Does McCain's age scare you? Should it be a campaign issue in the general?

[Stinky The Clown]

[Dogmudgeon]

1. No, but his metastatic melanoma does

--p!

[maddiejoan]

2. Metastatic Melanoma

Great Band name!

[Dogmudgeon]

20. So is "Barack Obama"

"It's catchy ... you can dance to it ... but it's progressive at the same time. I give it a 96, Mr. Clark!"

--p!

[maddiejoan]

21. Nahhh

Barack Obama sounds more like a dance.

[CoffeeCat]

3. It's not his age that scares me...

It's the bursitis and the sciatica.

;)

[Swamp Rat]

4. No, his driving.

[ChazII]

5. The cancer is scarier than his age. n/t

[Zueda]

6. Very much so if he puts Giuliani on the ticket... n/t

[AndyTiedye]

12. Even More if He Puts Fuckabee on the Ticket

We're going to have to bring back those "heartbeat away from the Presidency" ads.

[Skittles]

7. honestly, it does not

I believe health should be the concern, not age

[margotb822]

8. Yes, definitely

I know we always hear about people being too young, but McCain would be older than Reagan (he turns 71 in Feb '09). Reagan was showing signs of mental deterioration by the time he left office and that is terrifying. We've already suffered at the hands of a mentally deficient president, so I don't think we can risk that again.

[iamjoy]

16. McCain Is 72 This August

His age and overall health are an issue.

IF he were to serve two terms, he would be 80 when he leaves office.

Of course, John Paul Stevens is almost 88, and many must be wondering when he will retire. It really is time, but I can only assume he is trying to hold out for a Democratic president because he knows the nation can't afford any more Scalias on the court.

[margotb822]

17. My bad

Reagan's b-day is in Feb. I got the old crazy guys mixed up...

[tularetom]

9. His anger management problem scares me a lot more than his age

The guy always looks like he's on the verge of an eruption. And that "my friends" growled through tightly clenched teeth ought to scare anybody. He may be mentally ill and that scares me most of all.

[AJ9000]

10. His FOREIGN POLICY scares me. nm

[Jack Rabbit]

11. McCain's age does not scare me. His support of Bush's wars does.

That is why I will not even consider voting for him.

[Lost-in-FL]

13. Considering we have a President with an IQ of MCain's age...

no, age doesn't scare me as much.

It would help to have a younger candidate.

[Liberty Belle]

14. Blackmail potential scares me.

I knew a Republican who worked McCain's presidential campaign last time.

Then Bush spent 2 hours talking to McCain. When he left, McCain called W a foul name. That night, he hugged him onstage and endorsed Bush.

My friend thinks Bush threatened McCain, most likely over a kid who was doing drugs.

We don't need a president who caves in to blackmail.

That said, I definitely think age is an issue. Many older people begin showing some forms of early dementia in their 70s, including both my parents and all of my grandparents who lived that long. Reagan's Alzheimer's was obvious in the latter year or two of his presidency.

Personally I think every president should have to have a mental health checkup yearly by an independent physician, and the results made public. Especially any president over 70 or with a history of drug or alcohol abuse.

[gratuitous]

15. The bank that floated him a loan thought it mattered

McCain had to take out a loan because his campaign matching funds have been held up due to (get this) budget constraints. The bank that floated that loan required McCain to take out a life insurance policy in case he drops dead on the campaign trail. Nothing personal, just business, you know?

So if McCain's age concerns the green-visored bean-counters at the bank, shouldn't it legitimately concern the electorate? After all, they're just giving him money; McCain's asking us for the keys to the country.

[Faux pas]

18. only if he wins and jeb is his running mate. n/t

[JI7]

19. his warmongering scares me including his never getting over

losing Vietnam and wanting to "show" the world he can win a war.

[leftofthedial]

22. no, but the veins that swell up and stick out of his forehead, temples and neck

whenever he talks about killing muslims does

[SayitAintSo]

23. his temper scares me n/t

[candice]

24. Reagan was much older.

[sutz12]

25. His age? Not really. It's that "fewer jobs, more wars" platform I worry about. nt

:evilgrin:

[troubleinwinter]

26. Not in and of itself, but I have concerns related to it.

We know of the cancer.

We know of his physical disabilities resulting from having been tortured as a POW (cannot raise his arms to comb his hair). One can fairly wonder if torture and malnutrition have lead to organ damage as well, and could lead to early death. One can fairly wonder if the torture and malnutrition have lead to brain damage, as seems to many of us to exist.

His age alone would not concern me. It is the particular circumstances that caused obvious damage that make me worry about hidden damage.

It would make one look very seriously at the vice presidential candidate.

25th Amendment, Section 4:

Section 4. Whenever the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive departments or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall immediately assume the powers and duties of the office as Acting President.

Thereafter, when the President transmits to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives his written declaration that no inability exists, he shall resume the powers and duties of his office unless the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive department or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit within four days to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office. Thereupon Congress shall decide the issue, assembling within forty-eight hours for that purpose if not in session. If the Congress, within twenty-one days after receipt of the latter written declaration, or, if Congress is not in session, within twenty-one days after Congress is required to assemble, determines by two-thirds vote of both Houses that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall continue to discharge the same as Acting President; otherwise, the President shall resume the powers and duties of his office.

[DiamondJay]

27. if it hurts him, YES

[aquart]

28. After Alzheimer's Ronnie? Uh, YES!