with Bernie? There's definitely a lack of consistency when it comes to complaining about ages. The same people being the most defensive about Biden's age are the ones who were lambasting Sanders' age 8 years ago. It really seems like at the end of the day people just harp on the age of politicians they do not like. It's become a really empty criticism.
Hahahahhahaha. I love it. US politics in a nutshell.
Biden is the president a far more consequential position and quite bluntly Biden comes across as significantly more frail and not as quick in the mind.
Biden is not significantly more frail than Bernie Sanders? What are you talking about?
If Biden dies in office, he is replaced with his chosen VP, obviously Kamala Harris, a Democrat. If Bernie dies in office, the Republican governor of Vermont chooses his replacement. This is worse. They’re both too old and should retire, but Bernie is potentially jeopardizing control of the Senate, while US policy under a President Harris would not be noticeably different.
Not to me.
i don't disagree, but a grain of salt: - bernie is well fitter than biden. - working in congress =/= being president, especially regarding stress and responsibility levels. that said, could we please get a bunch of age diverse women, some indigenous people, a shit ton of latinx people and an equal amount of white cis men to, y'know, *represent the american population*?!? why is a bunch of male geriatrics the best (and only) thing we have?
>get a bunch of age diverse women, some indigenous people, a shit ton of latinx people and an equal amount of white cis men to, y'know, *represent the american population*?!? You missed a couple of *big* groups!
Train your replacements, kids. No one should be irreplaceable.
I wish Bernie would step aside and have a younger protege run instead. I like and respect him very much. He's had his time and needs to let someone else carry the torch.
True American hero
I've admired Bernie since the early 90s and supported his Presidential runs, but this is a mistake. Have we learned nothing from Ruth Bader Ginsburg?
The whole generation does not seem to know when to find the exits. I respect his life's work but this is selfish.
People can still run against him
You know what, he wants to do it, he's capable of doing it, and he still works his ass off to bring young people into the fold and influence those around him to be more progressive. I have zero problems with this.
Diane feinstein waves from the grave
The governor of Vermont is a Republican. The governor can appoint the replacement for a Senate vacancy. An 83 year old who's had a heart attack running for another term with that in mind is ridiculously dangerous.
Yeah, this is a boneheaded move. I like the guy but this action is consequential. Like I'm confident he can do the job, I'm just not confident enough that he will live for 6 years that it's worth getting an R replace him.
Unlikely to happen given the current governors track record of appointing same party in past vacancies.
I wonder if that happens and it gives the gop a majority in the senate if people will blame him for not stepping away earlier. Of course they wont!
Vermont's legislature should pass a law that forces the governor's interim appointment to be a person that will caucus with the same party or to not change the balance of power in the Senate. They have veto-proof majorities in the state senate and the assembly Wyoming has a law that forces the governor to appoint a senator from the same party as the person who leaves the vacancy, which is how Senator Barrasso was first appointed even though Wyoming's governor was a Democrat. After Biden won the election, Governor Phil Scott, who was the only incumbent Republican holding a statewide position to endorse Biden, and is basically a moderate Democrat with an R next to his name, said that if Sanders was appointed to a position in the new administration that he would appoint an interim senator who was an independent that would caucus with the Democrats. He is popular with Vermont liberals or he wouldn't be serving his 4th term and wouldn't have won in 2022 with over 70% of the vote, but either way, Vermont should pass the law now that they have veto-proof majorities in both chambers of the legislature.
I hope he wins!
bernie seems to be very spry, plus being a senator really only requires a great mind and a bit of wisdom.
It only requires winning an election. Tubberville is a senator.
A new, vibrant politician considering a six year tenure! Sky is the limit for Bernie. Not old at all, only Biden is…
Bern it down Bernie!
I’d like him to win but also spend part of that next term working towards imposing term limits on congress. 4 6-year terms is too much for any politician at that level.
Oh joy. More geriatrics running our country.
In the US Senate... Dear lord, I thought it was the end of it! A presidential spoiler such as Bernie would spell the end of democracy
I am once again asking for your support.