The House Democratic caucus is old-- really, really old. Several have told me they're too old to give much of a damn about idealism anymore. "Look to the kids like Donna Edwards (age 55) if you want to see anything happen," one elderly former fire-breathing progressive told me. Personally, I admire George Miller (age 68) and Henry Waxman (age 74) for retiring on their own terms.
A few days ago I was having dinner with some friends at my favorite vegetarian restaurant in L.A., Crossroads on Melrose, when one of California's most effective and persistent environmental activists, Steve Bing, came over and sat down. "You've got to do more to stop this Keystone XL pipeline." I don't want to repeat what he said about John Kerry but he kept urging me to work harder in the netroots to keep Obama from OK-ing the agreement. Me? He's Steve Bing.
You may have noticed we keep complaining about Nancy Pelosi's selection and retention of Steve Israel as Chairman of the DCCC. The Democrats will never win back the House will Israel as chair.
When Henry Waxman retires next year, he will be 75 years old. He will have served in Congress for 4 decades… 40 years! Even before being elected to Congress he had been a member of the state legislature. The man has served his country for a long time. He has 5 grandchildren. This morning he announced his retirement.
I don't want to demonize Henry Waxman. As congressmen go, he's been a fairly decent one, for the most part, relatively progressive and-- except on issues relating to Israel and the Middle East-- pretty open-minded. The only time I remember really disagreeing with him, in fact, was when he backed Cheney's and Bush's horrific decision to attack Iraq without provocation.
