Old Presidents in the U S of A

[patman post]

No leader exists without criticism — even Churchill. During his second term as PM ('51 to '55, when he was 81) he was neither mentally nor physically fit...

[T00ts]

Why are the front runners all so old? Even if a president is elected at 65, they'll be in their seventies by the time they finish a second term...

Perhaps the question should be not how old is young enough but how young is old enough. Wasn't Kennedy in his 40s? Apart from his typically American celebrity status he was no great shakes in most aspects of his life or tenure. I believe Kim Jong Un was also in his 40s and he's a problem. Tony Blair also in his 40's just, when he became PM and was mostly smoke and mirrors with enough charisma to fool too many for too long. Macron the baby of this group was just 39 I believe, Trudeau was 41. Say no more - history will reveal all no doubt.



Perhaps statesmanship comes with age unless born as a complete idiot.

[patman post]

Almost anyone would make a better president than Donald Trump, (who is 73 at the moment).



The world has bigger concerns than who becomes next president of the USA right now, though.

Why are the front runners all so old? Even if a president is elected at 65, they'll be in their seventies by the time they finish a second term...

[Hyperduck Quack Quack]

Almost anyone would make a better president than Donald Trump, (who is 73 at the moment).



The world has bigger concerns than who becomes next president of the USA right now, though.

[patman post]

No its not an unknown in the UK , by the liberal left that is . They like the Palestine loving Bernie ,another thing they have in common will never thank your God , get anywhere near power any time soon .

"Palestine loving Bernie" seems an exaggeration. He has stated that Israel has a right to exist in security, and at the same time the Palestinians have a state of their own. Not the view of a rabid pro Palestine supporter.

As far as the election of any US president affects me, I think the world would feel more comfortable with Sanders than four more years of Trump...

[Streetwalker]

I think you mean Young People's Socialist League (of America) — though he did manage to get the Vermont Reds to Burlington when mayor. He supports the right for all felons to vote, and other elected politicians do too. It's not an unknown call in the UK...

No its not an unknown in the UK , by the liberal left that is . They like the Palestine loving Bernie ,another thing they have in common will never thank your God , get anywhere near power any time soon .

[patman post]

Not only does he class himself as a socialist he was a member of the Socialist workers party which supported the Iranian regime even when it took American hostages . He was also vocal in recently saying the Boston bombers should get the vote from their prison cells .  That's just scraping the surface , he is the radical wing of the world according to Jeremy Corbyn .

I think you mean Young People's Socialist League (of America) — though he did manage to get the Vermont Reds to Burlington when mayor. He supports the right for all felons to vote, and other elected politicians do too. It's not an unknown call in the UK...

[Streetwalker]

That's a throwaway accusation that I cannot reconcile with my (admittedly) limited knowledge of Sanders through my recent interest in US politics.  He's been accused of being "a Liberal" and classes himself as a Socialist — both suspect in the view of Republicans — and he has been against the Vietnam and Gulf wars, and consistently voted against the US Patriot Act that many also though too invasive. But I can't find any substantial association with terrorists — he is of Jewish descent, so I guess that could work against him...

Not only does he class himself as a socialist he was a member of the Socialist workers party which supported the Iranian regime even when it took American hostages . He was also vocal in recently saying the Boston bombers should get the vote from their prison cells .  That's just scraping the surface , he is the radical wing of the world according to Jeremy Corbyn .

[patman post]

Indeed he has a history of supporting terrorists even in his own country which makes him a perfect  candidate for the democrat nomination

That's a throwaway accusation that I cannot reconcile with my (admittedly) limited knowledge of Sanders through my recent interest in US politics.  He's been accused of being "a Liberal" and classes himself as a Socialist — both suspect in the view of Republicans — and he has been against the Vietnam and Gulf wars, and consistently voted against the US Patriot Act that many also though too invasive. But I can't find any substantial association with terrorists — he is of Jewish descent, so I guess that could work against him...

[Streetwalker]

 As his one notable contact with the UK is a letter to Margaret Thatcher asking her to end the "humiliation and degrading treatment" of Irish prisoners on hunger strike in Northern Ireland, I wouldn't count on him being especially friendly to the UK...

Indeed he has a history of supporting terrorists even in his own country which makes him a perfect  candidate for the democrat nomination

[patman post]

China used to be the country where old men rose to the top in government. Now the US is following the same route. Surely 70 is the oldest anyone should be standing for election for any position in government — here as well as the US. Trump was the oldest ever president on inauguration day, but Joe Biden, Elizabeth Warren,  Michael Bloomberg, and Bernie Sanders would all break his record if elected.**

Having said that, Bernie Sanders may be the one to help the US settle down at home and improve its relations with other countries if elected. And he appears to have wide support having raised more money than any other current Democratic candidate. As his one notable contact with the UK is a letter to Margaret Thatcher asking her to end the "humiliation and degrading treatment" of Irish prisoners on hunger strike in Northern Ireland, I wouldn't count on him being especially friendly to the UK...



**  The Democrats also have Pete Buttigieg and Tulsi Gabbard campaigning for nomination. They're both 38, and would overtake Teddy Roosevelt's record as the youngest US president.

[Streetwalker]

Yes its the best they can come up with , the democrats really are a strange lot



Age is no barrier



No they  probably don't want ANOTHER geriatric president so will stick with the one they have got

[Barry]

The best they can come up with is Bernie Sanders who will be 79 years old this year.

Is the age of a candidate relevant?

Do they really want another geriatric president?