Opinion : Ernst steps down, Hinson steps up and Blum is warming up

U.S. Senator Joni Ernst announced that she was stepping out of the race for a shot at her third term as a U.S. Senator. And stepping to the plate is Congresswoman Ashley Hinson.

Perhaps the two of them could convince Charles Grassley to come home too. He's apparently mistaken his "until death do us part" wedding vows for his oath of office. It's amazing how power can go to your head. Of course, we all know that if you stick around it sure helps your bank account. I'm sure he's saving his bucks to help his grandson Pat Grassley who is serving in Des Moines now.

Charles Grassley, at the tender age of 91, began serving in public office in January of 1959, before I was born, and I'm old. He served in Des Moines until 1975 when he hit the road and hasn't "come back no more, no more, no more, no more..." He joined the House of Representatives before running for the Senate in 1981...before I graduated high school.

He's a career politician who is following in the steps of Diane Feinstein who died in office in 2023 at the age of 90. Of course, I think he's going for Robert Byrd's record who served for 51 years, 5 months and 26 days.

Then there's Mitch "having mini strokes" McConnell who at 83 announced that he won't be running in 2026, never mind that he could step down now, but noooo. He's the guy who has obvious health issues, but then so did President Joe Biden remember him? The guy that "ran circles around" insert name. Riiiight....

…and Kay Granger, who didn't run for office last year, due to the fact that she was in a home with dementia. She was still on the public dole, "serving her country." She's 82 now.

There's no shortage. We have Nancy Pelosi at 85 who has already had the broken hip and went to work with a walker. That's a hint. It's time to step down while you can still step.

In other musical chairs news, it appears that Rod Blum is going to shoot for Hinson's seat in Congress. Dropping hints on social media, he harkens back to when he was the Congressman who served from 2015-2019. If he does, he will be getting into the race at the mere age of 70 so he's got a couple of decades left in him.

Now I'm really not into ageism. I'm just into 'come-on-ism." This is ridiculous. Kudos to Ernst for honoring her two-term promise, and allowing a young 42-year-old Hinson to run for her seat in the Senate.

Now we'll see if the Republicans have any more surprises for the Governor's seat...so far I'm not impressed with any of the candidates. I half expect Pat Grassley, Charles' grandson to throw his hat into the ring. It would be a hard no for me if he did.

At least it's not dull. The last 200 days trying to keep track of President Trump has been pretty laid back. Critics had hoped he'd died this last weekend. They guy doesn't hold a press conferences every 3 hours so you know, rather than celebrate, it's right to, "he'd dead." Good grief, he's only a mere 79.

So anyway, that's the latest "who's on first" news...as of Tuesday night that is...