Politics – The sensitive question of age -- one of the trickiest and most unpredictable in the political playbook -- has been touched upon only glancingly since McCain became the de facto GOP nominee. But it is certain to hover over a candidate who will be 72 by Election Day.
Good question
And Hillary and Obama are either not experienced enough to know that at this point pulling them out isn't a good idea or has they know that to be the case but no problem telling the lie that they will pull them out post haste to placate people on the far left.
The problem was sending them in the first place. And that had nothing to do with Bush`s or Cheney`s age. That was a case of power lust and financial greed over humanity and moral decency.
Regardless of McCain`s age, he is the only one without a plan to get our troops out of there. He is the only one who has such limited judgment skills that he would even joke about keeping our troops there for 100 years. He is clueless and out-of-touch, and I think that has nothing to do with his age at the moment, but it will only be exacerbated by age over the next four years.
I have always said that I respect McCain's sevice to our country but that has nothing to do with the HUGE challanges that we are facing .
It is going to take a healthy mind and body to get us through the difficult years ahead of us. We have the current administration to thank for that.
George Bush and DICK Cheney should be sharing a jail cell together for the lies that they used to lead us into war with Iraq . We need to bring our sevice men and women home !
John McCain is old enough to know better than to tell us he will continue the war in Iraq if he is elected president.
John McCain has been old enough to know better than to do a lot of the things he has done, but nothing stopped him. The more i know about him, the more parallels i see between him and Dubya, except, McCain did serve his country, i do respect that.
All Dubya did was stay AWOL, drunk and high, yet repubs want to credit him as being a war hero! EGAD.
It seems that America has had a run of Presidents that to some degree dodged their military service; Bill Clinton and Baby Bush come to mind.
If McCain is elected I'm buying stock in Geritol.
I wonder if they have that in Extra Strength?
Bill Clinton didn't dodge the draft, he was exempted because he was a Rhodes Scholar. Bush didn't dodge he just didn't ever show up while in the Natl Guard.
Didn't know that about Clinton.
Thanks for the info.
How easily you accepted the exemption reason, "was because he was a Rhodes scholar." Nothing could be further from the truth. Clinton registered for the draft as required in August 1968 and entered Georgetown U. the following month. President Johnson ended draft deferments for graduate students on February 16, 1968. Clinton's preinduction physical exam was postponed due to the efforts of Sen William Fulbright.
Clinton was finally called to take his physical on Feb 3, 1969. He uncle lobbied the draft board to give Clinton an enlisted slot in the local naval reserve unit. Had he been given an officer's billet he would have had to report for active duty in 12 months. In any case Clinton never showed up for the interview and exam.
On July 28, 1969, Clinton returned home after receiving another notice of induction. Clinton was reclassified 1D after he entered the ROTC program at the U of Arkansas on August 7, 1969, again more pressure from Sen Fulbright.
Army records revealed that Clinton was not eligible to join the ROTC program because he was not first enrolled as a full time student. In the Fall of 69 Clinton returns to Oxford while he was supposed to be at the Arkansas Law School.
Clinton continued to write deceptive letters to the chairman of the draft board and so it goes. There is no doubt that he took every step he could and received preferential treatment due to pressure from "high places".
I realize that many others did what they could to avoid the draft but they then did not try to rewrite history to make it appear that they were not draft dodgers. His lies convinced many, so much so that even today we are willing to accept irrational reasoning as to why he didn't have ANY military service of any type. President Bush did join the National Guard and must have gone to some meetings to learn how to fly a jet. His attendance left a lot to be desired, but at least he fulfilled the first 2 years of his obligation.
Sorry to go on, but some things need corrected. Is McCain too old? Dunno, he's more experienced. Are we going to begin a campaign to say he's senile similar to the campaign that labeled Bush stupid? I wish we could stick to discussion of an individuals stand on issues rather than attack someone based upon education,age, race or sex. This has been going on far too long. There are too many issues facing this country to allow them to go un-discussed while we worry Rev Wright, dodging bullets in Bosnia, or flubs in speeches.
"Are we going to begin a campaign to say he's senile similar to the campaign that labeled Bush stupid? I wish we could stick to discussion of an individuals stand on issues rather than attack someone based upon education,age, race or sex. "
Well. Bush was and remains to this day stupid.
How about McCain's stand on staying the same course Bush has? How much farther does he want to drive us into the ground.
August 19, 1964 - Clinton registers for the draft
--[Washington Post Sep 13 92]
September 1964 - Clinton, age 18, enters Georgetown University
--[The Comeback Kid, CF Allen and J Portis, p. 20]
November 17, 1964- Clinton is classified 2-S (student deferment). This will shield him from the draft throughout his undergraduate years.
---[Wash Post Sep 13 92]
February 16, 1968 - "The Johnson administration unexpectedly abolished graduate deferments."
--[Wash Post Sep 13 92]
March 20, 1968 - Clinton, age 21, is classified 1-A, eligible for induction, as he nears graduation from Georgetown.
--[Wash Post Sep 13 92]
Bill Clinton was the only man of his prime draft age classified1-A by that draft board in 1968 whose pre-induction physical examination was put off for 10.5 months. This delay was more than twice as long as anyone else and more than five times longer than most area men of comparable eligibility.
--[Los Angeles Times Sep 02 92]
Summer 1968 - Political and family influence keeps Clinton out of the draft. Robert Corrado -- the only surviving Hot Springs draft board member from that period -- concluded that Clinton's draft statement (the long delays) was the result of "some form of preferential treatment." According to the Times, "Corrado recalled that the chairman of the three-man draft panel ... once held back Clinton's file with the explanation that 'we've got to give him time to go to Oxford,' where the semester began in the fall of 1968.
Corrado also complained that he was called by an aide to then Senator J. William Fulbright urging him and his fellow board members to 'give every consideration' to keep Clinton out of the draft so he could attend Oxford.
Throughout the remainder of 1968, Corrado said, Clinton's draft file was routinely held back from consideration by the full board. Consequently, although he was classified 1-A on March 20, 1968, he was not called for his physical exam until Feb 3, 1969, while he was at Oxford.
Clinton's Uncle Raymond Clinton personally lobbied Senator Fulbright, William S. Armstrong, the chairman of the three-man Hot Springs draft board, and Lt. Comdr. Trice Ellis, Jr., commanding officer of the local Navy reserve unit, to obtain a slot for Clinton in the Naval Reserve.
Fall 1968 - Because of the local draft board's continuing postponement of his pre-induction physical, Clinton is able to enroll at Oxford Univ.
--[Wash Post Sep 13 92]
February 2, 1969 - While at Oxford, Clinton finally takes and passes a military physical examination.
--[Washington Times Sep 18 92]
April 1969 - Clinton receives induction notice from the Hot Springs AR draft board. Clinton however claims that the draft board told him to ignore the notice because it arrived after the deadline for induction.
--[Wash Post Sep 13 92]
June-July 1969 - Clinton receives a second induction notice with a July 28 induction date and returns home.
--[Wash Times Sep 18 92]
July 11, 1969 - Clinton's friend at Oxford, Cliff Jackson, writes, "Clinton is feverishly trying to find a way to avoid entering the Army as a drafted private. I have had several of my friends in influential positions trying to pull strings on Bill's behalf."
-- [LA Times Sep 26 92]
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FTA:
McCain's public image is unmistakably tied to his age. Pew surveys taken in February and again last month showed that when voters are asked what word they would identify with McCain, "old" was far and away the choice.
Although "old" is in the minds of most voters, personally i think that Keating Five, adultry, and his flip flopping on all the issures, especially the war and the economy should be on every voters mind that goes to the polls.
"old" was far and away the choice.>>>>
I wonder if they mean that in a bad way, lol. Dang, I'm 65, and my pop turned 91 yesterday. (He owns and runs his own business, & drives a red Jag, lol). Maybe we'd better throw in the towel!
Many elderly people do very well jordan, my grandfather lived to be 107, and had sound mind unitl he finally "willed" himself to die.
McCain is confused, dazed and doesn't even have a clue about the majority of things going on around him. If he were like your Pop, i'd say, let's elect him, but he'd have to change some of his political strategy, lol.
Also, I don't want to end up with another Reagan, with Cindy McCain giving the orders the way Nancy Reagan did the last couple of years of Ronnies term. With that woman's background, talk about nightmares! As it was with Nancy, the most important thing in the world, became the China pattern for the WH!
Your point is taken. I was just speaking to the 'general' idea that people have about the elderly.
Mc Cain is in better shaoe than most of us on this blog.
Anyone dispute that McCain isn't in great shape?
I'm nearly his age, work out regularly, and would be very happy to take him on in a cross-country run or whatever sort of physical contest. That said, I don't like ageism any more than I do sexism or racism. Judge each person on their own merits.
McCain's problem isn't that he is in his 70s. It is that in his speeches, he is having too many senior moments.
Al Qaeda, Iran, Shiites and Sunnis are all the same thing. We went into Iraq for oil, but with his energy policy, we'll never again have to fight in the Middle East...
I think the ads that only show McCain as he was 35 40 years ago make you think or notice he is old now more.
His health, assuming no more cancer, is pretty good.
His problem won't be age, unless he has more trouble remembering stuff. His problem is which McCain will be the president? The Maverick straight talk guy...haven't seen him since 2000, or the Hagee Lapdog guy. His other challenge-71% disaproval rating on Bush.
Ah after all the talk from both of you, the only thing that matters is buried in the last part of Radio's post.
The biggest chain he has is that he's a wascally wepublican, and who wants more evil in office right? Since FDR, there has never been any party to hold that office more than two time in a row, because after 8 years of any party the Americans will always want change.
The Dems winning this time is historically in their favor. If indeed they do lose for some unforeseen reason. That would be some president, them winning won't, it will be SOP.
And as long as we keep voting in one of the two parties, in the long run, "they" win anyway.
For all his talk about "change" Obama is still just a democrat.
For all his "liberal" voting RINO McCain is still a republican.
Hillary, well do I really need to say anything here...
Nothing will change with any of these candidates.
You may well be right. Obama has not turned to the special interests, PACs and Lobbyists to fund his campaign. The other two candidates are funded almost exclusively by those corrupting influences.
Obama says he is going to change politics as usual in Washington. I am an old man, and have heard that many times before. But never from a candidate who is actually funded almost exclusively by small, individual donors. Maybe this time, he actually will deliver on that elusive promise.
It's abundantly clear that McCain and Clinton are two Pander Bears run by the same man behind the curtain. Elect either of them and it's four more years of skyrocketing deficits, off-shoring of jobs and wars of aggression all over the map.
Slate, it's not so much age as it is the senior moments, which, comes with age, for some people, but not all. Confusion concerning Sunnis, Shiites and AlQaeda. Saying one thing today, and changing it tomorrow, allowing himself to be manipulated, admission that he is oblivious about our economy and having a presence in Iraq for 100 years are all issues in question, with me and many others.
No one wants to hear that garbage, and he really needs to be thankful for Joe Lieberman's presence when he continually screwed Sunnis, Shiites, etc!
I'm getting older myself, i am not in politics nor in any form of govt, but i manage to keep these issues straightened out in my mind. IF McCain can't do it, and he is voting on these issues as a senator, what can we expect from him as a president?
That's what I meant by, "There but for the Grace of God go I." But the distinction is more powerful that that simplistic statement. There are people here and now that are drooling to get the opportunity to anoint another Hitler figure. There are others who are nauseated by the very thought.
Did those distinctions happen due to the life influences that each of these people experienced. Maybe so, maybe not. We really don't know. But are both types equally close to voting in the next Fuhrer? ABSOLUTELY NOT!
To insist that they are trivializes the fascist, Big Brother yearnings of those who lust for an iron-fisted dictator to "keep them safe".
Oops. Somehow this "reply" ended up in the wrong article altogether. Sorry. Please ignore.
> Anyone dispute that McCain isn't in great shape?
So are you suddenly a universal health advocate?
Best socialized medicine taxpayer money can buy!
His body may be adequately holding up for a man of his age, but his mind isn`t, and that`s the problem.
jordan11:
Hey, good for your dad and good for you. We can't throw in the towel, who the heck would be around to tell the youngsters what they are doing wrong. LOL
Why they might think of McCain as a wise old grandfather instead of a crusty washed up politician. LOL
McCain's already having some senior moments. Alzheimers can't be too far in making an appearance. The trouble is no one likes to acknowledge the fact that age *should* be a concern and that old people do disintegrate (granted at very different ages depending on their lives).
Obama is too young,,,,, Hillary is in the middle,,,, lets give her the nod she fits the goldilocks storyline just right.
Goldilocks did not choose the middle; she always went for the third choice, the youngest bear's stuff; and that would be obama.
Ooooh, I crushed you with that argument, Slate. Admit it.
No she went with the Just right things,,,, that just happened to be what she could relate to in her immature mindset. Same as the people here that claim McCain is too old to be president.
Frankly I don't care if you have a 'crush' on me I'm not interested.
Uh uh; don't inflict your insecurities, on my syntax.
Inscecurities? How can you be so out of touch?
Some people are old at 50! Some people are still young at 80!
McCain's confusion about what's happening in the Middle East tells me he may be suffering some early forms of dementia, which is not abnormal or a crime, but we already had one president with Alzheimers!
dementia? thanks doc,,, what do you chaulk the gaffs the young Obama has presented to us? He doesn't have the excuse of dementia,,, what other cause could that be?
Aha
Obama is at the perfect age. Not too old to be cynic. Not too young to be naive. You need the leader to be wise and agile. You need the leader to have a young family so that the leader is in touch with the average family. You need a leader that faces the future with the agony of a parent that has yet to see the kids take a direction in life. You need a leader that draws from youth the inspiration to be strong and wise ,pragmatic and yet idealistic-ethical( kids inspire these) so that true change can emerge with visionary perspective ,with integrity and responsibility. The most creative optimistic age of an educated human is around 35-55. It is the time where wisdom has critical mass and yet still has plenty of room for personal growth to allow internal optimism to proliferate and become a broad trend.
It's amazing that people see inexperience in Obama where all experience ever needed to have a huge impact in everything current was that of a leader that would have avoided IRAQ.
If McCain had Azheimers it would be determinable by now.
It is not automatic with old age.
McCain is demonstrably wrong about the economy and the war; and for once most of the country agrees. But he is no doddering old senior.
Actually he had a great sense of humor back when he was the straight talk guy. Before the wheels came off the straight talk express and revealed it to be the Oscar Myer Weeniemobile.
> McCain is demonstrably wrong about the economy and the war;
Totally wrong.
The country agrees that McCain is clueless about the economy and going the opposite way of common sense regarding the war.
I think describing McCain at 70 as old and staying at that is simplistic and wrong. For the strong human age is an advantage not a vulnerability. In principle wisdom, experience, improvement of one's education and understanding of the world is a function of time. The more time you have the better. So for a strong inspired to forever learn human i will never use age as a weakness. However the reality is that a president is not chosen in order to be consulted. A leader has to be active enough and flexible enough and brain biology does indeed matter. You have to be feeling in excellent personal health in order to have the ability to use your brain effectively and constructively. The real q. is not how old McCain is today. Its how old he is after 3 years in office and if in fact people choose a president for 4 years or they try to make a decade out of it. You must always choose a leader with a long term path or progress in mind that exceeds a few years of anticipated solid health.
my issue isn't with McCain's age. I'm a liberal, I'm not about discriminating.
My problem is his lack of progressive thinking. He's point of view is from 40 years ago. If he was in the Senate funding solar panels instead of the war-for-oil or courting science nuts instead of religious nuts, I'd be more interested in what he had to say.