tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post5314095496501081658..comments2023-10-16T07:13:12.123-05:00Comments on A plain blog about politics: Old Old Senate UpdateJonathan Bernsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15931039630306253241noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-51110326080007747102012-08-14T14:37:55.388-05:002012-08-14T14:37:55.388-05:00It's mostly a "healthy for democracy"...It's mostly a "healthy for democracy" thing, rather than an "outcomes would differ" thing. <br /><br />But there's still a fair amount of stuff where individual Members of Congress matter, especially on the Senate side. <br />Jonathan Bernsteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15931039630306253241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-5862528759491991412012-08-14T14:14:48.897-05:002012-08-14T14:14:48.897-05:00If Baldwin wins, the Senate gets younger, more fem...If Baldwin wins, the Senate gets younger, more female, and gayer. That'd be a big win for demographic diversity in the Senate. For left-wing Democrats, it would also be a huge win to have a relatively liberal Senator in a D+2 state. I guess I'm rooting for anyone but Thompson since that would seem to give her a clearer path to victory. <br /><br />Won't a lot of Wisconsinites feel like they've voted enough in the last 6 months? Even some modestly engaged sometimes-primary voters might sit this one out, and I think as the electorate skews towards political junkies who listen to Rush and read RedState, it skews sharply away from Thompson. So Im going to agree with your prediction.Drewnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-64756730762630621402012-08-14T12:58:38.157-05:002012-08-14T12:58:38.157-05:00I love this obsession, but I've always been a ...I love this obsession, but I've always been a bit in the dark as to WHY you feel a younger Senate is so much more desirable. I understand that the institution is out of step with the rest of the country in most demographics, and newer, younger members would probably be a good thing, on balance.<br /><br />I browsed through and found this nugget:<br /><br />"I figure I should mention...I'm not against old legislators in general; in fact, I think it's very healthy for Congress to feature a good number of experienced, senior Members with long, productive careers. I just think the US right now has way, way, way too many oldsters, and not nearly enough in their 30s and 40s. Or for that matter their 20s."<br /><br />That was from a couple years ago, and as you've documented, the Senate has gotten a bit younger.<br /><br />But given the realities of today's party constraints--the iron-clad Republican lockstep, and the high liklihood that younger Dems, even though they entirely support their party's most liberal goals, will still have to moderate to win in many states--I wonder what tangible good, in policy terms, you think younger Senate members can effect in the chamber?andrew longnoreply@blogger.com