McCain's age could affect expected presidential run: 70th BD next week

[DeepModem Mom]

McCain's age could affect expected presidential run
By Steven Thomma
McClatchy Newspapers


(PETE SOUZA, Chicago Tribune)
Sen. John McCain.

Sen. John McCain of Arizona will do something next week that'll set him apart from everyone else who's weighing a run for president in 2008.

He'll celebrate his 70th birthday Tuesday....No one older than 70 has ever moved into the White House.

Not only will the Republican senator be the oldest of the large field of possible candidates in both major parties, he'll be three years older on Election Day 2008 than Ronald Reagan was when he won his first term in 1980. At 69, Reagan was the oldest man ever to enter the White House. He was 73 when he won his second term.

Whether this changes the presidential campaign probably will depend on whether McCain appears healthy and vigorous - and thus up to the unique demands of the job - or not.

McCain aides said the senator was cancer-free six years after surgeons removed thin tumors from his temple and arm. Both were diagnosed as malignant melanoma, a potentially deadly form of skin cancer if left untreated. He also had a bout with skin cancer in 1993....

http://www.grandforks.com/mld/grandforks/news/nation/15343493.htm

[flyarm]

1. AHHH HELL HE COULD SLEEP THROUGH EVERYTHING IMPORTANT

like Reagan did..rethugs don't care..

fly

[bigdarryl]

2. Mybe we need a older president than this whipping boy in office now

I have no problem with McCains age even though i don't support him.

[...of J.Temperance]

20. McCain also isn't completely mentally stable

The man's a borderline nutjob.

[stepnw1f]

3. Big Yellowy Teeth

and a yellow stripe going down his back for kissing Bush's popo.

[skipos]

4. He'd be the oldest president ever elected. I hope his VP doesn't suck.

[silverweb]

5. Let's hope it's an obstacle.

If it'll keep another reTHUG from getting ahead, I'm all for it.

[Ninja Jordan]

6. I refuse to see this as a hindrance

We all would support Jimmy Carter running. Would we not? He is a similar age.

[ChiciB1]

7. I've Mentioned This A Very Long Time Ago....

but then I've mentioned a lot of things. If only Democrats could recruit more young people I doubt he would even be considered. But, I've noticed that almost every meeting I go to, it's mostly senior citizens.

I try very very hard to get the next generation involved all the time. A few are beginning to be more active, but for the most part I don't see much. But then I live in Florida and "sun & fun" takes over!!!

Maybe when they see how much the "sun & fun" starts costing them they might raise up, I don't know.

[rep the dems]

9. As a teenager who will vote for the first time in 2008 let me tell

you something about many people my age: They are obsessed with not classifying themselves as either Democratic or Republican no matter how far left or right they are(although it's mostly young liberals who do this). They seem to think that adopting the stereotypical "Fuck politicians, the two parties are both evil" somehow puts them above people who consider themselves democratic or republican. It's something that has really been bothering me recently, and I'm not sure how anyone is going to change them.

[ChiciB1]

12. And The Problem Is.... It's YOUR Generation Who Will HAVE

to deal with what is happening today!! I "talk politics" ALL THE TIME, with EVERYONE I meet! I've gotten to a place where I don't give a damn whether they like it or not. I still have bumper stickers on my car from 2004, fabricated a few from 2000 and bought more up to date new ones!

As a "Boomer" with a 17 yr. old grandson, he gets an earful all the time. While he agrees with me and thinks like me, it wasn't until I started letting him use my car (4 cyl. Celica) that it really hit home for him. I told him HE had to buy the gas. He gets my car every other week to drive and said to me about 3 weeks ago... "you know, I'm finally beginning to see what you're saying about politics all the time, I just put $20.00 in the tank and it only filled up half way!" A very small step, and I didn't have the heart to tell him that high gas prices just might be "good" in one way. The thought that high gas prices might make us get SUPER serious about alternatives. But if this is what is going to make the younger kids take notice, I'm NOT going to fuzz it up with the other stuff!

And in reality, until we DO get serious about alternatives, there are far too many people who CAN NOT afford to buy NEW Hybrid vehicles. They have to "make do" with whatever transportation they have. $5.00 a gallon will most certainly hurt a lot! Not to mention heating & cooling of homes!

[marions ghost]

16. young people

could organize themselves into a bloc that would make both parties sit up and listen. Stop waiting for their elders to reach out to them. Maybe some performer or musician or videographer could lead the way on this. Because I do think they care--they just don't know where to put any focus. They pick up on their elders' apathy and disgust and unconsciously adopt an attitude of why bother...fuck it, can't do anything about it.

"Both parties are evil" ... OK but you can still have a voice. Don't whine about what is--change it.
Young liberals need to create their own political force. What we are going up against in redefining this country is so big--it's going to take a village to fix it. The youth of today are smart, creative, pragmatic. They need to put some energy into new and different ways to get where they want to go. That will only be good for the rest of us.

[Awsi Dooger]

8. I don't think this will be an issue

I post on a couple of big sports sites than have large and mostly balanced political forums, although maybe 60/40 right leaning in terms of number of posters. The right leaners can't stand McCain and age is never mentioned. I think we'll be shocked how quickly and dramatically he is rejected.

[JI7]

18. yeah, i still notice the right seems to be the most hateful towards mccain

it's amazing considering all the ass kissing he has done in the last few years. they still view him as a traitor.

but i still wonder how it would be if the Chimp officially endorses him .

[rep the dems]

10. I don't think they'll care. After all they nominated Bob Dole in

'96 and look what he did for them! :sarcasm:

[leesa]

11. Well, maybe that and the fact that he's a sleazebag Bushwhore

[Imagevision]

13. 70 is too damn old, - lay down already!!

[CrushTheDLC]

14. He at least looks younger than Reagan did.

And probably has a lot more mental capacities. Or at least he did before he started kissing monkey ass.

[PresidentWar]

15. Reagan was old too

And it didn't stop him from two terms. Of course, he slept through most of it, but there it is....

[...of J.Temperance]

21. I think Reagan is another reason why McCain won't be the 2008 nominee

It's now known that during Reagan's term in office, his Alzheimer's
had begun....and so I think in light of this, people are going to want a President that they know is pretty much in good health, and we know that John McCain ISN'T in good health.

His age is a great disadvantage to him also, 72 in 2008, the man already looks 76 in 2006.

I think that the days when men in their 60's got elected President are now gone....I think that since President Clinton, men in their early 40's to mid-50's are now going to be the standard for those who are running for President.


On Edit: Dammit spelling error

[JI7]

17. i thought he was in his 80s

[...of J.Temperance]

19. I've said for ages that McCain will NOT be the GOP 2008 candidate

He's too old and he's already had cancer....McCain should be ignored therefore, he's of no threat to us whatsoever, ditto Jeb at this time.

We should be paying attention to the following:

Senator George Allen of Virginia, Governor Bill Owens of Colorado and Governor Mark Sanford of South Carolina....Allen, Owens or Sanford in my humble opinion, one of them will be the GOP's 2008 Presidential nominee.

The John McCain 2008 talk is just nonsense, just like the Hillary 2008 talk is just nonsense.