You're only young once,
But you can be immature forever. -- Pug Mahoney
For all the talk about President Joe Biden's age and whether that diminishes his ability to function, it's helpful to consider the maturity of other government officials.
Ronald Reagan served two terms as president, and at the time was the oldest to have served in the White House. Near the end of his term in office, he began to show symptoms of what would later be called early signs of Alzheimer's disease, and there were suggestions that his mental capacity had diminished.
Reagan was 69 years of age when he took office in 1981. By comparison, Donald Trump was 70 when he took office. Joe Biden was 78 when he began his presidency.
In the Senate, there are eight elected officials who have reached and passed the age of 80. In the House, there are 12 Representatives above the 80 year mark, including one at 86 and three at the age of 85.
On the Supreme Court, Clarence Thomas is the oldest justice at 74, and Samuel Alito is 72. Sonia Sotomayor is 68, and Chief Justice John Roberts is 67. Elena Kagan is 62, Brett Kavanaugh, 57, Neil Gorsuch, 54, Ketanji Brown Jackson, 51, and Amy Coney Barrett, 50.
Other members have served on the court while being in their 80s. There is no mandatory retirement age, and many have remained on judicial duty until their deaths.
The argument now being spread by opponents of President Biden is that he is no longer suited to be in that office because of his age. They ignore the reality that Trump, his possible opponent, is also on that mark.
The only other major element to consider when voting for a political candidate is his or her experience in government.
Before being elected president, Donald Trump had none. By comparison, Joe Biden had served in the House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate, and as vice president under Barack Obama.
Whether either was good at the job is for voters to consider.
But you can be immature forever. -- Pug Mahoney
For all the talk about President Joe Biden's age and whether that diminishes his ability to function, it's helpful to consider the maturity of other government officials.
Ronald Reagan served two terms as president, and at the time was the oldest to have served in the White House. Near the end of his term in office, he began to show symptoms of what would later be called early signs of Alzheimer's disease, and there were suggestions that his mental capacity had diminished.
Reagan was 69 years of age when he took office in 1981. By comparison, Donald Trump was 70 when he took office. Joe Biden was 78 when he began his presidency.
In the Senate, there are eight elected officials who have reached and passed the age of 80. In the House, there are 12 Representatives above the 80 year mark, including one at 86 and three at the age of 85.
On the Supreme Court, Clarence Thomas is the oldest justice at 74, and Samuel Alito is 72. Sonia Sotomayor is 68, and Chief Justice John Roberts is 67. Elena Kagan is 62, Brett Kavanaugh, 57, Neil Gorsuch, 54, Ketanji Brown Jackson, 51, and Amy Coney Barrett, 50.
Other members have served on the court while being in their 80s. There is no mandatory retirement age, and many have remained on judicial duty until their deaths.
The argument now being spread by opponents of President Biden is that he is no longer suited to be in that office because of his age. They ignore the reality that Trump, his possible opponent, is also on that mark.
The only other major element to consider when voting for a political candidate is his or her experience in government.
Before being elected president, Donald Trump had none. By comparison, Joe Biden had served in the House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate, and as vice president under Barack Obama.
Whether either was good at the job is for voters to consider.
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