{"id":2384053,"date":"2024-12-27T14:41:01","date_gmt":"2024-12-27T19:41:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/retiring-congresswoman-turns-on-swamp-calls-for-handover-of-power\/"},"modified":"2024-12-27T14:42:32","modified_gmt":"2024-12-27T19:42:32","slug":"retiring-congresswoman-turns-on-swamp-calls-for-handover-of-power","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/retiring-congresswoman-turns-on-swamp-calls-for-handover-of-power\/","title":{"rendered":"Retiring Congresswoman Turns on Swamp, Calls for Handover of Power"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fretiring-congresswoman-turns-on-swamp-calls-for-handover-of-power%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2384053&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Democrat\u200d Rep. \u200dAnnie Kuster of\u200c New hampshire has announced her \u2063retirement, stating \u2063that she \u200cfeels she is not the best representative for her party during a potential second term for President-elect\u200c Donald Trump. Despite being a member of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/video-president-trump-and-first-lady-melania-trump-leave-white-house-for-final-time-as-president-video\/\" title=\"VIDEO: President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump Leave White House for Final Time as President (VIDEO)\">opposing party<\/a>,Kuster&#8217;s action resonates with sentiments\u2062 frequently enough expressed by Trump supporters \u2064about &#8220;draining\u200b the swamp&#8221; in Congress. At 68, Kuster has\u2064 served 12 years, which she \u200bconsiders a substantial time to influence\u2064 policy, \u2064but prompts discussions\u200d on the age and tenure of lawmakers, especially in contrast to longer-serving members like\u200d Mitch \u2062McConnell \u2064and Nancy Pelosi. The \u2064median age in Congress continues to rise, leading some, including Kuster, to contemplate\u200d the implications of lawmakers serving beyond their effectiveness. She expressed hopes that\u200c her retirement would \u2062inspire\u200b peers\u2062 to recognize when \u200cit&#8217;s time to \u200dstep down. However, the article \u200bargues\u200d that\u2064 without\u2063 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/oregons-new-secretary-of-state-democrat-caught-hosting-birthday-gathering-in-defiance-of-governors-covid-orders\/\" title=\"Oregon\u2019s New Secretary Of State (Democrat) CAUGHT Hosting Birthday Gathering In Defiance Of Governor\u2019s Covid Orders\">term limits<\/a>, the \u200cchallenge of entrenched political figures will persist, as new members may simply replace those who leave.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>One Democrat lawmaker hopes to set an example for some of her colleagues by stepping aside.<\/p>\n<p>On Thursday, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bostonglobe.com\/2024\/12\/26\/nation\/annie-kuster-retiring-congress\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Boston Globe<\/a> reported Democrat Rep. Annie Kuster of New Hampshire made the decision to retire. Speaking of her would-be role for the opposing party during a second term for President-elect <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/watch-trump-looks-reverence-choir-sings-jesus\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Donald Trump<\/a>, Kuster felt, &ldquo;I&rsquo;m just not the best gladiator for it right now.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Despite Kuster&rsquo;s party affiliation, her actions are actually on par with what MAGA supporters and Trump deem as &ldquo;draining the swamp.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>At 68, Kuster was elected in 2012. Although 12 years in Congress is brief when compared to lawmakers like Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell &mdash; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.republicanleader.senate.gov\/about\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">elected in 1984<\/a> &mdash; she is well beyond <a href=\"https:\/\/faq.ssa.gov\/en-US\/Topic\/article\/KA-01885#:~:text=The%20current%20full%20retirement%20age%20is%2067%20years,Benefits%20By%20Year%20Of%20Birth%20for%20more%20information.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">retirement age.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>This brings into the discussion what the swamp actually is. Is it members of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/leftist-congresswoman-says-death-penalty-racist-cheers-bidens-commutations\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Congress<\/a> who are simply too old and feeble to serve, but stay in anyway or is it members of congress who have been serving too long considering there are no term limits?<\/p>\n<p> <script type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\tif ( getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"stnvideo\").remove() \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script> <\/p>\n<p>The two are not mutually exclusive as the more senior members seem to be those who have served the longest.<\/p>\n<p>The median age of members of the House sits at 57, while the Senate is higher at 65, according to data from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pewresearch.org\/short-reads\/2023\/01\/30\/house-gets-younger-senate-gets-older-a-look-at-the-age-and-generation-of-lawmakers-in-the-118th-congress\/#:~:text=The%20median%20age%20of%20voting,and%2062.4%20in%20the%20115th.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Pew Research<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The aforementioned McConnell is 82. Former <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/breaking-republicans-retain-control-house-representatives-handing-trump-keys-agenda\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">House<\/a> Speaker Nancy Pelosi is 2 years his senior, <a href=\"https:\/\/pelosi.house.gov\/biography\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">serving since 1987<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>A big part of the swamp, simply put, are the older members of Congress who have served too long.<\/p>\n<p>Kuster commented on her tenure by saying, &ldquo;Twelve years is a good amount of time to put your shoulder to the wheel and try to make a difference on these issues.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>She continued, &ldquo;I can&rsquo;t say we solved them, but I think we made a difference, not just in changing policy, changing funding, but changing attitudes.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>On the example she looks to set for her colleagues, she stated, &ldquo;I think there are colleagues &mdash; and some of whom are still very successful and very productive &mdash; but others who just stay forever.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Now, some on Kuster&rsquo;s side of the political aisle might point to Trump&rsquo;s age &mdash; he turned 78 in June &mdash; as some sort of &ldquo;gotcha,&rdquo; given that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/maga-merry-christmas\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">MAGA<\/a> supporters are some of the <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">biggest voices railing<\/a> against older, longer-serving members of Congress.<\/p>\n<p>Just one issue with that line of thought: Presidents <em>already<\/em> have term limits.<\/p>\n<p>Moreover, choosing Vice President-elect <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/daniel-penny-accepts-invitation-jd-vance\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">J.D. Vance<\/a> to serve in his administration at the very young political age of 40 shows Trump wants to steer the country in a more generally youthful direction.<\/p>\n<p>Its overly optimistic to say Kuster&rsquo;s decision will bring change as many a reader wouldn&rsquo;t recognize her name before this news. McConnell and Pelosi stepping aside would make headlines, but the problem persists without term limits for Congress.<\/p>\n<p>This is the only way to combat the swamp. Without term limits, the current one will drain itself, but another will only bubble up to take its place.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey==typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts={ \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs=[ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i=0; i <inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! 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On Thursday, The Boston Globe reported that Rep. Annie Kuster of New Hampshire has decided to step down. Reflecting on her potential role during a second term for President-elect Donald Trump, Kuster stated, \u201cI\u2019m just not the best gladiator for it right now.\u201d Despite being a Democrat, her choice aligns with what MAGA supporters and Trump refer to as \u201cdraining the swamp.\u201d At 68, Kuster was elected in 2012; while this tenure is shorter than that of long-serving lawmakers like Mitch McConnell (elected in 1984), she is well past retirement age. This raises questions about what constitutes the &#8220;swamp&#8221;\u2014is it older members who remain in office despite their age or those who have served too long without term limits? <\/p>\n<p>The two categories are not mutually exclusive since senior members often have lengthy tenures. According to Pew Research data, the median age in the House is 57 and 65 in the Senate; McConnell is currently 82 and former Speaker Nancy Pelosi is two years older than him, having served since 1987. A significant aspect of the swamp includes older Congress members who have been there too long.<\/p>\n<p>Kuster reflected on her time in office: \u201cTwelve years is a good amount of time to put your shoulder to the wheel and try to make a difference on these issues,\u201d adding that while they may not have solved everything, they made an impact on policy and attitudes. She noted that some colleagues are still effective but others tend to stay indefinitely.<\/p>\n<p>Some Democrats might criticize Trump&#8217;s age\u2014he turned 78 in June\u2014given his supporters&#8217; opposition to older Congress members; however, presidents already face term limits. Additionally, Trump&#8217;s selection of Vice President-elect J.D. Vance at just 40 indicates his desire for younger leadership.<\/p>\n<p>While Kuster&#8217;s retirement may not lead to significant change as many may not recognize her name compared to McConnell or Pelosi stepping down\u2014which would attract more attention\u2014the issue remains unresolved without congressional term limits. Only implementing such limits can truly address this problem; otherwise, one group will simply be replaced by another over time<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2384054,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/kuster.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[4402,8773,40565,47490,7620],"class_list":["post-2384053","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-congress","tag-corruption","tag-political-reform","tag-power-transition","tag-retirement"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/kuster.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2384053","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2384053"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2384053\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2384057,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2384053\/revisions\/2384057"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2384054"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2384053"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2384053"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2384053"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}