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How Old Is Too Old to Be President? An Uncomfortable Question Arises Again

8 points by wslh 3y ago

wslh 3y ago
https://archive.is/miOe0 https://archive.is/miOe0
wslh 3y ago
I think the focus on the age of Biden and Trump is hiding the real question: does US have other fitting leaders and/or candidates?
- deleted 3y ago
  [deleted]
- jacquesm 3y ago
  Of course it does. But they don't stand a chance because of the way the system is set up, a two party system will always result in an incumbent versus an outsider absent any viable third parties who will only result in splitting the vote. So you get a popularity contest, not an actual presidential election.
mensetmanusman 3y ago
Use the average age of forced retirement decided by fortune 50 companies.
tomohawk 3y ago
[flagged]
- epakai 3y ago
  Since neither happened, maybe there's no there there. The special counsel can say whatever he wants in the report, but it's a totally different ball game to actually put those words on the line and bring charges. The completely unprofessional statement about the President's mental acuity makes it obvious this inquiry doesn't exist for the purposes you're imagining.
  - wslh 3y ago
    Could you clarify what is the truth here?
- bediger4000 3y ago
  Only if we also disqualify similarly aged candidates who have demonstrably run US foreign policy for their own benefit, and promise dictatorship if they win.
  - wslh 3y ago
    Seems like NYT is reading HN [1]. [1] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=39329878 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=39329878
nojvek 3y ago
Most presidents died before Biden got his first term. I wonder whether this will be the norm in US. I really thought this time the Republicans will get someone younger but I guess not. Nikki H is a long shot but time will tell.
- MilnerRoute 3y ago
  To be fair, most presidents were born before 1899. (Life expectancy increased a lot in the last century.) The best take I heard on this question was that people age differently. (So chronological age is almost irrelevant.) The problem I have with this question is that it's really just about two particular candidates. (If some unnamed, 80-something candidate emerged to run in 2028... I just don't think we'd be having this conversation.)

8 points by wslh 3y ago

wslh 3y ago

https://archive.is/miOe0 https://archive.is/miOe0

wslh 3y ago

I think the focus on the age of Biden and Trump is hiding the real question: does US have other fitting leaders and/or candidates?

deleted 3y ago
[deleted]
jacquesm 3y ago
Of course it does. But they don't stand a chance because of the way the system is set up, a two party system will always result in an incumbent versus an outsider absent any viable third parties who will only result in splitting the vote. So you get a popularity contest, not an actual presidential election.

mensetmanusman 3y ago

Use the average age of forced retirement decided by fortune 50 companies.

tomohawk 3y ago

[flagged]

epakai 3y ago
Since neither happened, maybe there's no there there. The special counsel can say whatever he wants in the report, but it's a totally different ball game to actually put those words on the line and bring charges. The completely unprofessional statement about the President's mental acuity makes it obvious this inquiry doesn't exist for the purposes you're imagining.
- wslh 3y ago
  Could you clarify what is the truth here?
bediger4000 3y ago
Only if we also disqualify similarly aged candidates who have demonstrably run US foreign policy for their own benefit, and promise dictatorship if they win.
- wslh 3y ago
  Seems like NYT is reading HN [1]. [1] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=39329878 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=39329878

nojvek 3y ago

Most presidents died before Biden got his first term. I wonder whether this will be the norm in US. I really thought this time the Republicans will get someone younger but I guess not. Nikki H is a long shot but time will tell.

MilnerRoute 3y ago
To be fair, most presidents were born before 1899. (Life expectancy increased a lot in the last century.) The best take I heard on this question was that people age differently. (So chronological age is almost irrelevant.) The problem I have with this question is that it's really just about two particular candidates. (If some unnamed, 80-something candidate emerged to run in 2028... I just don't think we'd be having this conversation.)