Gary Franks: We need an age limit for federally elected officials, Supreme Court justices

We need an age limit for federally elected officials and justices on the Supreme Court, restricting anyone from serving beyond 80. We should rid ourselves from an octogenarian-run government.

The powers that be — many of whom are older folks — would not agree to this (that is obvious). Thus, a constitutional amendment would be needed, much like the 22nd Amendment, which limits the president to two terms. It was adopted after President Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected to four terms and died in office.

This nonpartisan commonsense change is more important today than ever.

Mandatory retirement because of age is normal for the vast majority of Americans. More restrictive age limits are applied for physical jobs such as truck driving, military service, piloting and policework.

Mental capacity should also be of concern. If you need immediate evidence, recently, the 89-year-old California Sen. Diane Feinstein — at one time third in line for the presidency — did not realize she already had declined the president pro-tempore position in the Senate when asked.

There is no question that the “old folks” prevailed in this election cycle. The Trump factor is somewhat overrated. It was a status quo election. All incumbents won reelection to the Senate. And only one incumbent governor lost reelection (he was a Democrat).

Eighty-year-old Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell needed to beat just one Democrat and hold GOP seats to allow his Republican Party to regain the Senate. He not only failed to do that, he actually lost a Republican seat.

McConnell spoke disparagingly about many of the GOP candidates. When the coach or manager of a team lacks confidence in his players, we all know how that game is going to end. In politics, perception can often become reality. And it did. Yet despite this failure, McConnell will maintain his leadership position. Interesting.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, 57, who won enough seats to allow the Republicans to take back control of the House, had struggled with his quest for the speaker’s position. Go figure.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s top lieutenants — Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, 83, and Majority Whip Jim Clyburn, 82 — have refused to give up power, despite the Democrats losing the House majority.

Old folks have huge advantages besides their obvious institutional knowledge, and they are smart enough to use them. They are experienced, clever and easily intimidate “young Turks.”

Beating an incumbent is hard. “Wait, you lost.” Yes, but my opponent’s brother pled guilty to 11 federal counts of election fraud against me. I left Congress at the tender age of 43. No complaints. God is good.

Beating an old incumbent is nearly impossible. Ask Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley, who won again at 89. For starters, they often have decades of achievements, as well as the sympathy, respect and admiration of everyone who matters. They ask others to “wait their turn” just a little longer. Many of them supported term limits but were not sure when they should start (ha ha).

Foremost, I apologize if these comments sound harsh. I want what is best for our nation, and every person aforementioned would have to concede that they have lost more than a little on their fastball. When you keep a tired pitcher or player in a game too long, bad things usually happen. Today, America needs more folks who are playing like Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees.

There is a minimum age requirement included in the Constitution for when you can run for Congress (25 for members of the House and 30 for senators). Anyone who runs for president must be at least 35. I do not believe our Founding Fathers would have ever imagined a president, vice president, members of Congress or even Supreme Court justices serving into their 80s.

Under an age-limit constitutional amendment, we would have a fresh slate of leaders. With nearly 80% of Americans saying we are going in the wrong direction, change cannot come soon enough.

President Joe Biden would be prohibited from seeking a second term (though he would be grandfathered in to allow the completion of his current term, like all members of Congress).

The Democrats in the House and Republicans in the Senate would be forced to get new leaders where applicable.

How to make this happen? It is difficult and perhaps idealistic. Constitutional amendments can take years to bring about. However, where there is a will, there is a way. Stay tuned.

And happy 80th birthday to President Biden.