Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell appeared to freeze for about 30 seconds on Wednesday while speaking with reporters after a speech in Covington, Kentucky.
The incident is similar to an episode McConnell experienced at the US Capitol late last month and is likely to raise additional questions about the fitness of the 81-year-old to lead the Senate Republican caucus.
Wednesday’s episode occurred when a reporter asked the Republican leader if he was planning to run for reelection in 2026. McConnell had to ask him to repeat the question several times, chuckled for a moment, and then paused.
Someone at his side then asked him, “Did you hear the question, senator, running for reelection in 2026?” McConnell did not respond.
Article includes video of the incident.
Everyone in elected office over the age of 65 should be forced to retire. At best, they’ve done their duty and deserve to rest and enjoy the fruits of their labor. At worst, they’re nonfunctional skeletons that don’t even have skin in the game when it comes to government.
The most impactful reason for there being an upper limit on age for representatives is that they literally don’t have a personal stake in the future. Even if they have kids or whatever other platitudes they may try to push, obviously there are people making decisions now that are going to have mortal fallout for the next generation that they don’t give a shit about if they’re making money.
There’s a lot of perfectly competent over-65s. There shouldn’t be forced retirement, but forced screenings and physicals to ensure that serving politicians are still mentally fit to serve.
That is true, but then my second reason comes into play. Even if they are perfectly functional, they are at retirement age. Their stake in what government policies are formed goes down immensely. They have like 10-15 years left on average. Leave it to the people whose policies will actually affect them.
I’m sorry but your “stake” point is dumb.
“A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they shall never sit.”
It’s entirely possible for someone to be old and still thoroughly invested in future generations. You think grandparents can’t care about their grandchildren’s future just because they’re old?
In my scenario I would look forward to these old men planting literal trees during their retirement then. Taking a page from Carter’s book. Or if they do still want to be involved in politics, they can be aides, advisers, and lobbyists.
Dude, it’s not necessarily referencing literal trees. Think a little harder. The “tree in whose shade they shall never sit” might be a better student loan plan, or free Healthcare, or a myriad of other things that a person couldn’t accomplish if they were forced to retire.
I know what the saying means, that’s why I put the end part about politics and said literal when it came to trees.
Any “trees” these guys wanted to build that they’ll never see the shade of can be long before 65 and can be done in other none elected roles afterwards.
EDIT: More clarification
How would that be democratic? The vote is the way to retire someone and if you think he can’t do the job, don’t vote for him.
How is it democratic that you have to be 35 and a natural born citizen to be elected president? It may take a Constitutional amendment just like that, but I think it is a good idea regardless.
I don’t. Should be any age or person as well. Few people would have the experience by that age so likely would make no difference lowering the age but regardless it should be 18 or just removed entirely.
Dumb take.
I bet you can’t think of a single counter point.
Dumb reply.