Yes, life begins at 40. But 50 is the new 40. And 70 is the new 60, they now say.
But it’s not. When you’re 70, you’re old. And you’re too old to serve in Congress by then.
Still, we’ll give you to 75. Once you hit 75, you’re out, finished at Faber, expelled. As Dean Wormer says in “Animal House,” “I want you off this campus by 9 o’clock Monday morning!”
Consider this: America is 246 years old. But the combined age of the former three top Democrats in the House is 248. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) is 83; as is former Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD); and former Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-SC) is 82. All gave up their powerful posts at the beginning of this congressional session.
The Republicans are much the same. Rep. Virginia Foxx of North Carolina is 79. Rep. John Carter of Texas is 81. And Rep. Hal Rogers of Kentucky is 85, the oldest Republican in the House. But the Democrats are far older. In fact, of the oldest 20 lawmakers in the chamber, 15 are Democrats. And five of them were born in the 1930s.
Now, here’s the problem: What does the 83-year-old Pelosi — worth some $115 million — know about what it’s like to live in the U.S. as a struggling worker making five figures and trying to buy a house and raise kids?
But hang on. Let’s say one more thing at the top: Thank you for your service. Some of the oldest lawmakers have been doing it for decades, and whether you agree with their politics or not, they chose public service.
That said, now beat it — and don’t let the door hit you in the ass on the way out.
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The Senate’s just as bad as the House. Sen. Charles E. Grassley (D-IA) is 89, as is Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA). Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) is 81 and Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) is 80.
The age thing has jumped back into the headlines with Feinstein missing 60 of 82 Senate votes while being hospitalized for shingles and McConnell being out for five weeks after suffering a concussion in a fall at a private dinner at the Waldorf Astoria.
Even Democrats have called for Feinstein to resign. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) said it is “obvious” she can no longer do her job.
“It’s time for @SenFeinstein to resign,” Khanna said on Twitter. “We need to put the country ahead of personal loyalty. While she has had a lifetime of public service, it is obvious she can no longer fulfill her duties.”
So why don’t they leave? Seriously, you’ve served your country for decades, you’re in your twilight years — and you’ve certainly got plenty of money, members of Congress mysteriously get rich like crazy — so why not buy a house on a lake and just chill?
The top answer is ego. Lawmakers who are still in Congress can’t get enough of themselves. Their job is — literally — to talk, and they all love the sounds of their own voices. The dinosaurs can bloviate like nobody’s business.
But another — certainly connected to ego — is that many want to stay in the limelight until they die. You ever see those stories that say, “former member of Congress Joe Blow dies at 89?” A blip in the news. But the current House Speaker dies? Wall to wall coverage.
Plus, many want to lie in state. Presidents, military commanders, and members of Congress are eligible for the honor, where a corpse is placed in the rotunda of the Capitol and grieving Americans stream by to pay their last respects.
Take Sen. John McCain (R-AZ). He died in office after a lengthy battle against brain cancer. He lay in state in the Arizona State Capitol, then his remains were moved to Washington, D.C. to lie in state in the rotunda. There was one more honor: a service at the Washington National Cathedral attended by the president and political luminaries.
A couple hundred years ago, members of Congress served as a favor to a fledgling country. They had lives and jobs and dreams, but they’d put that on hold for a few years and help America. After that, whoosh, they skedaddled back home.
That, sadly, was before you could get rich and famous in Congress and the job became a lifelong endeavor. You think Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) doesn’t plan to stay until 2073? Think again.
But America should move to limit the age of lawmakers. Look, 89 is just too old. Make room for some people who are going to live with the consequences of the decisions they make.
And while we’re at it, let’s set some term limits — two terms in the Senate, six in the House (both total 12 years in office). When you hit those limits or turn 75, as Dean Wormer says, “You’re out. Expelled.”
The views expressed in this piece are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.
Joseph Curl has covered politics for 35 years, including 12 years as White House correspondent for a national newspaper. He was also the a.m. editor of the Drudge Report for four years. Send tips to [email protected] and follow him on Twitter @josephcurl.