Current Events > Hakeem Jeffries, on whether 88 year-old with dementua and NO POWER should retire

(+) Yeah! (+)

Here's the scary part:

Some people who got aid didn't like that it came without work requirements. They felt it was going to support freeloaders. And this was people receiving money with no strings attached

looking at the tattoo, I couldnt tell you it was a Nazi tattoo without extra knowledge. Also he had it covered up recently based on articles Ive seen.

still doesnt look good, but I do believe in human stupidity can lead to mistakes. Has he said anything worth blasting for or is all the hate for the guy cause of a tattoo?

At least three separate sources, including his former campaign manager, have said he knew it was a Totenkopf and he's a military history buff. Oh, and according to CNN, they reviewed text messages provided by their source that details him discussing it as a Totenkopf years ago.

He only covered it up after lying about it.

Here's the scary part:

Some people who got aid didn't like that it came without work requirements. They felt it was going to support freeloaders. And this was people receiving money with no strings attached

For the Biden bucks situation, it should be remembered that there was a kerfuffle where Biden promised $2000 dollar stimulus but then changed it to $1400 to add to the previous $600 which a lot of people thought was scummy and it soured the reception for a lot. Overall you can say this isn't a huge deal and that is probably true, but it's more on example of how Biden and his staff were terrible at communicating their plans and accomplishments.

Not fully sure how we pivoted to Platner in this topic, but hazing an SS tattoo should be immediately disqualifying. However, having dementia should also no longer allow you to hold office. We have to have SOME standards.

And there is a difference between publicly shitting on someone and respectfully saying to them and the nation "we respect your decades of service, but unfortunately you need to step down."

dementua

It's always so weird that the ages of politicians only matters if you are a Democrat.

It's not about being unable to criticize Democrats. It's about using criticism of democrats to deflect away from what is currently happening.

No one has any expectation that appealing to a Republican's sense of public duty would have any impact on their actions, nor is there any expectation that they would be replaced by anyone better, so why bother?

If what's currently happening comes to an end and we haven't sorted out the issues with the Democrat party, we're just back in the situation we started in. Given how short people's attention spans are, do you have any belief that we wouldn't just cycle back around yet again?

dementua

Look, was there a little politicla rangling on that to make the 600 dollars into 2000? Sure. but it was still free money.

I don't think people with SS tattoos or people with dementia should hold office. I think one, however, is much more reflective of one's moral character and I dislike the way some on the Left treat people on the sole basis of "old."

This I agree with and it should've happened with Feinstein. But for the sake of argument, if they say "no," you can't do much about it. Sometimes politicians are arrogant and considered themselves indispensable.

I agree. I think overall it was a non issue, but more than it could have been easily prevented and it was like the first example of the Biden administration fumbling the messaging on an otherwise good thing.

Yes, there's nothing morally wrong with having dementia. If someone was elected and we learned they had an SS tattoo, I'd say people have every right to call them out and demand, not even politely, that they step down. This situation should be handled much more delicately, but it still should be handled. The democrats need to project party strength and stability, which this doesn't.

You are correct, but I think there should be something that can be done about it. Which is kind of scary, because that could potentially be abused. This situation isn't that major since she can't vote, at worst it makes the democrats look bad during a time when they really don't need that, but a leader with actual power and dementia is downright dangerous. There should be something like the 25th amendment for other branches and levels (unless there is and I am not aware of it).

I don't disagree. Good on policy, bad on politics.

You know my issues with Klippenstein, so I won't elaborate much except he's 100 percent blowing this up because being a smug pro-Republican ratfucker is his thing. That said, this is more an optics issue, but a number of Democrats *are* retiring. Jan Schakowsky decided not to run again, and I think at least 10 or so members of the caucus have announced they're not. The issue with Norton is her position is largely ceremonial, so optics are all it is.

Should there be something to do about it? Sure. Is it wise, politically speaking? That's a different question. As I said, Dems' biggest constituency right now is older Black people and you run a real risk of offending them if you handle this wrong. Like setting aside justification for Biden, a lot of people who form Norton's constituency feel he was a respected elder who was stabbed in the back. That's a reality you have to deal with.

I should note that if it's any consolation, Norton's position is ceremonial and just reflective of her standing among her community.

And age limits are flatly unconstitutional. They're pretty much nonstarters in the conversation. any of them would be struck down

If only there were a way to change the constitution

If only there were a way to change the constitution