Arizona Republic: Will McCain's Age Be An Issue? He Turns 70 Today ...

[Mark E. Smith]

Will McCain's age be an issue? He turns 70 today and in 2 years would be oldest 1st-term president

The Arizona Republic Aug. 29, 2006

WASHINGTON - Sen. John McCain marks his 70th birthday today, a factor that he and his supporters
hope won't discourage many happy returns when the nation picks a new president.

Election Night returns, that is.

Forget a birthday party. This is about the Republican Party and the Arizona senator's chances of
becoming the GOP's standard-bearer against a field of likely younger candidates in 2008 and then
winning the White House to become the nation's oldest first-term president ever.

Whether McCain's age becomes an issue if he runs in two years, when he turns 72, may depend on
whether voters see him as not only politically fit for the job but simply fit; healthy enough to take on
the rigors of the Oval Office.

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/0829mccain-birthday0829.html

Kind of a predicament for the GOPs. The only truly viable candidate they have for 2008 is an old man.
You can imagine the kinds of whispering campaigns the Frist types will employ as they attempt to
exploit the age issue.

[soothsayer]

1. won't they run him as vp? he's too damaged (by THEM) to run

viably for prez.

besides, he looks like a sidekick

[Zorra]

2. We sure don't need another doddering old fascist with Alzheimers'

disease running the country again.

[RebelOne]

6. Excuse me, but I'm 67 and I do not consider myself doddering.

Nor do I have Alzheimer's'. In fact, I work full-time. The closer I get to 70, the more I take offense to disparaging remarks about age.

[Ilsa]

9. I don't blame you, and I'm not quite 50!

I don't think the DUer meant all "seniors" are as he discribed, just Ronald Reagan.

[Zorra]

11. I wasn't referring to you, or inferring anything about most

people with a few years behind them in general, in any way whatsoever.

I was writing specifically about doddering old fascists with Alzheimers', like Ronald Reagan.

[RebelOne]

13. OK, you are forgiven because I was a lot younger

when Reagan was president and at that time I did consider him a doddering fascist.

[IChing]

3. His age will not be an issue this will

VIDEO: McCain Says Jerry Falwell is No Longer an ‘Agent of Intolerance’
This morning on Meet the Press, Sen. John McCain declared that right-wing Rev. Jerry Falwell is no longer an “agent of intolerance,” as McCain described him in 2000. Watch it:


MCCAIN: As regards to Rev. Falwell, which is the major thrust of your comments, I met with Rev. Falwell. He came to see me in Washington. We agreed to disagree on certain issues, and we agreed to move forward. I believe that speaking at Liberty University is no different from speaking at the New College or Ohio State University, all of which I’m speaking. I speak at a lot of colleges and universities. I’m pleased to have the opportunity to do so, to talk to young Americans and talk to them about the obligations and the privileges of freedom.

RUSSERT: But, Senator, when you were on here in 2000, I asked you about Jerry Falwell, and this is what you said:

MCCAIN (clip, 3/5/00): Gov. Bush swung far to the right and sought out the base support of Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell. Those aren’t the ideas that I think are good for the Republican Party.

RUSSERT: Do you think that Jerry Falwell’s ideas are now good for the Republican Party?

MCCAIN: I believe that the “Christian Right” has a major role to play in the Republican Party.

http://thinkprogress.org/2006/04/02/mccain-falwell

[Ishoutandscream2]

20. Exactly. His "whoreness" will be the issue

Chumming with a man who vilified him in 2000, and crossing over to the dark side with the religiously insane right should be his undoing.

[sinkingfeeling]

4. No, his age is fine. It's his politics and his forked tongue that will get

him.

[asjr]

5. I hope McCain's long ego trip

is about to end. I equate him with Joe Lieberman because they are both power-driven. And both are flip-floppers. They have both forgotten who put them in the Senate and think it is the duty of the citizens to extend their power-grabbing methods. With Joe, I really think he feels entitled to stay in the Senate, come hell or high water. With McCain, who knows! I hope both will be defeated--we already have enough prima donnas in Washington.

[NEOBuckeye]

7. McCain is too old. He needs to give it up. n/t

[Ilsa]

8. Naaaa. RayGun was 138 when he was

prez, :boring: and he did a bang-up job, right? :sarcasm:

I dunno what to think. McCain may be sharp in his 70's, but I can't trust him anymore. He plays politics too much. So for me, age isn't the issue.

[Kagemusha]

10. When I saw him on TDS, he looked old. He sounded old.

It's going to be an issue, even if it's not spoken.

[Cha]

12. Oh gross! Go eat cake

with bush and forgiddabout your freakin' dictator aspirations, crooked talker!

[warrens]

14. Yeah, his age will be an issue

As it should be. 72 is not young, and I doubt the U.S. will go for a guy that age. There are a lot of other reasons he ain't going to be the nominee, but that one will matter.

BTW, Mark, if you read this, the REAL Mark is doing an interesting thing with The Monks, the old 60s band, remixing some of their stuff and doing a tour with them in Europe this winter. I just saw the doc about the Monks and heard the Mark E. Smith remixes and it's all good.

[Mark E. Smith]

17. Saw the Fall last time they were through LA

Couple months back, great show at The Knitting Factory. Any idea when the remixed Monks stuff will be available?

[Catchawave]

15. Who should he pick as VP running mate then ?

Can we think of any rising stars in the GOP ? I can't, so it's going to be tough going. McCain/Allen :rofl:

[madinmaryland]

16. I think his age will be an issue, in addition to his health.

The times that I have seen him on television, he does not look well. I know that he has had skin cancer, and the look of his face from that is horrible.

[Tyrone Slothrop]

18. He's also not very bright or well-educated

I was doing some research on him recently.

His sole educational "accomplishment" was finishing 895th out of 900 students at the US Naval Academy.

[Hosnon]

19. Probably so. The importance of the VP pick is heightened due to his

age. He will probably have a tougher time picking a VP to simply add a state or two. His opponent will point out that the VP may very well become the President and any shortcomings with the VP candidate may be emphasized.

[GardeningGal]

21. It will be an issue because of Reagan.

I think people will remember, not say much, but will not want to commit to someone that would be 72 entering office.

[yorkiemommie1]

22. as the Chimp says, presidentin' is hard werk

(misspelling intentional) esp. since McCain would try to actually work. they have plenty of other GOP monsters to trot out.

[GreenArrow]

23. his temper will be an issue

it won't take much to make that old boy snap...

[maxsolomon]

24. 72 is way too old

80 when he'd leave office? i can't see even dumb ass americans thinking that's a good idea.

besides, he'll never beat the slime that jeb & karl are already cooking.