What A Contrast

The headlines today say that governor Jerry Brown of California is considering running for the Democrat nomination for president.  Although he did not say it, Brown is watching the Hillary Clinton meltdown and noting that there is no other viable candidate in the mix.  He's run three times before for president, so he figures why not try again.  But here's the rub.  Brown is 77.  If he won the election he would be 78 when inaugurated which would make him the oldest president ever.  That's not the oldest when inaugurated; it's just the oldest ever.  At the end of his first term, Brown would be 82.  Of course, the other viable Democrats in the race are Bernie Sanders (who looks like the face for that old Mel Brooks skit, the 2000 year old man), Joe Biden who is also ancient, and Hillary Clinton who at 67 seems to be the young blood in this mix.  I leave O'Malley, Webb and Chaffee off the list because they have zero chance of success.  So what that means is if the Democrats actually had a debate, the stage would look more like Old Timers Day for politicians than a contest between vibrant, forward-looking leaders.

Contrast that image for the Democrats with last night's GOP debate.  You may not have liked the tone or even the substance of what was said by some.  Nevertheless, no one would think that it looked like the day room at the local nursing home.  Every one of the candidates was forceful in his or her own way. 

It's a rather staggering contrast between the candidates of the two parties.  It has to worry the Democrats that they have no choice but the old ones.