Earlier than I blew out all seventy-two candles on my birthday cake this 12 months, I made a want. I needed for one thing that had been gnawing at my soul ever since I first acquired my AARP card.

It was lastly time to launch my political profession.

However a sobering thought struck me. Am I maybe too younger to be taken severely as a Democratic congressperson? I fear that the powers that be would possibly take one take a look at my salt-and-pepper hair, solely barely elevated blood stress, and spry physique with each its authentic hips, and snigger me proper out of the Capitol.

Might I even relate to the older members of the get together? What in the event that they make a reference to some TV present or music from the late sixties, after I’m extra accustomed to popular culture of the mid-seventies?

What if I declare my candidacy, just for Steny Hoyer to inform me, “Come again while you’ve bought at the very least one other decade of gathered knowledge—or a pacemaker.”

I suppose I perceive the get together leaders’ reticence to step apart. Naturally, should you’ve been in Congress since earlier than the moon touchdown, you’re going to cling to that seat with all of the energy your gnarled, arthritic fingers can muster.

Nevertheless it’s clear to anybody who has been paying consideration that the Democrats have an enormous drawback: youth—particularly, means an excessive amount of of it.

You understand, the sprightly fifty-eight-year-olds who’re uninterested in being advised, “Doing one thing isn’t actually our factor, child.” Those that insist that furrowing your forehead isn’t sufficient? Some would possibly say, if it weren’t for needing a teenager to often reset the DNC’s Wi-Fi router, it wouldn’t be price preserving them round in any respect. Whereas I don’t essentially agree with that, I do consider that the youthful wing of the get together must study to respect their elders.

As a result of let’s face it. The Democratic Celebration is powered by expertise. Deep, wealthy, Kennedy-era expertise. Once you stroll right into a Democratic management assembly, it’s much less “caucus” and extra “group of people who keep in mind being terrified by that film of the prepare coming straight on the digital camera.” That’s what bought them the place they’re right this moment. And there’s no purpose to rock the boat.

So, don’t let my youthful, septuagenarian face idiot you. I do know what retains this get together shifting: long-winded ground speeches, sturdy opinions about AM radio, pondering everybody of their twenties is a millennial, and with the ability to keep in mind when Joe Biden was just a few hotshot, junior punk senator from the backwaters of Delaware.

So, please, put me in coach, I’m able to do my half for this nation and purchase insider inventory market buying and selling suggestions. I imply, with all of the Democrats dying in workplace these days, can we actually afford to not have a deep bench?