Why is there a minimum age for the Presidency - Page 2 - U.S. Politics Online: A Political Discussion Forum

Steve · #16 (**permalink**) 05-26-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by solletica

Read McCain's bio. It's all there.

Now, please, don't dodge.

You've alledged that his transcripts and records are clear on this issue.

So, let's see them.

If you can prove it, you will. If you can't, you won't.

Which will you choose?

solletica · #17 (**permalink**) 05-26-2008

Just to clarify, the point I'm making is why bother w/an age requirement for a top political leadership position in an era where age is no longer correlated w/intellectual maturity, even among national political candidates, and intellectual maturity is not even a prerequisite for the job, from many voters' point-of-view?

Steve · #18 (**permalink**) 05-26-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by solletica

Just to clarify, the point I'm making is why bother w/an age requirement for a top political leadership position in an era where age is no longer correlated w/intellectual maturity, even among national political candidates, and intellectual maturity is not even a prerequisite for the job, from many voters' point-of-view?

And, just to clarify, one of the ways you've attempted to make your point is to use the contents of McCain's transcripts and records as evidence that he didn't do anything in school.

And, of course, you'd only say that if you could back it up, right?

So, let's see these transcripts and records which show that he did nothing...

goober · #19 (**permalink**) 05-26-2008

To answer the OP, it's a rule made in the 1780's, who knows what they were thinking.
They lived in a different world.

solletica · #20 (**permalink**) 05-26-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by goober

To answer the OP, it's a rule made in the 1780's, who knows what they were thinking.
They lived in a different world.

The rule was always technically unnecessary, although it was sensible back then.

But now we live in the "so what if I don't know economics, geography, history, current affairs, civics, the location of the US, the leaders and locations of other countries, the meaning of things like Supreme Court, House Ways and Means, UN, and can't think hard. . .there's more to being a President than that" era.

Steve · #21 (**permalink**) 05-26-2008

So, in other words, you can't back up a fucking thing, can you?

Not surprising...

Slon · #22 (**permalink**) 05-26-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nate Peele

The minimum age is necessary to allow the candidates to mature. I understand that before he turned 35 and found God, even George Bush was pretty much an irresponsible drunk.

Bush is pretty fucking irresponsible as far as leading the US is concerned. I'd rather he be an irresponsible drunk and coke addict with sensible policies.

sneddog · #23 (**permalink**) 05-26-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by solletica

YouTube - Bush and the Pig!

Moving on. . .

I said that in my post, and also pointed out he didn't do anything while he was there.

FYI, McCain was only admitted into the Academy because of his father's influence. His transcripts in high school were such that any other student (without such influence) with the same transcripts wouldn't have been admitted.

And while McCain was at the academy, he did little more than get drunk and have sex.

Fair enough. That's better than no education or an elementary-school level of understanding the world.

Also consider that educational standards, even in high school, were much stronger in that era.

And Bush had none of that, i. e. his advisers--Michael Brown (FEMA), Donald Rumsfeld (SECDEF)? ?

What you're referring to--intellectual maturity (i. e. the ability to admit one's lack of knowledge in specific areas and appropriately compensate for it)--is something that, IMHO, can only arise from a rigorous educational background, because only when a person develops a genuine awareness of the vast complexity of the world around him/her

does he/she realize the possibility that he/she may be ignorant in certain key areas that are relevant to his/her work.

It's unlikely that Bush would've chosen poor advisers (i. e. those who merely reaffirmed his own limited perspective of the world) had he been more thoroughly educated.

Your inmaturity is all the evidence one needs for an age requirement, education or no education. Some people are educated beyond their intelect.

Angry American · #24 (**permalink**) 05-27-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve

And that's because Obama's a pussy...

You say that because he doesn't make jokes about mass murder?

WharfedaleTiger · #25 (**permalink**) 05-27-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by goober

To answer the OP, it's a rule made in the 1780's, who knows what they were thinking.
They lived in a different world.

Well I'd say it was because they thought that the young hadn't the maturity to handle the position and to understand the world. Remeamber the founding farthers wehre very suspicious of change and where really quite conservative and anti-democratic.

I have to say that I think your taking the wrong line on this at all-as you seem to criticing the presidents for being unintellegent, not becuase of there age. I'd argue that the rule is unjust as it prevents true democratic choice, as a full feild of candidates is not available and that people have a right to stand for office no matter what there age.

On the intellegence issue, I find it astonishing how Americans don't seem to see intellegence as a huge issue in choosing a president. After Political stance, intellegnce would be the most important issue in choosing a president for me, yet it just dosn't seem to be an issue. Bush is certainly not the brightest, nor is McCain. Only 8% of Americans put intellegence as a key presidental attribute-which amazes me.

Steve · #26 (**permalink**) 05-27-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Angry American

You say that because he doesn't make jokes about mass murder?

Where did I ever suggest anything so asinine?

jviehe · #27 (**permalink**) 05-27-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by solletica

For the past eight years, the US was led by an individual who, for all practical purposes--has the knowledge and intellectual maturity of a sixth grader.

False. George Bush has a Masters Degree in Business and once qualified to fly fighter jets. Thats a cheap shot with no factual basis. When you start a discussion with name calling like that, it makes us question your maturity.

jviehe · #28 (**permalink**) 05-27-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by WharfedaleTiger

Well I'd say it was because they thought that the young hadn't the maturity to handle the position and to understand the world. Remeamber the founding farthers wehre very suspicious of change and where really quite conservative and anti-democratic.

I have to say that I think your taking the wrong line on this at all-as you seem to criticing the presidents for being unintellegent, not becuase of there age. I'd argue that the rule is unjust as it prevents true democratic choice, as a full feild of candidates is not available and that people have a right to stand for office no matter what there age.

On the intellegence issue, I find it astonishing how Americans don't seem to see intellegence as a huge issue in choosing a president. After Political stance, intellegnce would be the most important issue in choosing a president for me, yet it just dosn't seem to be an issue. Bush is certainly not the brightest, nor is McCain. Only 8% of Americans put intellegence as a key presidental attribute-which amazes me.

I dont think its the most important. Wisdom is more important, which is the ability to make the right decision. The Presidency is more than one person, and more than one person can handle. Thats why they have advisors to get them the critical info to make a decision on.

Quote:

The Framers of the U.S. Constitution set forth a number of reasons for requiring a minimum age for election to office, beliefs that are still held today. JAMES MADISON successfully argued that a minimum age of 30 should be required to serve in the U.S. Senate. He cited as his reason "the Senatorial trust," requiring a "stability of character" that could only be realized with age (Federalist No. 62). GEORGE MASON, of Virginia, suggested that 25 be set as the minimum age for the House of Representatives, a proposal that was adopted. He maintained that 21-year-olds did not possess sufficient maturity to serve in the House, as their political beliefs were "too crude and erroneous to merit an influence on public opinions" (1 Records of the Federal Convention of 1787). JAMES WILSON, a drafter from Pennsylvania, countered, unsuccessfully, that age requirements would "damp the effects of genius and of laudable ambition" and added that there was "no more reason for incapacitating youth than age" (1 Records of the Federal Convention of 1787). In the mid-1990s, the average member of Congress was in her or his mid-fifties, but the number of younger members elected to serve was on the increase.

Age Requirement for Holding Office

AjaxPress · #29 (**permalink**) 05-27-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by jviehe

I dont think its the most important. Wisdom is more important, which is the ability to make the right decision. The Presidency is more than one person, and more than one person can handle. Thats why they have advisors to get them the critical info to make a decision on.

Age Requirement for Holding Office

I don't have a problem with the minimum age requirement because it allows a person to show maturity and experience. As McCain shows though, a 73 year old man can still be an ignorant dumb fuck. Unfortunately age is now considered "experience".

jviehe · #30 (**permalink**) 05-27-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by AjaxPress

I don't have a problem with the minimum age requirement because it allows a person to show maturity and experience. As McCain shows though, a 73 year old man can still be an ignorant dumb fuck. Unfortunately age is now considered "experience".

This whole thread is hilariously ironic.

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