The Senate's Lions Draw Frustration From Their Cubs

[loyalsister]

I think some of the younger politicos have not approached this well, but at the same time there is a reality that should be considered. A wise use of the lions' acquired knowledge would be to pass it along so that it will endure far beyond their tenure. Mentoring younger politicians is essential to securing a strong legacy.

Helpfully, public-health guru Harold Pollack recently tackled many of these questions for Vox. While stressing that “blanket judgments about older politicians are of course indefensible,” he lamented that Americans’ sensitivity about aging prevents us from having “frank” talks about some of its “elemental realities” and “unavoidable statistical consequences.” From there, he oh-so-delicately pointed to the risks of everything from “disruptive medical tragedies” (like John McCain’s cancer or Thad Cochran’s failing health) to dementia and death which rise ever-more sharply as people cruise through their 60s and 70s on into their 80s.

In the meantime, the party’s rising stars are being held back, fretted another strategist. “We have so much talent that we are just leaving to die on the vine, which is not only a tragedy for the party but a major deterrent for hungry, smart new members to have a real impact on our platform moving forward.”

https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/10/the-senates-lions-draw-frustration-from-their-cubs/542949/?utm_source=atlfb

[Me.]

1. Yes. Let's Do Away With Our Powerful, Experienced Leaders

so that 'a bottom-of-the-food-chain House freshman/s" who doesn't know what's what can take their place.

[loyalsister]

2. To make room for more Scott Browns?

Ignoring reality didn't help us when Senators Kennedy and Byrd died without leaving behind younger proteges to carry on their legacies. It's just plain dumb to dismiss the fact that our capabilities diminish as we age and to ignore the possibility that someone else just might be smart enough and have enough fresh ideas to do some good.

[Me.]

3. First Of All

There are plenty of up and comers but freshmen reps with little experience and just having started the job are not the ones and that' is facing reality.

Secondly...there is nothing stopping anyone from running if they wish...the trick will be to get elected. As for Scott Brown, he won because Matha.... ran a simply awful, arrogant campaign. It had nothing to do with the subject at hand.

[loyalsister]

4. It's about retaining Democratic incumbency

Mass Dems would not have had to scramble to find a candidate (who turned out to lack gravitas) if Kennedy had mentored someone to take over and soon gain the advantage of incumbency.
Primaries are expensive, and divisive. It's better to have a coordinated effort to groom and mentor younger candidates so that they can carry on their legacy. Most of us prepare for our demise or diminished capacity with insurance and funeral planning. It's only reasonable for someone who has so much influence to help prepare for what will be done with it after their inevitable decline and demise. If they don't care about the rest of the world, at least they should be concerned about what happens to their own familial successors.

[Me.]

5. What Scramble?

There was a primary, voters made their choice and it was she. This is how it works.

Democratic primary
Candidates
• Mike Capuano, Member of the U.S. House of Representatives for the 8th district, announced his candidacy on September 18, 2009.[40]
• Martha Coakley, Massachusetts Attorney General, announced her candidacy on September 3, 2009.[41]
• Alan Khazei, co-founder and former CEO of City Year, announced his candidacy on September 24, 2009.[42]
• Stephen Pagliuca, a managing director of private equity firm Bain Capital and managing partner of the Boston Celtics basketball team, announced his candidacy on September 17, 2009.[43][44]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate_special_election_in_Massachusetts,_2010#Democratic_primary

[loyalsister]

6. A four way primary reflects desperation

You said the winner was not a good candidate.