Obama, Palin: The Youth Obsession Finally Comes To American Politics

R.S. McCain's latest got me to thinking about age as it regards Presidential politics. Stacy McCain thinks Sarah Palin should rely on the advice of Dick Armey. Without knowing what Palin might actually want to do for the next 20 or so years, I think it's almost always a mistake to offer her advice. She might be able to realize more of her goals with regard to America outside of national politics and make far more money while she's at it.

I checked to confirm that Armey and Palin are 24 years apart. The average age of an America president taking office is 55. Clinton was 47, as was Obama. G. W. Bush was 54. Sarah Palin is only 45 today. As an aside, here's an interesting list of presidents listing their age at taking office. One exception is Teddy Roosevelt, who was 42. Looking over it, I'm not sure our youngest presidents have been our best ones as a general rule. But we do seem to be experiencing something of a trend. Is it America's youth obsession finally come to national politics?

More importantly, is a good thing, if so?

As regards Sarah Palin, I'm not saying I'm against her at all. If she runs, I'll see what I think then. I certainly do believe she might make a fine one some day, perhaps even in a couple of years. But with a still young family and 20 or more years left on the national stage if she wants them, there are so many things she might pursue, I'm not going to presume to know - at least not until I read it on her Facebook page under her name, I suppose.

Time will tell. It usually does. But I'm not going to object to an older candidate I might like either - if one surfaces. There is no substitute for wisdom. And I've yet to see much of it in our current young president.

Comments

[the bishop]

It seems to me, a little petty, considering how her Facebook and Wall Street Journal and Washington Post Op Eds steered the debate on health care and cap n trade. If the tables were reversed, she would not say that.

[Dan Riehl]

What's petty? I've praised her use of Facebook. If you thought that was meant as a diss, you're wrong. I think it's a good thing. I simply meant when I hear it from her. She hasn't said she's running for anything, so I have no idea whose advice she might want or need. She might want to be the next Oprah for all I know. And the imapct she could have on America could be huge in a role like that.

[syn]

Armey and the Tea Party People need to focus on the political landscape in 2010; Armey should be old enough to know by now that there is no wisdom gained by putting the cart before the horse.

Palin is on the first leg of a book tour; the established GOPers needs to get a fcuking grip!

[the bishop]

No, not you Dan, Armey's remarks, pronoun trouble, gets me every time.

[Al in St. Lou]

Palin sure seems to be making her own decisions. I'm sure she has people she talks things over with, but she seems to be a real leader, unlike our current president. I doubt that any politician with name-recognition is going to be publicly advising her. "Yeah, she just went there and gave that speech because so-and-so told her it would look good" is simply something she just won't (IMHO) open herself up for.

[Dan Riehl]

No problem, Bishop. I do it, as well. I like Armey and want to see him do what he's doing. That doesn't include advising Palin. As something of an anti-establishment figure, I'm not sure Palin even wants to join the establishment. She seems to march to her own drum. And I suspect that's what she's going to do and need to do for a while. Where that leads her is anyone's guess, perhaps even hers right now.

[Mr. Sauce]

As for older guys, there's Lou Dobbs about to go into the mix. You can almost hear the left's tightening sphincters:

http://www.businessinsider.com/lou-dobbs-may-run-for-office-2009-11

[bishop]

But you're right in one point, she's more like TR and JFK, not so much like Nixon, charismatic, energetic, something we don't often see in the GOP. Jack Kemp was probably closer to that, in some ways

[Sissy Willis]

Don't know about the age thing, but Joe Lieberman gave Palin the best advice when McCain aides were overprepping her:

“I think I know you well enough already, Gov Palin, to know you need to be free...to speak from the heart.” He "told her to trust herself and have fun."

I coulda told her that.

CSM "Sarah Palin on Oprah Winfrey Show: Five best outtakes"
http://bit.ly/2PFKEH

[Sissy Willis]

Also liked this she said on Oprah this afta:

"You don't need a title to make a difference!"

Just ask any Tea Partier.